4 Hour Orca Quest Cruise
Offered by Major Marine Tours In Seward, Alaska
: $
About us
Major Marine Tours offers world-class wildlife and glacier cruises in Kenai Fjords National Park, departing from the beautiful harbor town of Seward, Alaska. We are a locally-owned, family company celebrating 30 years of sharing authentic Alaska adventures with our guests.
Tour Kenai Fjords on one of our cruise options ranging from 3.5 hours to 8.5 hours. Our cruises explore the glacier-carved fjords and abundant wildlife of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park, offering some of the best glacier viewing and whale watching opportunities in Alaska.
We offer a range of different tours based on your interests and itinerary, including cruise options with educational kids programs, cruises for birders and photographers, and shorter cruises that stay in calmer, protected waters. Cruises 6 hours and over include a complimentary hearty deli lunch for all guests.
From family-friendly cruises on large, stable catamarans to full-day small-vessel adventure cruises – we have the cruise for you!
Tour Kenai Fjords on one of our cruise options ranging from 3.5 hours to 8.5 hours. Our cruises explore the glacier-carved fjords and abundant wildlife of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park, offering some of the best glacier viewing and whale watching opportunities in Alaska.
We offer a range of different tours based on your interests and itinerary, including cruise options with educational kids programs, cruises for birders and photographers, and shorter cruises that stay in calmer, protected waters. Cruises 6 hours and over include a complimentary hearty deli lunch for all guests.
From family-friendly cruises on large, stable catamarans to full-day small-vessel adventure cruises – we have the cruise for you!
What we'll do
For a limited time in early summer, this cruise departs from Seward in search of our favorite black and white marine mammal – the orca. Join Major Marine Tours – the local whale experts – as we search for orcas, distinguishable by their stately dorsal fins and fascinating social behaviors.
From mid-May through mid-June, orcas frequent the waters outside of Seward in search of food. Join us for an amazing day on the water as we search for orcas during this prime time for orca watching. These incredible marine mammals are distinguishable by their prominent dorsal fins, which can grow up to six feet tall, and their fascinating social behaviors. Our experienced captains will explore the area’s orca hot spots and communicate with other vessels about recent sightings to maximize your chances of seeing orcas. Learn about these whales from our knowledgeable captains, who will provide narration throughout the cruise. Hear the haunting calls of these animals for yourself through our onboard hydrophone if conditional allow.
*Tour Highlights
- Search for orcas during the prime time for orca whale watching in Alaska.
- Onboard hydrophone allows you to listen to orca calls underwater if conditional allows.
- We take you to where the orcas have recently been seen rather than following a set route. Every day is a unique cruising experience.
- Explore the world of Alaska’s orcas on the only orca-focused cruise from Seward.
- In addition to orcas, you may also see humpback whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, Dall’s porpoises, sea otters, bald eagles, and seabirds.
From mid-May through mid-June, orcas frequent the waters outside of Seward in search of food. Join us for an amazing day on the water as we search for orcas during this prime time for orca watching. These incredible marine mammals are distinguishable by their prominent dorsal fins, which can grow up to six feet tall, and their fascinating social behaviors. Our experienced captains will explore the area’s orca hot spots and communicate with other vessels about recent sightings to maximize your chances of seeing orcas. Learn about these whales from our knowledgeable captains, who will provide narration throughout the cruise. Hear the haunting calls of these animals for yourself through our onboard hydrophone if conditional allow.
*Tour Highlights
- Search for orcas during the prime time for orca whale watching in Alaska.
- Onboard hydrophone allows you to listen to orca calls underwater if conditional allows.
- We take you to where the orcas have recently been seen rather than following a set route. Every day is a unique cruising experience.
- Explore the world of Alaska’s orcas on the only orca-focused cruise from Seward.
- In addition to orcas, you may also see humpback whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, Dall’s porpoises, sea otters, bald eagles, and seabirds.
What to expect / what's provided
*Duration: 4 hours
*Prices are inclusive of all taxes and fees.
*Complimentary coffee, tea, and water are provided. Snacks, beverages, beer, and wine are available for purchase during the cruise.
*Departure Location: Seward Harbor 360 Hotel
*Not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for guests with limited mobility. More information about vessel wheelchair accessibility can be found here.
*More Orca Facts:
- Though orcas may frequent the same areas day after day, they can be seen anywhere in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park.
- Three types of orcas can be seen in the area: resident, transient, and offshore.
- Orca pods are matriarchal and families often stay together for their entire lives.
- Resident pods of orcas frequent the area from mid-May through mid-June to feed on salmon, socialize with other pods, and mate. These are the most commonly seen orcas on our cruises.
- Our experienced captains can often identify specific pods and individual orcas by characteristics such as notches in dorsal fins, scars, and saddle patches (the white patch behind the dorsal fin).
- Transient orcas are seen less frequently and visit the area to feed on Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoises, and harbor seals.
- Resident orcas are much more playful than transients. They can often be seen at the surface of the water, breaching and tail slapping. They travel in larger pods and have shorter downtimes underwater. - - Resident pods also communicate more than transients.
- Transient orcas are more elusive. Since they prey on marine mammals rather than fish, their prey is much harder to catch and they have to spend more time hunting. They have to be stealthy to survive, traveling in much smaller pods without much socializing between pods. Each transient pod has inherited its own methods of hunting, passed down from the older generations of their pod.
