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Portage Glacier Scenic Cruise & Drive with Airport Transfer

Whittier, Alaska, US

Activity Level

Excursion Type

Wheelchair Accessible

Starting At

Minimum Age

Information Not Currently Available

Approximately 5 Hours

Meals Included

Meals not included

Board a motorcoach for a 30-minute panoramic drive to scenic Portage Lake . At the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center , you will learn about glaciers, wildlife and the Chugach National Forest. Board the m/v Ptarmigan for an unforgettable cruise, navigating the iceberg-dotted waters to within 300 yards of Portage Glacier. Enjoy the spectacular views and 60-minute narrated tour from a seat in the enclosed lounge or from the open-air observation deck.

At the Portage Day Lodge , you'll have time to purchase lunch or a snack (at your own expense) and shop for Alaskan artwork and gifts in the gallery.

Relax on the 75-minute narrated drive along the Seward Highway -- a Scenic Byway -- skirting Turnagain Arm, picturesque mountains and pristine wilderness. Upon arrival in Anchorage, you'll transfer to the airport or downtown hospitality center, depending on your itinerary.

This tour is available only to guests whose cruise ends in Whittier with an overnight stay in Anchorage or to guests transferring to the airport with flights departing after 4pm. Cruisetour guests who will spend the first night of their land package in Anchorage can participate in this tour. The tour ends at Anchorage Airport at 2pm and at the downtown hospitality center at 2:30pm. If you have already purchased an airport transfer with your cruise booking, a refund for the transfer will be processed on board the ship, as this excursion automatically includes a transfer. This tour operates under a Special Use Permit issued by the US Forest Service. Dress warmly in layers with a wind- and waterproof outer layer. On visits before Memorial Day and after Labor Day, the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center is closed; a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center will be substituted.

Portage Glacier Cruise Tour

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Description

Points of Interest

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Step on the MV Ptarmigan for an unforgettable one-hour cruise across iceberg-dotted Portage Lake. Cruising across Portage Lake, you'll quickly see why Portage Glacier is one of Alaska's most popular attractions. Standing just 300 yards from a relic of the Ice Age, you'll watch for fractures of ice break off the glacier and crash into the water below. You'll also stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for the opportunity to view wildlife up close.

Special Notes:

Portage Glacier Cruise

Review Highlights

“ Portage is the closest glacier to Anchorage , drive time is a good hours and the ride is amazing. ” in 7 reviews

“ The Ptarmigan is the only boat operating on Portage Lake and it only operates mid-May to mid-September. ” in 4 reviews

“ The boat is large and has a lower enclosed floor that is heated and then an open air top deck . ” in 6 reviews

Location & Hours

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401 Portage Lake Lp

Girdwood, AK 99587

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I went on an hour narrated cruise this morning. I loved it! The scenery was amazing, the staff was super friendly and knowledgeable and the ride to the location from Anchorage was beautiful. The staff was more than happy to take pictures for people and even suggested some photo ideas with props from the boat. They even scooped up a couple pieces of glacier ice from the water and chopped it up so we could try a piece of it. The history of the glacier was interesting to say the least. The price for this excursion was very reasonable. Don't forget to pack some cash to tip the captain/mates. Dress warm as it got a little chilly and I noticed some people were not prepared.

