Port
Whittier, Alaska, US
Activity Level
Moderate
Excursion Type
All
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At
$329.95
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
8¾ Hours
Meals Included
Meals included
Stretch your legs on a short walk from the cruise ship terminal to board a catamaran.
You'll travel 150 miles from Whittier into the pristine wilderness of Prince William Sound to view 26 massive glaciers, including Harvard Glacier in College Fjord. Narration by an expert Chugach National Forest Service ranger means your trip is both beautiful and educational.
On the catamaran, you'll come face to face with towering masses of ice in brilliant blue hues, so close that you can hear the glaciers moving. You will encounter several glacier types, including alpine (hanging), piedmont, and tidewater. The glaciers often calve -- pieces of ice break off and thunder into the water. It's an unforgettable experience.
On this cruise, the wildlife is equally astounding. Sightings of sea otters, seals, porpoises, sea lions and bald eagles are commonplace. You may also spot bears, mountain goats and humpback and orca whales. The captain will stop at a bird rookery that is home to thousands of kittiwakes.
Reserved seating, heated cabins, large panoramic windows, a hot meal, tea, coffee and ice water are all included. The boat also features a snack bar, gift shop and restrooms. The tour operator offers a 'no seasickness guarantee.'
Notes:
This tour is not available to guests staying on the ship for the cruise back to Vancouver. Tour is available only to guests whose cruise ends in Whittier with an overnight stay in Anchorage or to guests transferring to the airport with flights departing after 11pm. If you have already purchased a motorcoach airport transfer with your cruise booking, a refund for the transfer will be processed on board the ship, as this excursion automatically includes a motorcoach transfer. Cruisetour guests who will spend the first night of their land package in Anchorage can participate; however, the tour does not include a train transfer to Anchorage and if your Cruisetour included a train ride to Anchorage, it will be forfeited. For guests staying in Anchorage, the tour ends at select Anchorage hotels. Guests who booked their Anchorage hotel through Holland America Line will be dropped at their hotel by 8:30pm and collect their luggage there. For guests flying out of Anchorage, the tour ends at Anchorage Airport by 9pm. Guests who made their own Anchorage hotel arrangements will transfer to the airport, collect their luggage, and make their own way to their hotel via taxi or Uber (at your own expense) or hotel shuttle (if provided). The tour operator offers a 'no seasickness guarantee.' Dress warmly in layers with a wind- and waterproof outer layer; bring gloves, a scarf and a warm hat. Tour operates rain or shine. Wildlife sightings are likely but are not guaranteed. Northbound cruise ship routes include College Fjord, but this tour allows a closer view of the glaciers and wildlife. The boat may not be exclusive to Holland America Line guests.