Alaska is certainly a bucket-list destination for many, myself included, and can be an unforgettable experience. If you’re looking to really unlock the secrets of nature by seeing what lives in one of the most biodiverse areas in Alaska, then a Seward Resurrection Bay Cruise is a must!
This past fall, I ticked Alaska off my travel bucket list and explored throughout Anchorage, Palmer, and Seward. A wildlife cruise in Resurrection Bay was high on my “must-do” list in hopes of catching glimpses of orcas, puffins, eagles, sea otters, and glaciers. I went out with Major Marine Tours for their 4-hour Wildlife Cruise of Resurrection Bay. I was not disappointed! If you want to see Alaska marine and wildlife in their natural environment, then I HIGHLY recommend this excursion.
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Here I want to share my experience and give you some tips to help you plan your own Resurrection Bay cruise out of Seward.
Seward – Gateway to Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay
First thing’s first – Get Excited! Seward, Alaska is absolutely gorgeous! The colors are amazing with lush green everywhere. While many think of Alaska as an arctic wasteland, in reality, the state is incredibly diverse with rain forests, glaciers, tundra, and picturesque coastline.
Seward is a small harbor town located in the Kenai Peninsula, about 2 hours south of Anchorage. This town is the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National Park, a vast area of glaciers and pristine waterways. It is an important port on Resurrection Bay, which opens into the Gulf of Alaska.
Resurrection Bay is just that – a bay. It’s bordered by towering peaks and glaciers in all directions and contains an expansive population of marine wildlife. The bay itself with its many coves is protected from many harsh elements Alaskan icebergs and storms can bring, making it an ideal place for marine life to thrive.
What You’ll See on Resurrection Bay Cruise
One of the first things you’ll see as you leave the dock and enter Resurrection Bay is the Kenai Fjords. These steep-walled valleys were gouged out by glaciers over 10,000 years ago and are now filled with ocean water. The Fjords are home to many glaciers, including Bear Glacier, a calving glacier that drops icebergs into the bay. You’ll pass right next to it as you head into deeper waters.
As you cruise further into the bay, you’ll see a variety of seabirds and Alaskan marine life. Keep an eye out for orcas. These apex predators can often be seen swimming the waters surrounding Resurrection Bay. Orcas are also called “Killer Whales” because they sometimes hunt other marine mammals like seals and sea lions. Orcas are social creatures, so you may see more than one swimming near each other. There is a small chance that you could even encounter a pod of orcas hunting together.
Orcas are not the only major predator in Seward, Alaska. While you’re out on your Resurrection Bay Cruise, keep an eye out for dolphins and porpoises that also call this area home!
If you’re lucky enough to travel between May and August, you’ll be able to see humpback whales. These gentle giants often feed in the waters near Resurrection Bay and put on quite a show. They’ll breach the surface, slap their tails, and spyhop to get a better look at their surroundings.
In late summer and fall, Seward is also home to large numbers of puffins. These adorable little birds can be found nesting on rocky cliffs along the shoreline. Be sure to keep an eye out for their bright orange beaks and feet. Be prepared to get your camera ready for the puffins.
Eagles are another common sight in Seward. These powerful predators can often be seen perched in tall trees or soaring overhead. They are especially active during the fall salmon run when they feast on spawning fish.
Sea otters are a rare sight in Seward, but you may get lucky and spot one! I was fortunate enough to spot two, a mother and her pup. These marine mammals are found along Alaska’s coastline. They were hunted to near extinction for their thick fur until the practice was outlawed in the 1930s. Now they exist in healthy populations thanks to wildlife preservation efforts.
Dall Sheep and Mountain goats are also found in the area and can be seen grazing on the slopes of the surrounding mountains. You can easily distinguish Mountain goats from Dall sheep by their horns. Mountain goats have black horns that curve inward while Dall sheep have curvy white horns that spiral down and backward. The best way to spot them is to look for their white coats along the mountain edges. They will look like a white patch against the surrounding landscape.
Last but not least, Seward is home to a healthy population of harbor seals and Steller sea lions. These marine mammals can be seen lounging on rocks and kelp beds throughout the bay.
