Planning a trip to Alaska and considering a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise from Seward? Great choice – a boat tour is a must for anyone visiting the Last Frontier and should be on every Alaska bucket list!
With towering glaciers, abundant wildlife, dramatic fjords, and stunning coastal landscapes, Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the top locations for a scenic boat cruise in Alaska. However, with so many different tour options, it may feel overwhelming to decide which boat trip to choose or how they compare…
In this guide, I share the best Kenai Fjords cruise options, my experience and insights about the most popular 6-hour boat tour, as well as essential tips to help you plan your trip and make the most of this unforgettable adventure. Find out!
Good to know: The remote Kenai Fjords National Park is best explored from the water. The nearest town is Seward, a popular cruise port and the end station of the Coastal Scenic route on the Alaska Railroad. Seward is also just a 2.5-hour drive from Anchorage (and is a very popular day trip from the city). All this makes it very easy to add the Kenai Fjords excursion to any Alaska itinerary.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Seward + Itinerary for 1-3 Days
Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise – Overview:
Kenai Fjords National Park Cruises & How They Compare
Several local companies are operating Kenai Fjords National Park cruises, each offering tours of different durations, and the choice might look overwhelming. However, when you look deeper, you realize that there are just a few tours and the itineraries are pretty much the same no matter which company you book with.
Good to know: You will have plenty of opportunities to see wildlife on all these tours. You can expect to see sea lions, sea otters, seals, dolphins, and whales, but also mountain goats, bald eagles, puffins, and all kinds of other birds. The peak whale watching season is mid-May to early August.
To help you get a better idea of what the main options are and how these tours compare, here is an overview of the best Kenai Fjords cruises:
- 4-Hour Cruise: Wildlife in Resurrection Bay. These half-day tours focus on wildlife spotting and the scenic beauty of Resurrection Bay but do not get close to glaciers. They’re perfect for families with young children or if you’re short on time. It’s also the best option if you are extremely prone to motion sickness – the water inside Resurrection Bay is incomparably calmer than around Aialik Cape which you pass on longer cruises to Kenai Fjords. TIP: If you are visiting between mid-May and mid-June (the prime time for orca-watching in Seward), this 4-hour ‘orca’ cruise focuses mostly on orca spotting. Early spring (March-April) is a good time to see gray whales, but also orcas and humpbacks – check out this spring wildlife cruise.
- 6-Hour Cruise: Wildlife, Resurrection Bay, 1 Glacier. These cruises are the most popular of all Kenai Fjords National Park excursions. They combine the highlights of Resurrection Bay with a visit to an actively calving glacier, such as Aialik or Holgate Glacier. You will have plenty of chances to spot marine wildlife.
- 7.5-hour Cruise: Wildlife, Resurrection Bay, 2 Glaciers. For a full-day adventure, these tours include all of the above, but they spend more time in front of 2 tidewater glaciers. These tours often venture farther into the park for extended wildlife viewing opportunities.
- 8.5-hour Cruise. This tour ventures out further into Kenai Fjords National Park than any of the shorter trips. It visits Northwestern Fjords, spends time at multiple glaciers, and offers even more wildlife viewing opportunities. They use smaller boats that can get closer to the coast, glaciers, and wildlife and are ideal for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. That said, if you are prone to motion sickness, then consider a somewhat shorter tour with a catamaran boat instead.
Good to know: In the high season, shorter tours (4-6 hours) have several departure times daily, including around noon after the Alaska Railroad train passengers arrive in town. In the meantime, full-day tours (7.5-8.5 hours) start earlier in the morning and are perfect for those who are staying in Seward for a few days and can dedicate an entire day to the Kenai Fjords excursion.
Season: The majority of Kenai Fjords cruises run between May and September. The 4-hour tours are also available in March, April, and early October. I was in Alaska in September and did the 6-hour cruise in the middle of the month.
In addition to boat trips, you can also explore Kenai Fjords National Park by kayak – see further below.
READ ALSO: What It’s Like to Visit Alaska in September
Kayaking in Kenai Fjords
For a more hands-on adventure, guided kayaking tours offer a slower-paced, immersive experience exploring the fjords and inlets of Kenai Fjords National Park.
There are many great options to choose from, varying from 3-4 hour kayaking excursions closer to Seward to full-day trips to Aialik Glacier and Holgate Glacier, or Northwestern Fjord, and even overnight kayaking excursions.
Don’t worry about having to paddle all day – you cover big distances by boat and they only launch kayaks into the water when you get to the most scenic locations. These are fully guided tours and no previous experience is necessary.
TIP: If you want to see the same highlights as on the most popular Kenai Fjords cruises plus kayak between icebergs, this full-day Aialik Glacier kayak tour is by far the best option.
Season: Kenai Fjords kayak tours run between mid-April and mid-September.
What to Expect on a 6-Hour Cruise (The Most Popular Option)
The 6-hour cruise is the top choice for first-time visitors to Kenai Fjords National Park, and for good reason. It offers a perfect introduction to the park’s highlights, combining wildlife viewing, the stunning scenery of Resurrection Bay, and the unforgettable experience of getting up close to a tidal glacier.
Another reason why this cruise is so popular is that it aligns perfectly with the schedule of Alaska Railroad, departing soon after the train arrives in Seward and coming back in time for the return journey to Anchorage. That said, in the high season, you can also opt for an early morning departure if you prefer a bit quieter experience with fewer boats around.
So what exactly can you expect on a 6-hour cruise to Kenai Fjords National Park? See more info and some pictures below!
East Side of Resurrection Bay & Wildlife
The scenic journey starts in Resurrection Bay where the captain will point out the most significant coastal features along the way and stop for wildlife. You sail on the eastern side of Resurrection Bay past Thumb Cove, Humpy Cove, Fox Island, and Rugged Island.
