Cruise Companies Avoid Tracy Arm Fjord After Massive Landslide

Safety concerns prompt shift to nearby Endicott Arm as alternative glacier viewing destination

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:41pm

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A bold, geometric illustration depicting the dramatic landscape of an Alaskan fjord, with towering angular mountains and a calving glacier in the background, rendered in a vibrant color palette of deep blues, emerald greens, and golden yellows to capture the grandeur of the natural scenery.The majestic Tracy Arm fjord, once a bucket-list destination for Alaska cruise passengers, has been closed off due to ongoing geological hazards following a massive landslide.Juneau Today

Major cruise lines have stopped visiting the popular Tracy Arm fjord in Southeast Alaska this season after a massive landslide last summer sent parts of a glacier crashing into the water, generated a tsunami, and pushed a wave high up the opposite mountain wall. Cruise companies cited ongoing safety concerns with the still-hazardous slopes as the reason for replacing Tracy Arm with the nearby Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier as the alternative destination.

Why it matters

Tracy Arm has long been a bucket-list item for many Alaska cruise tourists due to its dramatic glaciers, waterfalls, and wildlife. The shift to Endicott Arm, while still beautiful, is seen as a less majestic alternative that may disappoint some visitors expecting the full Tracy Arm experience. The incident also highlights the increasing geological hazards facing Alaska's fjords and glaciers due to climate change.

The details

A massive landslide originating high on a slope above the toe of the South Sawyer Glacier near the head of Tracy Arm fjord occurred on August 10, 2025. The slide sent water surging more than a quarter-mile up the mountain wall opposite the slide and out into Tracy Arm. No ships were in the fjord at the time, and no injuries were reported, but the area remains unstable with continued rockfall and small-scale sliding expected from the exposed landslide scar.

  • On August 10, 2025, a massive landslide occurred near the head of Tracy Arm fjord.
  • This year's cruise season in Alaska is set to begin on April 21 in Ketchikan, with ships arriving in Juneau the following week.

The players

Tracy Arm

A roughly 30-mile fjord in Southeast Alaska that features two tidewater glaciers, the North and South Sawyer, as well as abundant wildlife including seals and bears. Tracy Arm has long been a popular excursion for Alaska cruise passengers.

Endicott Arm

A nearby fjord that is being used as an alternative destination by cruise lines this season after the landslide incident in Tracy Arm. Endicott Arm and the Dawes Glacier are still considered beautiful, but not as majestic as the Tracy Arm experience.

Gabriel Wolken

Manager of the state of Alaska's climate and ice hazards program, who is working to understand the cause of the landslide and identify other potential hazards in the Tracy Arm fjord region.

Steven Sobieszczyk

A U.S. Geological Survey spokesperson who stated that the Tracy Arm area remains unstable, with continued rockfall and small-scale sliding expected from the exposed landslide scar.

Nate Vallier

A travel agent who owns the Alaska Travel Desk and expressed disappointment that cruise companies did not provide more advance notice to travelers about the itinerary changes away from Tracy Arm.

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What they’re saying

“Tracy Arm is the majestic princess, you know, she is the queen of fjords.”

— Nate Vallier, Travel agent

“Was it worth it? Yes, because I don't know if I'll ever get to do that trip again. Again, I haven't ever been to Tracy Arm so I can't really compare. But to me, was it worth it and was it exciting? Absolutely.”

— Kimberly Lebeda, Cruise passenger

What’s next

Scientists are continuing to study the cause of the landslide and monitor for other potential hazards in the Tracy Arm fjord region. Cruise companies will likely evaluate whether it is safe to resume visits to Tracy Arm in future seasons.

The takeaway

The closure of the popular Tracy Arm fjord to cruise ships highlights the growing impact of climate change-related geological hazards on Alaska's tourism industry. As glaciers and slopes become increasingly unstable, cruise lines and tour operators will need to adapt their itineraries to ensure passenger safety, potentially disappointing some visitors expecting the full Tracy Arm experience.