A very nice and wonderful experience. Staff & the captain are very entertaining! They stuff us with good food and amazing time. Water, coffee & tea is unlimited and they baked fresh cookies for everyone!! read more

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I have never seen anything so stunning in my life. Watching a glacier up close as it calves, next to a huge waterfall? Am I dreaming? Our captain was outstanding and narrated a great cruise. Food and drinks were great. This is an absolute must do for anyone visiting the area. Skip anything else to make time to do this cruise. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. read more

26 Glacier Cruise - Boat Charters Near Me

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26 Glacier Tour Cruise is the #1 reason why tourists visit Whittier, Alaska. I took the cruise the other day, July 28, 2022. Overall, I had a good time except for one aspect...and that being when outside on the decks for viewing the glaciers, people hog the railings to take their pictures. Then they rotate family members without time for other passengers to get their memorable moments. I actually reached out to the tour hosts...Phillips Cruises, about this matter. I asked if maybe they can make a few announcements and reminders about tourists being courteous to each other, but Phillips declined to do this. I guess maybe they don't want to cause a stir. I don't know specifically why, but all I'd suggest is that for future passengers...BE AGGRESSIVE AND ASSERTIVE when you want your pictures and time at the best stops along the cruise tour! With that being said, let me give details about 26 Glacier Tour Cruise... It cost $203.95 all-in including taxes and fees for the trip. It departs out of Whittier, Alaska which is located 60 miles east of Anchorage. Plus, you must pay $13 to take the mandatory tunnel to arrive in Whittier and $10 for daily parking. If possible, when determining your plans, try and pick a day when it'll be sunny out because that'll obviously totally enhance the picturesque perspectives of all the glaciers. I must give the hosts, Phillips Cruises, credit in terms of providing all extras for taking the cruise. In multiple emails, they explained everything! Quick rundown of times... - Take the 10:30am ferry into Whittier. - Check-in at 11:30am. - Board at 12pm. - Boat doors close at 12:30 pm. - Depart Whittier at 12:45pm. - 5 hours' worth of exploring Prince William Sound getting to see 26 glaciers including wildlife, like whales, otters and sealions. - Arrive back in Whittier at 6pm. - Exit the cruise ship - 6:15pm. The time flies by when onboard and navigating. There's much to see and do. Phillips provides lunch, which you'll eat within the 1st hour of cruising so then you can enjoy the sights and surroundings for the next 4 hours. I chose the seafood soup. It was delicious including a coleslaw side salad, piece of cheese, roll, chocolate candy, and some gummy fruit snack. Then, on the return trip back to Whittier, they provide fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. Phillips does pick your seat, which you'll use your as a "home base" to leave your stuff while hanging on the upper and middle decks for viewing. They offer 4 and 6 person tables. For myself traveling alone, I shared a table with another couple and got to know them and become friendly. So...although they say "26 glaciers"...a lot of the glaciers you'll just pass by while cruising. You can take photos of them in the distance, but they won't stop and offer up-close angles of those glaciers. In the end, Phillips will afford passengers time at maybe 5 - 6 glaciers...where they'll stop the boat and slowly rotate it around so passengers can have their family photos. But beware, depending on which side of the boat the views are on, other passengers will hover and breathe on top of you with disregard to your personal space. I HATED THIS! People have no respect for giving others a chance! The best highlight was SURPRISE GLACIER! Stunning! It's hard to describe...but with the sun in full force, it was so colorful and positioned perfectly along with a couple of small charter boats floating around making for wonderful picture taking moments. Also, CASCADE GLACIER was terrific. Cascade Glacier was situated next to 2 other glaciers, so ultimately you get 3 glaciers for the price of one! Again, the captain will slow the boat down for passengers to snap pics. We did stop and spend 20 minutes watching whales swim in the distance. People appreciated this. I found it boring and unphotographable. Another great point about the cruise, they had a Park Ranger onboard to do a lot of the talking and explaining over the loudspeaker. The cruise features unlimited water, coffee and hot tea. There's a gift shop on the lower level to buy souvenirs. You can pay to have alcoholic drinks and snacks/candies/extras. Btw, at Cascade Glacier, the tour crew handed out signs including Christmas Signs for those wanting to capture family photos from their experience. This was a creative idea. All the passengers were taking turns grabbing signs and asking crew members to snap their photos. Lastly, within the 5 hours of cruising, I'd say 1 hour each way (2 hours in total) you'll be spending just hanging out and appreciating the fresh ocean air. It's only until you arrive in the heart of Prince William Sound that the real action begins. Overall, I liked the 26 Glacier Cruise. Other than the same passengers hogging the rail times over and over and over again, I'd give it 5 stars. And...for being so closely situated to Anchorage, Seward, Girdwood and many other worthwhile Alaskan attractions, make sure to keep this cruise tour on your To-Do List. read more

