Board a nimble expedition Zodiac and penetrate deep into Unakwik Inlet to reach Meares Glacier — one of the few advancing tidewater glaciers in Alaska — drifting through a chaos of bobbing ice to the very edge of its thundering calving face. This is raw, visceral Alaska.
What to expect
Departing Whittier, the vessel passes through some of the Sound's most wildlife-rich corridors — scanning for humpback whale blows, orca fins, and Steller sea lion haul-outs on rocky outcrops. As you enter Unakwik Inlet, the temperature drops and the water surface becomes crowded with house-sized ice boulders. At Meares Glacier, the captain holds position as close as safety permits while the face groans, cracks, and periodically erupts in cascading towers of blue ice. The onboard park ranger contextualises the glacier's remarkable advance against the regional trend of retreat — a genuinely rare phenomenon in modern Alaska.
Good to know
Departs Whittier, steps from the cruise pier. Bring wind and waterproof layers regardless of forecast — conditions change rapidly near the glacier. Book the full-day premium tour for the hot meal and ranger-led interpretation. Confirm departure time against all-aboard.