Wildlife Cruises on an Alaska Cruise
While your cruise ship passes through wildlife-rich waters, dedicated wildlife boats go where the big ships can't — into narrow channels, past rocky haul-outs, and into kelp forests where marine mammals hunt and breed.
What You'll See
Wildlife cruise operators know exactly where to find their subjects. Expect humpback whales, orcas, Steller sea lions hauled out on rocky islets, harbor seals, sea otters floating in kelp beds, bald eagles nesting in old-growth spruce, and tufted puffins during nesting season (June–August).
Sitka has the best overall wildlife cruises thanks to the incredible biodiversity of Sitka Sound. Juneau operators focus on whale encounters in Stephens Passage. Ketchikan wildlife cruises explore the Tongass Narrows and nearby islands.