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The cruise is absolutely beautiful. The meals were very tasty. The ship was spotless. The staff was helpful. Captain Dave was knowledgeable. Ranger John was informative. We had a sunny day to experience the glaciers. This cruise is an absolute must for anyone visiting the area. read more

26 Glacier Cruise - Harvard glacier - Boat Charters Near Me

Overpriced experience! It is a rather long day for only a couple of stops to actually go out on the bow to see a glacier. I assumed with 26 glaciers there would be most time spent outside actually taking in the view. Instead you are inside a cabin with over 200 others unable to really see anything. Unfortunately, this is a packed like sardine experience where everyone floods out the door when opened at only 2 glacier stops. Other than one rock with sea lions there was no real wildlife to be seen so don't expect to experience that either. The food was mediocre at best and only tiny cups for some self serve coffee, tea, and tap water. Also, don't bank on the no seasick guarantee. I became sick and took 12 hours to recover after exiting the boat. read more

Excellent glacier viewing experience but a rather long day. The tour we booked includes both the train ride (from Anchorage to Whittier and back) and the cruise itself. The train ride was fun and full of beautiful views and plenty of humor from our guide, a precocious young lady who has yet to graduate high school. The cruise itself was of course the highlight of the day and included lots of narrations from both the ranger and the captain, who had a keen eye for spotting whales and made every effort to stop to let us film. The cruise also includes a delicious lunch (clam chowder or chili) and free coffee, which I sorely needed after a long day of walking yesterday. Overall, this was an excellent experience but a rather long day if you ride the train. You can save at least 2 hours if you drive a car but we chose to experience the train ride that I've heard so much about. I highly recommend this company for its professionalism and great overall experience! read more

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I arranged a cruise for 13 visitors on Mon. July 8, 2024. It was superb. Everyone was 100% satisfied with every aspect of the cruise. The chowder/chili were both very good. The captain and crew did such a great job!! The boat and facilities were all spotless and in excellent condition. The ride went smooth as silk. We went at a good clip (with a few slow-downs to point out highlights), and hung out at the biggest glaciers long enough to see a fairly big calving of ice. I was DELIGHTED at the courtesy, kindness and humor demonstrated by EVERY CREW MEMBER! I'd like to give friendly shout-outs to: MaQ, Tom, Nizhoni, Mark, Cass, Kylie and Zoe. I cannot recommend the Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise more highly!! read more

A bucket list item fulfilled in a magnificent way. The glaciars should be seen by everyone, andbthis is a very comfortable way to do so. Captain knowledgable but not overwhelming with chatter. Crew helpful and kind. Boat ride calm even at higher speeds, and interiors clean, including the facilities read more

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Peaceful and educational/ glad we took the time to stop by. Great spot for pictures. Alaska at its finest for sure. read more

This cruise is a must! We drove about an hour from Anchorage and parked directly by where you load on the ship ($15 for parking). We got there a little early and got some coffee at the café close by. The small town Whittier is so so cool! The boat was so spacious and comfortable with large tables to sit at. We ended up sitting on the upper level with our own access to the decks. Beautiful scenery with so many glaciers. We were able to spot a black bear and sea lions & otters. read more

26 Glacier Cruise - Boat Charters Near Me

This cruise was really beautiful. Saw a lot of sea otters and seals and even a seal on the ice.

