While we are hunkered down and our boats docked in the harbor, it’s a comfort to know that at this moment the gray whales are swimming by the Gulf of Alaska on their incredible annual migration. These amazing whales travel a distance of over 10,000 miles round-trip every year between Baja and the Bering and Chukchi Seas – the longest migration route of any mammal. We are graced with their presence in the Gulf of Alaska for a short time in spring, from March through early May, as they travel to their summer feeding grounds in the arctic.
The humpback whales are also on the move. They are currently traveling from the warm waters of Hawaii to the nutrient-rich waters of Alaska. They will begin arriving in May, along with other migrating marine animals like our favorite little flying potato, the puffin. We are excited to welcome the migrating animals back to Alaska – even if we’re not out there to see them.
We were able to get out on the water for several days in early March before our tours had to be put on hold due to the coronavirus. In addition to beautiful snowy mountains and views of Bear Glacier we saw lots of wildlife including harbor seals, Steller sea lions, sea otters, eagles, Dall’s porpoises, mountain goats, and ORCAS! We saw over 6 orcas on two separate days. You can check out a video from Captain John of one of those sightings here.
The spring is a special time to get out on the water, and we were grateful to have had a few days to share this beautiful season with our guests this year. Here are some photos from a snowy day in early March:
Like everyone else, we can’t wait to get back to our normal routines. For our captains and crew, that means getting back out on the water and showing our guests the incredible wildlife and vast landscapes of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park day after day. We are so fortunate to live and work here and are grateful that we can still enjoy the beauty of Alaska right now, even if it’s admiring the mountains while walking our dogs, watching moose and eagles from our windows as we work from home, or getting out to enjoy the miles and miles of trails that we are still able to access in our state’s stunning wide open spaces. We can’t wait to share Alaska with you again when we can.
The safety of our guests is our #1 priority and we will resume our tours when it is safe to do so. We have created a COVID-19 Response Page on our website to keep you updated on our tour changes. This page is updated on a regular basis and includes information on our operational changes and new flexible cancellation policy, Our office is currently closed but we are still working remotely. Please feel free to email us at info@majormarine.com or call us at (907) 274-7300 if you have any questions. If you leave a voicemail we will do our best to respond to you within 24 hours.
We hope you keep dreaming about Alaska and know that we will be here, ready to show you Alaska’s whales, marine wildlife, and endless wilderness when the time comes. Until then, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for some Alaska inspiration. We are now taking reservations for 2021 for those of you who are ready to start planning adventures for next year. We have also instated a new flexible cancellation policy for 2020, allowing you to cancel your cruise reservation at any time for a full refund. Cruise and hotel/transportation packages are now fully refundable until 72 hours prior to your reservation. We know that travel plans are up in the air right now and we wanted to give you more flexibility to change your plans if needed.
As a locally-owned small business in Alaska we are deeply connected to our community. We will continue to do our part to keep our guests and employees safe and healthy during this time. It is our passion to share the beauty of Alaska with you and we look forward to the day when it is safe to do so again. Until then, we will work hard to keep you updated and keep daydreaming about the adventures that await us out on the water later this summer.
