🎯 Activity
Columbia Glacier Boat Cruise
Six-hour cruise to Columbia Glacier with whale, otter, and seabird viewing.
Typical duration
360 min
Price
$145-155 adult (≈ €134–144)
From port
0.8 km / 0.5 mi
Transfer time
10 min
Indoor / Outdoor
outdoor
Queue risk
low
🕐 Best time to visit
June to September; check sailing schedule as not daily
The Columbia Glacier cruise is the premier excursion from Valdez. Two main operators — Stan Stephens Cruises and Lu-Lu Belle Tours — run 6-hour sailings from the Small Boat Harbor through Prince William Sound to Alaska's second-largest tidewater glacier. The route passes through otter-rich waters with frequent whale, seal, and puffin sightings. A light meal is served onboard. The glacier has retreated significantly since the 1980s but still calves dramatically into the fjord. Book in advance — sailings are not daily and fill quickly in summer.
Getting there from the port
Walk east from Kelsey Dock to Small Boat Harbor departure point