I discovered Portage Glacier Cruise on a whim as I was driving 88 miles north from Seward, AK. I guess I got lucky. Having the opportunity to see a mammoth glacier up close without having a reservation at the start of the peak tourism season was priceless for me. It was $45 for an hour boat tour. Done. No problem. Glaciers in my opinion are wondrous and myself being from South Florida, lol, we don't see them too often, hahaha. Just to back up a few moments.....I had just spent 4 days in Seward where it had pretty much rained the entire time during my visit back in late June. That was quite depressing. This being my last full day on my 2 week Alaskan vacation...I was still yearning for more to see and do as I was ultimately making my way back to Anchorage. This Portage Glacier Cruise was an ideal stop here in Whittier, Alaska. I arrived first thing in the morning around 9am. I stopped in at the Visitors Center to purchase my ticket and I was good to go. I didn't need an advanced reservation. I was excited knowing I was getting to see a grand glacier on my last day in Alaska and the fact that it was just cloudy and not rainy....I was revved to go! Since I was here early, I parked in the lot by the docking station and grabbed a few photos before boarding. I'd definitely recommend getting there as soon as possible as I was able to snap some good pictures of myself and the Portage Glacier Cruise sign (worthwhile) and with the boat called the Ptarmigan without being disrupted by strangers. And...the views looking out upon the lake were decent, though cloudy. Eventually tourists started lining up to board. I had no issues not waiting in line as I had predetermined that I didn't care about sitting down on the boat ride. I'd stand for the hour on the top deck (which was open aired) and capture as many photos as possible (as is my usual situation, lol). Then...a couple of school buses pulled up to the dock and tons of students started exiting the buses to obviously join us on the tour. I started freaking out! In my head I thought..."no! Now it's going to be a full and busy tour and I won't be able to capture isolated photos of myself without being bombarded by strangers!!" Welp, then I got in line immediately just ahead of the students to secure my place on board. Overall though, it didn't matter. The Ptarmigan had 2 decks with more than enough room up top for all the students (plus myself, lol). This was a relief. I was just shocked that anyone even stayed in the lower deck. The upper deck had some benches to sit down on but I was content standing. Now...I was very concerned that when we arrived at Portage Glacier there wouldn't be sufficient time for enough viewing and photo taking. That couldn't have been further from the truth. The crew and boat circled in and around, back and forth, over and over and over. For the full hour, we spent about 40 minutes simply navigating around the glacier so everyone had their opportunities to capture up close shots and take worthwhile pics. Ultimately, it was this aspect that truly won me over. So...maybe it was a 10 minute ride to and from Portage Glacier but I was quite happy having sufficient time being at the glacier as circled it multiple times! Good job by the cruise company! The 10 minute ride to and from Portage Glacier was decently scenic. It could have been much, much better had it not been so cloudy and foggy outside. Still, once at Portage Glacier, it was in full unimpeded view regardless of the weather. Well, come to think....I'm just grateful at least it never rained, thankfully! This Portage Glacier Cruise was a terrific and worthwhile way to spend time here in Whittier, Alaska. These days not many glacier tours and cruises can be so roadside accessible to explore without having to trek hard (either by foot, air or water) just to get there. This Portage Glacier Cruise debunked those facts. I'd certainly recommend to everyone to ride this cruise. It's so simple and convenient. Almost forgot, I happily tipped $5 to the crew as I exited. On board for the hour...they spoke on the loudspeaker and talked about all the details and history on Portage Glacier. It was very informative. For late June, it was not too chilly outside but I still wore pants and long sleeves. Btw...Portage Glacier was picturesque. It was huge. It wasn't colorful like I had seen at other glaciers during my journey throughout Alaska but the appearance was still very, very impressive! Portage Glacier Cruise...what a terrific way to spend a portion of my final day here in Alaska.

Great cruise around the lake to see portage glacier. Staff on and off the boat was great. The woman in the gift place connected to where you get your tickets is a bigot and does not understand or care about (ADA law) American's with disabilities act. I told her my animal is a service dog and she said no dogs allowed and told me to leave. I had all my usual things as proof and she didn't care. Boat cruise was great, I won't support a business who does not train their staff. Shame on them.

What can I say about this cruise without sounding too cheesy? Is there not a saying that a ship is only as good as her crew? I'm sure that's a thing, right? Haha! (I really wish I could have used a pirate icon there instead.) The Ptarmigan's crew was the best! The Park Rangers (tour guides) who walked us through the cruise were great! Especially the lady who resettled there from Florida. She was a hoot! She was very informative, fun, witty, funny, and full of life. Not boring at all as I've experienced before from other tours! You'll learn about the lake's environment, the area's weather, and of course, its history. So much glacial and geological history here especially for you geo buffs. Anyway, the Captain and her crew were super friendly and very accommodating. I even got our selfie in the bridge! How cool is that!?! You absolutely cannot go wrong with making this cruise your Alaskan glacier cruise during your visit! Please check them out! I am positive you'll enjoy them as much as we did!

