Best Things to Do in Seward on Your Alaska Cruise

Seward offers exceptional cruise port activities including wildlife viewing at the Alaska SeaLife Center, scenic cruises through Kenai Fjords National Park to see glaciers and marine life, hiking at Exit Glacier, kayaking in Resurrection Bay, visiting the Seward Museum, and exploring downtown’s shops and restaurants along the picturesque waterfront.

Quick Facts About Seward

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Top Activities in Seward

Kenai Fjords National Park Boat Tours

The absolute crown jewel of any visit to Seward Alaska cruise port is a boat tour into the dramatic fjords. These tours typically run 4-6 hours and take you past towering tidewater glaciers, through waters packed with humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, sea lions, and puffins. Here’s what most people don’t tell you: the longer tours go deeper into the park and significantly increase your chances of seeing whales and reaching the most impressive glaciers.

Book your Kenai Fjords National Park boat tour as early as possible since these fill up quickly during cruise season. The earlier morning departures often have calmer seas, which matters if you’re prone to seasickness. Bring layers including a waterproof jacket because it gets surprisingly cold on the water even during summer, and you’ll want to be on deck when the action happens.

Exit Glacier

Just 13 miles from downtown Seward sits one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska. The Exit Glacier hiking experience offers everything from a flat half-mile paved walk to the glacier’s edge to challenging all-day hikes up to the Harding Icefield. The glacier has been retreating dramatically, and markers along the trail show where the ice reached in previous decades, which drives home the reality of climate change in a way that statistics never could.

Taxis and shuttles run regularly to Exit Glacier from the cruise dock. If you’re short on time, you can do the basic walk to the viewing area in about 90 minutes round-trip including transportation. The more adventurous Harding Icefield Trail gains 1,000 feet per mile and takes 6-8 hours, so it’s only realistic if Seward is your embarkation or disembarkation port with extra time.

Alaska SeaLife Center

This isn’t your typical aquarium. The Alaska SeaLife Center functions as both a public aquarium and a marine research and rehabilitation facility. You’ll see rescued puffins, injured seals being nursed back to health, and octopuses that seem to have distinct personalities. The underwater viewing areas let you watch seabirds literally fly through the water, which is mesmerizing.

The center is about a 10-minute walk from where most cruise ships dock. Admission runs around $30 for adults, but if you’re genuinely interested in marine life, it’s worth every penny. The behind-the-scenes tours and animal encounters require advance reservations and add extra cost, but they sell out fast.

Kayaking Resurrection Bay

Paddling the calm waters of Resurrection Bay gives you an intimate perspective on Alaska’s coastline that you simply can’t get from a larger boat. Half-day guided tours are perfectly timed for cruise passengers and don’t require previous kayaking experience. You’ll paddle past rocky shorelines where sea otters lounge and seals pop their heads up to investigate these strange colorful boats.

The challenge here is timing. With your cruise ship departure schedule, you need a tour that gets you back with at least an hour buffer. Reputable outfitters understand cruise schedules and plan accordingly, but always confirm they guarantee to return you on time.

Downtown Seward

The compact downtown area along the waterfront is genuinely charming without trying too hard. Fourth Avenue is the main drag with local shops selling everything from quality Native art to the usual tourist souvenirs. The Seward Museum is small but packed with fascinating history about the 1964 earthquake that devastated the town and the original Indigenous Alutiiq people who lived here for thousands of years.

Stop by one of the harbors to watch commercial fishing boats unload their catch or charter boats preparing for the next excursion. The coffee shops are legitimately good, and several restaurants serve fresh halibut and salmon that were swimming in these waters days earlier.

Insider Tips You Won’t Find in the Brochures

• The free shuttle secret: Some hotels run complimentary shuttles between downtown and Exit Glacier. If you ask politely, many drivers will let cruise passengers hop on even if you’re not staying at the hotel.
• Luggage storage: The visitors center near the harbor offers baggage storage for a small fee, essential if you’re embarking or disembarking in Seward and have hours to explore.
• Weather wildcard: Seward can experience four seasons in one day. That Instagram-perfect sunny morning can turn into sideways rain by afternoon. Always have rain gear accessible, not packed away.
• Wildlife viewing from land: Walk to the end of the harbor breakwater for free whale watching when humpbacks are feeding in the bay. Locals know this spot but most tourists rush straight to paid tours.
• Timing restaurant reservations: The town has limited dining options and they all get slammed when cruise ships are in port. If you want to sit down for a meal, go early (before 11:30) or late (after 2:00) for lunch.
• Cell service reality: Coverage in town is decent, but it disappears quickly outside Seward. Download maps and any confirmation emails before you start exploring.
• The bear situation: Black bears occasionally wander through town, especially near the Exit Glacier area. Pay attention to posted warnings and make noise on trails. This isn’t Disneyland Alaska.
• ATM availability: Limited ATMs in town and some small businesses are cash-only. Grab cash on the ship or first thing when you arrive.

