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Seward, AK

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Major Marine Tours

4.6 (265 reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Alyssa A.

We had such a wonderful day out exploring the glaciers and wildlife of Kenai Fjords National Park. We came pretty late in the season, but they were still offering their full day National Park cruise. As can be the case in the later season, it was raining nearly the entire time we were on the cruise. But we had come prepared with rain gear, and while it would've been nice if it had been more sunny and less foggy, we still had an incredible time. We got to see some glaciers, including the Harding Icefield - which was pretty cool since we hiked up to it the following day from another direction. So much wildlife to see - orcas, puffins, seals, bald eagles... Even though the weather wasn't the best, we still had great animal sightings. All the staff were so incredibly kind and friendly. The tour included lunch. Felt like the lunch was the weakest link of the tour - food could've been a bit better - but all things considered, I wasn't going on the cruise for the food. Towards the end of the cruise, they were able to get some of the glacier ice into the boat and had glacier ice margaritas for sale. Really good price - I believe they were $7 each. The margarita was good, but the ice was incredible. Overall, it was a fantastic experience exploring this portion of the national park. Would highly recommend!

Mr. otter
Kristen D.

Major Marine Tours is fantastic, I have gone out with them on two separate occasions now and what makes the biggest difference for me is the staff. The staff are the creme de la creme, they really seem to care about their guests and are knowledgeable to boot! The Captain takes us all over the place, but specifically will seek out things if you ask them to, which really gives the tours a personalized and special feeling. I also have an immense amount of respect for the crew of Major Marine Tours in how they show their respect for the wildlife.

Glacier-ita ($8)
Sandee L.

Epic 8.5 hour Kenai Fjords tour! We got lucky and had perfect weather and calm water (a little rough and rocky toward the end in open water). A big shout out to Captain John, Ronan and Carson who were so friendly and informative! We could not have had a better trip! We saw sea otters, seals, sea lions, puffins, humpback whale and the highlight: the orca pods! We saw glaciers and some calving, waterfalls. The scenery is breathtaking! Lunch was included on our trip and was a sandwich, chips and a granola bar. The brownie snack at the end was so decadent. Yum! Throughout the trip, there's also snacks and drinks for sale. Of course we had to try the glacier-ita complete with glacier ice. A shuttle was available to pick us up at the cruise port and we were able to store our luggage with them during our tour. I'll be back some September to hopefully see the whale bubble feeding on my bucket list.

Turkey sandwich
Rebecca C.

The 8.5 hour Northwestern fjord cruise was so amazing! I cannot say enough good things about Captain Nat and his crew, Scott and Carson. My friend and I discussed how we had never experienced such friendly and attentive customer service anywhere else. The crew was so on top of things whether it was handing out barf bags, pointing out when photo ops were coming, offering to take photos, answering questions, etc. The crew explained that while they couldn't promise any specific sightings, they were in contact with other ships and were planning on making slight adjustments to our route in order to maximize sightings based on what other ships were seeing. This approach really panned out for us because we got to see so much. They offered complimentary tea and coffee on board. They also had complimentary binoculars. Lunch was included and was a sandwich, chips, and a granola bar. Later on, they also came around with brownies. At the end of our trip, Carson also came around with a map showing us what we saw and where. We definitely saw a bit more than she could fit on the map--starfish, lots of seals, otters, etc. but it has the major highlights. I can't recommend this company enough!

Mate Jack, accidentally clicking a selfie when trying to take out picture
Prajakta G.

We did the 8.5 hours northwestern glacier tour. It is on a smaller vessel which provides a more personalized experience. It has a two person crew - Captain Nat and first mate Jack (the host) were both great, providing interesting and entertaining information and history about the places we passed through. We saw a lot of wildlife, and the different tour vessels worked in coordination to locate the orcas and other whales in the waters. The smaller vessel is more nimble and gets closer to interesting sites (glaciers, wildlife in water or on land or rocks, birds). For the vegetarian lunch we had a sandwich, chips, a granola bar and a cheese slice along with a non alcoholic beverage. They also provided a chocolate brownie snack in the late afternoon. Tea, coffee, hot water, hot chocolate were complementary. They had other snacks such as chips and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for sale. Carrying your own snacks never hurts. The two restrooms with running water on board were clean throughout the 8.5 hours. The vessel does get a little rocky passing through large swells, but a lot of the ride is small with gentle swaying. A few people got sea sick and the host was very helpful to them. Most of the people had sea sickness skin patches or had taken nausea medicines as a precaution. Getting seasick for a long duration is the only thing that can diminish the experience. Overall a great experience and I would recommend major marine tour when visiting Kenai Fjords area.

