Cruise Lines Avoid Tracy Arm Fjord After Massive Landslide

Safety concerns prompt cruise companies to replace popular Alaska excursion with alternative Endicott Arm

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:18am

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A bold, geometric illustration depicting the towering mountains and glaciers of an Alaskan fjord landscape, with sleek cruise ships navigating the waterways, conceptually representing the challenges of operating in this dynamic natural environment.Cruise lines navigate the grand, glacier-carved fjords of southeast Alaska, forced to adapt their itineraries due to the ongoing risks of landslides and environmental change.Juneau Today

Major cruise lines have decided to skip the popular Tracy Arm fjord in Alaska this season after a massive landslide last summer sent parts of a glacier crashing into the water, generating a tsunami and pushing a wave high up the opposite mountain wall. Cruise companies cited ongoing safety concerns with the still-hazardous slopes as the reason for replacing the Tracy Arm excursion with a visit to nearby Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier instead.

Why it matters

Tracy Arm is a beloved destination for many Alaska cruise passengers, known for its stunning glaciers, waterfalls, and wildlife. The landslide has disrupted a longstanding tradition and forced cruise lines to find an alternative, though some travelers are disappointed by the change.

The details

In early August 2025, a large landslide originating high above the South Sawyer Glacier near the head of Tracy Arm sent a surge of water more than a quarter mile up the opposite mountain wall. No ships were in the fjord at the time, and there were no reported injuries, but the area remains unstable with continued risk of rockfall and small-scale sliding. Major cruise lines like Holland America, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean have decided to replace Tracy Arm with visits to the nearby Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, which officials say is "still beautiful" but "just not the same" as the iconic Tracy Arm.

  • On August 10, 2025, a massive landslide occurred near the head of Tracy Arm fjord.
  • The first cruise ships of the 2026 season are scheduled to arrive in Ketchikan on April 21 and in Juneau the following week.

The players

Tracy Arm

A roughly 30-mile long fjord in southeast Alaska known for its stunning glaciers, waterfalls, and wildlife.

Endicott Arm

An alternative fjord and glacier destination that cruise lines are using to replace visits to Tracy Arm.

Dawes Glacier

The glacier located at the end of Endicott Arm that cruise lines are now visiting instead of Tracy Arm.

Gabriel Wolken

The manager of Alaska's climate and ice hazards program, who is working to understand the causes and ongoing risks of the Tracy Arm landslide.

Steven Sobieszczyk

A U.S. Geological Survey spokesperson who says the Tracy Arm area remains unstable with continued risk of rockfall and small-scale sliding.

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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

“Continued rockfall and small-scale sliding from the exposed landslide scar are expected and could impact the water, potentially causing a future localized tsunami.”

— Steven Sobieszczyk, U.S. Geological Survey spokesperson

What’s next

Scientists are continuing to study the causes and ongoing risks of the Tracy Arm landslide in order to better understand the hazards in the fjord network.

The takeaway

The closure of the iconic Tracy Arm fjord to cruise ships highlights the growing challenges of operating in Alaska's dynamic and changing natural environment. While Endicott Arm offers a beautiful alternative, the loss of the Tracy Arm experience is disappointing for many tourists seeking a quintessential Alaska cruise excursion.