Orca Quest Cruise

Overview

Explore the world of Alaska's orca whales on the only orca-focused cruise in Seward! Cruise Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park in search of orca whales, distinguishable by their prominent dorsal fins and fascinating social behavior. Rather than following a set cruise route, our Captains take you to places where orcas have recently been seen, giving you a unique cruising experience every day. Learn about these whales from our local Captains and naturalist crew members. Hear the orca's haunting calls through our onboard hydrophone.

City: Seward

Sun 04 Jan

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $161.65

Make a reservation

Sun 04 Jan

Starting at $161.65

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (175) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (252) Entry Tickets (96) Sporting Events (4) Good for Small Groups (27) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (113) Walking Tours (705) Outdoor Activities (48) Limitied Availability Tours (29) LGBT Friendly Tours (9) Family-friendly Activities (8) Wildlife Activities (6) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (96) Travelers recommend (174) Good for Groups (32) Top Activities (75) Guided Audio Tours (10) Art, Culture & History (406) Attractions to explore (43) Sustainable Tours (1) Limousine Transfers (5) Donut Walking Tour (2) Virtual Experiences (1) Additional fees (7) DSA non-compliant (17)

What's Included

Educational narration by an experienced captain

Use of binoculars while onboard

Restroom on board

All taxes and fees included in price

Water, coffee, and tea

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (117)

Christine_V

May 2024

It was a great day for being on a boat in Steward. What a lovely town. During our boat ride we did not encounter any orcas but the captain did a great job of showing us all kinds of other wild and marine life, like Humpbacks, porpoises, seals, birds. The boat ride was very relaxing. A lot of people, including myself, took a nap. Food options are good and not too expensive - for today’s prices. If you are paying by credit card they open up a tab and hold your card. Everyone moves about the boat freely to capture a sighting of wildlife with the philosophy of having designated seating as your home base. That works out well so that you can keep your personal items stationary. Crew was pleasant with a clear objective to make sure you had a good time, saw some good sights and wanting feedback on how they can improve their operation. Check in process was smooth. They had an inside pre boarding area. You can also stay at the hotel on this property which would be fun. And provides a great view of the marina.

MelissaMulley

May 2024

Beautiful views of the Kenai Fjords, the Pacific Ocean, Glaciers and wildlife. 4 hours felt like 20 mins. My only issue is the name of the tour being called orca quest when no orcas were seen and that was the first thing we were told, that seeing orcas probably wouldn't happen. We did see humpback whales, sea lions, porpoises and puffins. Totally worth every penny and you must do it if you go to Seward.

K2565RVthomasc

May 2024

We were so excited to come to Seward and finally see whales and in particular, Orca Whales. So naturally, we did research on boat cruises. We checked out Kenai Fjords and Major Marine. Read through all their cruises, marketing materials and reviews. Obviously, we were thrilled Major Marine had an “Orca Quest” cruise. The only Orca focused cruise in town, according to them. They seem to love to say, “we see Orcas on 90% of our trips”. It’s on their website and I’ve seen it in replies they post to people here. Well, I guess we are in the 10%. We spent the money for a 4 hour tour to find Orcas and nary an Orca was found. It started off inauspicious when we were pulling away from the dock and they announced no Orcas had been spotted today. They putted us around some common birds. A couple small seals just laying on some rocks. The Captain said there were Dall’s Porpoise, but it seems he was the only one who saw them. Then, “lost track” of them. The highlight of the four hours was a couple spout sightings from some humpbacks, and glimpses of their backs and one fluke. We also saw some glaciers,and beautiful scenery. That wasn’t much consolation for the disappointment that was spreading throughout the decks of the boat. It seemed like you could feel frustration and exasperation after many hours of unsuccessful searching. Look, I completely understand that the employees (who were all really great) cannot make wild animals appear. They have no set schedule, and can go where they please. It just felt really bad that no one at least acknowledged the fact that we got really unlucky. No offer of, “hey, sorry we didn’t get to see them today.” Not as though it’s their fault but a little empathy for the fact that we spent a lot of money, trusted them and their “90%” success rate - and came up empty handed. For some reason, that really bugged me. Maybe it’s sour grapes, but I walked off the boat really unhappy with my experience with Major Marine. Maybe that’s just on me, but I felt they could’ve handled it better and with a little more grace. Maybe my expectations were way too high, but their sales pitch is designed to make it feel as certain as can be realistically. Maybe we just got super unlucky. It just feels bad and like a waste of precious time now. I’m sure this will receive that canned response from them of, “ wild animals are wild, we can’t guarantee sightings, and we have that coveted 90% success”. I’m expecting it, but for someone who is feeling a little burned, it won’t make me feel any different about the experience. I’m not advocating anyone not go on this cruise or choose any other company for that matter. Just be cautious with expectations and the reality that you could very well see nothing if you are unlucky.