Unsure which boat tour to go on in Kenai Fjords National Park? With a handful of companies offering a laundry list of tours, it can become overwhelming trying to choose which company, let alone which cruise, to go on. Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up the top wildlife boat tours of Kenai Fjords National Park. Below, you’ll find a chart laying out their duration, price, and main differences to help you find the perfect one!
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🤔 Is the Kenai Fjords Boat Tour Worth it?
Kenai Fjords National Park isn’t exactly the easiest national park to explore by land. With Exit Glacier being the only area accessible by car, and only during the summer months at that, there are really only a few trails and a scenic drive available for visitors. This is where boat tours come in. Although they range from $112 to upwards of $300 per person, they are the #1 thing we recommend you do while visiting the park.
On our 8.5-hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise with Major Marine Tours, we had the time of our lives spotting all the sea otters, orcas, puffins, and other marine life. Not to mention the stunning glaciers and waterfalls we passed while sailing past the park’s rugged coastline.
To top it all off, the entire boat crew really made the trip come alive by sharing their knowledge about the wildlife and landscape throughout the day. Along with being our favorite thing to do in Kenai Fjords, it also turned out to be the best boating experience we had in all of Alaska!
⚓ Breakdown of Kenai Fjords National Park Cruises
The two main companies running scenic cruises of Kenai Fjords National Park are Kenai Fjords Tours and Major Marine Tours. We’ve outlined all the tours they currently offer, along with their prices, durations, and more, to make your decision easier. Keep in mind that prices are subject to change and don’t include any tips you decide to leave for the crew.
🤑 Discount for Alaska Residents! Major Marine Tours and Kenai Fjords Tours offer discounts for Alaskan residents, typically around 20% off.
| 4-Hour Spring Wildlife Cruise (MM) | $112 | 🐋 Wildlife watching ❌ No Glaciers |
| 4-Hour Spring Resurrection Bay Tour (KF) | $112 (Includes Lunch) | 🐋 Wildlife watching 🧊 Bear Glacier |
| 4.5-Hour Resurrection Bay Tour (KF) | $145 (Includes Lunch) | 🐋 Wildlife watching 🧊 Bear Glacier |
| 4-Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise (MM) | $166 | 🐋 Wildlife watching ❌ No Glaciers |
| 4-Hour Orca Quest Cruise (MM) | $166 | 🐋 Wildlife watching (focus on orcas) ❌ No Glaciers |
| 6-Hour Glacier Dinner Cruise (KF) | $224 (Includes Dinner) | 🌙 Evening Cruise 🐋 Wildlife watching 🧊 1 tidewater glacier |
| 5.5-Hour Classic Kenai Fjords Park Tour (KF) | $224 (Includes Lunch) | 🐋 Wildlife watching 🦅 Sail past Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge 🧊 1 tidewater glacier |
| 6-Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise (MM) | $265 (Includes Lunch) | 🐋 Wildlife watching 🧊 1 tidewater glacier |
| 7-Hour Captain’s Choice National Park Tour (KF) | $245 (Includes Lunch) | 🐋 Wildlife watching 🧊 1-2 tidewater glaciers 🦅 Sail past the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge |
| 7.5-Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise (MM) | $272 (Includes Lunch) | 🐋 Wildlife watching 🧊 2 tidewater glaciers |
| 8-Hour Northwestern Fjord Tour (KF) | $277 (Includes Breakfast & Lunch) | 🐋 Wildlife watching 🧊 3 tidewater glaciers 🌊 Sail into the Northwestern Fjord |
| 8.5-Hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise (MM) | $309 (Includes Lunch) | ✅ This is the one we went on! 🐋 Best Wildlife watching opportunity 🧊 3 tidewater glaciers 🌊 Sails the furthest into the Northwestern Fjord |
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🦭 Even More Kenai Fjords Boat Tours
We found 5 other, smaller companies offering more intimate wildlife boat tours of Kenai Fjords National Park. Although they come at a slightly higher price point (understandably, as they can’t compete with the prices of the top 2 businesses), they’re a great option if the above tours are all booked or you’re looking to support a smaller local business.I
- Expeditions Northwest
- Seward Ocean Excursions
- Alaska Coastal Explorer
- Northern Latitude Adventures
- Seacor Tours
❓ How to Decide Which Boat Tour is For You
If you’re still having some trouble deciding which Kenai Fjords boat tour is for you, here are some questions to help narrow down your options a bit further.
What’s your budget and time limit?
As you’ve seen above, most tours are either half-day tours, around 4 hours, or full-day tours ranging from 6 to 8.5 hours. If your schedule and budget permit, we strongly recommend choosing one of the full-day options, as they maximize your viewing opportunities by taking you much deeper into the national park. Also, the farther you travel from Seward, the higher your chances are of spotting more marine wildlife.
