Cruise the calm, protected waters of Prince William Sound and come face to face with tidewater glaciers plus an amazing array of wildlife on Phillips' 26 Glacier Cruise. Their vessel is the fastest, largest, and most luxurious high-speed catamaran in Alaska. No seasickness, guaranteed, or the price of the cruise will be refunded.
While you enjoy a hot lunch, the Klondike Express zips you from Whittier deep into Prince William Sound. During the 4.5-hour tour, you'll travel over 135 miles, cruising to the face of Harvard Glacier at the end of College Fjord, ice permitting, and then to Barry Arm and Harriman Fjord where you'll see more tidewater glaciers. No other cruise takes you so close to these icy giants. The boat comes as close as 400 to 500 feet, letting you hear the glaciers move as well as see the brilliant blues in the ice. Because the glaciers are so huge-some go 18 miles back and a mile across- it will seem like you're even closer.
While your captain can't turn off the engines, she
does turn them down as low as possible. She'll also
rotate the boat so everyone can see, offering a different
angle each minute. When stopped, the Klondike's crew
actually hangs over the side and brings up glacier
ice for you to touch. It's a rare day when you don't
see some kind of calving activity, anything from little
snowballs to a big sheet of ice.
In early May and June, watch for "maternity wards" of
otters and seals on the ice bergs; the abrasive ice
serves to ward off orcas. Watch for "rafts" of otters
as well-maybe 300 all together; like synchronized swimmers,
they'll flip from floating on their backs and dive
into the water all at once. The most common whales
in Prince William Sound are humpbacks and orcas, with
sightings of minke whales as well. You may also spot
wildlife on land, such as bear and mountain goats.
Of the 200 species of bird life inhabiting this area,
bald eagles are very prominent. Before returning to
Whittier, you'll visit a bird rookery home to thousands
of kittiwakes.
The half-day cruise also includes
narration on the history of the
Alaska Natives who ventured into
the sound in centuries past. Listen as the crew explains
how the fjords have been transformed over the past
15,000 years. Learn about the various types of glaciers
along the route and the history of the Harriman Expedition
of 100 years ago that named many of the glaciers.
Phillips also operates a morning
cruise, the Sunrise
Glacier Express. The three-hour and
25-minute cruise includes Barry Arm and Harriman
Fjord. This tour is perfect for younger children
who get restless on a longer cruise or need
an afternoon nap. Sunrise is also less expensive.
Light refreshments are served, with additional
food for sale.
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