Five Cruise Lines Drop Tracy Arm From 2026 Alaska Itineraries

Major cruise lines are removing Tracy Arm Fjord from their 2026 Alaska itineraries after an Aug. 10, 2025 landslide near South Sawyer Glacier triggered a tsunami inside the narrow waterway and left scientists warning the area remains unstable.

Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Holland America Line, and Virgin Voyages have told booked guests that scenic cruising in Tracy Arm will be replaced by nearby Endicott Arm and glacier viewing at Dawes Glacier, keeping the “scenic cruising” concept intact while shifting to a route operators describe as more navigable under current conditions.

What happened at Tracy Arm and why hazards officials remain concerned

The landslide occurred high on a slope above the toe of the South Sawyer Glacier, sending a surge of water up the opposite mountain wall and down the fjord. No cruise ships were in Tracy Arm at the time, and officials reported no injuries or deaths, though kayakers camping nearby lost gear as water rushed through the area.

The U.S. Geological Survey has estimated the slide displaced as much as 100 million cubic meters of debris into the fjord. Scientists have cautioned that steep landslide zones can remain dynamic long after an initial failure, with continued rockfalls and additional slides possible.

Steven Sobieszczyk, a U.S. Geological Survey spokesperson, said by email that “continued rockfall and small-scale sliding from the exposed landslide scar are expected,” adding that impacts into the water could generate another localized tsunami.

Mike West, Alaska’s state seismologist and director of the Alaska Earthquake Center, said, “Anytime you collapse the side of a mountain, I think it’s a safe assumption to assume that you’ve got an unstable mountainside.” West has also described the aftermath as the “earth getting used to its new arrangement,” with follow-on geological activity considered “perfectly reasonable” as the landscape adjusts.

Dave Snider, the tsunami warning coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said landslides near water are part of the region’s natural setting and can be sudden, with natural warning signs sometimes the only alert, including unusual water behavior, strong shaking, or roaring from nearby slopes.

Cancellations spread across five brands as the 2026 season ramps up

Across five cruise lines, at least 163 scheduled scenic-cruising visits to Tracy Arm have been canceled for 2026, affecting 11 ships. The changes come as the Alaska season begins, with ships starting April 21 in Ketchikan and arriving in Juneau the following week.

Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm share an entrance at Holkham Bay, roughly 50 miles south of Juneau, before branching into separate waterways. Endicott Arm has long been used as a backup when ice or other hazards made Tracy Arm difficult to navigate, and cruise lines are now building that substitution into 2026 schedules.

How cruise lines are describing the Tracy Arm swap

In guest messages outlining the change, cruise lines have pointed to safety and waterway conditions, including ice and geologic instability.

MSC Cruises confirmed it is removing Tracy Arm from MSC Poesia’s inaugural Alaska season from Seattle. In a message to guests, MSC said: “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.” MSC said Endicott Arm would provide an alternative scenic experience and apologized for the disappointment.

Royal Caribbean told booked guests that itineraries will substitute Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. In an email, the line said, “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 the adjustments apply to Serenade of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

Carnival Cruise Line has canceled all planned Tracy Arm scenic cruising for its 2026 Alaska program. In a letter to guests, Carnival wrote that it had been monitoring conditions and that “the waterway is currently not suitable for cruise ship navigation,” confirming itineraries would instead include Endicott Arm.

Holland America Line has also told passengers that Tracy Arm days are being replaced by Endicott Arm due to ongoing ice and geological concerns.

Virgin Voyages, preparing for its first Alaska season, removed Tracy Arm from Brilliant Lady itineraries. In a letter to guests and travel advisors, Virgin said the ship will visit “Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier in place of Tracy Arm Fjord due to ongoing landslide risk in the area.”

Known totals for canceled Tracy Arm scenic-cruising calls

• Carnival Cruise Line: 53 canceled calls across Carnival Spirit (21), Carnival Miracle (21), and Carnival Luminosa (11).
• Holland America Line: 46 canceled calls across Koningsdam (24), Zaandam (19), Eurodam (2), and Westerdam (1).
• Royal Caribbean: 31 canceled calls across Serenade of the Seas (16) and Voyager of the Seas (15).
• MSC Cruises: 20 canceled calls on MSC Poesia.
• Virgin Voyages: 13 canceled calls on Brilliant Lady.