Joyce Z.

With the exception of moose, fjords, glaciers, and humpback whales were the others I really wanted to see on my first trip to Alaska. Thanks to Major Marine's 7 1/2 hour fjord and glacier cruise, I was able to fulfill my dream and more. Just be sure to bundle up as the weather on your tour is vastly different than the one you leave behind in Seward. There are indoor and outdoor seating although we spent most of the time outdoors so we don't miss anything but have an assigned table indoors we can leave our stuff behind and to have your sandwich lunch. Barely out the gate and we were welcomed by harbor seals, a bald eagle, and sea otters followed by a mountain goat on the hillside. As we cruised into Kenai Fjords NPS, we followed a pod of killer whales (orcas), before cruising by Holgate Glacier where ice fishing netted some glacier ice to go into margaritas later. Sea otters were lounging on ice floes as we approached Aialik Glacier where we spent enough time to hear it thundering right before calving. As we departed it was the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of the glacially carved fjords itself. Came across more orcas but on the other side of the ship was our first sighting of a baby humpback. For me, a humpback will always win. I am happy to say I have now seen humpbacks both in their home of Alaska and my happy place/their breeding ground Maui. Just when I thought our humpback sightings were short lived, another one 15 minutes later decided to entertain us with not one, not two, but three tail slaps once I spared a minute for the stellar sea lions but missing out on those flying horned and tufted puffins. Even our captain Kayleigh said it's not often you have too much wildlife simultaneously. On the way back, a final sendoff by a dall porpoise alongside us. What an action packed day with Major Marines.

Fantastic from start to finish. They were wonderful!!! They did such an amazing job explaining things and stopping for animals. An absolute must do while in Seward. They even handled sea sick passengers like pros and had gluten free lunch options. Everyone was so so nice! It just made for the best day. We chose the 6 hour option which was perfect for us. Enough to see the glacier but not the full day at sea.

Mary M.

Went on the 6.5 hour boat tour and OMGG you cannot miss this tour if you are near the Kenai Fjord National Park. It was PERFECT. the staff was incredibly knowledgeable and SO kind. We were barely half out of Resurrection Bay and encountered our first wild life. In addition to seeing BOTH the Aialic and Holgate glaciers up close, we also saw: Porpoises Sea otters Humpback whale (1) Eagles (2) Cormorant Sea lions sunning on rock Orca AT-30 Harbor seals (many) sunning on ice chunks by Aialik glacier Black bear (2) Holgate glacier Fin whale (2) Mountain goat, injured Our boat crew was comprised of Jordan, Alicia, Ricardo, Hayley, Olivia, and Captain John (I'm sure I'm missing a few) but they were ALL excellent and deserve a shout out. Seriously this was the best part of my time in Seward and I want everyone to do this trip! Included lunch and the snack bar were great and had nice selection. The margarita made with fresh glacier ice was pretty cool too.

Sea lions, orcas, sea otters, glacier, humpback whales

This was an amazing trip! We saw humpbacks, orcas, sea otters, seals, sea lions, and puffins. The staff were so knowledgeable and friendly. We befriended one staff member in particular. He told us about how wonderful the owners are, they treat their employees very well. Just over all great people. You should book a tour with them! We did the 6 hour one

Mary T.

Did the Resurrection Bay Spring Wildlife Cruise today and this company is amazing. Probably the best day tour I've ever had and I've been to 50 countries. Pristine boat, great crew, unbelievable views, etc. Nice freebies such as coffee, water and tea AND binoculars to use! Saw more than I expected. Great narrative! Thank you.

Gluten Free Turkey Sandwich - very geewwwd
Maria Gracias H.

