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As a courtesy to our guests, we have provided details on the two parking lots that are the most convenient for our guests to use during their day cruise. We recommend our day cruise guests use the Whittier Parking and Camping $10/day lot on Whittier Street. The Cliffside Marina allows for drop-off and pick-up of our guests and provides clean restrooms for use before or after their cruise.
Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise from Girdwood
A frigid wind blows into our faces as the boat nudges slowly through the ice-laden water. Klondike Express and Bravest, the two modern catamarans that host this popular tour, were built with the enjoyment of day cruise passengers in mind. Spacious and clean, the boats boast large picture windows and ample outdoor deck space to ensure every guest gets the opportunity to enjoy Alaska's iconic coastal landscapes.
Travel Planner
The boat may not be exclusive to Holland America Line guests. In early May and June, watch for "maternity wards" of otters and seals on the icebergs; the abrasive ice serves to ward off orcas. Watch for "rafts" of otters as well-maybe 300 all together; like synchronized swimmers, they'll flip from floating on their backs and dive into the water all at once. The most common whales in Prince William Sound are humpbacks and orcas, with sightings of minke whales as well. You may also spot wildlife on land, such as bears and mountain goats. Of the 200 species of bird life inhabiting this area, bald eagles are very prominent.
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Travel by train from Girdwood to Whittier to embark on a comfortable cruise vessel providing up-close glacier viewing.
The dense spruce forest provides shelter for a variety of wildlife and migratory birds. The 26 Glacier Cruise departs from Whittier to explore the calm waters and wild sights of Alaska’s Prince William Sound. Discover glacier-carved fjords and pristine wilderness around every turn. Watch for marine wildlife and migratory birds along the way. Travel in comfort aboard safe, modern high-speed catamarans. For those looking for adventure, NOVA tours based in the Matanuska Valley offer a glimpse of a more rugged, exposed, grand Alaska that makes you feel like you truly are as far north as you traveled.
In 2024, the M/V Chugach Express will be completed and join the fleet. Our cruise experts are enthusiastic and ready to talk about Alaska with you. Call us or send an email if you are currently in a different time zone. During the season, from May to September, we are here seven days a week. All guests must be checked in with a valid boarding card and on board the cruise at designated times. Being late may cause the cancellation of reserved seats and/or an entire reservation.
LIVE THE WILD LIFE
An added bus transfer from Anchorage or Girdwood makes this popular day cruise out of Whittier a perfect fit for independent travelers who'd rather not rent a car. After pickups in Anchorage, the scenic drive takes guests down the Turnagain Arm with a stop in Girdwood, then into a valley overlooked by hanging glaciers and through a 2.5-mile tunnel to Prince William Sound. Guests are dropped at the Cliffside Marina to catch the 26 Glacier Cruise. Every cruise includes a hot meal featuring wild Alaska smoked salmon chowder served shortly after the cruise departures. Due to our remote location, vegetarian or kids’ meals must be requested at least 48 hours prior to cruise departure.
Whether you're interested in hiking through a forest, trekking to the best Alaska glaciers or a shopping spree in the city centre, all the towns provide a variety of adventurous activities. Ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan are each small cities with their own personalities. Anchorage is the state's largest city and a gateway to the rest of the state. Denali National Park takes you out of the city altogether, into a wilderness full of spruce forests and snow-capped mountain peaks.
Getting to Whittier
On the way to Harvard Glacier, the Captain will plot a path through the ice-filled waters up to the front of the glacier to get an up-close view while watching for massive chunks of ice calve into the sea. For more details, please review the “Know Before You Go” document linked to your cruise confirmation and/or the travel reminder we send the evening before your cruise. Phillips Cruises & Tours, LLC does not own the parking lots.
Explore More
The nearly six-hour, narrated cruise covers 150 miles of Prince William Sound, and includes breathtaking views across College Fjord and Blackstone Bay. Tickets are $189 per adult, $125 per child, and include a meal. Take up an excursion out of Misty Fjord in Ketchikan, or soar above the massive Denali mountain with a Talkeetna adventure tour group. You may even get the chance to climb one of these icy giants.
With its winding fjords and gigantic glaciers, the best Alaska glaciers cruises offer unforgettable views. Spot silly seals playing on bobbing icebergs, or simply take in the vibrancy of the turquoise waters. The 26 glacier day cruise tour operated by the tour company Phillips cruises does the cruise so you can make cruise ship timings and train timings.
Parking in the Cliffside Marina is reserved for marina slip owners with a few spots designated for our guests with limited mobility for $15 per day. Tick off Alaska’s must-see destinations from your adventure bucket list. From towering glaciers to thrilling wildlife encounters, the untamed beauty of the Last Frontier awaits with exciting weeklong itineraries onboard the best Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Age-old glaciers like Dawes or Mendenhall give way to meandering fjords all throughout Alaska. Kayak through the icy waters and catch a glimpse of the grazing caribou and the leaping mountain goats who frequent the massive mountains of ice.
Despite being much smaller and offering fewer amenities in town, plus being a little more complicated to reach, the 26 Glacier Cruise is worth the effort. The crew does an incredible job of making the day comfortable and interesting, and the glaciers do their part by being beautiful, easy to see, and active. In addition to the provided lunch, there’s a coffee, tea, and cocoa stand available at all times throughout the cruise.
Scan the spruce forest along the shoreline to spot bald eagles. Keep an eye on the icebergs at the glacier to see harbor seals hauled out to rest. As your captain navigates to the face of a tidewater glacier, you’ll get an up close view of these dynamic rivers of ice. Marine wildlife and migratory birds easily outnumber people in Prince William Sound, so the odds are good that you will see a lot more than glaciers on our cruises! Sea otters are a common sight, along with harbor seals, Bald eagles, and kittiwakes. It is not uncommon to see orca whales, humpback whales, sea lions, black bears, mountain goats, Dall’s porpoise, and migratory birds on our 26 Glacier Cruise.
There are people who make a day of it with a round trip train from Anchorage to Whittier and back to do the 26 glacier boat tour. The 26 glacier tour starts at the small boat harbor right next to the cruise ship! You'll travel 150 miles from Whittier into the pristine wilderness of Prince William Sound to view 26 massive glaciers, including Harvard Glacier in College Fjord.
Both are modern, high-speed catamarans with two indoor cabin decks, large picture windows, and outdoor viewing areas. All passengers are assigned indoor cabin seats around tables with USB ports. 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.
Vegetarian/gluten free and child lunch options available when requested in advance. Additional snacks, hot and cold drinks, and adult beverages are available for purchase. Our smooth cruising, high-speed catamarans are designed to safely and comfortably bring you close to nature on the calm waters of Prince William Sound.
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