- Offshore orcas are the most elusive of the three types of orcas. They live far out to sea and rarely visit the areas that we explore on our cruises. Offshore orcas travel in large groups and prey on fish and sharks.
*FAQs:
- Will I see gray whales on this tour?
The main focus of this cruise is to see gray whales on their migration from Baja to the Bering and Chukchi seas. While we cannot guarantee whale sightings, our captains do their best to maximize your chances of seeing whales. This cruise travels through Resurrection Bay to search for gray whales along their migration route in the Gulf of Alaska. On average, we see whales on 60% of our Gray Whale Watching Cruises, including gray, humpback, and orca whales. This cruise provides the unique opportunity to view a whale species only in the area for a short time in the spring.
- Will I see puffins on this cruise?
This cruise runs in the spring before the puffins have migrated back to the area for the summer. Puffins typically return to the area in May, so you may see them on the Spring Wildlife Cruises that depart in May. However, there are opportunities to see other wildlife on this cruise including whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, mountain goats, bears, and other seabirds.
- Is a meal included on this cruise?
No, there is no meal included on this cruise. We have a snack bar onboard, and you are more than welcome to bring your own food with you. Glass containers and personal alcohol are not permitted.
What should I bring for this tour?
Spring temperatures in Alaska can be cold, particularly on the water. Though our vessels have heated cabins, we urge you to dress in warm, waterproof layers and bring a hat and gloves to spend time on the outer decks, where you will get the best, up-close views of wildlife and scenery.
*Prices are inclusive of all taxes and fees.
*Complimentary coffee, tea, and water are provided. Snacks, beverages, beer, and wine are available for purchase during the cruise.
*Departure Location: Seward Harbor 360 Hotel
*Not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for guests with limited mobility. More information about vessel wheelchair accessibility can be found here.
*More Orca Facts:
- Though orcas may frequent the same areas day after day, they can be seen anywhere in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park.
- Three types of orcas can be seen in the area: resident, transient, and offshore.
- Orca pods are matriarchal and families often stay together for their entire lives.
- Resident pods of orcas frequent the area from mid-May through mid-June to feed on salmon, socialize with other pods, and mate. These are the most commonly seen orcas on our cruises.
- Our experienced captains can often identify specific pods and individual orcas by characteristics such as notches in dorsal fins, scars, and saddle patches (the white patch behind the dorsal fin).
- Transient orcas are seen less frequently and visit the area to feed on Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoises, and harbor seals.
- Resident orcas are much more playful than transients. They can often be seen at the surface of the water, breaching and tail slapping. They travel in larger pods and have shorter downtimes underwater. - - Resident pods also communicate more than transients.
- Transient orcas are more elusive. Since they prey on marine mammals rather than fish, their prey is much harder to catch and they have to spend more time hunting. They have to be stealthy to survive, traveling in much smaller pods without much socializing between pods. Each transient pod has inherited its own methods of hunting, passed down from the older generations of their pod.
- Offshore orcas are the most elusive of the three types of orcas. They live far out to sea and rarely visit the areas that we explore on our cruises. Offshore orcas travel in large groups and prey on fish and sharks.
*FAQs:
- Will I see gray whales on this tour?
The main focus of this cruise is to see gray whales on their migration from Baja to the Bering and Chukchi seas. While we cannot guarantee whale sightings, our captains do their best to maximize your chances of seeing whales. This cruise travels through Resurrection Bay to search for gray whales along their migration route in the Gulf of Alaska. On average, we see whales on 60% of our Gray Whale Watching Cruises, including gray, humpback, and orca whales. This cruise provides the unique opportunity to view a whale species only in the area for a short time in the spring.
- Will I see puffins on this cruise?
This cruise runs in the spring before the puffins have migrated back to the area for the summer. Puffins typically return to the area in May, so you may see them on the Spring Wildlife Cruises that depart in May. However, there are opportunities to see other wildlife on this cruise including whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, mountain goats, bears, and other seabirds.
- Is a meal included on this cruise?
No, there is no meal included on this cruise. We have a snack bar onboard, and you are more than welcome to bring your own food with you. Glass containers and personal alcohol are not permitted.
What should I bring for this tour?
Spring temperatures in Alaska can be cold, particularly on the water. Though our vessels have heated cabins, we urge you to dress in warm, waterproof layers and bring a hat and gloves to spend time on the outer decks, where you will get the best, up-close views of wildlife and scenery.
Cancellation Policy
Cruise-only reservations are fully refundable up to 72 hours prior to your cruise departure. A 3% credit card processing fee will be retained for cancellations. The reservation date may be changed once, free of charge, up to 24 hours prior to departure. Any subsequent change is subject to a $15 per person re-booking fee. Tickets not used at the time of sailing (no-show) are completely non-refundable and may not be used on any other sailings.
At the discretion of the Coast Guard-certified captain, Major Marine Tours reserves the right to cancel or re-route cruises based on weather or other conditions. If the route of this cruise is limited to the confines of Resurrection Bay, Major Marine Tours will issue a partial
refund. Please take precautions if you are concerned about seasickness. You will be advised of sea conditions at check-in.
At the discretion of the Coast Guard-certified captain, Major Marine Tours reserves the right to cancel or re-route cruises based on weather or other conditions. If the route of this cruise is limited to the confines of Resurrection Bay, Major Marine Tours will issue a partial
refund. Please take precautions if you are concerned about seasickness. You will be advised of sea conditions at check-in.
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