A 30-mile deep-water fjord ending at the thundering face of Dawes Glacier — no town, no pier, just raw Alaska wilderness. This is a scenic cruising day, and one of the most dramatic on any Alaska itinerary.
Endicott Arm has no port facilities — your cruise ship is the platform for the entire experience.
💡 Pro move: No tenders, no gangway to a pier. All viewing is from your ship's open decks, balcony, or the optional paid catamaran excursion. Dress warmly — glacier winds make this significantly colder than Juneau.
There are no cruise piers in Endicott Arm — all ships navigate the fjord as scenic cruising calls.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Most cruise lines (Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Oceania, Windstar, MSC) | Scenic cruising — no pier📍 | Tendered |
| Expedition vessels | May anchor briefly; Zodiac landings at wilderness sites only📍 | Tendered |
The main add-on is a catamaran glacier excursion — everything else is included with your cruise.
Board a high-speed catamaran directly from your cruise ship while underway inside the fjord. The smaller vessel threads through ice floes to within a few hundred feet of Dawes Glacier's 600-foot face — dramatically closer than the ship can safely go. You'll see calving up close, seals on icebergs at eye level, and neon-blue ice floating past.
Book glacier catamaran tours →Bring binoculars and stake out a spot on the open decks. Harbor seals haul out on icebergs throughout the fjord. Humpback whales and orcas patrol the outer fjord entrance. Bald eagles perch on shoreline spruce. Bears sometimes forage visible rocky beaches. Mountain goats appear as white specks high on the granite walls.
Find Alaska wildlife tours →Expedition-style cruises and some specialty operators offer sea kayaking among the icebergs in Endicott Arm. Paddling at water level among Bergy Bits with Dawes Glacier in the background is an otherworldly experience.
Find Alaska kayak excursions →Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
The fjord is experienced entirely from the ship or tender vessels — no docking, no shore access. Most cruise lines spend several hours sailing slowly through the fjord toward Dawes Glacier.
Some cruise lines (Holland America, Princess, Carnival) offer transfers to smaller high-speed vessels for a closer glacier approach. Holland America's catamaran excursion runs from ~$269 (3 hours) to ~$359 for a longer 6.5-hour version with meals included.
Third-party operators (Alaska Shore Excursions, True Alaskan Tours) run ~8.5-hour roundtrip expeditions from downtown Juneau including a picnic lunch. Available May–September.
Upcoming cruises that call at Endicott Arm Fjord, Alaska, USA. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.