Overview

The cruise begins as captain and crew welcome passengers onto their triple-deck catamaran and show them to their assigned seats in one of two indoor cabins. The setup gives passengers a spot to store their items and a warm place to return to after spending time in the brisk ocean air of the exterior decks.

Board a triple-deck catamaran with panoramic views.

Those decks provide panoramic views as the boat cruises through Resurrection Bay. When crew and passengers spot wildlife, the captain slows and maneuvers at a safe distance to give everyone a chance to see. Depending on the season and the day, it may be Dall's porpoises or otters playing in boat wake, seabirds of every variety diving from cliffside nests, or orcas gliding just below the water surface. The boat's captain narrates the experience throughout.

After dipping into the Gulf of Alaska, the boat rounds Aialik Cape and heads north into the calmer waters of Aialik Bay. Here, guests enjoy a deli lunch as the boat nears and then idles alongside one of the massive tidewater glaciers within Kenai Fjords National Park. These rivers of ice cascade dramatically from jagged mountainsides, their massive faces shedding car-sized chunks of ice into the water with thunderous claps. Passengers will spend as much as an hour in this dramatic setting before heading back toward the Gulf of Alaska on the return trip to Seward.

More Details

This Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise offers three departures. The 8 AM and 11:30 AM departures are six hours long. The 9:30 AM departure tour is 7.5 hours long. The earlier departures works well for guests already in Seward, while the later departure fits for guests arriving into Seward that same morning by train or Park Connection Motorcoach.

The tour boat has three exterior decks and two indoor cabin levels with fog-resistant windows. No smoking is allowed on the boat. Passengers are assigned seats when boarding but can carefully move throughout the boat while underway. Children are encouraged to enjoy educational games and activities as part of the Junior Ranger Program.

A deli lunch with turkey sandwich, chips, granola bar, brownie, and soft drink is served on board. A vegan/vegetarian lunch option is available and must be requested in advance. Additional snacks, hot and cold drinks, and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.

What to Bring

To make the most of views and fresh air on the exterior decks, it is important to dress in layers for this tour. Bring a rain jacket, hat, and gloves, and wear warm base layers and rubber-soled shoes. Even on a sunny day, the air coming off a glacier can be quite chilly. Be sure to bring a camera and binoculars. If seasickness is a concern, err on the side of caution and take motion sickness medicine in advance. Dramamine, Bonine, and ginger chews are available for purchase onboard.

Special Instructions

Check in at the boat tour office located in the Harbor 360 Hotel. The tour office provides luggage storage if needed.

Transfers & Meeting Points

Several local hotels provide shuttle service to the Small Boat Harbor. For self-drivers, parking is available across the street from the Harbor 360 Hotel or one block south of the South Harbor Office on 4th Avenue. There is a $10 charge per vehicle per day.

Rates & Dates

Here are the rates and operating dates for this product. Remember, we have a lowest price guarantee for nearly everything we sell.

Child rates apply to children under the age of 12. Infants under the age of 2 may travel for free but must sit on an adult's lap.

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Departure Times

Departure times and locations are listed below. Click on a link for an interactive map.

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Availability

Select a departure below to see current availability. If your desired date is sold out (red) we will do our best to find an alternative, but we may not be able to accommodate your request.

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