Quick answer: For the 2026 season, the major lines that had been sailing into Tracy Arm Fjord dropped it after a huge landslide and tsunami in August 2025, and sent ships to nearby Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier instead. Holland America, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC and Virgin Voyages all made the switch, and Cruise Critic reports Princess did too. For 2027, Virgin Voyages has already taken Tracy Arm off its schedule again, while a few other published itineraries still list it. Always check your own sailing before you book.
Quick Facts
- The event: A landslide near South Sawyer Glacier on August 10, 2025 set off a tsunami in the fjord. No ships were in the fjord, and no deaths or injuries were reported.
- The scale: Water surged more than a quarter mile up the opposite wall, and the runup is among the highest on record.
- 2026 result: About 163 scheduled Tracy Arm calls by 11 ships were replaced by Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, according to CruiseNews.
- The risk now: The U.S. Geological Survey says the area remains unstable.
- 2027: Virgin Voyages has confirmed 13 Brilliant Lady sailings without Tracy Arm. Some other lines still list it, and those listings can change.
If you went looking for cruises that visit Tracy Arm, you may have noticed a problem: for the 2026 season, almost none of the big ships did. Tracy Arm has long been one of the best known scenic days on an Alaska cruise. Cruise lines have been sending ships to the neighboring fjord instead, and the question now is what happens in 2027.
This guide covers what happened, which lines changed their plans, how Endicott Arm compares, and how to find out what your own sailing will actually do. We also have a longer Tracy Arm Fjord cruise guide and a Tracy Arm port page for background on the fjord itself.
What Happened in Tracy Arm
Tracy Arm is a deep, narrow fjord more than 30 miles long, about 45 miles south of Juneau, with waterfalls, steep walls, floating ice and the twin Sawyer Glaciers at its head. On August 10, 2025, a massive landslide above the toe of South Sawyer Glacier generated a localized tsunami inside the fjord. Water surged more than a quarter mile up the opposite wall. Kayakers camped on an island where Tracy and Endicott Arms meet lost much of their gear, but no deaths or injuries were reported.
Scientists say the danger has not gone away. A U.S. Geological Survey spokesperson told reporters that the area remains unstable, and the agency expects continued rockfall and small slides that could cause another localized tsunami. Alaska's state seismologist has said the collapsed mountainside is likely unstable too, so follow on activity is plausible.
Cruise lines responded by pulling Tracy Arm from their 2026 schedules. Holland America's notice to guests said unstable ice and geological conditions currently preclude vessels from entering the fjord, and Royal Caribbean told guests that waterway conditions were not suitable for cruise ship navigation.
What the Cruise Lines Did in 2026
| Cruise line | 2026 Tracy Arm calls dropped | Ships and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival Cruise Line | 53 | Carnival Spirit, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Luminosa |
| Holland America Line | 46 | Koningsdam, Zaandam, Eurodam, Westerdam. Announced in March 2026, covering all 2026 Alaska voyages |
| Royal Caribbean | 31 | Serenade of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas. Guests were emailed on April 7, 2026 |
| MSC Cruises | 20 | MSC Poesia, replaced with Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier |
| Virgin Voyages | 13 | Brilliant Lady |
| Princess Cruises | Not counted | Cruise Critic reports Princess canceled its visits. Star Princess offers scenic cruising to Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | None | Said it has no voyages sailing by Tracy Arm, so nothing changed |
The call counts above come from CruiseNews and total about 163 canceled calls across five lines and 11 ships. Regional tour company Allen Marine also switched to Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. We could not confirm what Celebrity and other lines did, so check those directly. Holland America also swapped its Tracy Arm shore excursions for Endicott Arm trips, so booked excursions generally followed the change.
What About 2027?
The picture is mixed, and it can change. Here is what we could confirm as of mid November 2026:
- Virgin Voyages has replaced Tracy Arm with scenic cruising at Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier on 13 Brilliant Lady sailings in 2027, citing ongoing landslide risk.
- Royal Caribbean's website still listed a Tracy Arm sightseeing stop on a September 8, 2027 sailing aboard Serenade of the Seas when TheTravel checked in October. Its newer Ovation sailings from Seattle highlight Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier instead.
- Silversea lists several 2027 sailings that include Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier.
- Holland America, Carnival and MSC: we could not confirm their 2027 plans.
