My husband and I went on the 7 hour Columbia Glacier cruise on June 5, 2010. I have nothing but nice things to say about the crew- they were all friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The captain was very talkative (he shared information about the area's geography and history) and did a wonderful job navigating the icy area around Columbia Glacier. The boat (Glacier Spirit) was clean and comfortable, with seats inside and outside. There is a lunch served, which consists of a cup of soup and a bagel. You can bring your own snacks too, and many people did. Definitely dress in layers and bring a jacket. It was a warm, sunny day in Valdez when we went, but it got windy out in Port, and the air was noticeably colder as we neared the glacier. We saw the following wildlife: otters, Dall's porpoises, a humpback whale, bald eagles, tufted puffin, and stellar sea lions. When we came upon animals or a particularly scenic spot, the captain would stop the boat long enough for people to get a good look and take pictures. I would definitely recommend this trip to visiting friends and relatives.