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The Cruise Ship Terminal is adjacent to our pier and the ground surface is paved for an easy transition between the day cruise and the cruise ship. While you will be responsible for transferring your luggage between the transportation provider and the cruise ship terminal, we can provide assistance with storing your luggage during the cruise. All the other glacier days I had on a cruise ship, I kind of a saw glacier calving just once, if I saw it at all. In September, I took a train from Anchorage to Whittier, did the 26 glacier boat tour, and then got on a Princess cruise from Whittier to Vancouver. I was doing the 26 glacier tour after arriving in Whittier from Vancouver to Anchorage on a Princess cruise ship.
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Guests aged 2 to 14 must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel To access Whittier, all self-drive, coach and rail passengers will travel through North America’s longest shared rail and vehicle tunnel. The tunnel was originally built to create a supply line from the Port of Whittier to Interior Alaska. Learn more about the tunnel or take a virtual drive along the Portage Glacier Road that covers the last 12 miles before you reach the tunnel. If you are going to Glacier Bay National Park on a cruise ship, you will become familiar with the term “calving.” This is when huge chunks of ice fall off the glacier and into the water. The Glacier Quest Cruise takes you from the quaint seaside town of Whittier to glacier-filled Blackstone Bay.
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Tiny Whittier debates an Alaska Native corporation's proposal for a second cruise ship dock - Anchorage Daily News
Tiny Whittier debates an Alaska Native corporation's proposal for a second cruise ship dock.
Posted: Fri, 28 Jan 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The Glacier Quest Cruise, a shorter route (ideal for younger kids) focuses on magnificent glaciers in Blackstone Bay. On this tour, you’ll see seven glaciers, including Blackstone and Beloit Glaciers in a catamaran with indoor seating. You’ll see seals, sea otters, possibly whales, bears and mountain goats. The tour also includes a hot lunch and narration provided by the Captain.
Prince William Sound Glacier Cruises from Whittier
đŸ‘† The check-in for the 26 glacier cruise is very near the Whittier cruise port. Cruise ships doing this route between Vancouver and Whittier sail through College Fjord before arriving in Whittier, and much of the 26 glacier cruise is also in College Fjord. Due to intermittent cell service when traveling in Alaska, we strongly recommend booking before travel.
Best Dishes to Try on Your Alaska Cruise
That’s not to say Whittier is lacking – one of the cruises, the 26 Glacier Cruise – is among the most popular day cruises in Alaska! What’s more important than the raw number of options is what each cruise has to offer – and how well that maps onto what you want to see on a day cruise. I want to spend a little time talking about both Whittier and Seward, and the day cruise options offered by each one. This will help you get a sense of each town; then I’ll dive into which one is better for different Alaskan experiences you might want to have. Coolers, luggage, and large hand-carry bags are not permitted.
Best Alaska Glaciers
When rescheduling is not possible, Phillips Cruises and Tours, LLC will refund monies received for the cruise services owned and operated by Phillips Cruises and Tours, LLC. Refunds for rental car fees, parking fees, tunnel fares, or other travel-related expenses are not the responsibility of Phillips Cruises and Tours, LLC. Check-In & Boarding Cruise and rail services request check-in at least one hour before the scheduled departure time. For coach service transportation, arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time at the designated location.

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I went a different route and ordered peppermint schnapps “on the rocks” (over glacier ice), a throwback to my Uncruise adventure where we did a drink luge with glacier ice. Whittier is a small Alaskan community located on Prince William Sound, approximately 60 miles south of Anchorage. The 26 Glacier Cruise travels 140 miles into Prince William Sound where you will see 26 “named” glaciers and many more unnamed. You get face to face with these towering masses of ice, so close you can “hear” the glaciers move and gaze at their brilliant blue hues.
Glacier Quest Gallery
Choose LEARN MORE for details on the mode of travel you plan to use to get to Whittier. When you are ready to book, choose BOOK NOW, select your travel date and follow the prompts to add transportation or receive self-drive instructions on your confirmation. The M/V Bravest is the newest addition to our fleet of first-class catamarans. At a length of 120-feet, Bravest cruises at 32 knots to cover great distances in less time. Outfitted with the same modern style and amenities as the M/V Klondike Express, USB charging stations, and custom art produced by indigenous people of Alaska. To see a glacier by foot, carve out a couple of hours for a stop at Exit Glacier.
Once in Whittier, our office is only one mile from the tunnel. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is locally known as the Whittier Tunnel. This World War II-era rail tunnel was expanded in 2000 to provide access for trains and cars. Today, the Tunnel is North America’s longest shared rail and vehicle tunnel operating on a strict schedule rotating one-way traffic every 30-minutes.
A cruise ship that goes to or from Anchorage is actually going to or from Whittier. You can do it after you arrive in Whittier and get off your northbound cruise ship that goes from Vancouver to Anchorage. We also saw a bunch of sea otters at a bunch of different times. When you arrive for check-in, there is a board that lists day-by-day the wildlife that have been spotted during their tours in the past week. A cruise ship that goes to “Anchorage” actually goes to Whittier.
This 137-foot high-speed catamaran features two enclosed heated seating areas and a third deck outdoor viewing area. A complete refit in 2017 of the M/V Klondike Express brought modern charcoal, burgundy, and silver colors to the stylish seating with flexible back support and comfortable upholstered seats. USB ports at every table to provide guests an easy way to recharge their phones or cameras during the cruise. The one-way toll tunnel is strange enough to warrant a one-hour side trip. If you have time, visit the small but surprisingly comprehensive Prince William Sound Museum. An impressive number of exhibits fills its snug space, capturing the story of Whittier’s history.
It has the densest concentration of tidewater glaciers in the world, some flowing a dozen miles from ice-capped peaks to terminate in cliffs of ice towering hundreds of feet above the water. I grew up in Alaska, and though my family has since moved away, I try to visit at least once per year (twice in 2021!). I’ve seen humpbacks, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, puffins, and many, many glaciers.
Located at the head of Resurrection Bay, in the Kenai Fjords waterway (which comprises Kenai Fjords National Park). It is a 2.5-hour drive (or 4.25-hour train ride) from Anchorage. A frigid wind blows into our faces as the boat nudges slowly through the ice-laden water. After 6pm, just before our return back to the Whittier cruise port and small boat harbor where we started from, we also make a short stop to see waterfalls. Your luggage may be stored in a secure location next to our office and reclaimed after the day cruise. If you want to take the train from Anchorage to Whittier, the 26 glacier cruise will work out.

From top-rated cruises that visit Glacier Bay National Park to scenic rail travel and exclusive Princess lodges, you will find a seamless Alaska experience with Princess. The onboard lunch includes wild Alaska smoked salmon chowder, fresh salad, a roll, and a sweet treat. Vegetarian/gluten free and child lunch options available when requested in advance.
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