You can expect to spot sea otters, puffins, seals, Steller sea lions, and possibly humpback whales or orcas. We saw sea otters, seals and sea lions, bald eagles, dolphins, mountain goats, huge fish, all kinds of birds, etc.
We also saw a whale for a moment but it was so far away that I didn’t get any photos. Even photographing dolphins was a challenge, but I also tried to just be in the moment and enjoy it all rather than document every second of this amazing tour…
Oh, and since we did a tour that started at noon, we were served lunch pretty much as soon as we sailed out of the harbor.
Aialik Bay & Tidal Glaciers
Leaving Resurrection Bay, you head into the more open waters and cruise close to some smaller islands southwest of Aialik Cape. This is where the boat ride can get quite rough.
I don’t deal with motion very well, so I took ginger before going on board and spent all the time on deck, looking into the distance and taking photos. It was a bit rocky but I was fine. My friends told me later that many people on our boat got sick at this point…
Finally, the boat sails into Aialik Bay where the water is a lot calmer. Here, you can see the most impressive tidal glaciers and admire the scenery without having to worry about motion sickness.
On the 6-hour tour, you get a decent look at Bear Glacier and Holgate Glacier in the distance, and the boat makes a longer stop at Aialik Glacier. Longer tours also spend more time in front of Holgate Glacier. From what I understood, Aialik is the most impressive glacier in this area.
Aialik’s colossal size is humbling, dwarfing everything around it; even big boats look like toys in front of the massive wall of ice… We were lucky to see the glacier calving several times. The sound and sight of massive chunks of ice crashing into the water are breathtaking!
The whole bay was filled with icebergs and floating pieces of ice. The crew also pulled out some ice from the water – see the picture below.
Sometimes, they also break glacier ice into smaller pieces and use it for drinks at the bar.
West Side of Resurrection Bay & More Wildlife
On the way back, you explore the western side of Resurrection Bay.
The boat passes towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and dramatic fjords, giving you plenty of photo opportunities. The scenery here is spectacular, more so than on the eastern side.
We also saw lots of wildlife including dolphins, mountain goats, and eagles.
Is It Worth It?
If you are wondering whether the Kenai Fjords National Park cruise is worth it, I guess it all depends on what else you plan to see and do in Alaska and how much overlap there is between different places and activities. To me, it’s absolutely worth it!
The scenery of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park is wonderful and boat cruises offer a unique chance to see wildlife, stunning fjords, and impressive glaciers up close. The price/quality is also very good and among the best-value tours I’ve seen in Alaska.
The Kenai Fjords cruise was one of the main highlights of my 2-week road trip and the best boat tour I did in Alaska. In case you wonder, my other favorite experiences were Denali Flightseeing and Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour – both absolutely epic!
TIP: If you decide to do a Kenai Fjords cruise, we have some essential tips for you – see below!
Know Before You Go
Here are some things you may want to know when considering a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise:
- Motion sickness. This one is really important – be sure to take something against motion sickness before you go on board. Ginger chews and ginger tablets might help and they did wonders for me on all tours in Alaska, including this one. But many people said they needed something stronger on Kenai Fjords boat trips.
- Choose the tour that’s right for you: Consider your interests and how much time you have in Seward, but don’t underestimate how bumpy the waters can get around Kenai Fjords. If you are extremely prone to motion sickness, do the 4-hour tour to see scenery and wildlife at Resurrection Bay, and then book a Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise out of Whittier to see glaciers there. Not only will you see 26(!) glaciers on that tour, but the waters there are also incomparably calmer. They even have a no-seasickness guarantee. Or do both – a 6-hour Kenai Fjords cruise as well as a Prince William Sound cruise – as I did ;).
- Book early. No matter which tour you decide to do, be sure to make reservations in advance. Kenai Fjords cruises are among the most popular excursions in Alaska and tours often sell out during peak summer months. If you book via GetYourGuide as we recommend, in most cases, you can modify or cancel free of charge 24 hours before the starting time. In case a tour gets canceled due to poor weather, you get a full refund and most companies will also offer to reschedule if it fits your schedule. Luckily, cancelations aren’t frequent in the summer.
- Bring some snacks and a water bottle. Longer tours include a light lunch. It was ok, but nothing to be too excited about. So make sure that you have a good breakfast in the morning. You may also want to pack some snacks with you. Bring a water bottle as well. You can also purchase drinks and some small snacks on most boats.
- Dress in layers. Wear warm base layers and a waterproof jacket. Don’t forget a hat, thin gloves, and sunglasses. I also recommend wearing sturdy shoes. If it’s sunny, sunscreen is a must!
- Bring binoculars, a camera with a telephoto lens, and some extra batteries. Some boat tours might also provide binoculars, but you may want to bring your own. If you are interested in wildlife and bird-watching, you may want to invest in a good pair of binoculars with an image stabilizer for your trip to Alaska.
- Be flexible and open-minded. Remember that nature is unpredictable. You never know what the weather will be like, what wildlife you will get to see, or how rough or calm the sea will be… But if you are well prepared and ready for some adventure, you will have a great time.
So, this sums up my guide to the Kenai Fjords National Park tours. I hope that it gives you a better idea of what to expect and helps you pick the tour that’s right for you.
TIP: Planning a trip and looking for more inspiration? Don’t miss our guides to some of the best places and experiences in Alaska:
- Alaska Road Trip Itinerary
- Epic Day Trips from Anchorage
- Best Things to Do in Seward
- Seward Day Trip
- Best Things to Do in Homer
- Grand Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour (don’t miss this!)
- Denali Flightseeing & Glacier Landing (Alaska’s #1 tours)
- Matanuska Glacier Tour from Anchorage
- Alaska in September
Have a great trip!
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