Alaska Vacation Tours Information

The Alaska SeaLife Center is a non-profit marine science facility dedicated to understanding and maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem of Alaska through research, rehabilitation and public education. The Center's research facilities and naturalistic exhibits immerse visitors in the dynamic marine ecosystems of Alaska.

Research
Center-based research projects help scientists discover reasons for declining marine animal populations and environmental changes.

Rehabilitation
The Alaska SeaLife Center provides care for sick and injured marine animals, yielding important information about wildlife populations.

Education
From early education to Elderhostel, the Alaska SeaLife Center educational programs and presentations are designed to expand the public's knowledge of Alaska's marine ecosystems.

Exhibitry
The many exhibits at the Alaska SeaLife Center immerse visitors in Alaskan marine ecosystems and provide opportunities to watch animals in naturalistic habitats as well as research settings.

Cost: $22.00 per person

This cruise travels into Kenai Fjords National Park and to the Chiswell Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Your host will be a uniformed National Park Ranger, who will provide narration on your journey and point out the many spectacular sights while fielding any questions you may have. Wildlife is abundant throughout the National Park, and the tidewater glaciers are massive.

You'll visit the mighty Holgate Glacier where guests often witness calving - a process by which glaciers shed giant blocks and slabs of ancient ice - from a close distance. With photo opportunities galore, our cruise will be unforgettable.

Our Kenai Fjords National Park cruises departs daily from Seward, a seaside town located 125 miles south of Anchorage on Alaska's famous Kenai Peninsula. The drive to Seward from Anchorage is about a three-hour trip and is full of scenery including: mountains, inlets, lakes, rivers, glaciers and more. If you'd rather use your travel time to gaze at the spectacular sights, we can arrange transportation via motorcoach or the legendary Alaska Railroad.

Our Ships are modern Coast Guard-certified vessels featuring heated cabins, multiple outside decks, a full-service bar and clean restrooms not to mention our experienced friendly crew who will assure your comfort and safety at all times. The Major Marine Tours Advantages are: National Park Ranger on every cruise. Fun and Educational Junior Ranger Program is available. Delicious Alaska salmon and prime rib meal served buffet style. Guaranteed reserved table seating in a heated cabin for every guest.

See more wildlife with our "cruising restaurant" service, allowing you the comfort and convenience of exploring as you dine.

Some of the marine life you'll likely encounter in Kenai Fjords National Park include:

Dall Porpoise
These playful porpoises are often mistaken for killer whales because of their similar markings. Often you'll see them bow riding or circling the boat at high speeds, breaking the water to breathe. Generally these 4 to 6 foot mammals travel in pairs or large groups.

Killer Whale
Often called Orcas, these 15 to 30 foot whales weigh up to 10 tons and can swim at speeds of 30 mph. They generally travel in pods and feed on salmon, seals, birds and other mammals. Their black and white markings and tall dorsal fins make Orcas very distinctive.

Steller's Sea Lions
This rare, endangered species lives in large colonies, feeding largely on mollusks and fish. They grow to 6 to 8 feet and weigh 1,500 lbs. (males) and 600 lbs. (females). They are distinguished from their cousins, the California Sea Lion, by their light colored, reddish fur.

Humpback Whale
The giant Humpback Whale is also very common in Alaskan waters. Weighing up to 40 tons, they travel north in the summer months to feed mainly on plankton and small shrimp like krill consuming up to one ton per day. They are well known for their spectacular breaching.

Other Whales
The Gray Whale, Fin Whale, and Minke Whale are sighted less frequently in Kenai Fjords National Park, although all three are present at different times during the summer.

Harbor Seal
This wide-ranging seal can be found throughout most coastal waters in the northern latitudes. In Alaska, they are often seen resting on ice floes around the active glaciers. They grow to a length of 4 to 5 feet and weigh 250 lbs.

Sea Otter
The smallest of all marine mammals, the playful sea otter spends most of its life in the water feeding on fish, squid, sea urchins and crabs. They often float on their backs, using their stomachs as a table for their food. They are generally 29 to 39 inches long with light brown heads and flipper-like feet.

Puffin
This clown of the North Pacific is one of the most popular birds. It spends most of its life at sea, coming ashore only to raise its young. Both horned and tufted puffins are often seen during the cruises. Puffins gorge themselves on small fish, often making it nearly impossible for them to take off and fly.

Literally hundreds of species of birds can be spotted throughout Resurrection Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park and Prince William Sound.

Cost (with meal): $156.00 per person
Cost (without meal): $127.00 per person
Departure: 11:45 am