CRUISE SPOTLIGHT

How to Choose Your Cruise: Our Go-To Guide to Help You Pick Your Cruise

May 22, 2019

The MMT Blog / How to Choose Your Cruise: Our Go-To Guide to Help You Pick Your Cruise

Summer is here and we are so excited that our cruise season is in full swing. We are currently offering 3 cruise options, and over the next few weeks another 3 cruises will start running. With so many options to choose from — half-day to full-day, small boat to large boat, adventure to family-friendly — how do you know which is the best for you? Here is your go-to guide to help you choose your cruise!

FOR ADVENTURE-SEEKERS

You like to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds. You want up-close views of wildlife and stunning scenery in remote places. Our Northwestern Fjord Cruise gives you just that, traveling the farthest of all of our cruises to visit the beautiful and remote Northwestern Fjord in Kenai Fjords National Park. The Viewfinder is our smallest vessel and carries up to 36 passengers, allowing you to get away from the crowds and giving you closer views of the whales and other wildlife that might decide to pay you a visit on your cruise. With 8.5 hours on the water, the captain has plenty of time to seek out the best wildlife viewing in the area.

FOR FAMILIES

If you’re traveling with kids you are most likely looking for a shorter cruise option that still gives you great chances of seeing wildlife and includes a kid-friendly activity. You will find all of this and more on our 5 Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise. This cruise travels along the rugged coastline of Resurrection Bay in search of wildlife such as whales, Steller sea lions, sea otters, and porpoises. An naturalist will be onboard to narrate the cruise and lead an interactive program for kids. This cruise also includes a complimentary deli lunch for all guests, plus snacks and beverages available for purchase. Kids especially love our hot chocolate!

FOR GLACIER ENTHUSIASTS

You dream about sitting in front of a towering tidewater glacier, feeling the cold katabatic wind, listening to the creaks and groans coming from deep inside the ice, and waiting for the moment when a giant piece of ice cracks off with a boom and crashes into the water. On our 7.5 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise you spend time in front of two actively calving tidewater glaciers, giving you ample time to watch for spectacular glacier calving and soak up the grandeur of Aialik and Holgate Glaciers.

FOR BUDGET TRAVELERS

If you’re traveling on a budget but still want to get on the water we offer our 3.5 Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise for just $89 per adult and $44.50 per child. This cruise travels through Resurrection Bay in search of wildlife and offers views of rugged mountains and alpine glaciers. Two departure times make this cruise a convenient option for those who have limited time or have other activities planned in Seward. The 3.5 hour cruise departs at 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

FOR THOSE WHO “WANT TO SEE IT ALL”

The classic Kenai Fjords National Park experience is our 6 Hour Cruise, where you will see all of the big sights and enjoy Major Marine Tours exclusives like our onboard naturalist narration and a complimentary deli lunch. This cruise explores Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park, bringing you to must-see spots such as Holgate Glacier (an actively calving tidewater glacier), Steller sea lion haul-outs, and bird rookeries in the Chiswell Islands or Cape Resurrection, all the while keeping an eye out for humpback whales, orca whales, and other wildlife. This cruise also aligns with the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic Train, making it a great round-trip single day adventure from Anchorage.

FOR WILDLIFE ENTHUSIASTS & BIRDERS

Kenai Fjords National Park and Resurrection Bay are teeming with wildlife. What makes wildlife WILD is that we don’t know where they will be or what they will do. This is one reason why wildlife viewing (particularly whale watching) is so exciting: you never know what you will see, and every day on the water provides a new, unique experience. Whales, sea otters, Steller sea lions, porpoises, and seabirds have all been spotted within minutes of leaving the Seward Small Boat Harbor. While all of our cruises offer great chances of seeing wildlife, the longer you are on the water and the greater distance you travel, the better your chances are of seeing wildlife, especially whales. If you want to maximize your chances of seeing whales, the 8.5 Hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise and 7.5 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise are your best bet. If you are interested in birding, our 8.5 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise spends the most time at seabird viewing areas and offers the best opportunity for photography. Visit the cruise page for a list of seabirds that may be seen on this cruise.

No matter which cruise you choose, you will get to experience some of the most beautiful places in Alaska. If you still have questions, our Reservations Agents are a wealth of knowledge. They are more than happy to answer any of our questions and help you pick the cruise that is the best fit for you. You can call them at (907) 274-7300 or (800) 764-7300 for more information or to make your reservation. Happy cruising!