An Alaska vacation is an exhilarating journey into some of the nation’s most spectacular elements of nature where travelers can view majestic ice formations and wildlife in water and along the shore. As you anticipate your adventure into America’s Land of the Midnight Sun, you may wonder how you can catch a glimpse of everything the nation’s largest state has to offer. An Alaska glacier cruise offers an unforgettable trip into the wilds of Alaska waters, where vacationers can see glaciers and abundant wildlife, including sea lions, harbor seals, and even bears or mountain goats along the shore. Choosing a top Alaska glacier and fjord destination will allow you to witness unparalleled views of nature that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

College Fjord

The most active glaciers in the world are located in Prince William Sound, often allowing cruise passengers to witness ice thundering into the water as the massive glaciers calve. Cruising College Fjord will bring you close to many glaciers, enabling a breathtaking view of up to eight glaciers at once. The largest, Harvard Glacier, presents a face spanning a mile and a half across. Keep your camera ready to document dramatic calving and marine wildlife like otters and seals traveling the ice floes.

Blackstone Bay

Drift through the calm, scenic waters of the Sound and into the ice-filled steep fjords of Blackstone Bay to float among icebergs and take in sights of glaciers calving, waterfalls, and seabirds. A tour through Blackstone Bay allows cruise passengers to see seven glaciers, including the stunning Blackstone and Beloit tidewater glaciers. Wildlife is abundant, and sightings of seals, sea otters, whales, birds, bears, and mountain goats are common. The area has 200 species of bird life, and bald eagles are very prominent.

Harriman Fjord

Five glaciers flow into protected Harriman Fjords, which spans 12 miles from Barry Arm near Whittier to the terminus of Harriman Glacier. Cruising the frigid waters of the inlet presents opportunities to see orca and humpback whales, Dall’s porpoise, sea lions, sea otters, and harbor seals. The region’s crystalline rivers and streams are home to five species of wild salmon, increasing the chance of sighting bears fishing on shore. The Harriman Fjord was named for the expedition that mapped the area and can be explored after experiencing the grandeur of College Fjord on our 26 Glacier Cruise that follows the route of the 1899 Harriman Expedition.

Contact Phillips Cruise & Tours to Book Your Alaska Day Cruise Today

Prince William Sound is the best place in Alaska to see stunning coastal scenery and tidewater glaciers calving into the ocean. Cruise passengers can view spectacular waterfalls and wildlife, including bald eagles, seabirds, otters, and, occasionally, whales. The close proximity to shore means you’ll see peaks rising from 2,000 – 9,000 feet straight from the water’s edge and have an opportunity to glimpse wildlife on shore.

At Phillips Cruises & Tours, we operate one-day glacier cruises from Whittier, Alaska. Our guests explore spectacular Prince William Sound in first-class comfort aboard stable, high-speed catamarans that allow passengers to get closer to the region’s stunning glaciers and local wildlife at sea and onshore. The 26 Glacier Cruise is a 5.5-hour tour following the Harriman Expedition route through Esther Passage, College Fjord, and Harriman Fjord. The Glacier Quest Cruise is a 3.75-hour cruise exploring Shotgun Cove and Blackstone Bay. All cruises include narration by Chugach National Forest Service Rangers and a delicious hot meal.

When you’re ready to experience the unforgettable sights and sounds of America’s Land of the Midnight Sun, book one of our day cruises to witness the unique marvels of Prince William Sound. Contact us today to book a glacier cruise sure to be the highlight of your Alaska vacation.

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