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Passengers arriving by car can park for a fee in pay lots across the Whittier Creek bridge toward the marina. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. Download and print a copy of our brochure for your reference offline. Share the link with a friend if you are planning to travel with others.
Real Wildlife Shows
Later, Whittier was used by gold miners during the Alaska Gold Rush to travel between Prince Williams Sound to the Cook Inlet and the Interior regions of Alaska. In 1948, the military established an outpost in Whittier as the Port of Whittier was an ice-free, deep water port strategically located near Anchorage and Interior Alaska. Ride the train along the scenic Turnagain Arm to Whittier, located at the entrance of Prince William Sound. Enjoy a narrated cruise on a catamaran and see impressive glaciers and marine mammals like the adorable sea otters.
A one-way, 7-day Alaska glacier cruise between Vancouver, B.C. and Anchorage (Whittier)
Along the way, enjoy two glacier-viewing experiences on every itinerary — including Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord. Cruise the calm, protected waters of Prince William Sound and come face to face with tidewater glaciers plus an amazing array of wildlife on Phillips Cruises & Tours. This longtime operator offers up-close views of glaciers, wildlife, mountains and the rugged beauty of Prince William Sound in one afternoon—which plenty of people say was the highlight of their vacation.
BEST Whittier, AK Shore Excursions: Things to Do, Cruise Day Tour & Reviews (2024) - Cruise Critic
BEST Whittier, AK Shore Excursions: Things to Do, Cruise Day Tour & Reviews ( .
Posted: Sat, 10 Dec 2016 09:40:34 GMT [source]
What wildlife can you see on the 26 glacier tour?
To begin, Whittier is a small Alaskan waterfront town, home to 318 people at last count. It is located at the head of Passage Canal in Prince William Sound, roughly 60 miles south of Anchorage. You can reach Whittier by train in roughly two hours on the Alaska Railroad, or drive from Anchorage in about 90 minutes. Either way, you’ll enter Whittier through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, constructed as part of Whittier’s strategic military history. Read on to discover whether Whittier wins at whales or Seward’s sweeping views include the most glaciers.
Phillips Cruises & Tours - 26 Glacier Cruise
Go with Alaska Wild Guides out of Whittier to experience the area’s unique sights and sounds while skimming across the top of the water on your own personal watercraft. It was nice, but it’s not really a big meal, so you should be sure to eat breakfast. The Alaskan food to eat during the cruise is the wild Alaskan smoked salmon chowder. If you want to take the train from Whittier to Anchorage, it will work.
"Longer" cruises
In the unlikely event you experience seasickness during the cruise, please seek assistance from a crew member. After cruising so many times in Kenai Fjords as a kid and on return visits, I’ve always wondered about the 26 Glacier Cruise and was really pleased to finally experience it. I absolutely recommend this cruise to anyone who wants to visit Whittier and focus their day cruise specifically on seeing loads of glaciers. 5.5 hours is a nice amount of time to explore Prince William Sound, which is a huge waterway off the coast of Southcentral Alaska. Even with a whole day, you couldn’t see it all, so this cruise itinerary samples some of the best areas for seeing glaciers and possibly spotting wildlife. Whittier was originally part of the portage route for the Chugach Natives of Prince William Sound traveling to fish the Turnagain Arm.
Fascinating Local History
Hot Meal Included A hot meal will be served shortly after the cruise departs. Complimentary hot coffee, tea and ice water are available as self-serve stations during the cruise. Each vessel has a full-service bar featuring Alaskan craft beers, wine, and cocktails along with a variety of snacks and gift shop items. To book our Active Duty Military Fare please have your date of travel, guest names, and meal choices available when you call to make the reservations. We are not able to accept online bookings for this fare at the present time.
They also sell trendy hoodies, trucker hats and artsy stickers to remember your sudsy Girdwood detour. Begin at a local icon, The Bake Shop, open as of press time Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. A morning-time staple for 40-plus years, The Bake Shop features homestyle favorites like sourdough pancakes and sweet rolls.
The pristine waters of Prince William Sound provide a nutrient-rich environment for a variety of wildlife. We cover 150-miles on our way to view the glaciers, and our Captain keeps an eye out for sea otters, Steller sea lions, bears, mountain goats, and whales. At the end of the cruise, visit a kittiwake bird rookery inhabited by more than 10,000 birds nesting on the rocky cliffs in Passage Canal. Continue to Blackstone Bay, a dramatic deep-water fjord where two tidewater glaciers and several alpine glaciers await.
Don’t despair if the weather looks bad for your cruise, though – overcast skies bring out the richer blue colors in the ice than cloudless skies. I’ve also included a section at the end of this post about what to pack so you’re ready for whatever weather Prince William Sound decides to serve up. Touring the spectacular tidewater glaciers of Prince William Sound is even more exciting when you do it on a Jet Ski.
Paved paths thread through the town, offering an opportunity to take in scenery during a stroll. Along the journey, the highway is framed by the dramatic Chugach and Kenai Mountains. Passing small communities, rustic roadhouses and pristine alpine lakes, the highway terminates in Seward on the edge of Resurrection Bay.
To Whittier and present it at check-in to receive your boarding pass. Faster than a kayak and more intimate than a day cruise, the Jet Ski is a great way to get up close and personal with Alaska’s gorgeous scenery. Go with Whittier-based Glacier Jet Ski Adventures and you’ll be taking your machine out on the water to explore the stunning glaciers and wildlife of Blackstone Bay.
Your cruise starts in Whittier and takes you deep into Prince William Sound. You will get face to face with 26 “named” glaciers and many more unnamed. Keep your eyes open for bald eagles, sea otters and even humpback whales on this cruise. Custom narration by a Chugach National Forest Service Ranger makes sure you learn everything about this spectacular region.
All equipment is provided and no experience is necessary on this unique 4.5‑hour journey. The M/V Glacier Quest is an 80-foot catamaran which holds 149 passengers on 3 decks, two of which are enclosed and heated with an inside seat and table for every passenger on board. Comfortable upholstered booths with tables are available for all passengers and the large picture windows provide a view from every seat. A saloon, snack bar and gift shop are a few of the other amenities available. A complimentary lunch is included and you can select from 2 different meal options.
On the cruise, a full-service bar features Alaskan ales on tap, craft beers, ciders, wine, and a variety of specialty cocktails for purchase. You may bring your own food if you have dietary restrictions, however no personal alcohol can be brought on or off the vessels due to our liquor license. Once you arrive in Whittier, please stop by the Cliffside Marina to get your boarding cards or use the restrooms we have provided for our day cruise guests. If time allows, feel free to explore our quaint seaside town before parking on Whittier street and returning to the Cliffside Marina to board your cruise.
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