Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise, Self-Drive, Whittier

About this activity

For guests with their own transportation, this 5.25-hour cruise brings you face-to-face with dynamic glaciers and a variety of wildlife, surrounded by the pristine wilderness of Prince William Sound.

The cruise route covers 120 miles in Western Prince William Sound while being surrounded by the Chugach National Forest. Your friendly and attentive crew will strive to make this cruise a favorite highlight of your Alaska vacation.

Our industry-exclusive No Seasickness Guarantee assures every guest will cruise in comfort while enjoying your cruise. All cruises are operated on first-class high-speed catamarans that provide an extremely stable cruise and can smoothly navigate through the narrow fjords and ice flows to reach the face of massive glaciers.

Day Cruises Nature and Wildlife Tours Half-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Lunch Cruises Audio Guides Catamaran Cruises

At a glance

Duration: 5 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 14 people
People per booking: 1–14
Audio guide: English
Guide: English
Written guide: English
Operated by: Phillips Cruises & Tours, LLC

Ages: Infants (0–1 years) · Children (2–11 years) · Adults (12–120 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Smoke-free vessels
Included: No Seasickness Guarantee - or your money back!
Included: Lunch: Wild Alaska smoked salmon chowder, oyster crackers, fresh Julienne vegetable salad, cheese stick, fruit snack, and York Peppermint Pattie. Vegetarian Chili or Kids’ Meal on request 48 hours prior.
Included: USB Charging Stations at every table. Wifi is NOT available.
Included: On-board restrooms: Restroom on board
Included: ADA Accessible providing a safe and comfortable way for everyone to see the glaciers.
Included: Tea and coffee: Coffee, hot tea, and ice water.

Not included

Not included: Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel toll
Not included: Gift Shop items are available for purchase on boat.
Not included: Does not include parking fees of $10-$15.
Not included: Does not include transportation to Whittier.
Not included: Alcoholic beverages: Warm your spirits with our signature hot drinks or try our Glacier Ice Margarita. Our full-service bar features Alaskan ales on tap, wine, a full selection of spirits and liquors.
Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel

Travel time from Anchorage to Whittier is 90 minutes. From Girdwood to Whittier, allow 45 minutes. Please plan your day with this travel time in mind. (The cruise portion is 5 hours.)

All cruises depart from Whittier, AK. Bring your photo I.D. and check in at least one hour before your cruise departs. Being late may cause the cancellation of reserved seats and/or an entire reservation.

To reach Whittier, you will travel through North America’s longest shared rail and vehicle tunnel, the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. This tunnel allows one-way traffic access to and from Whittier on a strict schedule. The tunnel opens going to Whittier thirty minutes past the hour (9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM). We recommend the 10:30 AM tunnel opening for your cruise to allow time to park and check in. Transportation to Whittier, tunnel toll, and parking fee are not included. After your cruise, the tunnel will be open hourly, on the hour, until 11:00 PM.
Stop 2

5 hours Admission included

Explore spectacular Prince William Sound to see dynamic glaciers and a variety of wildlife on our first-class high-speed catamarans. Enjoy narration from a Chugach National Forest Service ranger who shares interesting details about the history, geography, glaciers and wildlife we see during the cruise.

Every cruise features our industry-exclusive No Seasickness Guarantee! With the calm waters of Prince William Sound and our smooth cruising catamarans, you can enjoy a comfortable experience without worry.

We serve wild Alaska smoked salmon chowder with coleslaw style salad, multigrain roll, oyster crackers, cheese stick, fruit snack and a peppermint pattie. If you prefer hearty vegetarian chili (GF), request it when booking or message us at least 48 hours before travel.

Paid parking is available in a public lot located on Whittier Street, close to the Cliffside Marina.

Photo I.D. is required at check-in to receive your boarding cards. All guests must be on board by 11:45 AM
Whittier

Explore the town of Whittier, Alaska as you stroll along the harbor boardwalk, visit local shops and restaurants, the Prince William Sound Museum (admission not included) or hike a local trail.

When you are ready to depart Whittier, the tunnel will be open on the hour, every hour until 11:00 PM.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

IMPORTANT! Our cruises depart from Whittier, approximately 1.5 hours south of Anchorage. We suggest departing Anchorage by 9:00 AM and taking the 10:30 AM opening of the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel to arrive in Whittier 1-hour before boarding begins.

End point

IMPORTANT! Our cruises depart from Whittier, approximately 1.5 hours south of Anchorage. We suggest departing Anchorage by 9:00 AM and taking the 10:30 AM opening of the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel to arrive in Whittier 1-hour before boarding begins.

Using your ticket

Allow at least 1.5 hours to drive from Anchorage to Whittier. Our cruises depart from the Cliffside Marina, 100 West Camp Road, Whittier, AK 99693. Present your mobile ticket and photo I.D. at check-in. We recommend departing Anchorage at 9:00 AM and taking the 10:30 AM tunnel opening which allows time to explore our quaint seaside cafes, shops, and museum, park and check-in for your cruise. Tunnel ($13) and parking fees ($10-$12) are not included.

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The drive to Whittier along the Seward Highway is spectacular. There are numerous photo stops along the way and summer tends to have road construction delays, so having extra time to enjoy the sights is well worth it on this National Scenic Byway. Before reaching Whittier, you will travel through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. This is North America’s longest shared rail and vehicle tunnel. The one-way tunnel operates on a schedule and everyone going to Whittier needs to pay a tunnel toll and be in line at 30-minutes past the hour for transit to Whittier. We recommend allowing 1.5 hours travel time from Anchorage to Whittier and planning for the 10:30 AM tunnel opening. After exploring Whittier and Prince William Sound, you may find it useful to know that the tunnel opens on the hour until 11:00 PM.

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Upon arrival in Whittier, drive one mile to the Cliffside Marina. Phillips Cruises and Tours is located at the far end of the parking lot in a building with a red roof and our yellow-triangle 26 Glacier Cruise logo. Proceed directly to Phillips Cruise "Express Check-In" located on the observation deck behind the ticket office. Present your photo I.D. and mobile ticket here to receive your cruise boarding pass, meal card for lunch, and a map indicating where your seats are located on the vessel. All guests must be on the cruise by 11:45 AM.

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If you need assistance, please call us at 907-276-8023.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Service animals allowed
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All crew and guests must wear a mask or face covering per current COVID-19 procedures.
Be mindful of the space around you for social distancing