Discover the Incredible Wildlife You Can Encounter on an Alaskan Cruise

From majestic bald eagles and soaring falcons to humpback whales, seals, and puffins, an Alaskan cruise offers a fantastic opportunity to witness stunning wildlife while enjoying luxurious amenities and exquisite cuisine. 

Before you embark on your adventure, we suggest investing in a high-quality pair of binoculars to bring on board and during your shore excursions. You never know when an impressive eagle might soar overhead or when a humpback whale will unexpectedly breach, delighting everyone on board. 

Here’s a list of animals you’re likely to encounter during your cruise to the 49th state. Let’s begin with the wildlife you may observe soaring above or along the coastline. 

Birds of Alaska

Alaska is a haven for birdwatchers, featuring a variety of avian species you might see during your Alaska cruise.

Bald Eagles of Alaska

These incredible birds are indigenous to Alaska, with more than 30,000 residing in the state. They are typically seen along the coast and on offshore islands in Southeast Alaska, where their diet mainly consists of fish, clams, and crabs. Stay alert; you might catch a glimpse of a bald eagle soaring above your ship or perched on trees or tall poles at the dock.

Willow Ptarmigan

This charming bird is the state bird of Alaska and is commonly spotted in Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords, Haines, or Juneau. In summer, they sport brown feathers, but by August or September, their chestnut plumage begins to transition to white in preparation for winter. To evade predators, they adapt their feather color with the changing seasons.

Puffins

Known for their vibrant beaks, puffins are among the most recognizable seabirds in Southeast Alaska. They are superb swimmers and feel more at home in the water than in flight.

Alaska hosts both horned and tufted puffins. Tufted puffins have striking yellow feathers above their eyes, while horned puffins sport black horns beneath theirs. These charming birds can be spotted throughout Southeast Alaska, but for a closer encounter, consider taking a boat tour in Kenai Fjords National Park or visiting the protected islands of Glacier Bay National Park.

Peregrine Falcons

These elegant birds are not only the fastest in the world, capable of reaching speeds over 200 miles per hour, but they are also incredibly skilled hunters. Peregrine falcons can travel vast distances, migrating from Northern Alaska to Chile and Argentina for the winter, then returning to Alaska in the spring.

If you're fortunate, you may catch sight of some Peale's peregrine falcons while your ship navigates along the coastline.

Land Mammals of Alaska

During shore excursions in ports like Skagway, Ketchikan, and Juneau, you might encounter remarkable Alaskan land mammals. With your binoculars in hand, keep an eye out for:

Brown and Black Bears

Alaska is among the premier locations to observe Brown (Grizzly) and Black bears, with over 85,000 of these majestic creatures calling the state home. However, spotting them in their natural habitat can be challenging, as they tend to avoid humans. If you're fortunate, you might see bears near waterways during the early morning hours when the weather is cool.

Some cruise passengers have reported spotting bears through their binoculars while sailing along the coastline in the early morning. To witness the iconic sight of a bear fishing in a salmon stream, we suggest booking a cruise later in the season (from late July to September).

Moose

These members of the deer family are the largest land mammals in Alaska, with weights reaching up to 1,600 lbs. Their coats can vary from golden brown to nearly black, depending on the season and age. Male moose are easily identified by their antlers and can often be seen roaming forests and even urban areas in search of food.

To increase your chances of spotting moose during your Alaskan adventure, we recommend exploring the expansive forests around Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Denali National Park, where these solitary giants thrive in their natural environment.

Marine Mammals Found in Alaska

Alaska is home to a variety of marine mammals, ranging from small otters to harbor seals and the majestic humpback whales. Be sure to have your binoculars and zoom lenses ready—you never know when a whale might breach right alongside your ship!

Humpback Whales

If you're sailing to Alaska in June or July, you're likely to spot humpback whales, especially if you participate in a whale-watching tour. These enormous mammals can grow to about 50 feet in length and weigh around 35 tons. During summer, they migrate from their breeding grounds in Hawaii or Mexico to their feeding areas that stretch from Washington State to the Alaskan coast. Experts say that Alaska's Inside Passage is the ideal spot for observing these magnificent marine mammals.

Orcas

Killer whales, or orcas, are not true whales; they are incredibly intelligent members of the dolphin family that live in small family units known as pods. Renowned for their underwater hunting skills in dark waters, orcas use vocalizations and echolocation to navigate and locate their prey. Resident killer whales typically spend their lives in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, consuming over 200 lbs of fish and the occasional seal or seabird each day.

Fortunately, killer whales are relatively easy to spot as they swim close to the surface and surface every few seconds. Their dorsal fins can reach up to six feet tall, making it possible to see them from a ship's deck with binoculars. For a closer encounter, we recommend booking a whale-watching tour.

Harbor Seals

These adorable creatures are often seen lounging on rocks or ice floes, but don't be fooled; they are skilled swimmers capable of diving up to 1,500 feet and holding their breath for more than 20 minutes. Harbor seals primarily feed on fish, clams, and crustaceans like shrimp, while they face threats from killer whales, sharks, and humans. The best spots to observe them are along the shore, where they gather to regulate their body temperature.

When hoping to see the animals mentioned above during a cruise to Alaska, keep in mind that wildlife can be unpredictable, so it's important to stay flexible. Tour operators can never guarantee that you'll see whales, moose, or bears hunting for salmon up close.

Our best advice is to always have your binoculars handy, whether you're enjoying the ship's amenities or participating in a shore excursion. You never know when the crew might announce over the loudspeaker that a pod of orcas is breaching near the ship!