26 Glacier Cruise - Whittier, Alaska - Alaska Cruise on the Klondike Express

26 Glacier Cruise takes passengers around the glaciers of Alaska starting from Whittier, which is approximately 60 miles from Anchorage International Airport. The cruise operates every day between May and September aboard the fastest and largest catamaran in the state, the Klondike Express. The boat sails through the protected waters of Prince William Sound and provides passengers with great views of the glaciers and wildlife as well as narration by a US Forest Service Ranger.

The Klondike Express is a 137 foot high catamaran that can hold 342 passengers on three decks, two of which are enclosed and heated. It has comfortable upholstered booths with tables and large windows at every seat to ensure passengers get a good view at all times. The non smoking vessel also features a saloon, snack bar, gift shop as well as seven restrooms and a hot lunch is provided as part of the experience.

Departing from the city of Whittier on the northeast shore of the Kenai Peninsula, the catamaran takes passengers 145 miles through the passageways of Prince William Sound. It begins by heading east through Passage Canal to the Egg Rock sea lion rookery in Port Wells before moving on to Esther Passage, a scenic area where only small ships can pass through. The high mountains surrounding this small passage protect it from high winds and rough seas, and here many different types of wildlife can be seen such as bald eagles, sea otters, the occasional puffin and even whales.

Moving on to College Fjord the catamaran heads north providing passengers with wonderful views of the glaciers, which were named after the Eastern Colleges during the Harriman Expedition of 1899. Edward Harriman was a rich and powerful man in the U.S who owned several railroads, but on advice from his doctor to rest he set off on a two month journey from Seattle along the coast of Alaska and on to Siberia. Harriman was joined on the trip by various scientists, naturalists, photographers and artists from various colleges.

The cruise moves on to Surprise Glacier and Barry Arm located in Harriman Fjord and then up to the front of the glacier so passengers can see house size blocks of ice rising from the sea. As the vessel heads back to Whittier there is a stop at another rookery, where passengers will see many of the 10,000 kittiwakes that inhabit the rocky cliffs here. From the rookery the catamaran heads back to the marina at Whittier, which is just a five minute journey.

The cruise departs from Whittier at 12.30pm and returns by 5.30pm although on some Mondays and Saturdays there are sailings from 1.15pm, returning at 6.15pm. If driving from Anchorage to the Whittier Tunnel staging area, passengers should allow for a journey of about one and a half hours. Alternatively there is the option of a comfortable journey here via the Alaska Railroad and Magic Bus, which pass through the scenic Turnagain Arm and Portage Valley.