Kenai Fjords Glacier Cruises
With only a small part of Alaska’s Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by road, a boat trip is the only way to see the natural wonders of the coastal mountain fjords up-close. A boat cruise also reveals the abundant marine life of the park’s icy waterways, which includes three types of orcas, humpbacks and Pacific white-sided dolphins. In summer months, boat trips depart daily from the harbor in Seward, the closest town to the national park. Sightseeing cruises are available outside the peak season, but limited to shorter routes in Resurrection Bay.
We offer a variety of Kenai Fjords cruise options: six- and eight-hour National Park Tours; a 4.5-hour cruise in Resurrection Bay with an all-you-can-eat buffet; the nine-hour Northwestern Fjord Tour or Captain’s Choice Tour; combination cruise and kayak tours to Fox Island; and a three-hour Fox Island Dinner Cruise. The National Park Tours, which are available from May to September, depart three times daily from Seward. Narration is provided by a wildlife interpreter throughout the cruise, which includes a visit to the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and complimentary entrance to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. The Northwestern Fjord Tour ventures further into Kenai Fjords National Park to see tidewater and alpine glaciers on a fully narrated, 150-mile round-trip.
A six-hour high-speed catamaran cruise and a traditional 7.5-hour cruise are available, both following a 120-mile route; half-day wildlife cruises are also available. All cruises are hosted by a National Park Ranger, and a Junior Ranger Program is available onboard for younger passengers. You will receive a complimentary guide to Kenai Fjords National Park and enjoy complimentary use of binoculars onboard, helping you spot some six whale species that frequent the park’s waters. Also look out for porpoises, sea lions, seals, bald eagles and puffins, along with numerous glaciers that may calve large chunks of ice while you watch.
Travel Alaska offers in-depth, personalized Sea Treks - boat cruises of the national park in a 40-foot catamaran that accommodates a maximum of 24 passengers. The cruise operates with a flexible itinerary, allowing time to wait for tidewater glaciers to calve and to seek out humpback whales, bald eagles and sea otters. An on-board naturalist will share information about the park’s marine and land wildlife and natural wonders. Most cruises feature visits to two tidewater glaciers -- Aialik Glacier and Holgate Glacier. The company also operates Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, the only wilderness lodge within the national park. Packages that combine overnight cabin accommodations at the lodge with boat trips are available seasonally.
- Tags: Alaska, Alaska Rail Tours, Denali National Park, Ferry Reservation, Iditarod Tours, Inside Passage Cruise, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Northern Lights Viewing, Salmon Fishing, Seward, Talkeetna, Travel Alaska