Trip highlights

Are you coming on a Columbia Glacier or Meares Glacier Cruise this summer and don’t know what to bring? Great news – this is Deckhand Allie’s guide to comfortable cruising in Prince William Sound!

To start, Allie always recommends layers, a tip she got from her mom. “Valdez is known to be rainy, so even on sunny days I bring a raincoat. The weather could change, or I’ll use it to block the wind when I’m outside and traveling at speed”. A good pair of pants and an additional jacket are always nice as well. Allie also says she likes to keep a beanie in her backpack as well. 

For food and drinks, Allie enjoys the complimentary water, tea, coffee, and lemonade all day. On our Columbia Glacier Cruise, we offer a complimentary light lunch of a cup of soup, a bagel and cream cheese. On the Meares Glacier Cruise, we offer a complimentary toasted bagel with cream cheese, peanut butter, or butter. Allie is gluten-free, and enjoys the gluten-free soup when we have it, but always brings her own snacks too. “The cash snack bar is great – I love the hot chocolate after time at the glacier! I always bring an extra granola bar or two as well. One of my favorite things is seeing all the snacks people bring. I’ve had people bring coolers and whip out full charcuterie boards – nothing is off limits (except for alcohol of course)” she shared. 

Other must haves from Allie include a charged camera or phone – although she shared that there are outlets for chargers in case your battery drains during the trip – sunglasses, and a deck of cards. She said that she has seen people watercolor and journal along the trip. “I wish I was that talented! We get people who journal what they see and immediately draw or record it beautifully. It always makes me smile knowing that our trips are once in a lifetime experiences!”. Binoculars are great too, but you can rent a pair if needed for five dollars onboard. 

We look forward to welcoming you on your own journey through Prince William Sound soon on your Alaskan summer vacation!