8.5 HOUR NORTHWESTERN FJORD CRUISE

8.5 Hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise

Our 8.5 Hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise travels farther into Kenai Fjords National Park than any other cruise. Ideal for photographers, birders, and whale-watching enthusiasts, this small vessel adventure cruise explores the remote, untouched area of Northwestern Fjord in Kenai Fjords National Park. This cruise travels with a smaller group for a more intimate cruising experience, providing the best opportunity for up-close views of wildlife including humpback whales, orca whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, seabirds, otters, and more. The 8.5 hours spent on the water will fly by as the captain seeks out the best wildlife viewing in the area. You will spend time in front of the impressive Northwestern Glacier, an actively-calving tidewater glacier, and you will also visit Anchor and Ogive Glaciers. A complimentary light breakfast and hearty deli lunch is included.

Insider’s Tip: This cruise has limited capacity and sells out quickly. We recommend that you book early to ensure your spot on this cruise.

For Birders: This cruise offers the best opportunity for birding of all of our cruises. The following bird species may be seen on this cruise: Horned puffin, tufted puffin, common murre, thick-billed murre, black-legged kittiwake, oystercatcher, red-faced cormorant, double-crested cormorant, pelagic cormorant, Kittlitz’s murrelet, ancient murrelet, marbled murrelet, rhinoceros auklet, parakeet auklet, sooty shearwater, parasitic jaeger, long-tailed jaeger, peregrine falcon, pigeon guillemot, surf scoter, white-winged scoter, black scoter, merganser, eider, harlequin duck, goldeneye, loon, Leach’s storm petrel, fork-tailed storm petrel, Northern fulmar, bald eagle

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This adventure cruise is our only excursion to the remote, glacier-carved Northwestern Fjord. The Viewfinder, our smallest vessel, has limited capacity and provides the unique opportunity for up-close wildlife viewing and exploration of Northwestern Fjord with a small group. Depending on sea conditions and wildlife-viewing opportunities, the captain’s route to Northwestern Fjord can vary from day to day. After cruising through Resurrection Bay, you will explore the Chiswell Islands (part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge) or Cape Resurrection, home to thousands of nesting seabirds, Steller sea lions, and other wildlife.

The cruise will then enter Harris Bay, where you will be greeted with views of beautiful hidden coves, rugged mountains, and possibly feeding whales. Once we enter the virtually untouched and untamed Northwestern Fjord, look for the numerous alpine glaciers nestled high on the cliffs. You will visit Northwestern, Anchor, and Ogive Glaciers (all active, calving tidewater glaciers) at the end of Northwestern Fjord. We will spend time in front of the glaciers to watch for glacial calving, where giant chunks of glacial ice break off and crash into the water. Our time spent in front of each glacier will vary depending on glacier calving activity and how much time we spent viewing wildlife along the way, though we usually spend about 40 minutes in front of the glaciers. Keep an eye out for harbor seals and sea otters hauled out on the icebergs.

Our Northwestern Fjord Cruise includes a complimentary light breakfast and deli lunch. We also provide complimentary coffee, tea, and ice water during the cruise. Beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase during the cruise.

This cruise is not recommended for those who are prone to seasickness since it travels through the open Gulf of Alaska. Weather and sea conditions may force this cruise to be cancelled or modified at the discretion of the USCG Certified Captain. Our half-day Kenai Fjords Wildlife cruises are better options if seasickness is a concern. Guests should be prepared with warm, waterproof layers of clothing and comfortable, rubber soled shoes.

This cruise is indicated as the green line on the cruise map. Routes may vary depending on wildlife, weather, and ice conditions.