Prince William Sound Cruise
Northern Explorer Adventures specializes in intimate Prince William Sound cruises for small groups of up to 6 guests. We offer individualized itineraries for 3-night cruises as we traverse southcentral Alaska’s spectacular Prince William Sound.
 
Full boat charters and customized trips of one to seven days are also available upon request. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
 
Weather, wildlife sighting opportunities and our guests’ preferences can all affect our daily route as itineraries can change. However, the following 4-day itineraries provide a good snapshot of your Prince William Sound cruise.
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DAY 1
You’ll first step aboard the Northern Explorer from the dock in Whittier. Meet your personable captain and crew, and get settled into your private stateroom. Then take a few minutes to explore the beautiful cruising yacht that will be your home for the next several days.
 
As we leave the harbor, the crew will ask for your full attention as they explain the safety features of the ship, including our eight-man life raft, personal floatation jackets, 17-foot inflatable shore boat, and fire extinguishers.
 
We’ll then be underway for Blackstone Glacier. Be sure to watch for whales, porpoise, sea otters, puffins, bald eagles and black bears that frequent this area.
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Our leisurely afternoon in Blackstone Bay includes a delicious gourmet lunch. We’ll depart afterwards and make our way to a beautiful Secret Cove, where you can choose how to spend your time.
  • Kayak along the secluded beach and watch for wildlife.
  • Hike along the shoreline.
  • Visit a prime berry-picking area (when is season) to sample fresh, wild Alaska berries.
 
Back on board, enjoy freshly prepared hors d’oeuvres in the main salon, followed by dinner. After-dinner options include watching a movie, playing a board game, or a serene kayak on the calm waters of Secret Cove. We are here for the night.

DAY 2
There is nothing like starting your day with a kayak through Secret Cove as the fog lifts toward the morning sun. We’ll have breakfast here, and depart around 10 a.m. to make our way through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Prince William Sound. 
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​This morning’s activity options include:
  • Bear viewing. (This is an excellent time to watch for black bears rummaging the shoreline for food!)
  • Kayaking in one of several beautiful coves.
  • Hiking above the coves to watch for bald eagles, blue herons, mink and families of sea otters. (These small anchorages are very quiet and the wildlife here rarely sees outside visitors!)
We’ll depart early afternoon for one of the many beautiful bays in the sound. Once anchored, you can:
  • Sit in the glassed-in viewing deck or next to the fire pit on the top deck to watch the stellar sea lions hauled out on the rock outcroppings.
  • Take a short hike along the beach.
  • Visit a private fish hatchery.
 
We’ll end our day with fine dining and a good night’s sleep at anchor.
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DAY 3
We’ll be up early for breakfast, and then get underway for Lake Bay. Once anchored in the bay, we’ll go ashore for a guided tour of the Wally Noerenburg fish hatchery. Afterwards, we’ll return to the boat for a relaxing lunch or take a sack lunch to eat at Ester Falls – just a short hike away. We’ll serve our farewell dinner at Lake Bay and anchor here for the night.
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DAY 4

Enjoy a hearty breakfast because we have a lot planned for today! We’ll pull anchor early and head for Ester Passage, a very narrow pass leading to our next stop.
 
There, refuel with a filling lunch, then pull on your boots for some beachcombing along the sandy beach's. If you’re up for a short hike, grab your camera and we will head out looking for wildlife.
Late afternoon, we will journey back to the dock in Whittier, where we will unload and say our goodbyes.
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CUSTOMIZED Itinerary

Wild Alaskan brown bear
If you have chosen a customized cruise, your journey doesn’t end here. On day four, instead of heading back to the dock in Whittier, we will journey to one of our favorite stops, Hobo Bay. We’ll have our farewell dinner against a spectacular backdrop of glaciers. 
 
On day five, it’s rise and shine in Hobo Bay. After breakfast, it's time to kayak along the beach (keeping an eye out for bears along the beach or sea otters rolling in the bay) 
 
After lunch, we’ll make the two- to three-hour journey through Port Wells back to the dock in Whittier. Take advantage of this time to watch for whales along the way, especially at the entrance to the bay. Once docked, it will be time to unload and say our goodbyes.

​On-board gear

During your Prince William Sound cruise, we provide all the outdoor gear you need for excursions, including very stable and comfortable sea kayaks, rubber boots for nature hikes and beachcombing, rain gear for the occasional drizzly day, fishing poles and equipment, gold pans for trying your luck in the streams, and binoculars for wildlife viewing. We also have a very stable, 16-foot inflatable boat with 30hp outboard for fishing and shore excursions.

Comparing your options

When considering your Alaska private touring yacht options, be sure to compare our competitive rates, luxury accommodations, gourmet cuisine, small group size and personalized itineraries. We believe you will find Northern Explorer Adventures offers the highest standard of comfort and service at a comparable price.

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