A Kenai Fjords cruise with kids
Children often remember a fjord cruise for years, mostly for the sea lions and the chunk of glacier ice somebody let them hold. The hard part is length. A day on the water in cold wind is a lot for a four-year-old and fine for a twelve-year-old who loves animals. This guide matches the route to the age, then turns to life on board and seasickness. The last section is about Seward on dry land.
Match the cruise to the age
The routes differ mainly in hours, and hours are what decide a family day. As a rough guide:
| Age | Cruise | From | Hours | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toddlers and preschoolers | Resurrection Bay half day, Kenai Fjords Tours | ~$150 | About 4 | Short and mostly sheltered |
| Early school age | 6-hour park cruise, Kenai Fjords Tours | ~$230 | 6 | A tidewater glacier and seabird islands in a manageable day |
| Early school age | 6 hours to Holgate Glacier, Major Marine | ~$287 | 6 | Reserved cabin seats, a catamaran |
| Older kids and teens | Full day in Aialik Bay, Major Marine | ~$319 | 7.5 | Two glacier stops, a naturalist on board |
| Older kids and teens | Northwestern Fjord, Kenai Fjords Tours | ~$288 | 8 | Three tidewater glaciers, the longest day |
These are starting points, not rules. A calm six-year-old who loves whales may do fine on a full day, and a restless ten-year-old may be done after four hours. Our route-length guide describes what each route sees.
The half day, built for families
Kenai Fjords Tours' Resurrection Bay half day, from ~$150, is the cruise that operator pitches to families and travelers short on time. In about 4 hours it takes you along the cliffs and waterfalls of the bay to a view of Bear Glacier, the largest in the park. Lunch is hot, and a wildlife guide narrates. Sea lions and otters are common sights. Whales and puffins are possible too, though nothing is promised. One Viator reviewer saw orcas and a fin whale on it.
The trade-off is the ice. The half day stays mostly in the bay, so Bear Glacier is a far-off view and no tidewater glacier calves in front of you. For a toddler that rarely matters. For a teenager who came for the ice, it might.
Four hours on the bay with little ones
Kenai Fjords Tours' half day keeps mostly to sheltered Resurrection Bay, with Bear Glacier in view and a hot lunch included, from ~$150. Children pay less than adults, and you can cancel free up to 24 hours before.
Six hours and longer with children
Six hours is a long time for a small child on a boat, even a big one. The middle of the trip, crossing open water to the glacier, can stretch with nothing to see but waves. The reward is the glacier face itself, where the boat drifts while ice cracks and falls. Crew on these boats know how to win over a child. One Viator reviewer describes a crew member fishing a piece of glacier ice from the water and letting the kids hold it. The tidewater glacier guide explains what they are looking at.
The full days suit older kids who love animals and can sit through quiet stretches. Pack a book or game for the transit and a pair of binoculars for each child if you can, since sharing one pair leads to arguments. Our wildlife guide makes a decent spotting list to bring along.
On board with a family
These are big day cruisers with heated cabins, so nobody has to stay out in the wind. Snacks and drinks are sold on board, and restrooms on board are typical of boats this size; check the listing if it matters for your family. Strollers are not allowed on Major Marine boats, so bring a carrier for babies and toddlers. Both operators' 6-hour cruises are listed as wheelchair accessible, and Major Marine lists its boats that way too, which helps families with a grandparent or a child who uses a chair.
Children need more layers than you think. Hats and gloves stay on even in summer, and our packing guide has the full list.
Seasickness in children
Children get seasick, and they tend to say so late. One review of a Kenai Fjords Tours cruise mentions a child who was sick while most other passengers were fine. Ask a pharmacist about remedies suitable for your child's age, and sit low in the middle of the boat. Kenai Fjords Tours' listings say the park cruises are not suitable for people prone to seasickness, which applies to kids too. Our seasickness guide covers routes and remedies in detail.
What children pay
Both operators charge less for children than for adults, and the child price shows up on the listing when you add a child to the booking. Lunch is included on the main tours, so food on the day is mostly snacks. Tips for the crew are extra. Our price guide adds up a family of four.
Families visiting in spring can book Major Marine's spring wildlife cruise, from ~$123, which lasts only 4 hours. It costs less too, with a chance of gray whales and of mountain goats with their kids on the cliffs. Its catch is that it only runs in the cold of spring, and no lunch is included. Bring food or buy it on board.
A second activity in Seward
A cruise fills a day, and a family trip to Seward usually has room for one more thing. Seward's aquarium and marine rescue center, the Alaska SeaLife Center, puts children face to face with sea lions and seabirds. It makes a good plan for a rainy afternoon or a day the boats stay in. Near town, Exit Glacier is the one part of the park you can drive to, with a walk toward the ice that suits most school-age kids. Families coming from Anchorage should plan a night in Seward rather than a long day trip; our Anchorage transport guide compares the drive and the train.