Whittier tunnel
 

We'd like to book a cruise to see the glaciers out of Whittier and were also thinking about taking the ferry to Valdez, but wondered about the tunnel situation. I read that there was only one lane and there's a wait involved. Actually, there's a schedule posted with the times. Has anyone experienced this? Was there a problem?

No problem at all. Depending on when you arrive there, I think the MOST you might have to wait is a half hour. It's pretty neat driving through this one lane tunnel right over the train tracks.

Thanks, Patrick. By the way, if we're taking the ferry to Valdez from Whittier, in your opinion would it still make sense to take the Kenai Fjords cruise out of Seward?

Haven't done either, so I can't help you there.

OK, thanks again.

Jacquie -

I'm planning a 2004 June trip to Alaska and I've gotten a lot of information off this board to help me.

The question you ask about the two cruises has been asked a lot and from my reading this seems to be the consensus of opinion. Generallly, on the Whitter trip you see more glaciers and on the kenai fjords trip you see more wildlife. Most people say its worth it to take both trips but many say if you can only take one trip to do the kenai fjords trip.

If you haven't already done it, do a search on this site by typing in something general like Alaska or maybe Kenai Fjords to be more specific in the search box at the top of the page. You should get a lot of info.

Hope this helps.

Hi Karen,
Actually, I did read about the two tours and decided to do both, but that was before we decided to take the ferry from Whittier to Valdez. Now, I'm wondering if the sights we see on the ferry will be pretty much what we'll see on the kenai fjord cruise. I'll do a posting re the Whittier-Valdez ferry ride and see if anyone has done both. Thanks.

The scenery will be somewhat similar (PW Sound is gorgeous no matter what the itinerary.) However, the Whittier and Seward tours are focused on showing off the wildlife, glaciers, all that, while the ferry is there to take people from A to B. All 3 might seem a bit repititious, but if you have the time and the budget, why not? No two tours are identical, and being there for the calving glacier or the breaching whale is not something you can set your watch by.

The tunnel, btw, is no big deal; just allow yourself leeway for whatever departure from Whittier you're planning; also allow some time to walk from the parking lot to the dock for the various cruises - it can be up to a 10 or 15 min. walk depending on where in the lot you end up.

Thanks, Gardyloo, just what I wanted to Know.

My 2 cents- I have done all you are referring to. It is worthwhile to take both boat trips- glacier cruise out of Whittier and the Kenai Fjords trip out of Seward- IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME. If you are only allowing a couple days- then it is too much on the water if you are also taking the ferry. As mentioned the ferry is transportation. But the route is very scenic- but more scenic on the Valdez- Whittier direction, the Whittier - Valdez direction goes more south. As for the tunnel, just be very aware of the open times and allow yourself extra time.