Major Marine Tours Review (My Honest Opinion After 3 Seward Cruises)

Major Marine Tours was the very first wildlife and glacier cruise I experienced in Alaska, and since then I've been back two more times just to experience their different itineraries. Over the years, I've sailed on their 4 Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise, 7.5 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise, and 8.5 Hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise - and based on my experiences, I can confidently recommend Major Marine to anyone visiting Seward. Below, I'm sharing exactly what to expect onboard, along with my honest, in depth review after three cruises.

My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's to compare the best rates & stays in the state.
​
If you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your travels to the great state of Alaska.

Which Major Marine Cruise Should You Choose?

Major Marine Tour Options

Major Marine Tours has a couple different tour options, all based out of Seward and leaving from the Seward Harbor 360 Hotel. Personally, I've done the 4 Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise, the 7.5 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise, and the 8.5 Hour Northwestern Fjords Cruise. If visiting Seward is part of your Alaska plans, I highly encourage you to join the longest tour that fits into you itinerary. Not only does this allow you to see more landscapes and have more time at the glacier, but it also gives you the most opportunities for wildlife sightings. Since everyone has different interests and price points, I've broken down the few key differences in Major Marine's cruise options below, sorted from cheapest to most expensive tickets. Each year cruise dates can change, so please check their website for exact cruising dates.

• 4 Hour Spring Wildlife Cruise - This special, spring wildlife cruise allows guests a chance to see the great migration of whales from Baja to the Bering and Chukchi Seas (over 10,000 miles). It's short and easy to fit into any itinerary, and usually runs from March to Mid May.
• 4 Hour Orca Quest Cruise - This unique 4 hour cruise follows the daily movement and patterns of Orcas in Resurrection Bay, and although chances are you'll see other wildlife as well, the main focus of this cruise is a chance to see Orcas up close. This tour is only offered from Mid May to Mid June.
• 4 Hour Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise - If you're short on time, this narrated cruise stays in the calmer areas of Resurrection Bay. You'll still have the chance to see all kinds of wildlife, since the route is largely based on recent wildlife spottings. This tour is offered from Mid June to Mid October.
• 6 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise - This 6 hour cruise is similar to the 4 hour cruise, just 2 hours longer. Unlike the 4 hour tour you'll have a chance to see one of the local tidewater glaciers, and it includes lunch. This tour is offered from the beginning of May to Mid September, and if you're only planning to be in Seward for a single day, then this is your best option.
• 7.5 Hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise - Similar to the 6 Hour Tour, this narrated cruise includes a lunch and stops at two glaciers for a better chance to see some calving. This tour is offered from the end of May to Mid September.
• 8.5 Hour Northwest Fjords Cruise - This is the longest and most expensive narrated cruise that Major Marine offers. It includes lunch and stops at three glaciers for your best chance to see wildlife and a calving glacier. This tour goes the furthest into the Kenai Fjords National Park, and runs from the end of May to the beginning of September.

What to Expect

No matter which cruise you end up booking, there's a few pretty consistent factors you can expect on your cruise with Major Marines. All of their cruises depart from the Harbor 360 Hotel in Seward, so it's best to park in the North or South Lots for $15/day if you have a vehicle. In the summer months, parking is extremely limited, so I recommend giving yourself a little extra time to find a spot.

The longer tours offer an included deli lunch, otherwise you might want to bring some snacks with you. Their cruises also include use of their binoculars, and have bathrooms onboard, so no need to worry about either of those. Overall, my experience with their staff has been overwhelmingly positive, they've always been friendly and willing to answer any questions that get thrown at them. As for wildlife, you really have a great chance to see all kinds - orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, puffins, eagles, otters, porpoises, etc.!

*Pro Tip : If you're staying in Seward and looking for a place to stay in the Summer, book early! Stays can often book out 6 months ahead of time. This is my personal favorite place to stay in Seward, and super unique!

My Favorite Tours from Seward : 
- Alaska Railroad Roundtrip to Seward
- Full Day Kenai Fjords Cruise

My Honest Major Marine Tours Review​

Best Tips for your Wildlife + Glacier Tour

Even though they offer quite a few different versions of cruises in Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Fjords National Park, I would recommend booking the 7.5 hour or 8.5 hour cruise. These maximize your time out on the water and allow you to have the best chance of having an incredible wildlife encounter or witness a glacier calving if you're lucky. If you do decide to book these longer tours I also recommend taking dramamine beforehand if you tend to get seasick. Once you get out of the protected waters in Resurrection Bay, it can get a bit more choppy, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

My two biggest tips on your tour is to dress in layers and bring a zoom lens. If you're stopping at a glacier on your tour, the area nearby can get pretty chilly. You'll want a light jacket, a hat, and gloves if you plan to be outside for long. Resurrection Bay can also get some wet spells, so I recommend bringing a raincoat too. Phones nowadays have a pretty good zoom, but if you want really nice pictures and have a professional camera with a zoom lens you'll want to bring it. Here's what I usually bring on my wildlife adventures.

*Pro Tip : During the longer tours staff will sometimes scoop up some glacier ice while you're near the glaciers - if they do they usually end up making some special cocktails or drinks with glacier ice in them! It's a fun way to say you drank some of the glacier you spotted!

My Honest Review

To be honest, I truly believe this is one tour that you have to do while in Alaska, especially if visiting Seward is on already part of your plans. Not only have I had some of my best marine wildlife encounters while on their cruises (like the time an entire pod of Orcas swam right under our boat) but the sheer amount of wildlife I've seen on these cruises simply doesn't compare to any other wildlife and glacier cruises I've done in Alaska. I really have nothing but good things to say, and there's a reason I've been 3 times now. There's no question, this is one of the best things to do while you're in Seward.

Watch my Major Marines Adventures here!

---

Other Blog Posts You Might Be Interested In : 
-> Best Places to Eat in Seward Alaska
-> A Local's Guide to Granite Point
-> Best Things to Do in Seward

---

Pin this Major Marines Review for later!