This Popular US Destination Is Being Banned By Cruise Lines For Being Too Dangerous

One of the most sought-after stops along the Alaskan coastline is being removed from cruise ship itineraries due to safety concerns. Tracy Arm Fjord, located roughly 50 miles from the state capital Juneau, is a favorite with passengers and one of the best places to see glaciers in the U.S. The 30-mile-long fjord is surrounded by sheer mountains reaching up to 7,000 feet high and temperate rainforest that makes up Tongass National Forest. Waterfalls cascade from the cliff edges, and icebergs drift silently through the freezing waters. And that's before you reach the Twin Sawyer Glaciers, which rise into view like a dramatic finale as you reach the fjord's end. With such a formidable landscape, it's understandable that it's one of the most popular scenic cruise stops and a must-see place in Alaska for first-time visitors. The chance of encountering harbor seals resting on passing ice floes or brown bears coming to the shoreline to feed is one of the best experiences of an Alaskan cruise.

But this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Mother Nature's icy splendors doesn't come without its risks. The fjord sits within a naturally hazardous area, where calving glaciers — large chunks of ice breaking free from the glacier — and landslides are common. Ice conditions can shift quickly, which is what happened in August 2025. A landslide caused a considerable amount of ice to collapse into the fjord, causing a tsunami-like wave that sent the water a quarter of a mile up the opposite mountainside. Fortunately there were no casualties, but it shows the unpredictable and sometimes dangerous nature of glacial fjords. With the area around Tracy Arm Fjord now considered unstable, major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line, are removing it from their 2026 itineraries.

While passengers who had hoped to cross this destination off their bucket lists are understandably disappointed, Tracy Arm Fjord is being replaced by other locations, which are just as beautiful and offer a similar experience. The most common alternative on Alaska itineraries is Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, located slightly further south. Being wider than Tracy Arm means cruise ships can approach the much larger Dawes Glacier more easily for some stunning close-up views. The more navigable waterways are actually better suited for large cruise ships, compared to Tracy Arm's narrow channel.

As the demand for luxury cruise vacations continues to rise, Alaska is a popular destination for those who dream of experiencing its largely untouched wilderness, especially through the protected coastal route of the Inside Passage. However, route changes are common in Alaska due to unstable ice conditions, poor weather, and safety concerns due to landslides. As the stability of Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier remains unpredictable, cruise lines are leaving it off their 2026 itineraries, with the 2027 season still in question. If you're considering visiting Alaska in high tourist season, cruises typically run from April through October with peak travel from June to August.