With all this snow on the ground in Anchorage it’s hard to believe that our cruise season is already upon us. But, at this very moment the California gray whales are on their way up to Alaskan waters, and we want to be sure we are out on the water when they arrive! Our 2017 cruise season starts this Saturday, March 4th with the departure of our spring Gray Whale Watching Cruise. With just one day until the season starts, we wanted to update you on all of the new and exciting things happening at Major Marine Tours in 2017.
Gray Whale Watching Cruise Extended
We had a busy early season last year, with more people interested in getting out on the water in March. Because of increased interest in early-season cruising, we decided to start our Gray Whale Watching Cruise two weeks earlier this year, with cruises running daily March 4th – May 14th. Our early-season cruises are truly a unique experience: less boats are out on the water, the mountains surrounding Resurrection Bay are covered in snow, the town of Seward is quieter, and there are great deals on local accommodations before the peak tourist season starts.
We are excited to be able to bring more people out on the water this spring and hope you’re able to join us for this unique cruising experience. In March we are offering a Gray Whale Watching Cruise and Harbor 360 Hotel Package for $99 per person (based on double occupancy), with free tickets to the Alaska Sea Life Center. You won’t find a better deal than that! The price for this package goes up to $117 per person for April and May. Visit our Specials & Packagespage for more information.
New Orca Quest Cruise
One of our most exciting changes for 2017 is the addition of a new cruise: the Orca Quest Cruise! We are the only tour operator in Seward to offer an orca-focused cruise, and we are so excited to start running this unique cruise. Rather than following a set route like our other cruises, the Orca Quest Cruise will travel to areas where orca whales have recently been sighted. Our knowledgeable Captains will visit the local orca hot spots and will communicate with other vessels about recent orca sightings.
Each day on this cruise will be a unique cruising experience—you may stay in Resurrection Bay if the orcas are hanging out there, or you may cruise out to Kenai Fjords National Park. This cruise runs mid-May through mid-June, which is the prime time for orca whale watching due to the salmon runs that occur in the area at that time. To add to the unique experience, we will have a hydrophone onboard that will allow you to listen to the haunting calls of the orcas underwater. This will be an experience not to be missed!
Updates at Harbor 36o Hotel
If you didn’t hear the news last year, Major Marine Tours now has a partner hotel on the waterfront of the Seward Small Boat Harbor: the Seward Harbor 360 Hotel. In 2016 we built a Major Marine Tours office in the Harbor 360 Hotel lobby, and most cruises depart from the dock located directly behind the hotel. If you are planning on staying the night in Seward and going out on a cruise, there is no better place to stay than Harbor 360 Hotel. In addition to the best views in Seward and the convenience of on-site check-in and boarding for your cruise, Harbor 360 Hotel also offers free breakfast and an indoor pool and hot tub.
We often offer discounted cruise and hotel packages, so keep an eye out on our Specials & Packages page for the latest deals. We are continuing to make upgrades at the hotel, including a fresh paint job in the pool, new Alaskan artwork and sculptures, guest room updates, and so much more. This spring, we will be installing an incredible puffin mural by Liza McElroy as part of the Seward Mural Society on the north-facing side of the hotel. There are always exciting new things happening at Harbor 360 Hotel!
Stay tuned for another big announcement!
We will be posting another big announcement within the next couple of weeks. Please check back on our blog and social media for our next update—we can’t wait to share some exciting news with you!
With all these great things happening at Major Marine Tours, 2017 is certainly the year for you to cruise with us, whether it’s your first time in Alaska or you are lucky enough to call Alaska home. With 9 cruise options to choose from we have something for everyone, from family-friendly cruises on stable catamarans to small vessel adventure cruises. Please call us at (907) 274-7300 if you have any questions, and we hope to cruise with you in 2017!