We had a fantastic time on our 7.5-hour excursion with Major Marine. Check-in and boarding were seamless, and we were assigned specific seats (though you're free to move around or head to the outdoor deck for the best views). Our captain was excellent--very knowledgeable and patient in explaining the history and geology of the area, while doing his best to get us great wildlife sightings. I was pleasantly surprised by how clean the ferry was--even the bathrooms! It was clear the crew worked very hard to make sure everything ran smoothly and that guests had the best experience possible. One of the crew members, Luis, was so nice and shared to us the story about the company etc. Lunch and snacks were included, and I didn't expect the food to be so good--the sandwich was fresh and tasty, and the brownie was so delicious I couldn't resist asking for seconds. Complimentary coffee, tea, and water were available throughout the trip, and they even provided Nikon binoculars for guests to use. We went during shoulder season, and while the weather was rainy and cloudy (typical Alaska!), it didn't take away from the experience. Overall, a truly memorable excursion--I'd highly recommend it. We got to see both Aialik and Holgate glaciers, and few other small glaciers along the way, orcas, sea lions, and otters.

Steller sea lions
Susan E.

We took a late season (near the end of September) 4-hour wildlife/glacier cruise with Justin as our captain. While (after seeing a couple of bald eagles and cormorants) the trip started off slowly, it ended up being phenomenal. Justin kept in touch with other boat captains to locate wildlife we otherwise would have been unlikely to see... including several Orcas, an unusual sighting this late in the season. He also showed us a number of glaciers and gave an excellent narrative. I highly recommend this tour company.

Sherry D.

Great tour, friendly staff, decent lunch, very nicely run you don't wait for anything. It's not crowded they do a great job

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Ask the Community - Major Marine Tours

Review Highlights - Major Marine Tours

“We were lucky and got to see a pod of Orcas in Resurrection bay that hung out around us for quite a bit of time.”

Mentioned in 64 reviews

Read more highlights

Kenai Fjords Tours - Tours to Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords Tours

(279 reviews)

Sailed off with with Captain Emma and crew aboard The Alaskan Explorer. Killer whales, sea otter,…read morebald eagles, sea lions, porpoises and puffins. Got super close to the glaciers to witness some awesome calving. Great crew and narration. Plus they fed us well. The cocktails served with freshly scooped glacier ice was the chef's kiss.

Prior to this tour, I had no idea what a fjord was. I, having the impatience of a toddler, simply…read moreinsisted my husband book the 6 hour cruise so I could FINALLY see whales in the wild! The snow-capped mountains were incomprehensibly wondrous! The massive blue glaciers were numerous! The oceans, streams, rivers, and lakes were plentiful. We were anble to see sea otters, stellar sea lions, Dall's porpoises, puffins, and a juvenile eagle, among several other types of birds. All of that being said, my most cherished memory was seeing the humpback whales spouting and playfully rolling around in the seawater! It, unfortunately, is STILL my dream to see a whale breaching the water! After gaining the knowledge bestowed upon us by this crew and before returning back to the harbor, we were served lunch. Stale tortilla chips & salsa were served alongside a re-heated burrito. Being pre-heated and then reheated, the burritos were not at all appetizing! The salsa did not help the tortillas at all, either. The crew aboard this boat was attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, and very patient with this particular group of passengers, many of whom ended up hanging over the sides of the boat while seasickness. I definitely recommend this tour and hope you get this particular crew (Captain Greg, Senior Bobbi, Clint, and Max.)

Wilderness Express - Denali in the background

Wilderness Express

(4 reviews)

We took the Wilderness Express from Talkeetna to Denali as part of our Celebrity Alaskan cruise…read moretour. The Wilderness Express is privately owned but uses the Alaska Railway system. They were the last two cars attached to the train. Huge vista domes upstairs with a private dining room downstairs. And a no host bar. A very highly organized system where you are instructed to sit based on the order you boarded. There's no picking of seats. Later you're led downstairs to the dining room. Everyone on board went downstairs to eat including the three of us. White tablecloth and good food selection. There's a rail guide onboard who points out the various points of interest. Traversing 4 1/2 hours through the Final Frontier added to our overall cruise tour experience.