This is a very stable boat making it really, really hard to get sea sick on. Unlike other boats, this one is fast! As such, one is not looking at the same view for long periods of time. New glaciers and things to see quickly come into view throughout the tour. The clam chowder is good. The rest of the meal that accompanies it is okay. The onboard full bar is solid and not over priced! The staff are very positive, helpful and knowledgeable - a retired ranger even provides commentary throughout the tour! Strongly recommend bringing jacket, hat & gloves even on a good weather day if one wants to be on deck when the ship is traveling at 30+ mph. Boat does stop at glaciers for photo ops and to watch calving. Animals seen: Bear, otter, eagle, seals and fish a jumpin. read more

We wanted to see glaciers without spending days on a cruise ship, and this was an excellent alternative. We lucked into seeing major calving from the Harvard Glacier, saw lots of otters, a few dolphins, many seas lions, a great Kittiwake nesting area, and scores of waterfalls. Food was good, staff was great, and the narration was top-notch. We took the round-trip train from Anchorage, which was sort of OK, but there are faster ways to get there. read more

Horrible company. 80 year old lady couldn't walk unassisted during boarding and had to goto hospital. The company refused to refund the family. Offered to refund 75% for one person to transfer to a hospital and expected the rest of the family to go on the cruise. Go to Seward. Family oriented companies out there. read more

Great cruise! We were disappointed that we didn't see any whales but saw a lot of otters and sea lions along the way. No seasickness as advertised. Bring your binoculars! Staff was wonderful! read more

26 Glacier Cruise - Sea otters - Boat Charters Near Me

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We took this tour as an excursion through our cruise line and it exceeded every expectation I had. The staff was so attentive and friendly, ensuring you and your family are as comfortable as possible. There was a ranger from the US Forestry Service on board to give his commentary on the nature and wildlife in the area which was very valuable in enhancing the overall experience. Our captain did an excellent job of spotting wildlife and getting the boat within a safe distance for viewing, even turning the boat slowly 360deg so everyone could have a chance to see. We were able to see a black bear, tons of sea otters, sea lions, Dall porpoises, seals, and humpback whales on this trip (not to mention the glaciers). We got so close to the glaciers; it was absolutely amazing. I would 10000% recommend this tour! read more

Can't recommend this enough. We took the train from Anchorage to the ship and I highly recommend that vs the bus. The cruise itself was served by staff who were diligently seeking out ways in which they could make your experience better. The food was better than expected although I didn't have high expectations, but you are here for the glaciers, not the food. Quit reading and book this trip. The extra time on the boat vs alternate trips is well worth the extra money and you see so much more. read more

Only had one free day so tried this out. Fun and easy one day event. Got lucky and had perfect weather , salmon boats and a few whales. Great pics that I could not get from road. read more

Informative cruise. Beautiful scenery. Pilot saw a whale and turned around for us to see if it would surface again. Unfortunately, it was rainy so didn't see as much on the way out. read more

26 Glacier Cruise - 3 glaciers - Boat Charters Near Me

Don't pay this company in advance if there is any chance of bad weather. They issue refunds randomly, but will invent excuses at will to retain payment. One member of our party was issued a same day refund, while the others were refused. Clearly they strive to minimize profit losses on bad weather days. read more

26 Glacier Cruise - Zero visibility day. Too bad, no refund for some of you. - Boat Charters Near Me

Was really happy with Philips 26 Glacier Cruise! Husband and I roadtripped all over Alaska and decided to do one day cruise with this company. Prince William sound is beautiful and had plenty of wildlife sitings out on the water. You cover a lot of "ground" and see glaciers from every angle. The captain was great at turning the boat around so that everyone could get a good look. You end up getting pretty up close and personal with some glaciers and seeing/hearing calving. There was a ranger on our boat who was speaking about the history and interesting backgrounds of the land, the native people, the wildlife, and the explorers tied to the area. All in all, if you aren't already cruising to this location and you've opted to explore Alaska on your own, I highly recommend opting to take the 26 glacier cruise tour! read more

Excellent tour of the beautiful glaciers. Our captain and ranger were so knowledgeable and we could clearly understand everything they were pointing out as we cruised along the glaciers with clear blue skies. Highly recommend 26 Glacier Cruise!! read more

