Is the Prince William Sound rough? What to expect on the crossing
Usually not on the glacier cruises, but sometimes at the entrance and in the Gulf of Alaska beyond. Phillips Cruises says its Whittier route is protected by barrier islands and long narrow fjords that help reduce the marine currents. The NOAA Coast Pilot says a strong south gale and an ebb tide can cause very heavy overfalls and tide rips in Hinchinbrook Entrance, the main entrance to the sound.
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Sound · South-central Alaska · Reputation among passengers: mixed: commonly reported as uncomfortable in the wrong conditions.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Roughness summarises typical reported conditions for this crossing, not a forecast for any given sailing.
Sheltered fjords, Gulf swell at the entrance
In the Nausea Index table of the 121 sea crossings we cover, the Prince William Sound is rated manageable, one of 81 in that band, with 40 rated higher. Full table: the roughest sea crossings, ranked.
Key facts
- The Prince William Sound is a sound, and passenger reports place it in the moderate roughness band.
- The mechanism behind that reputation: Sheltered fjords, Gulf swell at the entrance.
- Conditions are reported roughest in January, February, November and December.
- The calmest months are usually May, June, July and August.
Why does the Prince William Sound get rough?
Prince William Sound covers about 2,500 square miles (6,500 square km), and its entrance from Cape Hinchinbrook to Cape Puget is 58 miles across but almost closed off by islands. The NOAA Coast Pilot says the sound's waters are very deep and chilled by glacier ice, and that cold water and mountain air meeting the warmer, moist air of the Gulf of Alaska cause changeable weather, with sudden wind squalls and thick fogs common. It says an ebb current running out against a large swell causes overfalls in Hinchinbrook Entrance, which is about 6 miles wide. The Gulf of Alaska outside is often roughest south of Seward and east of Kodiak Island, where wave heights reach 20 feet (6.1 m) or more up to eight percent of the time in November.
When is the Prince William Sound roughest?
The NOAA Coast Pilot says the Gulf of Alaska outside the sound is roughest in November and that storms and williwaws cause the gales most likely in early winter, while seas of 20 feet or more are unlikely from May through August and gales are least likely in June, July and August. NOAA's buoy in West Orca Bay, inside the sound, records its highest waves from November to February and its lowest from May to August. Phillips Cruises lists its 26 Glacier Cruise from 1 May to 10 October 2027.
| Roughest water in Jan | Roughest water in Feb | Roughest water in Mar | Roughest water in Apr | Roughest water in May | Roughest water in Jun | Roughest water in Jul | Roughest water in Aug | Roughest water in Sep | Roughest water in Oct | Roughest water in Nov | Roughest water in Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rough | Rough | Mixed | Mixed | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Mixed | Mixed | Rough | Rough |
Typical seasonal pattern, not a forecast. Any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Check the marine forecast for your sailing date. Select a month to see every sea and ferry crossing ranked for it.
Where to be on board
Front to back
- Bow (front)Avoid
- MidshipBest
- Stern (aft)OK
The crossing: 3.75 to 6.75 hours
Roughest stretch: The open central sound on the longer ferry runs
Midship on a low deck. The roughest water the pilot describes is at Hinchinbrook Entrance, on the sound's outer edge, not in the fjords the Whittier cruises visit.
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The crossings that cross it
| Route | Typical duration | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Whittier to College Fjord (Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise) | 5.25 hours | A 120 mile round trip by high-speed catamaran through Passage Canal, Port Wells and Esther Passage. The operator lists it from 1 May to 10 October 2027. |
| Whittier to Blackstone Bay (Phillips Glacier Quest Cruise) | 3.75 hours | A 45 mile round trip through Passage Canal. The operator suggests it for families with younger children who want a shorter trip. |
| Whittier to Valdez (Alaska Marine Highway) | 5 hours 45 minutes | State ferry on a scheduled service route between Valdez and Whittier. |
| Whittier to Cordova (Alaska Marine Highway) | 6 hours 45 minutes | State ferry on a scheduled service route between Cordova and Whittier. |
What helps on this crossing
- Pick a Whittier glacier cruise if you are worried. Phillips Cruises lists its 26 Glacier Cruise from 1 May to 10 October 2027, and the NOAA Coast Pilot says seas of 20 feet or more are unlikely from May through August.
- On the ferry to Valdez (5 hours 45 minutes) or Cordova (6 hours 45 minutes), sit midship on a low deck and keep your eyes on the horizon or a fixed point on the shore.
- Expect sudden wind squalls and fog. The NOAA Coast Pilot says both are common on the sound, so put your phone away and keep watching the horizon when the weather turns.
For the full toolkit see the seasickness guide, or what to do once it has already started. For what the trials actually say about the oldest trick on that list, see the verdict on looking at the horizon. If the rocking follows you ashore afterwards, that is land sickness, which is normal, and it passes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prince William Sound rough in July?
July is among the calmest months. NOAA's West Orca Bay buoy, inside the sound, records its lowest waves from May to August, and the NOAA Coast Pilot says seas of 20 feet or more are unlikely from May through August. Phillips Cruises says its Whittier route is protected by barrier islands and long narrow fjords.
Is Prince William Sound rough in November?
November is among the roughest months. NOAA's West Orca Bay buoy, inside the sound, records its highest waves from November to February, and the Coast Pilot says November is the roughest month in the Gulf of Alaska outside, where wave heights reach 20 feet or more up to eight percent of the time south of Seward and east of Kodiak Island. The pilot also says gale frequencies at ports such as Valdez and Cordova can be misleading because those ports are usually much more sheltered than their approaches.
Are the glacier cruises from Whittier rough?
Phillips Cruises says its Whittier cruises run on calm waters in Prince William Sound. The 26 Glacier Cruise takes 5.25 hours and covers 120 miles round trip, and the Glacier Quest Cruise takes 3.75 hours and covers 45 miles.
How long is the ferry from Whittier to Valdez?
The Alaska Marine Highway lists Whittier to Valdez at 5 hours 45 minutes and Whittier to Cordova at 6 hours 45 minutes.
Is the Prince William Sound rough in winter?
Usually, yes. In a typical year, December, January and February are all rated rough. This is the typical pattern, not a forecast for any sailing.
Other crossings
Sources & further reading
- https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/coast-pilot/files/cp9/CPB9_C03_WEB.pdf
- https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/coast-pilot/files/cp9/CPB9_C04_WEB.pdf
- https://phillipscruises.com/
- https://phillipscruises.com/26-glacier-cruise/
- https://phillipscruises.com/glacier-quest-cruise/
- https://phillipscruises.com/faq/
- https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/route.shtml
- https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46060
- https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_history.php?station=46060
Sea conditions described here are typical patterns drawn from published marine and operator information as of July 2026, not a forecast: conditions on any given sailing depend on the weather that day, and any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Route and operator names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Seasickness sensitivity varies from person to person; this page is informational and not medical advice.