Cruise lines drop Tracy Arm from 2026 Alaska itineraries after tsunami concerns

Multipe cruise lines are revising their 2026 Alaska sailings to avoid Tracy Arm Fjord following last summer’s tsunami in the area, according to Alaska Public Media.

Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean have all informed guests that ships will not call at the fjord this season, a popular scenic stop known for views of the Sawyer Glacier. 

AP also reports that MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and regional tour company Allen Marine are replacing Tracy Arm with Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier.

The changes come months after a landslide triggered one of the largest recorded tsunamis in the fjord last August. 

Cruise lines say the decision follows ongoing monitoring of conditions in the area, citing safety concerns and the current state of the waterway, according to AP.

“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 emailed statement.

Landslide and tsunami risk is widespread in Southeast Alaska, and scientists do not currently have a clear way to quantify that risk in specific places.

Two of the largest tsunamis on record have occurred in Southeast Alaska: last year’s event in Tracy Arm and a 1958 tsunami in Lituya Bay. 

Both produced some of the highest recorded runups, measuring the maximum height water reached on land.

Warning signs during an event can include frothy or gurgling water, sustained shaking or a loud roar from a nearby hillside.

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