How To Pick The Best Kenai Fjords NP Tour
The day tour boat cruise from Seward is a popular activity for visitors from around the world. Even if you arrive in Alaska via a cruise ship, you will likely enjoy the boat tour, as it takes you deeper into the Kenai Fjords National Park. Several highly-rated companies operate out of Seward. Let's explore some details and choose the tour that best matches your expectations.
Kenai Fjords National Park Introduction
Are Kenai Fjords National Park cruises worth it?
What to expect on a Kenai Fjords NP Boat Tour?
Best time for a boat tour in Kenai Fjords National Park
Best Boat Tour operators from Seward
Big or small boat tour in Seward?
Best Family-friendly cruise from Seward
Most of our guests visiting Alaska with smaller kids go on a Resurrection Bay Tour with a visit to Fox Island offered by Kenai Fjords Tours. This 5-hour long tour departs at 12 PM, allowing families to have an easier morning. The tour includes a stop at the charming Fox Island Lodge, where lunch is served. Although it does not technically venture into the waters of a Kenai Fjords National Cruise, there are still beautiful sites to see and high chances for wildlife viewing, especially earlier in the summer. It's important to note that this tour does not take you close to any glacier. Therefore, families with older kids should probably consider a little bit longer tour, that goes to Aialik Bay, which will allow you to have some spectacular views of one of the glaciers.
Best Adventurous Kenai Fjords Boat Tour
Most Kenai Fjords tours are suitable for all ages and do not require any activity. However, if you're seeking a more adventurous experience, we highly recommend a tour offered by our partner, Sunny Cove Kayaking. This tour includes a small boat cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park, with opportunities for wildlife watching and kayaking near a tidewater glacier. It is perfect for visitors seeking a more active adventure. These tours are priced at $500 plus taxes in 2024 and are limited to only 12 passengers. The tour begins at 7:20 am and typically ends around 5 pm.
Best Kenai Fjords Tour For Photographers
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that photographers should focus on smaller boats and longer tours. There are plenty of advantages to being on a smaller vessel for taking photos. In most cases, we try to book our photography-oriented guests with Northern Latitude Adventures on their 7.5 or 9-hour tour, allowing them plenty of time at each location. If the group is four or bigger, we try to charter a boat to customize the tour to the client’s expectations. These tours are a bit more expensive and should be chosen only by those who are not prone to seasickness.
Best Kenai Fjords Boat Tour Overall
Unless a group has very specific expectations or needs (e.g., photographers), we typically schedule our guests for a 6-hour Kenai Fjords National Park tour with one of the local partners. These tours are offered by nearly all the tour operators based in Seward and will take you closer to one of the glaciers while also allowing for wildlife watching. In our opinion, unless you simply love being on a boat, and want to dedicate most of your day to this activity, this is the best length for the majority of visitors.
Major Marine and Kenai Fjords Tours run these tours twice a day, usually the first one at 8 AM and the second one around noon. Small boat operators usually run these once a day, starting early in the morning. If you are staying in Seward and don’t mind an early start, we recommend booking a morning tour since they tend to be less busy. If you are arriving by train or from another location for this tour, opt for a later one. Additionally, there is also a 3 PM tour with dinner for those who can’t make it any earlier (with Kenai Fjords Tours).