Major cruise lines are bypassing the popular Tracy Arm fjord in Alaska this season due to safety concerns following a landslide and tsunami last summer. The decision has disappointed many travellers who had hoped to visit the scenic waterway, known for its tidewater glaciers and wildlife.
The landslide occurred high on a slope above the South Sawyer glacier, causing a tsunami that sent water over half a kilometre up the opposite mountain wall. No ships were present, and no injuries were reported, but kayakers on a nearby island lost equipment. Scientists say the area remains unstable, with continued rockfall and small-scale sliding expected.
Cruise companies including Holland America, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean are replacing Tracy Arm with Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. Norwegian Cruise Line said it does not have voyages sailing by Tracy Arm. Travel agent Nate Vallier described Tracy Arm as “the majestic princess” and “the queen of fjords,” noting that the alternative, while beautiful, is not the same.
Kimberly Lebeda, a tourist from Kansas, experienced a similar reroute last year due to ice in Tracy Arm. She said the excursion to Endicott Arm was still exciting, with sightings of seals, waterfalls, and a calving glacier. “Was it worth it? Yes, because I don’t know if I’ll ever get to do that trip again,” she said.
