Whittier Cruises

Cruise Marketplace has cruises departing from Whittier. Whittier, Alaska is located at the northern end of glacier-lined Passage Canal in Prince William Sound, 65 miles southeast of Anchorage. This tiny, remote community was established as a strategic military facility during World War II. Whittier's ice-free port has served various marine activities from freight transfers of sea-train barges heading to South-central Alaska to a fishing and tourism port.

In 1941, the U.S. Congress appropriated $5 million to construct a 2.5 mile tunnel to penetrate the mountains to connect Whittier to Anchorage. This tunnel would be one of the largest in the world, and two years and two tunnels later, the first train arrived in Whittier on June 1, 1943, forever linking this Alaskan outpost by sea and land. Call CruiseMarketplace today to book your cruises departing from Whittier, Alaska. 1.800.826.4333.

By the year 2000, the tunnel began to serve both vehicles and the train. Two of the largest buildings in Alaska were also constructed in Whittier during the war, with the unique concept of housing all residents under one roof. To this day, most of the population of 185 lives in one of these tall buildings, and its tiny boat harbor remains the gateway to the pristine wonders of the beautiful Prince William Sound wilderness.


What is so special about cruises departing from Whittier, Alaska?? The tiny city of about 180 residents is a natural benefit for cruise lines sailing Alaska itineraries, actually more than an hour closer to Anchorage than Seward (it takes about 90 minutes to get to Whittier from the Anchorage airport). Both Princess and Carnival are in town (Princess arrived in 2004 and Carnival was added in 2005), and Norwegian Cruise Line also now visits as a port of call. Some 200,000 cruise passengers a summer are now part of the Whittier scene. Cruise Marketplace books cruises departing from Whittier - 1-800-826-4333.

Cruise Marketplace has cruises departing from Whittier. Whittier serves as an access point for those who want to visit Prince William Sound, and one of Alaska's primary cruise-ship ports of embarkation. There's a small-boat harbor; a cruise-ship terminal and dock; a ferry terminal for trips to Valdez, Seward, and Cordova; fishing and sightseeing charter companies; and sea-kayak rentals and tours. A few restaurants and shops surround the harbor, but lodging facilities are limited. The most charitable description of the town is that it's unlovely. The view looking away from Whittier on a clear day, on the other hand, is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. The surrounding mountain peaks cradle alpine glaciers, and when the summer weather melts off the huge winter snow load, you can catch glimpses of the brilliant blue ice underneath. Sheer cliffs drop into Passage Canal and provide nesting places for flocks of black-legged kittiwakes, sea otters and harbor seals cavort in the small-boat harbor, and salmon return to spawn in nearby streams. A short boat ride out into the sound reveals tidewater glaciers, and an alert wildlife watcher can catch sight of mountain goats clinging to the mountainsides and black bears patrolling the beaches and hillsides in their constant search for food. It can be an amazingly memorable place. Call CruiseMarketplace today to book your cruises departing from Whittier, Alaska. 1.800.826.4333.