Arriving By Cruise Ship

Our day cruises connect seamlessly with the 7-day cruises across the Gulf of Alaska to the seaside port of Whittier, Alaska. Phillips Cruises & Tours, LLC docks in the Cliffside Marina adjacent to the Whittier Cruise Ship Terminal. Cruise ship guests will have plenty of time in port to enjoy our 26 Glacier Cruise or the Glacier Quest Cruise before or after their 7-day cruise. Our cruises also connect seamlessly with coach and rail service between Anchorage, Girdwood, and Whittier.

Check-in

Check-in for day cruises at our Whittier ticket office located in the Cliffside Marina. All guests must be on board at least 15 minutes before cruise departure time.

Luggage:

While you will be responsible for transferring your luggage between the transportation provider and the cruise ship terminal, we can provide assistance with storing your luggage during the cruise. Your luggage may be stored in a secure location next to our office and reclaimed after the day cruise. The Cruise Ship Terminal is adjacent to our pier and the ground surface is paved for an easy transition between the day cruise and the cruise ship.

Embarking Guests:

Coach Service: The coach departs Anchorage at 9:15 a.m. from the Hotel Captain Cook (downtown location). If you are staying near the airport, or at a midtown hotel, please contact our office for the nearest pickup location. The location where you will board the coach must be confirmed at the time of reservation. Please note, if you wish to experience the 26 Glacier Cruise, the Anchorage to Whittier coach service is your only option for transportation.

Rail Service: The Alaska Railroad operates their Glacier Discovery rail segment between Anchorage and Whittier. Check-in is 8:45 a.m. for a 9:30 a.m. all aboard! The Alaska Rail Depot is located at 411 W 1st Avenue in downtown Anchorage. The Alaska Railroad will arrive in Whittier at 12:05 p.m. Please note, the Anchorage to Whittier rail service only arrives in time for the Glacier Quest Cruise.

Disembarking Guests:

Day Cruise Coach Service: The day cruise coach service departs at 5:45 p.m. from the Cliffside Marina. Ask for your driver in front of the Phillips Cruises & Tours ticket office and our crew will direct you to where the coach is staged. If guests are staying at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, we make a brief stop at 6:45 p.m. before continuing on to Anchorage for drop-off at the Hotel Captain Cook around 7:30 p.m. The last stop will be at the Anchorage International Airport at approximately 8:00 p.m. which allows an easy connection to flights departing Anchorage after 10:00 p.m.

Rail Service: Boarding begins at 6:15 p.m. and the Glacier Discovery train departs Whittier at 6:45 p.m. The train returns to Anchorage at approximately 9:15 p.m. to the Alaska Railroad Depot on 1st Avenue. A taxi or ride-share service from the rail depot to your next destination is recommended.

Arrival Tips

Upon arrival to Whittier, please check in for your cruise. You’ll see our ticket office with a yellow triangle sign on a red roof to your left as you approach the town. Our check-in booth is just a few steps away in the same lot by the Cliffside Marina which is where you’ll receive your boarding card for the cruise.

After checking in, we invite you to explore the town of Whittier. Here are a few of our favorite stops:

• Drop by Lazy Otter for a coffee or salmon spread bagel.
• Satisfy your sweet tooth at the Whittier Fudge Company
• Seeking some fresh fish or shrimp? Check out Fee’s Custom Seafood.
• Buy a gift for friends and family back home from Log Cabin Gifts
• Have lunch or dinner at China Sea or Swiftwater Cafe
• Learn about WWII at the museum next to the Anchor Inn
• Stay or dine at the Inn at Whittier
• Stop by Wild Catch Cafe for Kaladi Coffee, breakfast or lunch
• Check out kayaking options with Alaska Sea Kayakers
• Watch the daily catch arrive in the small boat harbor
• Hike a trail, walk the harbor, or just sit and relax or read a book

After your cruise, you may wish to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, located at mile 79 on the Seward highway. This is a great place to view musk ox, moose, wood bison, caribou and bears!

CAPTAIN’S LOGS:

Phillips Cruises and Tours provides narration in English on board during our cruises. We have also translated the information for our guests into the following languages: Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Please see the links below to download a copy of the information for your personal reference. We recommend you download the file prior to arrival in Whittier as wifi is very limited and not provided by Phillips Cruises & Tours. The content and images on the Website, Brochures, or Captain’s Log may not be reproduced. For images or content to use in your own marketing, please contact our sales and marketing department.