The Ultimate Resurrection Bay Cruise Tips & Tricks:
Seward is a small town, and the cruise ship docks right downtown. You can’t get any more convenient than this for a day-trip to one of the best places in Alaska for seeing sea life.
There are two main tour companies that operate cruises out of Seward and into Resurrection Bay: Marine Major Tours and Kenai Fjords Tours. I chose Major Marine because they are locally owned and operated. A good friend who’s an Anchorage-based wildlife photographer highly recommends them and cruises with them frequently.
Note: I reached out to Major Marine and was offered a media discount for my cruise.
When Should You Go on a Resurrection Bay Cruise?
Cruise season in Seward is late May through October. If you plan on traveling to Alaska during this time, then I would suggest buying tickets as soon as possible. The cruises can sell out weeks or even months in advance during the summer months, especially if the weather is favorable.
Major Marine offers their Resurrection Bay Wildlife Cruise once a day departing at 12:30 PM. This 4-hour cruise costs $99/adult ($49.50/child) which is a great value. It includes unlimited coffee, tea, and water plus a box lunch. When booking your tour, you have the option to choose your lunch; turkey, roast beef, salmon spread (similar to tuna salad), or vegetarian sandwich.
Note: Gluten-free bread is available for sandwiches, however, it isn’t listed on the website. You can note it on your reservation or email the company afterward and make the request.
Major Marine also offers a Spring Wildlife Cruise (March to May), Orca sighting cruise, 6 & 7.5 hour Kenai Fjords National Parks Cruise, and an 8.5 Northwestern Fjords Cruise. Call the cruise company or visit their website for specific sailing dates and times. They offer discounts when you book early online as well as package rates when staying at either the Seward Harbor 360 Hotel or Seward Gateway Hotel.
Things to Consider – Weather after Labor Day: Weather can be unpredictable in this part of the world after Labor Day. I went out in early September a few days after Labor Day. Originally, I had planned on a 6 hour Kenai Fjords Glacier Cruise, but the weather forecast called for high seas and winds on the Bay of Alaska due to an incoming storm. Our glacier cruise was canceled, but I was given the option to do the bay cruise instead. It turned out for the best because the bay was calm and the amount of marine life I saw was incredible. I highly recommend it!
What to Bring On Your Alaska Cruise:
Camera – A camera is a must and if you are bringing something other than your cell phone or point-and-shoot camera, a zoom lens. I bought a new 24-105mm f4 lens for my Nikon DSLR specifically for this trip to capture wildlife and landscape.
Binoculars – Although the boat has binoculars, I suggest bringing your own. If you don’t have them, these kid-friendly ones are what I have and brought with me. You don’t want to see any opportunity to see wildlife. I also suggest bringing a waterproof jacket, sunscreen, hat, and shoes that have some grip on the soles to be out on the deck.
If you are prone to motion sickness, I suggest you also bring your anti-nausea medication, patches, etc. I have been using a Reliefband, for my motion sickness and it worked great on this cruise. You can read my review of the ReliefBand Sport here.
In September, temperatures can be downright chilly. I wore a thermal base layer, insulated vest (I love this puffer JWP Vest from Jack Wolfskin), jeans, wool socks, and waterproof jacket plus a winter knit hat and gloves. This is what I packed for my Alaska trip in September. Even in the summer months, it’s best to layer as the temperatures on the water can be much cooler than on land.
What to Expect During Your Tour of Resurrection Bay
When you are planning your trip keep in mind that these cruises are not luxury vessels. Marine Marine’s boats are large catamarans that are fast and comfortable. They can seat a large number of guests on each cruise, but it did not feel crowded in my experience. There are large outdoor viewing areas/decks at the front and back of the boat. There are two large inner cabins with tables and bench seats for guests. The cabins are lined with large viewing windows too. There are also restrooms on board.
The captain and crew provide a wealth of information about the area, wildlife, and glaciers. There is plenty of time to take pictures and ask questions. I was so impressed with how much they shared with us during the cruise. On the boat I was on, there was also an information table set up inside with photo books of the orcas that frequent the area, wildlife ID cards to help identify seabirds and other animals, etc.
