Major Marine Tours is a private company authorized to conduct tours in the abundant wildlife waters within Kenai Fjords National Park.
Major Marine Tours
Major Marine Tours is a family-owned business that has operated for over 30 years and is dedicated to providing a high-quality, authentic, and environmentally responsible experience.
They have received numerous awards, including the Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards, the USA Today 10 Best Readers Choice Award, and the Kenai Fjords National Park Partner of the Year Award.
They are a proud participant of Whale Sense and a certified "Green Business" through the Adventure Green Alaska program. They even were the President's choice in 2015 when President Barack Obama went for a cruise in Resurrection Bay.
Tours Offered by Major Marine
Major Marine Cruise offers several cruise options. A half-day tour is ideal for those prone to motion sickness, as the boat spends most of the time in the protected waters of Resurrection Bay.
Perhaps the most popular is the full-day cruises as you get the opportunity to see lots of wildlife and glaciers.
The 8.5-hour day cruises are ideal for photographers and birders. You will set-route aboard a small-vessel cruise to get up-close views of glaciers and their abundant wildlife, bird rookeries, and seabirds!
Kenai Fjords Orca Quest Cruise
From mid-May to mid-June, Orcas frequent the waters outside of Seward in search of food. This tour focuses on spotting orcas, and your captain navigates the boat towards the Orca hotspots. Hear the whale's haunting calls with the help of a hydrophone and learn about orcas and their behavioral traits.
Click here to learn more and book your Kenai Fjords Orca Quest Cruise!
Season: Mid-May through Mid-June
4-Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise
This tour packs a lot along its 55-mile course and is perfect for those with limited time. You will explore the calm waters of Resurrection Bay while looking for whales, sea otters, Stellar Sea Lions, puffins, Bald Eagles, and more! You will also see Bear Glacier, a Piedmont glacier and the largest glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Click here to learn more and to book your 4-Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise.
Season: Mid-June through Mid-October
Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise
This 6-hour cruise leaves Seward through Resurrection Bay and passes by Bear Glacier. You will then enter the Gulf of Alaska, go into Aialik Bay, and head to either Holgate or Aialik Glacier (both are tidewater glaciers). This is a great time to look for Harbor Seals and look for glaciers calving!
You will then make your way back towards Seward. Once out of Aialik Bay, you will pass by the Chiswell Islands, part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Here is a great opportunity to see whales and numerous birds, including puffins!
Click here to learn more and book your Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier and Wildlife Cruise.
Season: Early May through Mid-September
7.5-Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise
This 7.5-hour cruise is the same as the 6-hour one, except that you get to visit Holgate and Aialik Glaciers instead of just one. You will also get another hour and a half to see glaciers calving and look for wildlife! This is a big deal as this gives the captain flexibility to search for wildlife and focus on glaciers that are actively calving so that they can provide you with the best experience possible.
Click here to learn more and book your 7.5-hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise.
Season: Late May through Early September
8.5-Hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise
This is the longest cruise available into Kenai Fjords National Park. It is also a small boat experience where you will get close-up views of glaciers and wildlife! This is the PERFECT cruise for photographers, Birders, and whale-watching enthusiasts! Be prepared for an epic day of wildlife viewing on this cruise!
Click here to learn more and book your 8.5-hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise.
Season: End of May through Early September
Food and Drinks
The boat does not stop for lunch; however, a complimentary deli lunch is served onboard the full-day trips (6-hour, 7.5-hour, and 8.5-hour) while you cruise. You can request a vegetarian sandwich in advance, at the time of reservation as part of the complimentary deli lunch. There is also a Gluten Free Bread that need to be requested at the time of booking.
Guests are also welcome to bring their own food and beverages on the vessel. Please do not bring large coolers or glass containers and DO NOT Bring alcohol. You can purchase alcoholic beverages onboard the vessel along with hot dogs, noodle soups, chips, candy bars, and other snacks/sodas.
Wildlife Viewing Opportunities
Be prepared for one of the top wildlife viewing opportunities in all the National Parks! Seriously, it ranks right up there with Lamar Valley in Yellowstone as one of the best!
