Kenai Fjords Glacier & Wildlife Cruise from Seward — Aialik & Holgate Views
Difficulty
easy
Duration
6 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels — ability to move around the vessel and climb a few steps is required
Overview
Head out of Seward for a six-hour journey into Kenai Fjords National Park to see actively calving tidewater glaciers in Aialik and Holgate Bays. Captains narrate the route while you watch for whales, otters, puffins and the sudden drama of ice calving.
Kenai Fjords Glacier & Wildlife Cruise from Seward — Aialik & Holgate Views
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The wake drinks in the cold Pacific as the boat threads out of Seward’s small-boat harbor. Mountains keep their winter crowns well into summer, and the salt air carries a clean, mineral bite — the kind that sharpens the senses. On Major Marine Tours’ six-hour run into Resurrection Bay and across to Aialik Bay, passengers trade the town’s gray docks for an ocean that pushes and pulls like a living thing, moving you past islands stacked with seabirds and toward the hulking blue faces of tidewater glaciers.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Layer for changing weather
Dress in base layers plus a warm, waterproof outer shell and hat — decks are cold even on sunny days.
Arrive one hour early
Check-in is required at Harbor 360 Hotel one hour before departure to secure seating and complete accessibility requests.
Bring motion-sickness remedies
Open ocean swells can surprise visitors; take medication or use acupressure bands if you’re prone to seasickness.
Respect wildlife viewing
Keep noise low and stay behind crew barriers to avoid disturbing haul-outs or jeopardizing photography opportunities.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Humpback whales
- Sea otters
History
Seward developed as a rail terminus in the early 20th century and has long been the primary gateway to Kenai Fjords; indigenous Dena'ina communities have used this coastline seasonally for subsistence resources for millennia.
Conservation
Kenai Fjords faces glacier retreat from warming and local groups emphasize responsible wildlife viewing and minimizing single-use plastics aboard to protect marine life.
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Adventure Hotspots in Seward
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Warm, waterproof coat
Blocks wind and rain on exposed decks and during glacier-side stops.
Non-slip, rubber-soled shoes
Provides traction on wet gangways and deck surfaces.
Insulated hat and gloves
Keeps extremities warm during long periods on deck in cold air.
Camera with extra batteries
Cold drains batteries fast; spare power lets you capture calving and wildlife moments.