There are cruises. And then there is Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise. One word: classy. The boat guarantees no sea sickness. It's a gentle sway. Hardly perceptible. Air conditioned interiors. Three decks to roam on throughout the duration of the cruise. Clear instructions, friendly captain. Awesome staff. Great bartender. And the complimentary coffee (also tea) on board was just our of this world tasty! Salmon chowder lunch was delicious. The cruise took us to a bunch of glaciers. And we got to see orcas swimming in threes!! Plus a bunch of other marine life such as seals, sea lions, and otters. A Forest Service Ranger on board gave live commentary and even graduated the kids to become junior ranger We got to Surprise glacier and watched chunks of ice fall into the ocean. Pièce de résistance: glacier ice margaritas made with ice scooped from the ocean by boat crew in front of us! One of the best cruise experiences of a lifetime! read more

26 Glacier Cruise - Boat Charters Near Me

I cannot say enough positive things about this cruise! It exceeded our expectations in many ways. From stepping onto the boat, to seeing calving glaciers, everything was top notch. The boat itself, The Bravest, was so beautiful, inside and out. I loved where they seated it...one of the table facing the front of the boat. We had a great view. My kids really enjoy hanging out on the spacious deck. The lunch was actually one of my favorites from our trip. Delicious chowder and slaw. We appreciated the complimentary tea and coffee and made use of it when we came back inside from the chilly deck. The variety of snacks and drinks for sale was perfect. Kept everyone happy for the 6 hours. Crew was phenomenal...very knowledgeable captain and extremely nice crewman! I highly highly recommend this cruise! read more

WOW - If I have said one thing over and over about my trip to Alaska, it was that the 26 Glacier Cruise was so, so worth it. My friend and I were simply floored by this experience, and I couldn't recommend it more highly as part of a true Alaska excursion. The cruise leaves from Whittier which is about an hour's drive from Anchorage (though plan your drive based on the Anton-Anderson Tunnel schedule since it is only open going toward Whittier every half hour!). That drive alone is a gorgeous trip on the Seward Highway alongside the Alaska Railroad tracks, replete with the mountains reflecting in the sparkling water. Once you're in Whittier, the dock is almost immediately outside the tunnel exit and parking was easy and fast (we found that you can park in a lot a little further away for free rather than paying for it right outside the dock, so keep that in mind!). The cruise is a five hour loop around Prince William Sound and various fjords and inlets to see the glaciers, wildlife (we saw humpback whales, sea otters, seals, sea lions, birds, etc.) and the entire experience is narrated via speakers on the boat by a National Parks Service employee pointing out interesting sights, facts, etc. A nice lunch was served (get the fish and chips, of course!) immediately upon departure which gives you the rest of the time to run around the boat getting the best views of everything. The ship pulls up really close to a number of glaciers and will sit there so everyone can hear the majestic thundering of the glaciers through the fjords (WOW!). We were blessed with terrific weather which helps, but bring a jacket anyway since it will be chilly no matter what! Overall, this is probably one of the best experiences anyone can have so close to Anchorage and at such a level of ease and convenience that everyone can do it. I could not recommend this experience more. read more

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Could I give this 7 stars instead of 5? This was the highlight of our trip. The only bummer we experienced is that we were seated on the lower deck with a couple who was very unhappy with their seat. They wanted the upper deck and complained to us more than we wanted to hear. We still had a window seat with great views. There are tables for 4 or for 6. At our table it was tight quarters and we bumped feet with the party across the table when we were there. We spent about 90% of the trip on one of the outer decks. We were lucky enough to have beautiful weather and outside was the place to be. First off the boat is amazing! I have done several ocean tours over the years and nothing compares to this boat. It is amazingly fast but covers a ton of water without any bumps. The boat went so fast that I couldn't keep a baseball cap on and had to stow it. The crew does an excellent job piloting the boat to great views and stopping for wildlife sightings. We saw eagles, porpoises and a sea lion. There is also a ranger on board from the national forest who did an great job narrating the tour and explaining what we were seeing. There are several complaints on this yelp feed about the food? We took that to heart and brought apples and some other snacks. When lunch was served we were pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. The seafood chowder was excellent and the coleslaw was pretty good. Most of the food we brought along went uneaten because we were full. The glaciers are amazing, the boat is great and the scenery is beautiful. If I had things to do over again I would have skipped Whittier. Not much to see there. Taking the 11:30 tunnel over would have been fine. We spent a couple of hours in a dreary town with not much to do. There is a lot to see on the drive down from Anchorage that we skipped out on to make that 10:30 tunnel time. read more

