Major cruise lines have opted to bypass the scenic Tracy Arm fjord in southeast Alaska this season due to ongoing landslide risks, disappointing many travellers who had booked voyages to the area. The decision follows a landslide last summer that caused part of a glacier to collapse into the water, triggering a tsunami-like wave that surged up the opposite mountain wall.
Cruise operators, including Holland America, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, cited safety concerns over unstable slopes in the fjord. Instead of visiting Tracy Arm, ships will now divert to Endicott Arm and the Dawes Glacier, an alternative previously used when ice conditions made Tracy Arm unsafe. Other lines, such as MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages, have made similar changes.
Travel agent Nate Vallier lamented the loss, describing Tracy Arm as “the majestic princess” and “the queen of fjords.” He noted that while Endicott Arm remains beautiful, it cannot compare. Tourists often view Tracy Arm—home to two tidewater glaciers and abundant wildlife like seals and bears—as a bucket-list destination, particularly for seeing dynamic, calving glaciers.
The landslide originated high on a slope above the South Sawyer glacier’s toe near the fjord’s head. No ships were present at the time, and no casualties were reported, though kayakers camping on a nearby island lost much of their equipment to the sudden wave. Scientists say the area remains unstable, with continued rockfall and small-scale sliding expected, potentially causing future localised tsunamis.
Gabriel Wolken, manager of Alaska’s climate and ice hazards program, noted that the slope that failed had not been identified as an active hazard before the collapse. The US Geological Survey’s Steven Sobieszczyk warned that steep landslide areas can change for years after an initial slide. Cruise lines have not announced plans to return to Tracy Arm in the near future.
