*If you have any questions that aren't answered in this post, please leave them in the comments section where I do my best to answer all Alaska related questions directly!
My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State. For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska. Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars! I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates. To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required). For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick. Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance. Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier. What to Expect on your Cruise
Stan Stephens Cruises offers 3 types of tours, the Mears Glacier Tour, Columbia Glacier Tour, and custom tours and charters - all of which venture into Prince William Sound from the town of Valdez. My husband and I went on the Mears Glacier Tour, which is the longer of the 2 public tours and allows for more wildlife encounters and more time at the glaciers for a chance at seeing it calve. Along the way to Mears Glacier, we were given a breakfast snack (bagels with cream cheese, peanut butter, or butter) and lunch after we left the glacier (chicken and rice with Alfredo sauce and sides of green beans, a bread roll, and Oreos for dessert). They also had complimentary coffee, lemonade, and water throughout the entire 8 hours.
The inside of the boat was nice, bathrooms were clean, and they also provided a brochure at the beginning with wildlife identification and a map of the route we were on - no other wildlife or glacier cruise in Alaska does this! There were also a few tables filled with books and information on local wildlife, glaciers, and the Valdez oil spill that you could read through as well as binoculars you could borrow - Stan Stephens is one of the few companies that have really thought of everything! Stan Stephens Cruises also prides themselves on hiring an "all Alaskan crew," which really allows them to answer any questions you have with insider advice all while encouraging you to support the local economy. Our tour to Mears Glacier was right around 7 to 8 hours, and even though it was one of the worst weather days we ever cruised on, it turned out fantastic.
The exact cruise we went on :
- Stan Stephens Meares Glacier Cruise My Honest Review of Stan Stephens
In short - if you only have time for one boat cruise in Alaska this should be it. Even though Valdez might be further away than you're willing to go, the Stan Stephens crew truly went above and beyond and I was blown away with all the thoughtful touches and details the staff put together. To top it off, our boat was lucky enough to see a glacier calve! In all our other wildlife and glacier cruise tours we'd never even come close, so this was very special. Plus the waters here are typically calmer than those out near Seward, meaning if you tend to get seasick easily this could be the best tour for you. Plus, the views here are truly incredible - with hidden waterfalls peaking out over the steep mountain tops. Other than that I honestly really don't have much else to say other than the entire experience was incredible. This is truly an amazing bucket list adventure that you have to experience for yourself while in Alaska!
Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in :
-> 15 Easiest Alaska Glaciers to Visit -> Whitewater Rafting in Alaska -> 7 Best Tours in Alaska
Pin this Stan Stephens review for later!
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I'm Deborah👋🏼
In 2021 my husband Tyler convinced me to move to Alaska. After living there for a year (then leaving to take a year long world trip) we realized there was no place we loved more. So now we're back - and I'm here to share all my best tips and hidden gems to make Your Alaskan Adventures the best they can be. My favorite travel & outdoor gear is available right here! Use this link to shop all my favorite Alaska necessities! This blog and all content is free to you, however, when you purchase through referral or affiliate links on our site I may earn a small commission with no extra cost to you! --- Learn more here about our affiliates and privacy policy. --- Links look like this, and are tours and products I only personally recommend! --- Join Travel Payouts or Rock Porch to earn affiliates on your own sites! Planning a trip outside Alaska? Check out our blog Raarup Adventures for international vacation ideas or Deborah in Korea for adventures in South Korea! |