Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
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
What To Expect
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.
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
Options
Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise, Self-Drive
What‘s Included
Smoke-free vessels
No Seasickness Guarantee - or your money back!
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.
USB Charging Stations at every table. Wifi is NOT available.
Restroom on board
ADA Accessible providing a safe and comfortable way for everyone to see the glaciers.
Coffee, hot tea, and ice water.
Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel toll
Gift Shop items are available for purchase on boat.
Does not include parking fees of $10-$15.
Does not include transportation to Whittier.
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.
Gratuities
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
29 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Up close with the glaciers
380missyb,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00This was amazing and we got to see some of the most amazing glaciers, we got a lot of very good narrative from the captain, and we got to see a lot of wildlife. Only drawbacks are that the seafood chowder provided lunch isn’t very appetizing, but you can get other things from their shop. Also, Seating would have been very cramped if we had people sharing our table with us. We didn’t, which was nice, but on a day the boat is at full capacity, I could see where it would feel pretty shoulder to shoulder.
100% worth it
Dream45441066763,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time on the Chugach Express 26 Glacier Cruise. The day started out pretty miserable with a steady heavy drizzle and low clouds, but we've learned on this Alaska trip to never count out an activity due to perceived weather. The water was incredibly calm and the clouds lifted enough for excellent viewing wildlife and glacier viewing. Yes, it's cold, so dress appropriately so you can be out on deck as much as possible. The wildlife viewing was exceptional, however that can't be guaranteed. We saw an eagle perched on an iceberg, countless adorable sea otters, humpback whales and sea lions feeding and even a black bear swimming a channel. Truly incredible! While many glaciers were visible on this cruise, Harvard was the crown jewel. It was truly magical to listen to the ice popping in the water and being surrounded by icebergs. Awesome experience!!!
Highly recommended.
johnsL7297LL,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Awesome cruise experience! Booking very easy, w/ follow up email instructions for traveling thru tunnel and parking. Check in staff was delightful and ships crew was professional, helpful and attentive. Cruise info and narration was the perfect amount. We even traveled on a day with less then desirable weather and journey was still very comfortable and able to see everything. Thank you!!!
God’s blessings
Diane T,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Wonderful day, experience. Staff was great, lunch was very tasty. Only slight disappointment was the fact that we didn’t see whale or sea lion.
So worth it!!
Quest16599770279,Jun 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wow! This was the best part of our 2-week trip and we did it on our last day! Everything was amazing and the calving was absolutely astounding. We saw wildlife everywhere including a bear which we had not seen in 2 weeks driving and camping in Alaska. If you're thinking about going on this, do it. Just do it.
Great cruise! Why only 4 Stars you ask? Read review.
Brian A,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00This was a wonderful cruise! The glaciers are absolutely incredible! The Captain got us right up to them! We also saw many animals including humpback whales, sea otters, seals, eagles and even a black bear! Definitely a great trip! So, why only 4 stars you ask? Because we were assigned seating with our backs to the windows? I do not understand why they would set up the seating this way? As far as I can tell, nobody gets to choose their seats. You get what you get and ours quite frankly sucked! We spent most of the trip sitting outside facing the rear of the boat and just enjoyed the cool air. Passengers would come out to see things then head back in. We were served a meal right after we left port. It was good if you like salmon chowder. All in all I highly recommend this cruise! It was a great experience seeing the beautiful glaciers of Prince William Sound!
Fun cruise
bethnE717QT,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an awesome experience. It was one of our favorite things to do during our 12 day Alaskan vacation. They did an excellent job getting everyone on board and the host announcer kept everyone informed and took time to explain everything we saw. It was awesome to see the calving of the glaciers and to find out more on their history. We saw seal lions. Harbour seals and sea otters. We had a window seat and the lunch was good.
Great glacier tour!
C1698ZIelizabethg,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a must do if you’re close to Anchorage. You can’t believe how close you will get to ice and glaciers, even in the summer. We saw tons of wildlife - seals, birds. The staff is great and it’s very educational. They serve lunch and snacks which are really nice. We stayed in Whittier for two nights at the Inn and it was so much fun too. The town is a hoot! The boat is mostly indoors but they do have a few decks for viewing then you’re close to things. The weather changes fast so bring a raincoat and warm layers.
26 glacier cruise
Tourist64722994153,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a great cruise. Had spectacular weather, saw glaciers, sea otters, seals. Prince william sound is beautiful. Good lunch. Highly recommend
Beautiful cruise.
92sandeem,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a cold and rainy day...and we had a great time! I would highly recommend this cruise as one of the highlights of our 10 days in Alaska. The warm lunch really tasted fantastic. We had great views both from our seats and the open decks.
Related Experiences
Operated by Phillips Cruises & Tours, LLC