💡 If a boat tour isn’t in your budget at all, there are tons of other things to do in Kenai Fjords for less, or even free!
However, if you’re on a tighter schedule or budget, the four-hour trips are the more affordable option. While half-day tours mostly stay within Resurrection Bay and don’t get far enough to see the glaciers, they still provide an incredible look at the coast of Kenai Fjords National Park and allow you to see a fair amount of wildlife!
Do you want to see glaciers or wildlife? Or both?
While full-day tours are mostly able to combine both, some routes or companies are known for prioritizing either glaciers or wildlife. It’s essential to know what you’re more interested in seeing, and narrowing down which tours will help you check that off your list. Pay special attention to our “What You Get” column in the chart above to see what each tour prioritizes.
Do you easily get seasick?
If you’re particularly concerned about seasickness, we recommend prioritizing a trip that stays in Resurrection Bay. This will typically be the shorter, 4-hour journey. Coming from two people who used to live on a boat, staying in the protected waters of Resurrection Bay, rather than venturing out into the Bay of Alaska, will help you avoid bigger waves.
Longer tours that venture out into the Gulf of Alaska have a higher probability of encountering choppy conditions at times. As we went on the 8.5-hour cruise, Jen took Dramamine before boarding and then nausea medicine on the boat as a preventative as well, and it really helped. During our trip, we encountered 8-to 10-foot waves in the Bay of Alaska.
ℹ️ Tips for Kenai Fjords National Park Boat Tours
Here’s what we recommend for securing your ideal tour, what to do if your tour gets cancelled, and what to wear on your boat tour.
1. Book your tour in advance
Kenai Fjords National Park is a world-class destination. Thus, it’s possible that one tour might not be available if you book too close to your trip date. Although we were able to successfully reserve four spots on our Major Marine Tour just two days before, we recommend booking further in advance if possible. This will increase the likelihood that you get on the cruise that you want.
2. Have a backup plan if your boat tour is cancelled
As the boat tours enter the rougher seas of the Gulf of Alaska, companies sometimes cancel scheduled tours due to the weather. Tour operators prioritize visitor and staff safety as their top priority, so tours are canceled when they deem the waters potentially unsafe to boat on. If your boat tour is cancelled due to weather, we recommend exploring more of Seward or hiking the Harding Icefield Trail.
3. Know what to wear on your boat tour
Given that Alaskan weather changes constantly, and temperatures drop the further you are from the coast, layering is essential, even in the summer months. Also, even if rain is not in the forecast, we recommend bringing along some type of water and wind-resistant coat to keep you dry. Here is an idea of what to wear:
- Warm base layer: Jen’s favorite and Elliot’s favorite
- Warm mid-layer: Jen’s favorite and Elliot’s favorite
- Waterproof Jacket: Jen’s favorite and Elliot’s Favorite
- Gloves, a hat, and a solid pair of socks (Jen’s favorite and Elliot’s favorite)
⛅ What is the best time of year for a Kenai Fjords boat tour?
The most popular time for boat tours in Kenai Fjords National Park is during the summer season (June through August), when the weather is mildest and the rest of the park is also open. Here’s what you can expect from each season:
- Summer (June–Aug): Peak season with the warmest weather and all companies running the widest variety of boat tours. If you visit during July in particular, you may see Humpback Whales bubble netting, which is where they cooperatively feed with seagulls. We were fortunate enough to see this, and it was incredible!
- Shoulder Seasons (May & Sept): Fewer crowds and cooler weather, but some services may be reduced as a result of that. Several spring boat tours still run, and at a reduced rate at that.
- Winter (Oct–Apr): Low crowds but very cold temperatures, highly reduced services, and extremely limited park access. You might be able to find a boat tour by a smaller company, but land-based activities like ice hiking or snowshoeing are more popular.
🚗 How to Get to Kenai Fjords National Park
Located in south-central Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula, the larger region of Kenai Fjords National Park is surprisingly accessible, reachable by car, train, bus, or even air taxi. Whether you’re coming from near or far, here’s a breakdown of your options to get to Seward, where all the boat tours leave from:
- Car—The Seward Highway is kept clear year-round, connecting Anchorage to Seward in just over 2 hours. If you’re interested in driving but don’t have your own vehicle, consider renting a car for the journey.
- Plane—Seward Airport is a private airport located just next to downtown Seward, servicing private air taxis for quick journeys. There are no major commercial flight services that travel to Seward at the moment.
- Public Transport—Choose between the 4-hour Coastal Classic Train connecting Anchorage to Seward, or a faster, more budget-friendly bus service. If you arrive in Seward without a car, you can catch the Exit Glacier Shuttle from downtown to Exit Glacier Nature Center to explore the park by foot.
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