This was an amazing cruise and very comfortable. The crew was amazing, especially Tricia from Texas! Good prices on drinks and snacks and the bathrooms were extremely clean. read more

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I only gave this 3 stars because I took the cruise to see whales, and the company told us that they had seen whales this week, but I don't think there was actually any chance of seeing whales. The brochure says that we would be likely to see whales in the Esther passage, but we could not enter the Esther passage because salmon fishing was going on there. During salmon runs, they allow salmon fishing for something like 36 hours, then they give the salmon a break for around 24 hours so some can get through to spawn. We came while the salmon fishing was going on. Other than that, the cruise was great. Amazing scenery. Great staff. Food was excellent. read more

It was a very nice cruise. The captain was very knowledgeable and the narrative was interesting and engaging. The views are amazing. The food was ok and service very good. read more

Everything was great about my glacier cruise up until the point I fell overboard into the icy Alaskan waters. Our boat, the Klondike Express, could not have been cleaner. In fact, I think the price tag was still on it because it looked so new. No rust or wear whatsoever. The reason I point this out is because back in Connecticut there's an old ferry boat that can trace it roots back to D-Day in World War II. Some ferries never die. The entire crew was terrific in helping everyone to their seats and explaining everything throughout the day. Even the US Forest Ranger was great in explaining the glaciers and local wildlife. Regarding the other customers, there was a even mix of out-of-state tourists and local Alaskans. Yup, glacier cruising ain't a gimmicky touristy thing just for out-of-staters. Alaskans enjoy it too. Before I selected my trip I weighed the positives and negatives of all the boat cruises leaving out of Whittier and Seward. I chose the Whittier location because its boats visit more glaciers in Prince William Sound. Whereas Seward boats circle Resurrection Bay and visit less glaciers. I understand the Seward cruises typically see more wildlife, but I felt that sort of thing might be hit or miss. So I chose the safer route and saw more glaciers. However Prince William Sound wasn't entirely devoid of wildlife: we saw porpoises, sea lions, mountain goats, and several eagles. And secondly, I chose the 26 glacier cruise because they use the fastest boat in the region (which translates nicely to a 5 hour round trip time verses an 8 hour round trip time by the other boats). By the way, I lied about me falling overboard. That never happened. However I did learn occasionally some of the crew members will dive off the boat into the cold water when playing around. Boy, those crazy Alaskans. They'll do anything to cool off. read more

Very worthwhile tour if you have visitors from the lower 48. I believe my mom and I went on the only sunny day in the summer of 2010...I remember that being an unremarkable summer, weather-wise. Anywho, the tour lasts a few hours, is narrated by a professional (park ranger or biologist, I forgot), and they also included a nice boxed lunch. The cruise route leaves through Whittier and whips around Culross Island, passing a stellar sealion population. Then you enter into Barry Arm where amazing tidewater glaciers give fantastic photo ops. They enter the opening of College Fjord, but really don't go to far into it, as it's a pretty deep fjord. Very worthwhile to go regardless of the weather. It's a large catamaran, so the ride is very stable and comfortable. read more

Went to Anchorage for business and decided to schedule this for our day off. Totally worth it! The crew is great, narration was very informative and they pulled the boat right up to the cliffs and glaciers. Views were amazing :) We had a beautiful, clear day and although it was cold on deck when the ship was moving it was still bearable. Saw some wildlife. I recommend driving yourself. The drive to Whittier is beautiful and you pass through an amazing man made tunnel in a mountain. read more

