Holland America, Carnival Drop Tracy Arm From 2026 Alaska Cruises

Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line are removing Tracy Arm Fjord from their 2026 Alaska cruise itineraries, citing safety concerns after unstable conditions developed in the area. Both lines say they will shift planned scenic cruising days to nearby Endicott Arm, a glacier-filled fjord that branches from the same entrance point at Holkham Bay in Southeast Alaska.

Safety concerns after a 2025 landslide and localized tsunami

The itinerary changes follow a major landslide in Tracy Arm in August 2025 near South Sawyer Glacier. Researchers studying the event said the collapse sent rock and debris into the fjord and generated a localized tsunami inside the narrow waterway, and one account described millions of cubic feet of rock entering the fjord.

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey have continued monitoring the area, and researchers have warned that with glaciers retreating, rock faces previously supported by ice can become more prone to failure. Both cruise lines pointed to the combination of ice and geological conditions, along with the narrow dimensions of Tracy Arm, as key factors behind the 2026 reroutes.

Holland America Line: all 2026 Tracy Arm days switched to Endicott Arm

Holland America Line has begun contacting booked guests to confirm that Tracy Arm scenic cruising will not operate during the line’s 2026 Alaska season. In its letter to passengers, the cruise line wrote: “Unstable ice and geological conditions currently preclude vessels from entering Tracy Arm Fjord; all 2026 departures will explore Endicott Arm instead.”

The change applies across the season, affecting sailings scheduled from spring through early September. Holland America Line said the decision was driven by passenger and crew safety, and that guests will receive an extended scenic cruising experience in Endicott Arm.

Early-season sailings that had listed Tracy Arm

Holland America Line’s first scheduled Tracy Arm visit for 2026 had been set for May 4, 2026, on a seven-night Alaska Inside Passage voyage from Vancouver aboard Koningsdam. Other early-season calls were also planned for:

• May 6, 2026: Noordam, sailing a similar seven-night itinerary from Seattle
• May 15, 2026: Zaandam, sailing from Vancouver for seven nights
• May 19, 2026: Eurodam, sailing from Seattle for seven nights

Holland America Line’s seasonal Tracy Arm scenic cruising days had been scheduled into September, with Zaandam listed as the last planned arrival on September 4. Those scenic cruising days will now be conducted in Endicott Arm instead. Holland America has also said the Endicott Arm viewing day is expected to run about 8.5 hours, and noted that the itinerary name has been updated to “Tracy Arm Fjord or Endicott Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer.”

Carnival Cruise Line: Endicott Arm replaces Tracy Arm across the 2026 Alaska season

Carnival Cruise Line has made the same move for its 2026 Alaska program, canceling all planned Tracy Arm scenic cruising days due to what it described as unsafe navigation conditions after the August 10, 2025 landslide and tsunami.

In a letter to booked guests, Carnival wrote: “We have been closely monitoring geological conditions in Tracy Arm Fjord. The waterways in the area are currently not suitable for cruise ship navigation.” Carnival said the revised itineraries will instead include Endicott Arm, and characterized the routing change in simple terms: “Essentially, we will be turning right, instead of left, upon entering the fjords.” The line also said the update would be reflected on its website within 24 hours so new bookings show the correct itinerary.

Carnival ships and sailing windows impacted

Carnival is deploying three ships to Alaska in 2026, and the itinerary adjustment applies to all sailings that previously included Tracy Arm:

• Carnival Spirit: Seattle-based seven-night Inside Passage sailings, with affected embarkations from April 28 through September 15 (2,134-guest ship).
• Carnival Luminosa: affected itineraries from April 27 through September 10. The ship alternates 10-night Alaska Inside Passage sailings with four-night Mexico cruises from San Francisco (2,260-guest ship).
• Carnival Miracle: affected itineraries from April 27 through September 17, primarily seven-night Inside Passage cruises from Seattle, with longer voyages at the beginning and end of the season (2,134-guest ship).

What the substitute scenic cruising day looks like in Endicott Arm

Tracy Arm is known for its dramatic granite cliffs, icebergs, and views of the twin Sawyer Glaciers (North and South Sawyer Glaciers). Endicott Arm and Tracy Arm share the same general entry point at Holkham Bay, about 50 miles southeast of Juneau, branching off the Stephens Passage corridor.

Endicott Arm is described as about 30 miles long and offers glacier-carved cliffs, serene waters, and wildlife viewing. Its marquee feature for cruise ships is Dawes Glacier, a tidewater glacier known for frequent calving. Carnival and Holland America have both emphasized that Endicott Arm provides a comparable glacier-day experience, and a more reliable option under current conditions because it does not present the same combination of narrow navigation and landslide-related risk that is driving the Tracy Arm changes for 2026.

What the change means for 2026 Alaska cruise planning

For passengers booked on affected sailings, the change centers on the glacier-day scenic cruising call rather than a wholesale rework of broader Alaska itineraries. Travelers who chose sailings specifically to see Tracy Arm’s Sawyer Glaciers should note that, for 2026, ships will not enter Tracy Arm and will not operate the planned scenic cruising routes there.

Both lines have said the alternative still keeps a fjord-and-glacier scenic day in the same wilderness area of Southeast Alaska, with extended viewing time in Endicott Arm on Holland America sailings and Dawes Glacier as the featured glacier for both operators. Any future return to Tracy Arm will depend on how conditions evolve and whether the area is considered suitable for cruise ship navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are cruise lines removing Tracy Arm Fjord from 2026 itineraries?

Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line cited safety concerns after a major landslide near South Sawyer Glacier in August 2025 sent rock and debris into the fjord and generated a localized tsunami. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey have continued monitoring the area, and researchers have warned that glacier retreat can leave rock faces more prone to failure in steep-sided fjords.

What will replace the Tracy Arm scenic cruising day in 2026?

Both lines say they will substitute scenic cruising in Endicott Arm, which branches from the same entrance at Holkham Bay and provides access to Dawes Glacier, a tidewater glacier known for frequent calving.

When do the itinerary changes take effect for Holland America Line?

Holland America Line said the switch applies across its 2026 Alaska season, starting with the first planned Tracy Arm date of May 4, 2026 (Koningsdam), and running into early September. The line has said guests should expect an extended scenic cruising day in Endicott Arm of about 8.5 hours.

Which Carnival ships are affected, and what are the affected sailing windows?

Carnival said the change applies to sailings that previously included Tracy Arm across its 2026 Alaska program: Carnival Spirit (affected embarkations from April 28 through September 15), Carnival Luminosa (April 27 through September 10), and Carnival Miracle (April 27 through September 17).

Have the cruise lines said when Tracy Arm will return to itineraries?

No specific return date has been announced. Both lines have confirmed that, for the 2026 season, the glacier-day scenic cruising call will be conducted in Endicott Arm rather than Tracy Arm, and any future return would depend on whether Tracy Arm is considered suitable for cruise ship navigation.