On this tour, I have seen Humpback Whales, Orcas (also known as killer whales), and fin whales, and you may also see gray whales and minke whales.
I have also seen black bears, Steller Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Sea Otters, Dall's Porpoises, and Mountain Goats.
Don't worry, birders. There is plenty to keep you busy, as almost 200 species have been identified here. I have seen Bald Eagles, Horned Puffins, Tufted Puffins, Cormorants, Common Murres, Red-necked Phalaropes, Rhinoceros Auklets, Glaucous Gulls, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Peregrine Falcons!
Camera Gear we use
We are big fans of using great camera gear to get amazing photos while traveling.
Canon R5 - We recently upgraded to the R5 after using a Mark 5 for years. We are loving the camera shutter speed and quality of images.
Canon 100 - 500mm - We use the Canon 100-500 for wildlife photography.
Camera Rain Cover - A rain cover will help protect your camera during rain showers but also when photographing waterfalls.
Camera Cleaning Kit - Cameras can get dirty, beat up, and dusty while in the parks. We like having a cleaning kit with us so we can do on the spot touch ups.
Extra Camera Batteries - We suggest always having one or two extra camera batteries with you. There is nothing worse than going to take a shot and the battery dies.
Extra Memory Cards - We use Extreme PRO SanDisk cards
Helpful Information
- Check the weather before going - Make sure to plan more than one day in the area, as the weather can cause your trip to be canceled. Plan another day to explore the Exit Glacier Area of Kenai Fjords and Seward.
- Drones are prohibited.
- No smoking is allowed on this cruise.
- Children under 12 are not permitted on the 8.5-hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise.
- It is suggested that you dress in layers, including a warm rain-proof coat, hat, gloves, and comfortable rubber-soled shoes. The inside cabin is heated, but you will want to go outside on the deck and enjoy the views!
- Remember that you are not permitted to bring alcoholic beverages onboard, but the boat does have an assortment of mixed spirits available for purchase.
- Some items, including strollers, scooters, and tripods, cannot be brought onboard due to limited space and safety reasons.
- Pets are not permitted on board unless they are service dogs trained to perform a task directly related to a person's disability. Emotional support to comfort animals is also not permitted.
Don't forget to Pack
The boat does have a heated cabin, but it is a guarantee that you will want to go out on the viewing decks when you start seeing some of the areas where marine wildlife appears, especially Humpback Whales, Orcas, sea otters, glaciers, etc.
Guests should wear rubber-soled shoes. Several types of hiking boots have Vibram soles, which can be very slippery in wet conditions.
Bring gloves and dress in layers, as the weather can change quickly in Alaska.
Camera and Binoculars, remember you will want to see wildlife!
Seasickness: I prefer the Acupressure motion sickness wristbands over Dramamine, as I get sleepy and less alert. If you decide to take Dramamine, make sure to take it at least 30 minutes before departure for best results.
Alaska Wildlife Field Guide - easy-to-use folding pocket field guides make it exciting to identify wildlife.
Alaska Bird Field Guide - easy-to-use folding pocket field guides make it exciting to identify birds.
Sunscreen—I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you will inevitably pull it out at the beach. Alaska may not be the beach, but it gets hot and sunny in the summer. Summer daylight hours are also much longer than you are used to from the lower continental US!
Kenai Fjords Tours vs Major Marine Tours
Personally, I have had great experiences on both tours! Your decision may come down to availability, especially in the summer when Alaska is busy. Both companies have nice boats, comfortable seating, and offer snacks and beverages.
I wrote an article on Kenai Fjords Tours that you can also read and decide for yourself which tour is available and fits best for you.
Kenai Fjords National Park Tours
Kenai Fjords National Park guided snowmobiling Tour - Have you ever wanted to ride a snowmobile? Here is your chance to take a two-hour tour through the breathtaking landscape of Kenai Fjords National Park, which offers beautiful viewpoints and stunning landscapes.