Treat a published itinerary as a plan, not a promise. A line can swap Tracy Arm for Endicott Arm at any time, and several already have a record of doing it when ice or conditions demand it. If Tracy Arm is the reason you are booking, ask your cruise line or travel agent in writing what happens if the fjord is closed. Our guide on whether cruise lines can change your itinerary explains what your contract usually allows.
Tracy Arm vs. Endicott Arm
| Tracy Arm | Endicott Arm | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | More than 30 miles | More than 30 miles |
| Where | About 45 miles south of Juneau, in the Tracy Arm Fords Terror Wilderness | Southeast of Juneau, in the same wilderness |
| Glacier at the head | North and South Sawyer Glaciers | Dawes Glacier, an active tidewater glacier |
| Feel | Long, narrow and dramatic, with the approach as the draw | Wider, quieter and icy |
| 2026 status | Avoided by the major lines listed above | The standard replacement |
Endicott Arm has long been the backup when ice makes Tracy Arm unsafe, so the swap is not new. Dawes Glacier keeps calving through the sailing season, which means ships can spend time near the face when conditions allow. Keep in mind that heavy ice can stop ships short of the glacier even in a normal year, so the captain decides how far you get. For other glacier days, see our guides to Glacier Bay and Juneau.
What to Expect on a Fjord Day
- Scenic cruising, not a port call. You stay on the ship while it sails the fjord.
- The captain sets the schedule. Ice and weather decide how far in the ship goes.
- Dress warm. The air near a glacier is cold even in summer. Our cruise packing checklist and a look at how cold cruise ships get can help you plan layers.
- Pick your spot. Forward decks and balconies change as the ship turns, so be ready to move. A balcony can help, and our comparison of an inside cabin vs. balcony may help you decide.
- Bring binoculars. Seals are a common sight near the ice, and waterfalls line the walls.
How to Check What Your Cruise Will Do
- Look at your itinerary in your cruise line account. If it says Endicott Arm, you are not going to Tracy Arm.
- Read your cruise line's Alaska updates. Lines email guests and post notices when they change a fjord day.
- Ask your travel agent or the cruise line directly, especially if you booked for Tracy Arm.
- Check again closer to sailing. Conditions and decisions can change in the months before departure.
- Read your shore excursion booking. If it was tied to Tracy Arm, confirm what replaced it.
Sources and further reading: Alaska Public Media on the landslide and cruise lines, CruiseNews on the canceled calls, Cruise Critic on Holland America, Cruise Critic's 2026 Alaska season roundup, Royal Caribbean Blog, Cruise Industry News on Virgin's 2027 changes and TheTravel on 2027 and 2028 listings.
Plan the Rest of Your Alaska Cruise
- Alaska Cruise Ports Guide
- Guide to Popular Alaska Cruise Ports: Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan
- What to Do in Juneau on a Cruise Day
- Alaska and Pacific Northwest Cruise Ports
- Do I Need Travel Insurance for a Cruise?
- Cruises That Aren't Crowded
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cruise ships go into Tracy Arm Fjord?
For 2026, the major lines that had been visiting dropped Tracy Arm after the August 2025 landslide and tsunami, and substituted Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. Some 2027 schedules still list it, but they may change.
Why was Tracy Arm closed to cruise ships?
A landslide near South Sawyer Glacier on August 10, 2025 triggered a tsunami in the narrow fjord. Cruise lines cited unstable ice and geological conditions, and the U.S. Geological Survey says the area remains unstable.
What is the difference between Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm?
Both are glacial fjords of more than 30 miles in the same wilderness area south of Juneau. Tracy Arm ends at the Sawyer Glaciers and is known for a narrow, dramatic approach. Endicott Arm ends at Dawes Glacier, an active tidewater glacier, and feels wider and icier.
Which cruise lines go to Endicott Arm?
Holland America, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC and Virgin Voyages substituted it for Tracy Arm in 2026, and Cruise Critic reports Princess did as well.
Will Tracy Arm reopen to cruise ships?
We found no announced reopening date. Virgin Voyages has already said Tracy Arm stays off 13 of its 2027 sailings, while some other lines still list it on 2027 schedules.
Do I get a refund if my cruise skips Tracy Arm?
That depends on your cruise contract and the line's policy, and most contracts let cruise lines change itineraries. Ask your cruise line in writing, and see our guide on whether cruise lines can change your itinerary.
