Whittier Cruise Port
Whittier, United States · Alaska
Cruise ships dock at Head of the Bay Cruise Dock, Whittier.
Plan my port daysSmall, remote turnaround port with a short walk into town and onward tunnel access to Anchorage.
At a glance
Port summary
Whittier is primarily a turnaround port. Most passengers embark or disembark here and transfer to Anchorage via the single-lane Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. On-day sightseeing is limited to the town itself and Prince William Sound glacier cruises.
Cruise docks
Head of the Bay Cruise Dock
Primary Whittier cruise berth at the head of Passage Canal. Operated by Princess and used for turnaround calls by most major lines. Walk-off straight into the Harbor Triangle.
Latitude: 60.778754, Longitude: -148.697237
See dock on port map →Glacier Creek Terminal - NCL
Norwegian Cruise Line berth, north of the main cruise berth. Occasionally used when the Head of the Bay Dock is in heavy turnaround use.
Latitude: 60.78506, Longitude: -148.713581
See dock on port map →Getting to Whittier
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards work for tours and shops; carry small USD cash for tips and quick buys.
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Inside the Alaska collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Whittier cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 compared26 Glacier Cruise of Prince William Sound
≈ 5.5 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€315$354
Do it yourself
€230$258
Save ≈ €85Save ≈ $95 (27% off)
The Phillips boarding dock is in the Whittier small-boat harbour, a flat 8–10 minute walk from the cruise terminal at the head of Passage Canal. Walk-up at the Phillips ticket window is rare on cruise days — book the same 12:00 PM departure direct on phillipscruises.com for $219+tax (~€220) instead of the ship's $329+ price. The fare includes a hot meal (smoked salmon chowder, salad, roll), USB charging at every table and the 'no seasickness' guarantee; cell coverage drops to nothing past Passage Canal, so download maps before boarding.
See the DIY plan →
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Portage Valley
≈ 5.5 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€210$236
Do it yourself
€179$201
Save ≈ €31Save ≈ $35 (15% off)
Rental cars aren't available in Whittier itself, so the realistic DIY for a port-call day is a shared shuttle that handles the tunnel timing for you — Magic Bus, Salmonberry Tours and Alaska Cruise Transfer all run Whittier↔AWCC round-trips with a 90-minute AWCC stop for ~$140–160 per person. The Anton Anderson Tunnel is one-way and only opens eastbound (Whittier→Anchorage) on the hour, so private timing matters: shuttle operators schedule around the cruise-ship arrival window. AWCC entry is $30 (~€27) at the gate; the visitor café handles a quick lunch.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
9 plansThe 26 Glacier Cruise, Booked Direct
Five and a quarter hours through Passage Canal, Port Wells and College Fjord on exactly the catamaran your ship resells — for around a hundred dollars less per person.
Glacier Quest: The Short Glacier Boat
Three and three-quarter hours to Blackstone Bay and back, with a hot meal, a heated cabin and a child fare — the glacier day that fits a short call and a short attention span.
Portage Pass on Foot
The one hike in Alaska where you walk out of a cruise terminal and, ninety minutes later, are looking down on a glacier and a lake full of icebergs — for nothing.
Whittier for Nothing
A waterfall, an abandoned army city, a fourteen-storey building that contains an entire town, and a cove where locals swim — three hours, not a dollar spent.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Whittier?
- Your ship docks directly at the Whittier cruise terminal in United States.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Whittier?
- Yes. Whittier is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Whittier centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Local bus, Taxi. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Whittier?
- Plan for at least 2 hours ashore to see Whittier independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Whittier and are cards accepted?
- Whittier uses the US Dollar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the Whittier cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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