Bonus Tips

• Pack binoculars even if you’re doing a boat tour. The guides have spotting scopes but you’ll want your own optics for continuous viewing.
• Motion sickness medication should be taken 30-60 minutes before boarding any boat tour, not after you start feeling queasy.
• The gift shop at the SeaLife Center has better quality items than most downtown tourist shops and proceeds support marine research.
• Resurrection Bay’s water temperature hovers around 40-50°F. If you kayak and flip, you’re in immediate danger. Wear the provided gear even if it feels dorky.
• Local fishing charters sometimes have last-minute cancellations. If you’re flexible, you might snag a halibut fishing trip the morning of your visit.
• The Rainbow Tours and Major Marine boats for Kenai Fjords have very different vibes. Rainbow is smaller and feels more intimate, Major Marine is larger with more amenities. Both are excellent.
• Seward has fantastic trails right from town if you just want a good walk. The Two Lakes Trail and Mount Marathon Trail (lower portion) offer beautiful views without needing transportation.
• The library downtown has free WiFi and bathrooms, a useful fact when everything else charges or requires purchases.

What Can Go Wrong

Let’s be honest about potential challenges. Weather cancellations happen, especially for boat tours into Kenai Fjords. High winds or heavy seas can scrub tours even when it looks perfectly nice in the harbor. Reputable companies will refund you, but that doesn’t help if this was your one chance to see glaciers calving.

The time crunch is real. Seward offers enough activities to fill three days, but you typically have 7-10 hours. This forces difficult choices. You can’t realistically do both a full Kenai Fjords boat tour and a proper hike to the Harding Icefield in one port day.

Transportation to Exit Glacier can eat up your limited time. Taxis charge about $60 round-trip, and during peak cruise days you might wait 30 minutes for an available cab. Shuttle services are cheaper but run on fixed schedules that might not align perfectly with your plans.

The popularity of Seward as a port means crowds. When multiple ships are in town simultaneously, boat tours are packed and restaurants have waits. The wilderness experience feels less wild when you’re sharing it with 200 other tourists.

Making the Most of Limited Time

If you only have one day in Seward, here’s how to prioritize based on your interests:

Wildlife enthusiasts: Book the longest Kenai Fjords boat tour your schedule allows. Add the SeaLife Center if you have time after.

Glacier lovers: Choose between a boat tour to see tidewater glaciers calving into the ocean or Exit Glacier for an up-close land-based glacier experience. Both are spectacular in different ways.

Active adventurers: Morning kayak tour in Resurrection Bay, afternoon hike at Exit Glacier’s lower trails.

Families with young kids: SeaLife Center plus downtown exploration and harbor walk. Skip the long boat tours unless your kids handle sitting still well.

Budget-conscious travelers: Exit Glacier (just transportation cost), walk the harbor and downtown, free trails from town. You can have an excellent day spending less than $100 per person.

Common Questions and FAQ

Do I really need to book excursions in advance?

For boat tours into Kenai Fjords, absolutely yes. These sell out weeks in advance during peak season. For other activities like the SeaLife Center or Exit Glacier taxi rides, you can often arrange same-day, but you’re gambling on availability.

Can I walk everywhere from the cruise port?

You can walk to downtown, the SeaLife Center, and the harbor area easily. Exit Glacier requires transportation. The town is small and very walkable, but Alaska weather can make that walk less pleasant than you’d hope.

What’s the difference between booking through the cruise line versus independent operators?

Cruise line excursions cost more but guarantee the ship won’t leave without you if there’s a delay. Independent booking is cheaper and often offers more options, but you assume all responsibility for getting back on time. The ship will absolutely leave without you if you’re late.

Are the boat tours into Kenai Fjords rough?

It depends on weather and how far out you go. The outer coast where the best glaciers and whales are can get bumpy. Inner bay areas are typically calmer. If you’re prone to seasickness, take medication and book a larger boat when possible.

Is Seward worth it if I’m already doing Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier?

Yes. Kenai Fjords offers multiple tidewater glaciers plus significantly better marine wildlife viewing than most other glacier areas. The combination of abundant wildlife and dramatic ice makes it unique even if you’re seeing glaciers elsewhere on your cruise.

What should I wear?

Layers are essential. Start with a moisture-wicking base layer, add a fleece or warm mid-layer, and top with a waterproof windbreaker. On boat tours, temps can be 20 degrees colder than on shore. Bring a warm hat and gloves even in summer. Waterproof hiking boots or sturdy shoes are necessary if you’re doing any trails.

Can I see the Northern Lights from Seward?

Not during cruise season. Alaska cruises run late spring through early fall when Seward has nearly 24-hour daylight. Northern Lights require darkness, so you’d need to visit in winter months when no cruise ships operate.

Personal Experience

When our cruise ship docked in Seward, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this small Alaska port town. Within hours, I understood why everyone raves about it. We booked a morning wildlife cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park, and watching sea otters float on their backs while puffins zipped past our boat felt surreal. The highlight was getting close enough to a massive tidewater glacier to hear it crack and groan before a chunk the size of a house crashed into the ocean. Our guide said we were lucky with the wildlife, but honestly, it seemed like nature was just showing off that day.

After the cruise, we wandered through the Alaska SeaLife Center, which turned out to be way more interesting than I anticipated. The rescued sea lions were hilarious to watch, and learning about the rehabilitation work they do there added meaning to the visit. We grabbed fish and chips at a harbor-side spot and spent the rest of the afternoon strolling the waterfront, chatting with locals who were genuinely happy to share tips about their town. Seward packed more memorable moments into one port day than I thought possible, and I’m already thinking about when we can come back and explore the hiking trails we missed.