Absolutely amazing…read more I wish I was a better writer, so I could really get a picture in your head of how beautiful the countryside is that you pass in the comfort of your deluxe train car. It is a 2 story train car with fine dining located on the first floor. The ceiling, is a glass dome ceiling. YOU SEE EVERYTHING! Dinner was fabulous. Do not mistake it for train food. This was a culinary experience. My husband and I had a pasta w/ reindeer sausage, and my brother had the best prime rib he ever had in his life. This upset my mother quite a lot, since she used to hold that title. Wilderness Express is not available to everyone. It is a Royal Caribbean & Celebrity Cruise Line exclusive thing. So if you want to experience it, it must be part of your overall cruise tour package. Just another thing to consider when choosing which cruise line to go with for your Alaska vacation.

Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park

(62 reviews)

"Where Mountains, Ice, and Ocean Meet"…read more Exploring this National Park was a nice addition to my trip to Alaska. I came here to do volunteer work. In the evenings, we mostly fished in the Kenai River. After finishing up our work, my group planned two fun days at the end of the week. One day we chartered a boat in Homer to Halibut fish and the other we visited Seward and got to see the Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. Kenai Fjords National Park is massive. It is the fifth most-visited park in Alaska and is the closest national park to Anchorage. The park was established in 1980 and encompasses over 600,000 acres outside of the town of Seward. Snow and ice cover 50 percent of the park with the Harding Icefield stretching over 700 square miles. The park's headquarters and visitor center are located in Seward. The nice thing about Kenai Fjords National Park is that it provides both leisurely and adventurous activities for visitors. Activities include kayaking, boat tours, camping, fishing, biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, dog sledding and mountaineering. Various companies offer tours that are guided by National Park Rangers. In addition to seeing the beautiful scenery up close, you can also see both land and marine wildlife. Seward is also a destination for cruise ships and provides passengers from the ships with tours of the park. Kenai Fjords National Park lies on the southeastern side of the Kenai Peninsula and can be reached from Seward. The most significant fjords include Aialik Bay, Harris Bay, McCarty Fjord and Nuka Bay. Most of the interior of the park is covered by the Harding Icefield. A cool thing for me was that I was doing work at an airport when I was here in Alaska. Because my work was volunteer, one of the pilots offered to take some of us up in a plane to see Alaska from above as an appreciation for the work that we were doing. We flew over the Harding Icefield and got to see how massive it was. It was such an awesome experience. Another way to see the icefield up close is to hike on the Harding Icefield Trail. Kenai Fjords National Park is made up of three main areas - the Exit Glacier, Harding Icefield and the coastline. The Exit Glacier is the easiest section of the park to reach. I stopped by the visitor center in Seward first before seeing the glacier. It is a nice place to visit and to learn about the park. There are park rangers on hand to answer questions and a gift shop. We then headed over to the Exit Glacier. It is the only destination in Kenai Fjords National Park that is accessible by land. They have a small nature center that you can visit before heading out on the trail to the glacier. The Exit Glacier hike is the best way to see this glacier up close. Sadly, the glacier has shrunk considerably due to climate change. They have signs showing where the glacier once stood by year. Park scientists continue to monitor and record the glacier's accelerating recession. At some point, you won't be able to see the glacier anymore from the overlook trail. I really enjoyed my time visiting this park. Getting a chance to fly over the Harding Icefield was an amazing experience for me. Then checking out the Exit Glacier later in the week really made me appreciate how beautiful this park is. I hope someday I can return here and hike on Harding Icefield Trail to get up and close to it.

One of the best parts of our June Alaska cruise occurred on the last day in Seward. We viewed…read moreparts of Kenai Fjords National Park from the water on a Major Marine boat trip. We saw the Holgate and Aialik glaciers, tons of wildlife (Orcas, sea otters, Stellar sea lions, harbor seals, puffins, and more). The finale was seeing the amazing rock formations in Porcupine Bay. Afterwards, we stopped by the Kenai Fjords National Park visitor center to learn more about the park. Wish we had more time for further exploration!

Major Marine Tours - boating - Updated October 2026

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