Paddling a kayak through the icebergs of Tracy Arm Fjord is one of the most immersive wilderness experiences available on an Alaska cruise. This is not a shoreline paddle near a port town — you are on the water inside a glacial fjord, surrounded by ice that has calved from the Sawyer Glaciers, with thousand-foot granite walls rising on either side. It is an excursion reserved almost exclusively for passengers on expedition and small ship cruises, and it ranks among the most memorable activities those voyages offer.
The Experience
The kayaking excursion typically begins after the expedition ship has anchored or positioned itself inside Tracy Arm Fjord. The crew lowers kayaks from the ship or deploys them from a loading platform at the waterline. Passengers gear up on board — pulling on dry suits or splash pants, life jackets, and neoprene gloves — before climbing into stable tandem kayaks and pushing off.
From the moment your paddle hits the water, the scale of the environment becomes visceral in a way it never can from a ship’s deck. Icebergs that looked modest from above tower over you at water level. The water is a cloudy jade green from glacial sediment, and pieces of ice drift past in every direction — some no bigger than a fist, others the size of a car. You paddle between them, hearing the fizz and pop of compressed air escaping from ancient ice as it melts around you.
The guides lead the group at a relaxed pace, pausing to point out harbor seals resting on ice floes or bald eagles circling overhead. The fjord is remarkably quiet when the ship’s engines are off. Sounds carry with unusual clarity — a seal slipping into the water, the creak of shifting ice, and occasionally the distant thunder of a calving event at the glacier face.
The Acoustics of the Fjord
One detail that catches nearly every paddler off guard is the sound environment inside Tracy Arm. The narrow granite walls create a natural amphitheater, and sounds echo and amplify in unexpected ways. When a piece of the Sawyer Glacier calves, the crack and roar can be heard miles down the fjord, reaching you several seconds after you see the splash. The pop and hiss of melting icebergs is audible from your kayak in a way it never would be from a ship. Guides sometimes ask the group to stop paddling and just listen — the silence, punctuated by these natural sounds, is one of the most striking parts of the excursion.
Wildlife From Water Level
Kayakers in Tracy Arm have a unique vantage point for wildlife. Harbor seals are accustomed to the presence of small boats and will often remain on their icebergs as kayaks drift past at a respectful distance. From your low position on the water, you are eye-level with seals hauled out on the ice, and the encounter feels remarkably personal. In early summer, seal pups born on icebergs near the glaciers are a common and endearing sight.
Black bears are sometimes visible on the narrow shoreline strips, foraging in the tidal zone. Mountain goats appear as white dots high on the cliffs. Bald eagles are frequently spotted along the fjord edges, and the occasional marbled murrelet or pigeon guillemot bobs on the surface nearby.
Who Offers This Excursion
Kayaking in Tracy Arm is primarily available through expedition cruise lines that carry their own fleet of kayaks on board. UnCruise Adventures is the most prominent operator, running week-long small ship itineraries through Southeast Alaska that include Tracy Arm as a highlight. Their vessels carry enough kayaks for all passengers, and the activity is included in the fare at no additional cost.
Lindblad Expeditions, operating in partnership with National Geographic, also offers kayaking in Tracy Arm on select itineraries. Their ships carry kayaks and zodiacs, and passengers can choose between the two on any given outing. Like UnCruise, the kayaking is included in the cruise fare.
On these expedition cruises, kayaking is one of several activity options available during the Tracy Arm visit. Passengers who prefer not to paddle can join a zodiac cruise through the icebergs instead, which covers more distance and requires no physical effort.
This excursion is not available on mainstream large cruise ships from lines like Holland America, Princess, or Norwegian. Those vessels offer Tracy Arm as a scenic cruising day, but they do not deploy kayaks.
Who This Is Best For
Tracy Arm kayaking is best suited for travelers who want a physical, hands-on connection with the Alaskan wilderness. You should be comfortable with:
- Paddling for 2–4 hours in cold conditions, with breaks.
- Getting in and out of a kayak from a low platform at the waterline, which requires some agility.
- Cold water proximity — water temperatures hover near freezing, and while dry suits keep you warm, the environment demands respect.
Most operators set a minimum age of 10 for this excursion. No prior kayaking experience is necessary, but a reasonable level of fitness and comfort on the water is expected. The moderate difficulty rating reflects the cold conditions and ice navigation rather than any technical paddling skill.
What to Bring
- Synthetic or wool base layers: Cotton is not allowed — it loses all warmth when wet.
- Warm hat and buff or neck gaiter: Your head and neck are exposed above the dry suit.
- Sunglasses with retainer strap: Glare off ice and water is significant, and you cannot afford to lose glasses overboard.
- Waterproof camera or GoPro: A phone in a waterproof pouch works, but a mounted action camera captures the paddling experience better.
- Sunscreen: Reflection off the ice intensifies UV exposure even on overcast days.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need kayaking experience to paddle in Tracy Arm?
No prior experience is required. Expedition crew provide a thorough safety briefing and paddling instruction before launch. You'll be in stable tandem kayaks with a guide leading the group. That said, Tracy Arm kayaking is rated moderate because you are paddling in cold water among floating ice, and you need to be comfortable with the physical effort of paddling for two or more hours in potentially chilly and wet conditions.
Which cruise lines offer kayaking in Tracy Arm?
UnCruise Adventures and Lindblad Expeditions (in partnership with National Geographic) are the two main operators that include kayaking in Tracy Arm as part of their itinerary. Both run small expedition vessels with 20–80 passengers and carry kayaks on board. Some other small ship lines operating in Southeast Alaska may offer it seasonally. This excursion is not available on mainstream large cruise ships.
What happens if conditions are too dangerous to kayak?
The expedition team evaluates ice density, wind speed, and current conditions each morning. If kayaking is not safe, the crew will substitute a zodiac cruise through the icebergs instead, which still provides an intimate experience among the ice. Passengers are never pressured to paddle if they feel uncomfortable, and zodiac rides are always available as an alternative.
What should I wear for kayaking in Tracy Arm?
Wear synthetic or wool base layers — never cotton, which loses all insulating value when wet. The expedition crew provides dry suits or splash gear, life jackets, and paddling gloves. Bring sunglasses with a retainer strap, sunscreen, and a waterproof camera. Water temperatures in Tracy Arm hover near freezing year-round, so the provided dry suit or immersion gear is mandatory regardless of air temperature.