South-central Alaska can be extremely varied in its weather patterns. Bring extra layers, including a waterproof jacket, warm socks, waterproof or water-resistant shoes, a hat, and gloves. Even on sunny days, the temperature at the glacier can be 10-20 degrees F colder than in the harbor in Seward.

Lunch, snacks, and hot drinks are provided on our longer 7 hour tours. Snacks and hot drinks are complimentary on our shorter 3.5 hour trips. You are welcome to bring your own beer or wine; plastic or aluminum only - no glass please.

You’re encouraged to bring camera gear with you - telephoto lenses are recommended, but anything from smartphones to DSLRs are great. Please no tripods - deck space is very limited. Tripods are ineffective on a moving boat. Make sure you have SD cards and charged batteries for cameras — countless people have turned on their camera early in the tour only to discover their battery is dead or they forgot their charger!

There is! We call it a marine head, but it’s a restroom by any other name. Your captain will give you specific instructions for its use when you’re on board. Marine heads are notoriously finicky pieces of equipment.

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee any sightings. We always do our very best to show folks the widest variety of species and areas of the national park. However, wildlife is just that - wild. Some days we see things in the morning that aren’t there in the afternoon. Some days, the wildlife just isn’t there to be seen, no matter which boat you’re on or what company you go out with. Every trip, even on the same day, is completely different. Weather is also a big factor in our tours - after all, we cruise the Gulf of Alaska every day. Rest assured, we will always strive to give the best tour we can within the confines of safety. All that said, the Kenai Fjords are home to a multitude of species, some more prevalent than others. Humpback whales, orcas or killer whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagles, sea otters, horned and tufted puffins, common murres, sea otters, Dall’s porpoise, coastal mountain goats, black bears, and dozens of species of pelagic seabird are all possible on our tours.

Most days we make it around Cape Aialik into Aialik Bay, where we go to either Holgate or Aialik Glacier. On certain occasions, such as private charters, we go one fjord further west to Northwestern Fjord. If the weather prohibits us from making it to either Aialik Bay or Northwestern Fjord, your captain will work with you to adjust the itinerary and any pro-rated refunds that may be available under our weather day policy.

Active duty military receive 15% off any of our tours for themselves and immediate family. Alaska residents get 10% off. Please be prepared to show ID for either discount. Unfortunately, we cannot offer discounts for children due to the limited availability of seating on the boat.

Fires and boats are quite literally mortal enemies, so we have a strict no-smoking policy on board. This extends to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vapes, and any other substances that can be lit on fire. Additionally, US Coast Guard regulations strictly prohibit federally illicit substances on board, so despite the fact that cannabis is legal in Alaska, we are not permitted to have it on the vessel.

We have all the safety equipment on our boat that is required by Coast Guard standards. This equipment includes life vests for adults and children, a life raft, a life ring, fire extinguishers, first aid and CPR supplies, marine radios, an EPIRB (radio frequency homing device), and a GPS chart plotter. Additionally, our captains are highly skilled, CPR/FirstAid Certified and experienced in Alaskan waters.

Service animals are always welcome on the boat. Regular pets and ESAs are unfortunately not allowed. 6 long hours on a boat with unfamiliar smells and movements can be very upsetting to pets, and for that reason we do not allow pets on board. We recommend Seward Dog Lodge for help with your pup while you’re out with us.

Seasickness is unfortunately a possibility for some folks. If you tend to be prone to seasickness, we recommend a motion sickness medication like Dramamine or Bonine. These medications work best if you take the first dose the night before your trip. Some people prefer wrist straps that work with pressure points. Your captain will also let you know what kind of sea conditions to expect for your tour and do everything possible to keep you comfortable while you’re on board.

Our boat is limted to six people plus the captain by US Coast Guard regulations, and this is one of the strictest rules that we have. All of our safety equipment, seating, and catering is specifically set for 6 people or fewer.

We require 100% of your fare to be paid at the time of reservation. Our “magic number” for our standard 6-hour tour is 3 people; if we don’t have 3 people booked on a trip, we have some options. You can pay for the extra ticket and convert your tour to a private trip, get a full refund, or shorten the tour to a 3.5-4 hour Resurrection Bay tour. Reservations canceled more than 14 days from your scheduled tour date will be given a full refund. Reservations canceled 24 hours to 14 days are eligible for a 50% refund, and cancellations inside 24 hours or no-shows will not be eligible for any refund. We leave promptly at our scheduled departure time, but we will always attempt to call you if you haven’t checked in a few minutes before departure.

Tipping is certainly not necessary, but a much-appreciated thank you for outstanding service. If you had a good time on your tour, feel free to tip the captain a customary 10-20% if you choose. “The wind and the waves can tip your sails, but only you can tip your crew!”

There are several paid lots in Seward. We recommend the lot directly across 4th Avenue from the main boat launch in the harbor. There are also several taxi companies available if you would prefer to not search for parking.

No, drones are not permitted in US National Parks.