Board a sleek three-deck catamaran and count glaciers — 26 of them — as you glide deep into Prince William Sound. Thundering calving ice, harbor seals hauled out on floes, and Kittiwake colonies make this the defining Alaskan day on water.
What to expect
You depart directly from Whittier's small-boat harbor and within minutes Prince William Sound opens around you — a labyrinth of fjords, hanging glaciers, and snow-capped peaks. The catamaran pushes deep into College Fjord and Blackstone Bay, pausing for close approaches to tidewater glacier faces where you witness house-sized seracs crash into the sea. A narrated glacier count builds delicious anticipation, and a hot lunch is served on board as bald eagles patrol overhead. The return journey feels almost contemplative — the scale of what you've witnessed slowly sinking in.
Good to know
The cruise runs approximately 4.5 hours; confirm departure time against your ship's all-aboard. Book directly via phillipscruises.com well in advance — this sells out in peak summer. Upper-deck reserved seating is strongly recommended for unobstructed glacier views.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Whittier — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Whittier
- Lazy Otter Private Glacier & Wildlife Boat Charter
- Portage Glacier & Begich Boggs Visitor Center: Scenic Transfer
- Sea Kayaking in Prince William Sound: Guided Glacier Paddle
- Whittier to Anchorage: Seward Highway Scenic Transfer & Cultural Tour
- Whittier History Walk & Begich Towers: Ghost Town of the Cold War