26 Glacier Cruise - Boat Charters Near Me

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Just about everything on this cruise was fantastic. The glaciers are the real show and they did not disappoint. You zip past a bunch but spend a good deal of time checking out surprise and another series. They had a ranger on board and she was very informative and humorous. She even led a little junior ranger ceremony for the young ones. The other staff were friendly and helpful, and I believe the bar helped with the serious chill and wind you'll find on the top floor. The boat was both clean and steady - I tend to get motion sickness and had no problem at all. I'm glad we took this cruise instead of one out of Seward - it was slightly cheaper and a cute stop on the way further south on the peninsula. I'm not giving the fifth star after some thought - for the high price of the cruise, the food was ok but not great and our booth was a bit small for 6 people. I understand that we must share space with strangers, but at some points it felt like we're were stuffed like sardines. read more

Beautiful amazing awesome! Good customer service! Totally worth it! There is a lot of wildlife to see on this cruise, stuff you can't see other places like soaring Eagles and seals and salmon being pulled in by fisher man. read more

26 Glacier Cruise - Boat Charters Near Me

It may sound like a lo h cruise but its not. Git up close and perso al witht he glaciers and wildlife. The food was surprisingly excellent. Forest service does narration and the crew was great. A fantastic experience! read more

Great overall experience. I only have one complaint- there's no heads up that you have to share seating with other guests you don't know. They seat 6 to a table and we had a group of 4. Just fingers crossed you get a fun crowd at your table. Otherwise, the views were spectacular, boat ride was good, food was decent but That's not what we're here for. Comfy seats, and plenty of viewing room for everyone to experience. Ranger was good at telling us about the glaciers and wildlife. Overall I would recommend. read more

26 Glacier Cruise - Boat Charters Near Me

Three of us booked the trip the day prior to departure. We were not given any option to book table seats or told that we would be placed at a table of three facing three strangers. When we arrived we asked to have our seats or table changed and this courtesy was outright refused. As the trip progressed, it became obvious that the best seats - those at the windows and not facing outside across many other seats - are reserved for passengers off the cruise lines or bused in from Anchorage. It would be very easy for Phillips Cruises to show what table and seats you will receive when you book on line, but it does not. The reason it does not provide this service, which has become common for many venues, is obvious. It could not sell third class accommodations at first class prices. If you are not part of a group, I advise steering clear of this cruise. You will be paying full price, but the holders of tickets no doubt discounted for large groups, and not you, will be getting the full experience. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g31163-d620726-r229446724-26_Glacier_Cruise_by_Phillips_Cruises_and_Tours-Whittier_Alaska.html# read more

This was an excellent tour and we completely enjoyed it. We learned about the cruise from their sales office in downtown Anchorage. The tours leave from Whittier and the tour company provides transportation from Anchorage if you like. We chose to drive ourselves and Whittier is tiny so you can't miss the 26 Glacier tour office. There is parking available right next to the pier for $10. Also, to get through the tunnel to get into Whittier, you'll have to pay $12. 26 Glacier Tours offer a shorter excursion too, but it only goes to the Surprise Glacier (which is a part of the full tour) and skips everything else that we saw. I would recommend the full tour. The tour lasted about 4 1/2 to 5 hours and covered a huge area of Prince William Sound. Not only did we see 26 glaciers, but there where tons of wild life such as sea otters, bald eagles, goats and humpback whales to see too. We went in mid June and the boat was not completely full. The seating is quite tight we felt and if you get some large people at your table, it will not be comfortable. Fortunately, we were able to quickly shift to a vacant table once we were underway and desert our pre-assigned seats and have some elbow room. There is a meal that is served, it was just okay. But we were there for the views not the food. I would try to book on a day that their boat is not full as we could see how uncomfortable things could be if the boat was full. read more

We had booked the 26 Glacier Cruise, but there was an issue with the boat, so we ended up doing a different cruise that Phillips Cruises booked us on. Slightly shorter, but still great! They refunded the difference in cost, and still took note of our gluten-free menu need for the lunch. The guides and ship's crew were awesome. Definitely worth an afternoon if you're near Whittier. read more

Beautiful cruise, even in the rain. The sound of carving of ice crashing off glaciers is quite an experience. One of the memorable treats was drinking hand crafted vodka made of glacier water, on glacier ice. A must do adventure while in Alaska. read more

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