When animals are spotted, the boat is slowed down to provide passengers with a better look. However, when the wildlife becomes too close, the boat is stopped completely. The crew will also stop when they know you are in a better position to see something special like a glacier calving.
Lunch, coffee, and tea are provided on the cruise. Lunch is a sandwich, potato chips, fresh fruit, and brownie or cookie for dessert. There is an open bar and additional snacks are available for purchase. I suggest bringing a water bottle and filling it up before you board.
The cruise lasts about 4 hours.
The Actual Cruise Tour:
The cruise port is downtown and very easy to find. There is plenty of parking in the area. When you arrive for your tour, you check in at the check-in desk before boarding the boat. There is a small gift shop you can browse before boarding.
Major Marine Wildlife Cruise Boarding
My cruise was aboard the Spirit of Adventure. Boarding is easy and you are assigned a table in one of the two cabins. This is your “home base” where you can store your belongings during the cruise. There is a safety briefing and then it’s off! I highly recommend standing on the rear upper-level deck. You get great views of the port and Seward as you depart.
Boat Layout
The boat was divided into three levels with two enclosed interior cabins on levels one and two, open decks/viewing areas on each level either at the front or rear. The cabin windows were large, which provided great views of the wildlife without having to be outside. However, I found I really liked the viewing from the top level. There were benches to sit down as well as a railing to hold on to if needed and it was the perfect spot to snap pictures.
Wildlife Highlights
The highlight of the trip was definitely the orcas. We were able to see a small pod and spend some extra time watching them. I learned that resident orcas and transient orcas aren’t names given to describe the movement patterns of the animals. Instead, different diets are a major distinguishing characteristic between the two types. Resident orcas eat a variety of fish and transient orcas are known to eat other mammals such as seals, porpoises, sea lions, dolphins, and even other species of whales.
The wildlife spotting was amazing. We saw a Bald eagle perched in a tree, Stellar sea lions lounging on rocks, Dall porpoises, Dall sheep, puffins swimming, and sea otters. I love sea otters and I remember the first time I saw them in Monterey Bay, California. They are fun to watch and this pair was busy grooming themselves and frolicking as little otters should. I definitely recommend bringing your own binoculars to see them up close.
Lunch Included
Lunch was served in the middle of the cruise and was obtained on the 1st level. I opted for the Salmon spread sandwich and my friend had the gluten-free turkey sandwich. Both were really good. There are usually vegetarian options, as well. Just be sure to let them know when you make your reservation and check-in that you have a dietary restriction. I ordered a Bloody Mary with lunch as the crew joked that it cured motion sickness.
Glacier Viewing
We made a few stops along the way for glacier viewing. My favorite was Bear Glacier. I couldn’t see the glacier calving from the boat, but it was still amazing to see the ice formations.
Weather
The weather the day we sailed wasn’t great. It was cold and overcast. There was a storm coming into the Gulf of Alaska. The bay water was calm but where the bay met the gulf, the waves became larger with 6-7 foot swells. On the way back, it rained a little, but overall the weather didn’t impact the tour.
Disembarkment
The cruise ends back at the dock in Seward. There is a short walk back to your car. Before getting to the car, I recommend stopping at the fish cleaning station. You can watch the fishing boat workers fillet and clean the fish they’ve caught. It was pretty fascinating to watch (and smell).
Final Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed my wildlife cruise of Resurrection Bay. The wildlife spotting was amazing and the views were beautiful, even on a cloudy day. I would definitely return to cruise with Major Marine again and look forward to the all-day cruise that includes the Kenai Fjords National Park and more glaciers. If you’re looking for a relaxing way to spend a few hours in Seward, I definitely recommend this trip!
How To Book:
To book a tour I would suggest either calling or visiting Major Marine’s website. There is a discount when you book online. If you are a military member or veteran, you can also purchase tickets from the Seward Military Resort.
So there you have it! My top tips and tricks for making the most out of your Resurrection Bay Cruise. Be sure to get excited, because it’s an experience you’ll never forget!
Super helpful!! We are here in Seward and our big tour with Major Marine for tomorrow got cancelled because of choppy seas, just like yours did. I was wondering if the bay tour would be worth it, so I really appreciate your post so much!! Thank you.