See all photos from Omar M. for Portage Glacier Cruise

One of the highlights during my Alaska trip was definitely the Portage Glacier Cruise because it allowed me to see the glacier up close. With so many of the glaciers melting at an alarming rate over the years.. many of the formerly roadside glaciers can no longer be accessed so easily. Portage Glacier (formerly a roadside glacier) used to extend into the Visitors Center but over the years it has melted so much that Portage Lake was formed and the only ways to visit this glacier is via a long hike or a 1 hour Ptarmigan boat ride on Portage Lake. Tours occur from May through September since the lake freezes up to 5 feet during the winter months. Times: 10:30 AM | Noon | 1:30 PM | 3 PM | 4:30 PM Buying Tickets: $39 ($5 coupon online) Tickets can be purchased online ( http://www.portageglaciercruises.com/tours.cfm) or onsite at the Portage Glacier Cafe (401 Portage Lake Loop, Girdwood, AK 99587). The Glacier Cafe has a small gift shop, food, restrooms, and information about Portage Glacier. We decided to purchase the tickets onsite because we weren't sure at what time we would arrive since we were driving in from Anchorage (1h drive) with other stops along the way. I called a day in advance and they still had lots of availability probably because it was for a Friday. The staff did mention they expected a lot of tour buses the next day on Saturday. From Portage Glacier Cafe, it's a short 5-min drive to the docking station. There's plenty of parking and clean restrooms. There's also restrooms inside the Ptarmigan on the first level where it's enclosed and heated. We boarded the Ptarmigan and went to the top deck to enjoy the open breeze. The boat ride got pretty windy and cold even though it was a very sunny day. The Ptarmigan slowed down as we got near the glaciers and up close you could see parts of the glacier was very blue. They did a great job narrating the history of the glacier & wildlife in the area. There was even a U.S. Forest service representative that answered all of our questions. Overall it was a great way to get close to a glacier especially when you consider that on a typical Alaska cruise, you see the glaciers from a far distance since it's not safe for large cruise ships to get too close to a glacier. To really get close to a glacier you'd have to opt for a small boat ride, helicopter ride, or visit one of the few remaining roadside glaciers. Although it was neat to see the glacier calving chunks of ice into the lake, it's also sad to see the extent that this glacier has shrunk over time. Hurry up and go visit Portage Glacier before it disappears!

We came here based on recommendations from colleagues. You purchase your tickets at one location and then drive about five minutes to the boat. There is plenty of parking. The boat is large and has a lower enclosed floor that is heated and then an open air top deck. There are restrooms on the boat. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The park employee did a great job with the information provided. The cruise lasted an hour. It doesn't travel far in distance. It is more of a slow and leisurely cruise. If you do a search, you can find a $5 off coupon online. I did not print mine out. Presenting it on my phone was sufficient. It was a fun way to spend an hour with my son and give him the opportunity to see a Glacier up close.

Over the past 100 years, Portage Glacier has retreated over 3 miles (5 km) to its present location. In its wake, a lake was born ... and soon thereafter the Portage Glacier Cruise to serve tourists that want to actually see one of Alaska's top tourist attractions: the shrinking Portage Glacier 50 miles southeast of Anchorage. The Ptarmigan is the only boat operating on Portage Lake and it only operates mid-May to mid-September. Tickets are $39/adult and $19/child with $5 discounts if you purchase online in advance. To get within 300 yards of the glacier, the slow-moving 80-foot boat with reinforced hull floats along peacefully for 1-hour on the "lake that didn't exist" to see a glacier that may not exist much longer. We witnessed the dramatic calving of sections with plenty of video and photo opportunities from the open air upper deck. The lower level is a heated enclosed cabin with expansive windows for those that want to stay warm. The tour guide was an informative U.S. Forest Service representative. Note that the Portage Glacier Cruise does NOT depart from the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. It was built in 1986, but the glacier can't be seen from there anymore. Tickets for the tour can be purchased at the Visitor Center or at the boat. Summer 2018 departure times are 10:30, Noon, 1:30, 3:00, and 4:30. The high cost of the cruise is hardly worth the 60-minute tour; however, I still rate Portage Glacier Cruise 5-stars because without it, I'd be forced to take the 6-mile hike to see the receding Portage Glacier and beautiful Portage Lake left in its wake.

See all photos from Michael S. for Portage Glacier Cruise

Well worth the time,especially on a nice day. The staff was friendly. A little unorganized at times. No meet and greet, show up.

Awesome convenient tour. Highly recommended. Bought out tickets online ($39 each for a one hour tour). Tour operated by Gray Line Alaska. One hour drive south of Anchorage. Lots of parking. MV Ptarmigan is like a ferry and it operates on a lake so the ride was very smooth. Boat crew super friendly. Tour narrated by a great US Forest Service employee who provided lots of helpful info on the glacier. You can view the glacier from inside the boat or borrow an outer rain jacket and go out on the exposed top deck for best viewing. Boat makes a couple of passes in front of the glacier so lots of opportunity to view and photo the glacier and the chunks of ice floating in the lake.

Portage Glacier Cruises is awesome! If you are going to be on a boat in the Anchorage area, go here. I went here in late July, and I'm completely satisfied. The MV Ptarmigan (the boat) is very big, with plenty of personal space on the average day. You can stand on the deck upstairs and feel the wind in your face, and go downstairs to a warm area below deck, and still see what is going on through the super-clear, clean windows. There are also chairs next to the windows, as well as rental jackets if you're really cold. The tour guide explained everything nicely, although she was a bit loud over the speakers. There's also a little corner towards the back of the boat where little kids can color and have fun. I would definitely recommend, even for people who get sea-sick (the boat does not rock at all!). As always when visiting Alaska, please keep yourself warm, especially if you're from a hot place. As a Floridian not used to the cold, I ended up catching an awful cold after just 2 days, and was sick for an entire month after the vacation. Please be careful!