Royal Caribbean’s Seattle-based Anthem of the Seas has 12 Tracy Arm calls on its schedule, though whether those will be altered has not been confirmed.

What Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier offer as the replacement day

Endicott Arm sits roughly 20 miles south of Tracy Arm and is widely marketed around the Dawes Glacier, an actively calving tidewater glacier that rises at the head of the fjord. The route is known for steep granite cliffs, waterfalls, distinctive blue ice, and glacier viewing at Dawes.

While Tracy Arm is known for the North and South Sawyer glaciers, cruise lines shifting to Endicott Arm are positioning it as a comparable scenic alternative, with Dawes Glacier providing the day’s glacier “moment.”

Some itineraries are being tweaked to fit the new routing. MSC Poesia’s seven-night sailings from Seattle, for example, include calls such as Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, and Victoria, with scenic cruising moved to Endicott Arm and glacier viewing at Dawes.

What passengers should expect on timing and excursions

Because Tracy Arm was typically a glacier cruising segment rather than a docked port call, most changes center on the day’s timing instead of a complete rework of ports. Cruise lines have warned that port arrival and departure times may shift to accommodate the Endicott Arm route.

Royal Caribbean told guests that pre-paid shore excursions booked through the cruise line will be adjusted when possible. If a tour cannot be moved to the new timing, it will be canceled and refunded to the original form of payment. Carnival has similarly said excursions will be shifted to match revised schedules where feasible.

Travel agent Nate Vallier, owner of Alaska Travel Desk, said he would have preferred guests receive more advance warning about Tracy Arm being removed, describing Tracy Arm as a long-time draw for travelers seeking close-up views of a calving glacier.

Some travelers say the substitute can still deliver. Kimberly Lebeda of Wichita, Kansas, recalled being rerouted to Endicott Arm due to ice in Tracy Arm and described seeing seals on ice floes, waterfalls, and calving at Dawes Glacier. “Was it worth it? Yes,” she said.

Ongoing monitoring and an uncertain path back for Tracy Arm

Scientists say more work is needed to understand both what caused the collapse and what hazards may remain in the broader fjord network. Gabriel Wolken, manager of Alaska’s climate and ice hazards program, said researchers are working to understand the cause of the landslide and what other hazards may exist in the area.

Cruise lines have not said whether Tracy Arm will return to schedules in 2027, and any comeback would depend on continued study and hazard assessments. For now, the 2026 Alaska season will proceed with Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier filling the role Tracy Arm played on many itineraries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What happened at Tracy Arm Fjord in August 2025?

On Aug. 10, 2025, a landslide near the South Sawyer Glacier sent debris into the fjord and generated a tsunami within Tracy Arm. Officials reported no injuries or deaths, and no cruise ships were in the fjord at the time, though kayakers camping nearby lost gear as water rushed through the area.

Why is Tracy Arm Fjord excluded from 2026 cruise schedules?

Scientists and hazards officials have warned the area remains unstable after the landslide, with ongoing rockfall and the potential for additional slides that could generate localized tsunamis. Cruise lines have cited passenger and crew safety and said the waterway is not currently suitable for cruise ship navigation.

How many Tracy Arm scenic-cruising visits have been canceled for 2026?

At least 163 scheduled Tracy Arm scenic-cruising calls have been canceled across five cruise lines, affecting 11 ships, based on the known totals reported so far.

What is replacing Tracy Arm on 2026 itineraries?

Cruise lines are substituting Endicott Arm, about 20 miles south of Tracy Arm, with glacier viewing at Dawes Glacier. The fjords share an entrance at Holkham Bay before splitting into separate waterways.

How are cruise lines handling excursions and reservation impacts tied to the change?

Cruise lines have said most changes involve timing adjustments rather than new port calls. Royal Caribbean and Carnival have told guests that shore excursions booked through the cruise line will be adjusted when possible, and if an excursion cannot be moved it will be canceled and refunded to the original form of payment.