Day Cruises in Kenai Fjords Vs Prince William Sound

Should I Take a Day Cruise from Seward (Kenai Fjords National Park) or Whittier (Prince William Sound)?

If you're visiting Anchorage you have two main choices to get on the water to see glaciers and wildlife. Here's our guide to help you decide which is right for you!

Best Glaciers: Prince William Sound from Whittier, Alaska

If you just can't leave Alaska without seeing a glacier calve, Prince William Sound is your best bet. It has the densest concentration of tidewater glaciers in the world, some flowing a dozen miles from ice-capped peaks to terminate in cliffs of ice towering hundreds of feet above the water. You'll also see spectacular waterfalls and wildlife, including bald eagles, seabirds, otters, and occasionally whales, but typically not on the same frequency as in Kenai Fjords. Shorter cruises stay in Blackstone Bay, while longer cruises go deep into the Sound.

Best Wildlife Viewing: Kenai Fjords from Seward, Alaska

If you are more interested in spotting whales, sea lions, and harbor seals while out glacier watching, cruise in Kenai Fjords. Other wildlife includes puffins, otters, and mountain goats. Shorter cruises stay in Resurrection Bay and view glaciers from a distance. Longer cruises go all the way into Kenai Fjords National Park to the face of impressive tidewater glaciers that calve, although not on the same scale or frequency as in Prince William Sound.

Other Considerations