Just a selfie by a glacier.

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Portage Glacier Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Portage Glacier Cruise and Northern Lights Coupon

By vbmom87 , January 28, 2008 in Alaska

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I believe I have read on these boards that the Portage Glacier Cruise was not particularly good, but a stop at the Portage Visitor center was worthwhile. I noticed that the Northern Lights Coupon Book has two coupons that say:

Portage Glacier Cruises

This Coupon Entitles the Bearer To A

Limit One Use Per Coupon * Not Valied With Any Other Promotions

If these coupons are really for a FREE excursion, would it be worth it? I am also confused as to the address on the coupon. It gives an Anchorage address on 4th Avenue. I am assuming this is an office, but you would go to Portage to pick up the excursion. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

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It is actually good for a free excursion. I've been on it several times and really enjoy it - for a quick but up-close (and cheap) look at a glacier, it's a great excursion. Online, the 4:30 sailings are always half-price ( http://www.graylinealaska.com/webspecials.cfm/mode/detail/product_id/2138 ). You get on the boat at Portage (no shuttles from Anchorage are offered except as part of longer tours).

We will there in June. Do you think this is a tour one usually needs a reservation for or would we likely be okay as walkups. Since we really will have no idea how much time we will spend along the arm, I hate to be locked into a tour time. What do you think?

You can walk up - there's always been lots of room on the boat even mid-season. I don't know if the coupon has book-ahead restrictions, though.

Thanks. The coupon says nothing about restrictions. I keep reading it because I can't believe the coupon is free and not a buy one get one free.

DisneyScrapper

We really enjoyed this. We were very lucky to see calving while we were on the boat, which was the very first for us.

can somebosy tell me where you get this boat and where exactly the visitor center is? it doesnt say on the web site link.

They're both at Portage Lake, about a mile apart. If you mean where's the lake, it's between Anchorage and Whittier or Seward. I see they have bus transportation from Anchorage available this year - http://www.graylinealaska.com/sightseeingtours.cfm/mode/detail/product_id/2164

• 1 year later...

Choozin Croozin

Is this boat trip purely to see the glacier? or will you see wildlife too?

It's "just" a glacier trip :)

Thanks Murray! I'll keep that in mind.:)

lawahoo2001

I called the Gray Line folks, as we are interested in the same free tour through the northern lights book. They said there are no quotas for how many coupon users can be on the boat. Also, no need to book in advance as the boats rarely fill up and there are a bunch of them throughout the day (only an hour long cruise).

I just checked my Northern Lights book and the line right below the one's that were quoted in regular type and not bold says one is free when you purchase another.

I have a suspicion that because that thread was from 1/08 that maybe they goofed (or not) last year and changed it for this year?? Just a guess.

Lookingforfacts

The Northern Lights website identifies this as a BOGO offer. Any business has the right not to honor an offer that has a misprint or typo, particularly one this obvious. I don't know if the OP misread the coupon or if there is a typo.

In 2008 the cruises were actually free, not BOGO - they just wanted to get the word out about what great value the MV Ptarmigan is, particularly when you only have a couple of hours to spare.

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Gray Line Tours

Portage glacier cruise only - 10:30 am (self drive), portage glacier cruise only - 10:30 am (self drive) - ac1 itinerary.

Get up close to Portage Glacier aboard the  mv Ptarmigan . The one-hour cruise includes narration from the National Forest Service. This sightseeing tour is a perfect option for vacationers and visiting friends & family since it is only a one hour drive from Anchorage.

• The only boat operating on Portage Lake
• Onboard narration
• Fully enclosed, heated cabin
• Expansive windows for enhanced viewing
• Topside view-deck offers a great vantage point for watching the glacier “calve,” and for visitors to enjoy the fresh air
• Holds up to 144 passengers
• 80-foot vessel was built on site at Portage Lake to U.S. Coast Guard specifications
• 6.5-foot draft for minimal environmental impact
• Sound system cannot be heard from the shore, ensuring preservation of this naturally peaceful setting for wildlife and other visitors
• Hull designed for safety in ice-filled waters
• Operates on National Forest Service lands of the Chugach National Forest and is under a special use permit from the USDA Forest Service

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