Click here to learn more/book your Kenai Fjords National Park guided snowmobiling tour!
Harding Icefield Trail Hiking Tour - This is an 8-hour wilderness hiking tour with a professional guide on the Harding Icefield Trail. The breathtaking Kenai Fjords National Park wilderness area provides jaw-dropping landscapes and lots of wildlife viewing opportunities, including bears, moose, marmots, mountain goats, and Bald Eagles. The tour does not take you onto a glacier or the Harding Icefield.
Click here to learn more/book your Harding Icefield Trail Hiking Tour!
8-Hour Kenai Fjords Fishing and Whale Watch Tour (16-passenger Max) - Want a true Alaskan Experience? How about taking a 53-foot boat out fishing and whale watching in the Kenai Fjords? They have both full-day and half-day tours available. The seven-hour tour route includes about an hour of light tackle fishing. It is fit for both experienced and first-time fishermen. They use light tackle setups that target rockfish and salmon depending on the time of season.
Click here to learn more/book your 8-hour Kenai Fjords Fishing and Whale Watch Tour!
Kenai Fjords Lodging Options
Several lodging options are available in the nearby town of Seward, Alaska.
The Harbor 360 Hotel Seward is the most convenient option while exploring Kenai Fjords National Park.
The National Park Visitor Center is just past the hotel, and Major Marine Tours also has check-in at the hotel. After Check-in, walk out back of the hotel to catch the boat. Depending on the tour, you may see Kenai Fjords, glaciers, and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. It is also one of the closest hotels to Kenai Fjords National Park and has numerous dining options nearby.
Hotel Edgewater and the Van Gilder Hotel are close to the Alaska Sea Life Center and Iditarod National Historic Trail and one mile from the National Park Visitor Center.
Of course, there are several options available, here is a few more listed below.
Exit Glacier Lodge - provides amenities like a bar and a restaurant. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.
Resurrection Lodge on the Bay - Take advantage of a free breakfast buffet, a terrace, and laundry facilities at Resurrection Lodge on the Bay. With a beachfront location, this lodge is the perfect place to soak up some sun. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Breeze Inn - Consider a stay at Breeze Inn and take advantage of laundry facilities, a fireplace in the lobby, and a bar. Be sure to enjoy a meal at Breeze Inn Restaurant, the onsite restaurant. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as conference space.
Hotel Seward - Consider a stay at Hotel Seward and take advantage of laundry facilities, a fireplace in the lobby, and a bar. Adventurous travelers may like the fishing at this hotel. The onsite Fusion cuisine restaurant, Ms. Genes Place, features ocean views and al fresco dining. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a gym and a business center.
Van Gilder Hotel - An art gallery on site, a shopping mall on site, and a library are just a few of the amenities provided at Van Gilder Hotel. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi
Click on the map below to see current hotel and vacation rental rates near Seward, Alaska.
Kenai Fjords National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Kenai Fjords National Park does not charge an entrance fee!
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
For more information on Kenai Fjords National Park
Complete Guide to Kenai Fjords National Park - Complete guide to planning your vacation to Kenai Fjords National Park
Exit Glacier Campground Kenai Fjords National Park - The only designated campground in Kenai Fjords National Park
Additional information on Alaska National Parks
Complete Guide to Denali National Park - Your complete Guide to planning a vacation to Denali National Park
Denali Bus Tours - Guide to riding the Bus at Denali National Park
Complete Guide to Wrangell St. Elias National Park - Complete Guide to planning your vacation to Wrangell St. Elias National Park
Things to do in Wrangell St. Elias National Park - List of the most popular activities in Wrangell St. Elias National Park
Complete Guide to Glacier Bay National Park - Complete Guide to planning your vacation to Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay Lodge- Beautiful National Park lodge right on Bartlett Cove
Glacier Bay Boat Tour - The boat tour goes deep into Glacier Bay National Park and departs from the pier in Bartlett Cove
Check out all of the Alaska National Parks along with National Parks in Washington, California National Parks, and National Parks in Hawaii
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Additional Kenai Fjords National Park Photos
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