Portage Glacier Cruise

Portage Glacier is the easiest glacier to reach from Anchorage, a short drive along Turnagain Arm and through the Portage Valley. The MV Ptarmigan runs a 60-minute narrated cruise across Portage Lake, passing icebergs and floating close enough to the glacier face for photographs. The cruise departs from the Portage Glacier Cafe area, and you can drive yourself or choose a longer package from Anchorage. The Tiqets listing sells the cruise with advance booking, and the operator asks for bookings at least five days ahead on its own page. Combine it with the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center and a drive down the Seward Highway, one of the most scenic drives in the state. The glacier has retreated and is not visible from the visitor center, so the boat is the way to see it.

Season and schedule. Alaska.org lists the cruise season as mid-May to mid-September using 2026 dates, with cruise-only departures at 10:30am, noon, 1:30pm, 3pm and 4:30pm. The 2027 dates have not been published, so confirm them at booking. The cruise is closed in November and bookable now for next summer.

Options. The cruise-only trip is one hour, with Portage Lake as the departure point about an hour south of Anchorage, with typical prices around 59 US dollars for adults and 49 for children. A longer 5.5 hour option adds the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with round-trip transport from Anchorage, and a 3.5 hour express departs from the Hotel Captain Cook at 9am. Transport to the lake is not included in the cruise-only fare.

Planning. Wear layers, because the lake wind is cold and the glacier chills the air. Allow time for a drive along Turnagain Arm, looking for beluga whales near Beluga Point in summer and Dall sheep on the cliffs. The Whittier tunnel is nearby if you want a different glacier day. If you are visiting Seward, you can drive through the valley on the way, then continue to Kenai Fjords.