6 Reasons We Loved the Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

Glaciers and orcas, oh my! Our 6 hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise with Major Marine Tours was jam packed with adventure! At first, we were a little hesitant about spending 6 hours (basically our whole day) on the cruise, but it was well worth the time! The whole day was exciting and there were many adventures to be had! Here are 6 reasons we loved the Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise.

1. Breathtaking scenery

Wow. The scenery on the cruise was just nonstop beautiful. We couldn’t stop oohing and aweing the entire trip. From the rugged landscapes to the water views, it was just stunning. The water color changed depending on the scenery that was being reflected. At times it was a beautiful green color and at other times it was a crazy deep blue. Photos just don’t do the beauty justice.

2. Closeup glimpses of wildlife

We spotted orcas, sea lions, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, bald eagles, puffins and lots of seabirds! Each time we approached wildlife, the captain slowed down and the on boat park ranger described the animals to us. We were able to watch them in their natural habitat for a good amount of time. Seeing the orcas was incredibly thrilling! We watched them circle around a smaller boat, no doubt trying to see what food was onboard! Unfortunately, we didn’t get a good shot of these majestic creatures as they stayed pretty close to the surface of the water.

3. On boat park ranger

A park ranger was onboard for the entire cruise which was a real treat. She set up a park ranger station which included all kinds of useful information and activities for kids. She narrated the entire trip and we learned so much about everything we were seeing. The park ranger also facilitated some fun activities for adults. For example, she had a bucket of water from the sea. She had us dip our hands in the water wearing a glove that was filled with whale blubber. The water wasn’t cold at all. Then she had us dip our hands in the water again wearing a glove filled with sea otter fur. Again, the water wasn’t cold. Finally, we dipped our bare hands in and the water was FREEZING!! Although a person could get hypothermia from falling into that water, a sea otter actually cannot survive out of the water for very long; he/she would get heatstroke. Interesting, huh?!

4. Delicious lunch buffet

A lunch buffet is offered on the cruise for an additional fee. We recommend adding this on as the food was really good! The buffet offered Alaskan salmon, prime rib, salad, sourdough bread, dessert, and beverages. We almost didn’t try the salmon as we assumed fish on the boat wouldn’t be good, but we were happy to discover we were wrong. It was some of the best fish we had while in Alaska! The cruise also offers a full bar which sells alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, chips, and candy.

5. Holgate glacier

The highlight of the trip was the Holgate Glacier! We were very happy the boat stopped for about 30 minutes. Everyone was able to get as many pictures as they wanted and we were also able to spend time just soaking in the majestic beauty. The glacier is actively calving which means pieces are constantly shaving off and falling into the water. We were able to see some pretty big chunks calve! Even when you can’t see it, the glacier is still moving. When everyone on the boat was quiet, we were able to hear the sounds of the glacier. It was such a beautiful and relaxing experience.

6. Organized, comfortable, and spacious cruise

It’s important that the boat be very comfortable since we were spending 6 long hours there! The boat was very roomy with 3 stories. Although we had assigned seating, we constantly moved around and sat in different places. Even though it was cold and windy, we didn’t want to spend too much time inside. When we could handle the weather, we hung out on the top open floor to get the best glimpses of the scenery. Other times, we spent time on the second floor outer area, which was covered but still open on the sides. A few people on the boat got seasick, but the staff was very nice and reassuring. They showed them the best places on the boat to prevent seasickness and offered them complimentary ginger candy and ginger ale.

So… Do we recommend it?

Very much so! It was such a great way to get to see the Kenai Fjords National Park and a fantastic way to spend the day in Seward. We were very pleased with the entire experience!

 

Happily Ever Adventures would like to thank Major Marine Tours for inviting us as their guest. All opinions and photos are always entirely our own.