Glacier Quest Cruise Self Drive
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Drive the Seward Highway along the scenic Turnagain Arm to Whittier. The Glacier Quest Cruise takes you from the quaint seaside town of Whittier to glacier-filled Blackstone Bay, a dramatic deep-water fjord where two tidewater glaciers and several alpine glaciers await. Keep an eye out for sea otters, Steller sea lions, bears, mountain goats, whales, and more! You will see several glaciers, including Tebenkof Glacier, named for Mikhail Demitrievich Tebenkof, an outstanding surveyor whose maps were the first charts of Alaska’s waters published in 1852. Northland Glacier rests majestically, clinging to the edge of the towering mountain. Blackstone and Beloit are tidewater glaciers that have carved a steep pathway to reach Prince William Sound’s saltwater. Cruise up close to these massive glaciers to watch for telltale signs of movement signaled by the distinct “pop” of glacier ice calving.
Inclusions
What's included
- No Seasickness Guarantee - Our smooth cruising catamarans & the calm waters of Prince William Sound.
- Wild Alaska smoked salmon chowder, oyster crackers, Julienne vegetable salad, cheese stick, fruit snack, and a Peppermint Pattie. Request Vegetarian Chili or Kids’ Meal 48 hours prior
- Smoke-free vessels - We do not allow any form of tobacco, marijuana, vape or e-cigarettes.
- ADA Accessibility limited - Please call regarding your specific needs so we can assist you.
- Restroom on board
- Coffee, hot tea, and ice water are available.
What's not
- Gift Shop items are available for purchase on board to share with family back home.
- 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
Itinerary
Add travel time from Anchorage to Whittier at 90 minutes each way. From Girdwood to Whittier, allow 45 minutes. We recommend taking the 11:30 AM tunnel entrance at the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel to access Whittier in time for the Glacier Quest Cruise. The tunnel is open thirty minutes past the hour for access to Whittier. After your cruise, the tunnel opens on the hour to depart Whittier until 11:00 PM.
The Glacier Quest Cruise travels 45 miles into Blackstone Bay where seven glaciers and glistening waters provide a spectacular panoramic view from the mountain peaks above to the turquoise saltwater sea below. Please check-in one hour before cruise departure time.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 520
- 41
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 21 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- 10:00 AM Drive Anchorage to Whittier, allowing 1.5 hours travel time. 11:30 AM Travel through North America's longest shared rail and vehicle tunnel. 12:00 PM Arrive, Whittier. Check-in and board cruise by 12:55 PM.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 140 travellers
- Operated by
- Phillips Cruises & Tours, LLC
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Whittier
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 26 experiences we list in Whittier.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 8 of 26.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Whittier
Whittier is a small Alaskan port at the head of Passage Canal in Prince William Sound, reached by a railway tunnel and ringed by glaciers and mountains.
Whittier lies at the head of Passage Canal in Prince William Sound, a small port ringed by steep mountains and waterfalls, south-east of Anchorage. Most of its residents live in a single tall building, Begich Towers, and the town was built as a military port and rail terminal during the Second World War. It is reached by the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, about four kilometres long, which carries both road and railway through the mountain on a single track.
Top-ranked sights in Whittier: Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel (Whittier Tunnel).
