Resurrection Bay Wildlife Tour: Private Boat, Max 16 Guests

Four hours on the water, sixteen people max, wildlife that shows up or doesn't

A 4-hour private wildlife tour of Resurrection Bay departing from Seward Boat Harbor on a 53-foot vessel with a maximum of 16 passengers. You'll search for whales, porpoises, otters, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, puffins and other seabirds while passing Bear Glacier, Spire Cove, Cheval Island, Fox Island and Cape Resurrection. The boat has 360-degree walk-around decks and a roomy cabin; coffee and tea are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Resurrection Bay sightseeing tour

• Meet at Seward small boat harbor
• Walk down to the boat
• Depart on the tour
• Tour Resurrection Bay and watch wildlife

The Experience

Four hours gives you time to move through Resurrection Bay without rushing the sightings. You meet at the Seward Boat Harbor office, walk down to the boat and depart—the 53-foot Legend or Legacy is built for stability in open water, and the walk-around decks mean you can position yourself wherever the wildlife appears. Unlike tour operators who pack several hundred passengers into a single vessel, this tour caps the group at 16, which changes how the boat moves and who gets to stand where when something surfaces.

The route takes you south past named landmarks—Bear Glacier, Spire Cove, Cheval Island, Fox Island, Cape Resurrection—where the water holds whales, porpoises, otters, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, puffins and other seabirds. What you see depends on the season and the day; the tour is built around searching for these animals, not a guarantee of sightings. The roomy cabin keeps you warm between deck time, and coffee or tea is available throughout the trip.

A live English-speaking guide is with you the whole time. The boat is wheelchair accessible, and the tour suits all fitness levels—you're on the water, not hiking or climbing. If fewer than the minimum number of guests book this private charter, you may be moved to another tour boat; otherwise, you're with your own group for the full four hours.

What’s included

• Coffee and tea throughout the tour.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full four hours.
• 360-degree walk-around decks and a roomy cabin on the 53-foot boat.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearby

Operated by Saltwater Safari Company

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a small group—16 people or fewer—instead of the hundreds packed onto other Resurrection Bay boats. The smaller passenger list and walk-around decks mean you're not fighting for a spot when wildlife appears, and the roomy cabin gives you a warm place to rest between sightings.

Top questions

What wildlife might I see on the Resurrection Bay tour?

Whales, porpoises, otters, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, puffins and other aquatic birds live in Resurrection Bay, and the tour searches for them throughout the four hours. Sightings depend on the season and conditions on the day you go.

How many people will be on the boat with me?

The tour is private and holds a maximum of 16 passengers, so your group stays small. You're not sharing the boat with hundreds of other visitors.

Where does the tour depart from in Seward?

You meet at the tour operator's office in Seward Boat Harbor, then walk down to the vessel. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.

What's included in the 4-hour tour?

Coffee and tea are included throughout the tour. The price covers the boat, the guide, and access to all the stops and wildlife-viewing areas in Resurrection Bay.

Is the boat accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, the 53-foot vessel is wheelchair accessible, and transportation options to the boat harbor are also wheelchair accessible. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels.