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If
you're looking for a sightseeing
cruise with non-stop wildlife,
Seward is the place to be; if
you can't choose between wildlife
and glaciers, head into Kenai
Fjords National Park. Major
Marine Tours run two cruises
out of Seward-a half-day cruise
of Resurrection Bay or a full-day
exploration of Kenai Fjords.
They offer guaranteed reserved
seating in a heated cabin, a
salmon and prime rib buffet (a
steal at $15), and a ranger guiding
every park cruise.
Half-day
cruises travel
55 miles roundtrip, exploring the world
of wildlife in Resurrection Bay. Drift
close to massive bird rookeries and sea
lion colonies; the ship stops along the
route for whale, sea otter, or Dall's
porpoise sightings. You'll
enjoy spectacular photo opportunities
of a variety of glaciers, including
the enormous Bear Glacier.
The 110-mile
full-day cruise takes you into
Kenai Fjords National Park and to Chiswell
Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Wildlife
is abundant throughout the park, and
the tidewater glaciers are massive.
You'll spend a good half hour at Aialik
Glacier, where guests often witness
calving from a close distance. You'll
hear a sound like the crack of a gunshot
and watch as a big chunk of ice falls
hundreds of feet to the ocean below.
If Aialik hasn't been active
in a few days, your captain may head
up to Holgate Glacier instead.
For safety reasons, the ship will get
up to half a mile away from the glaciers-although
icebergs sometimes prevent a closer
inspection-and you feel even closer
because they're so huge.
On all of the cruises, park rangers point out
wildlife and glaciers and discuss the area's history
and the '89 oil spill. They are available for questions,
and when a good one comes up, they'll answer it
over the loudspeaker. Kids get to be honorary rangers
during the tour as well.
Although Seward has overcast days in the summer,
this doesn't affect the tour viewing. Morning clouds
and/or fog sometimes clear up by the time the tour
starts.
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