Anchorage Cruise Port Guide

Whittier is a tiny town of about 220 residents on the western shore of Prince William Sound, serving as the Gulf of Alaska embarkation and disembarkation point for one-way Alaska cruises marketed as departing from or arriving in Anchorage.

Anchorage itself is 60 miles north by road, connected to Whittier through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the longest highway tunnel in North America (2.5 miles, shared with rail traffic on a scheduled basis).

Ships dock at the dedicated cruise terminal in Whittier's small harbor, surrounded by glacier-carved mountains and waterfall-streaked cliffs. This is almost exclusively a turnaround port. Passengers either begin or end their cruise here, connecting to Anchorage by bus, train, or cruise line transfer for flights home or pre/post-cruise land tours.

Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian all use Whittier for Gulf of Alaska crossings. The town itself is famously compact. Nearly all residents live in a single building (the Begich Towers, a former Cold War-era military barracks), and the town has a handful of restaurants, a small harbor, and a grocery store.

The scenery is the attraction: Prince William Sound's glaciers, mountains, and wildlife are the backdrop to your embarkation day.

The cruise terminal is in Whittier's tiny harbor, within walking distance of the entire town (5 minutes covers it all). There is almost nothing to get around to independently. Whittier has a few restaurants, a small marina, and the Begich Towers building.

For Anchorage connections, cruise lines offer transfer buses ($40 to $80 per person, 1.5 to 2 hours depending on tunnel traffic). The Alaska Railroad runs between Whittier and Anchorage (2.5 hours, $80 to $130 one-way, spectacular glacier and mountain scenery).

The train ride is one of the best in Alaska and worth choosing over the bus if your schedule allows. Independent driving from Anchorage to Whittier takes about 1.5 hours on the Seward Highway (one of America's most scenic drives) and through the Anton Anderson Tunnel, which operates on a scheduled traffic pattern (vehicles enter in one direction at a time, with 15 to 30 minute waits).

Rental car drop-off is limited in Whittier. Most passengers use organized transfers or the train. If doing a pre-cruise night in Anchorage, arrange transfer to Whittier early to account for tunnel delays.

Whittier's cruise season runs May through September, with most sailings concentrated June through August. Summer temperatures range 50 to 65 degrees F (10 to 18 degrees C), though Whittier is notably wetter than most Alaska destinations, receiving over 170 inches of rain annually.

It is one of the wettest places in North America. Rain is expected and normal; bring waterproof gear regardless of forecast. June tends to have the most sunshine (relatively speaking) and longest days with 18+ hours of daylight.

July is warmest. August brings fall color starting on the mountain slopes and active salmon runs in local streams. May and September are cooler (42 to 55 degrees F / 6 to 13 degrees C) with fewer sailings and higher rain probability.

Prince William Sound glaciers are accessible from Whittier year-round by tour boat, but cruise-adjacent tours run primarily June through August. There are no major festivals or events in Whittier; it's a transit point, not a destination town.

For embarkation weather, June through mid-August gives the best odds of manageable conditions for your first or last day.

Whittier is a transit point rather than a destination, and most passengers spend minimal time here beyond embarkation or disembarkation logistics. That said, if you arrive early or have time before your transfer, there are a few options.

The Portage Pass Trail (2 miles round trip) starts near the tunnel entrance and climbs to views of Portage Glacier and the surrounding ice fields. It's a moderate hike with a significant payoff. The Prince William Sound Museum in the harbor area has small exhibits on local history, including the military origins of Whittier and the devastating 1964 earthquake (free or small donation).

The harbor itself is active with fishing boats and tour operators, and you can watch otters and seabirds from the dock. The Begich Towers, where most of the town lives, is worth a look from outside for the sheer novelty (an entire community in one Cold War-era building).

For food, a handful of restaurants near the harbor serve seafood, burgers, and coffee. Options are very limited. If you have a full pre-cruise or post-cruise day, spend it in Anchorage or on the Seward Highway rather than in Whittier itself.

Prince William Sound glacier cruises are the signature experience accessible from Whittier. Tour boats depart from the harbor for 3 to 5 hour cruises past tidewater glaciers (primarily Blackstone and Surprise glaciers), with wildlife including sea otters, humpback whales, harbor seals on ice, and puffin colonies.

Half-day tours run $150 to $250. These are available as pre-cruise or post-cruise add-ons and are among the best glacier experiences in Alaska. Kayaking in Prince William Sound ($100 to $200 for half day) puts you among icebergs and wildlife at water level.

Fishing charters from Whittier harbor run $250 to $400 for halibut and salmon. For most embarkation passengers, the primary excursion decision is whether to do a Prince William Sound glacier cruise before boarding the ship or to save glacier viewing for the cruise itself (many itineraries include Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay).

If your cruise doesn't include a glacier day, the Whittier boat tour is an excellent addition. For disembarkation passengers heading to Anchorage, the Alaska Railroad ride is the excursion: a scenic train through mountains and alongside glaciers.

Ships dock at Whittier's cruise terminal. No tendering. US dollars and cards accepted at the limited businesses in town. English spoken. Whittier is tiny, safe, and functional. Dress for rain. Whittier averages over 170 inches of precipitation annually, making it one of the wettest inhabited places in North America.

Waterproof jacket, pants, and shoes are not optional gear. The biggest logistical consideration is the Anchorage transfer. The Anton Anderson Tunnel operates on a schedule, with traffic alternating directions every 15 to 30 minutes.

Delays are common, especially on cruise ship embarkation days. If driving independently, check the tunnel schedule at dot.alaska.gov and budget extra time. Most passengers use cruise line transfers or the train to avoid the hassle.

If flying into Anchorage for embarkation, arrive the day before. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) is a 1.5 to 2 hour drive from Whittier plus tunnel wait time. Same-day arrival is risky.

Whittier has no hotels (the closest are in Portage or Anchorage), so overnight stays require planning. The town has limited cell service and no public Wi-Fi.