My family of four (2 kids 13 &15) absolutely enjoyed our day. We all rated it highly. The boat (Glacier Explorer) was clean and well maintained. The staff was attentive and worked very hard to ensure everyone was enjoying the trip. They stopped for animal viewing all the time.
We saw a pod of orcas so close you could smell their terrible breath. They had a baby too! Humpback whales, fin whales, harbor seals, stellar seals, puffins, glacier super close. The crew pulled some ice on board for folks to taste.
This ship was not overly crowded so we definitely were able to get good views and great videos and pictures.
Tips: take Dramamine BEFORE you board!!!! or even better get a prescription patch from the doc before you go. Lots of sick people on the boat even though most of the cruise was super flat and easy. Once you start feeling sick it’s already too late to take Dramamine.
Bring snacks and maybe some drinks, lunch was filling and decent, dinner was okay - but unless you want to buy from the snack bar you’ll probably want a snack. Also the $9 unlimited refill cup is a deal.
Wear layers. When you’re outside and the boat is cruising it can get chilly. We did okay in long pants, sweatshirts, puffy vests, beanies. Hands in pockets or gloves. But don’t show up in a T-shirt and shorts with no other clothes. Even in July it’s cold on the water.
Don’t forget to bring a little cash to tip the crew. They really work hard for the guests.
Arrive a little early to pick a good seat. Downstairs by a window is best.
Cons: It was a little long at 8 hours. We had some down time mid-day when there wasn’t much animal life to see. We played cards and some of us napped.
Dinner was…not great. I compared it to a Hungry man dinner. My kids didn’t complain so that’s a bonus. Salad, coleslaw, rolls, mashed potatoes, corn, and some chicken that may have been microwaved.
Three bathrooms on board but I still had to wait a few times to go.
All in all we enjoyed it and recommend it for anyone visiting the area. We drive down from Anchorage and the 2.5 hour drive is long but scenic as well.