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You’ve seen pictures of towers of glacial ice crashing into the ocean. You'll be glad to know that Alaska glacier cruises--the best way to get up close and personal with these icy behemoths--are among the most affordable and easiest to arrange day tours from Anchorage. Far and away the most popular Alaska glacier tours are half-day wildlife and glacier cruises into either Prince William Sound or Kenai Fjords. Portage Glacier offers a super quick alternative to see a glacier up close. Even large-ship cruisers should hop aboard one of these boats to really feel the rumble of calving tidewater glaciers or hear the thrilling, unearthly song of whales.
The glacier rich waters of coastal Alaska are as pristine as they were a thousand years ago. And an Alaska glacier cruise is not just an unforgettable way to experience this unchanged call of the wild, but also the only way to see that quintessential Alaskan coastal scenery you've dreamed of.
You'll also get close to Alaska's marine mammals. Passing through gorgeous inlets and fjords, you'll look for bears, mountain goats, bald eagles, and puffins. Then sail into waters jumping with seals, porpoises, and sea lions.
Prince William Sound
Kenai Fjords
Portage Glacier
Jump to Town: Kenai Fjords | Prince William Sound | Portage Glacier
Kenai Fjords //Seward • Best Wildlife • 2 hrs from Anchorage by car, 4 hrs by train
Kenai Fjords Tours
A fleet of fast, modern boats takes you to specifically selected tidewater glaciers as you watch for puffins, cormorants, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, sea lions, and more. This veteran tour operator offers a lot of variety with its day trips into Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. Some tours are designed to please birders or shutterbugs, while some are perfect for families with little kids. You’ll hear the captain’s narration on all of them, sharing his deep knowledge of the Seward area’s history and terrain.
Major Marine Kenai Fjords Cruise
Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords are great places to see wildlife and glaciers. And Major Marine’s vessels, which have cozy heated cabins and an outdoor viewing area, can take you out to see both. The half- and full-day excursions offer an Alaska salmon and prime rib buffet. to enjoy while you take in the scenery.
Prince William Sound //Whittier • Best Glaciers • 1.5 hrs from Anchorage by car, 2 hrs by train
Lazy Otter Charters Custom Sightseeing Tours
Lazy Otter offers classic tours, but this is a water taxi, so they’ll also take you anywhere you want to go within Price William Sound—or just customize a tour to whatever you want to see. Maybe that's glaciers, or whales,—or maybe it’s quiet time on a secluded beach. Lazy Otter can also help facilitate taking you and your family on a camping trip. You're not held to any strict schedule, either: if, on a day tour, you can spend more time in one spot if you want to see if a glacier will calve.
Phillips Cruises & Tours - 26 Glacier Cruise
Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise, out of Whittier, will take you to 26 different glaciers in just 5 hours. Enjoy cozy comforts on the high-speed catamaran and wander its outdoor decks as you come within 300 feet of massive tidewater glaciers. In addition to glaciers, the captain will be on the lookout for wildlife like otters, whales, harbor seals, and marine birds. The trip takes place in the afternoon, and a hot lunch is included in your tour.
Portage Glacier //1 hr from Anchorage by car
Portage Glacier Cruise
Just an hour’s drive from Anchorage, the MV Ptarmigan let you get within 300 feet of the towering ice wall called Portage Glacier. You can also book a narrated motorcoach tour to take you to Portage Glacier.
