Shopping in Whittier: Honest Expectations
Whittier is not a shopping port. If you have sailed through Juneau, Ketchikan, or Skagway and grown accustomed to blocks of jewelry stores, galleries, and sprawling souvenir emporiums, Whittier will be a stark contrast. This is a town of roughly 200 year-round residents, accessible only through a single-lane tunnel carved through a mountain. The entire commercial footprint of the town consists of a handful of small businesses clustered around the harbor and cruise terminal.
For cruisers embarking or disembarking in Whittier, the shopping reality is simple: grab a quick souvenir if you see something you like, but do not plan port time around retail browsing. There is simply not enough here to fill more than 15 to 20 minutes.
The Alaska Shop at the Cruise Terminal
The most convenient shopping option in Whittier is the Alaska Shop located directly at the cruise terminal building. This small retail space stocks the standard range of Alaska cruise souvenirs: t-shirts, hoodies, magnets, shot glasses, ornaments, and postcards featuring Alaskan wildlife and glacier imagery. You will also find a selection of packaged smoked salmon, wild berry candies, and other edible gifts that are easy to pack in a suitcase.
The prices here are typical cruise port rates, meaning you will pay a markup compared to what you would find in Anchorage. But for embarkation-day passengers who realize they forgot to buy gifts during their cruise, this is a convenient last-chance stop.
Harbor Gift Shops
Near the Small Boat Harbor, within a short walk of the cruise terminal, you will find one or two additional small gift shops that open seasonally when cruise ships are in port. These tiny retail spaces are independently operated and stock a mix of locally themed merchandise, Alaska wildlife photography prints, handmade jewelry, and outdoor gear accessories.
The selection varies from year to year depending on which vendors set up shop for the season. Do not expect a reliable or extensive inventory. On busy embarkation days, these shops can feel crowded despite their small size, as thousands of passengers funnel through the compact harbor area simultaneously.
What You Will Not Find in Whittier
It is important to set clear expectations about what Whittier does not offer. There are no jewelry stores, no art galleries, no bookstores, and no Native craft cooperatives in Whittier. You will not find the curated, high-end Alaska Native art that is available at museum gift shops in Juneau or Sitka. There are no outfitter stores selling XTRATUF boots or premium outdoor gear.
If you need any of these items, plan your shopping for a different port or for Anchorage. The town of Girdwood, located about 40 miles from Whittier along the Seward Highway, offers a small cluster of boutique shops near the Alyeska Resort that are worth a stop if you are driving to Anchorage.
Portage Glacier Lodge Gift Shop
For cruisers driving out of Whittier toward Anchorage, the Portage Glacier Lodge sits along the Portage Glacier Highway about 5 miles past the tunnel exit. The attached gift shop carries a modest but reasonable selection of Alaska souvenirs, books on Alaska wildlife and glaciers, and snacks. It is a pleasant stop to stretch your legs and browse after the tunnel drive, and the prices are slightly more reasonable than what you will find at the cruise terminal.
Practical Tips
Payment: The gift shops in Whittier accept major credit cards. You do not need to carry cash for shopping purposes.
Timing: If you are embarking on a cruise, do not budget significant time for shopping in Whittier. Focus your energy on getting through the tunnel, checking your luggage, and boarding your ship. If you are disembarking, most passengers are focused on catching transfers to Anchorage rather than lingering in town.
Our Advice: Save your souvenir shopping for Anchorage. The downtown 4th Avenue shopping district and the weekend Anchorage Market offer vastly superior selection, better prices, and authentic Alaska-made goods including Native art, furs, and handcrafted jewelry. Whittier’s role is to get you on or off your ship in one of the most dramatic mountain and glacier settings in Alaska. Let the scenery be the souvenir.