With major cruise lines preparing for the Alaskan season typically running between May and early October, one iconic destination visited by major cruise lines such as MSC and Royal Caribbean will be absent from itineraries this summer.
Tracy Arm, an Alaskan fjord home to the twin North Sawyer and South Sawyer glaciers, is located approximately 45 miles from Juneau in the Tongass National Forest and named after 1890s-era U.S. Navy Secretary Benjamin Tracy.
For decades, it was a popular sight that major cruise lines such as MSC and Royal Caribbean would pass by for glacier cruising on their sailings through southern Alaska. While the glacier is not a port stop or destination in the sense that cruisers will observe and photograph it from the deck as the ship passes by it, thousands of cruisers typically experience it during peak periods every year.
Cruise lines scrap Tracy Arm from sailing itineraries over landslide risk
But in 2026, travelers will not be able to see Tracy Arm as MSC and Royal Caribbean both pulled the area from this season’s sailing schedule alongside a half-dozen other cruise lines following a landslide that saw part of the glacier collapse into the waters last year.
The drop of thousands of pounds of ice triggered a tsunami and strong waves throughout the entire area. While no cruise ships were present at the time, global warming continues to threaten glaciers in Alaska and around the world and the risk of a repeat incident remains during the peak summer months for cruises.
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The MSC Poesia, a 3,000-passenger cruise ship set to kick off its first Alaska sailing for the season from Seattle on May 11, has become the latest to announce that it will be bypassing the area for a sailing around nearby Endicott Arm instead.
“Unfortunately, we are unable to proceed with the planned navigation around the Tracy Arm Fjord, as current ice conditions and geological instability prevent safe navigation in the area,” the cruise ship giant said in a statement on the situation. “[…] Although this change is due to reasons beyond our control, we sincerely apologize for any disappointment this may cause.”
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“Current waterway conditions are not suitable for cruise ship navigation in the Tracy Arm Fjord”
Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line and Carnival have also scrapped the fjord from their sailing itineraries.
“As guest safety remains our top priority and current waterway conditions are not suitable for cruise ship navigation in Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaskan itineraries will instead visit the Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier,” Royal Caribbean said in an email sent to affected travelers.
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Carnival and Holland America Line are also changing their sailings to go around Endicott Arm instead. At 50 miles from Juneau, the 30-mile fjord is located farther away than Tracy Arm and is known for granite cliffs but less ice. The 600-foot Dawes Glacier crowns the top of the cliffs.
No cruise line has commented on whether this detour will remain permanent or if they hope to once again be able to approach Tracy Arm in future years.
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