Captain’s Choice: Glaciers, Wildlife, and What to Love in Kenai Fjords

On a mild June day, we boarded the Captain’s Choice Tour with Kenai Fjords Tours for a seven-hour adventure along Alaska’s rugged, glacier-carved coastline. The conditions were perfect: calm seas, scattered clouds, and wildlife everywhere. We saw orcas surfacing beside the boat, Dall’s porpoises zipping through the wake, a bald eagle perched near the harbor, and raucous sea lions hauled out on the rocks.

During the cruise, we had the chance to spend a little extra time with Captain Emma Schrack, one of the expert guides at the helm of these tours every day. In between navigating the dramatic fjords, she joined us for a fun round of “Captain’s Choice,” answering a mix of helpful and just-for-fun questions about wildlife, local favorites, and what makes Seward and Kenai Fjords so special.

Here’s what she had to say:

Emma Schrack’s Captain’s Choice Q&A

Q: Morning cruise or afternoon cruise?
A: I think I would go with a morning cruise, especially because you can get out ahead of most of the tour boat traffic and see the area more or less by yourself.

Q: Beach day or mountain day?
A: I would have to go with a mountain day. I'm a big mountain girl, so I would always pick a mountain over a beach.

Q: Orcas or humpbacks?
A: That is probably the toughest question you're going to ask me. Both my favorite animals. I think at the end of the day, I would probably go with the orca.

Q: Sea otter or sea lion?
A: Sea lions would probably have to win this one. Sea lions are one of my favorite animals. They're just so silly. I love watching them.

Q: Holgate or Aialik?
A: Easy answer. Aialik Glacier. You can visit Aialik on several tours including the Classic Kenai Fjords National Park Tour, Captain’s Choice National Park Tour and Glacier Dinner Cruise.

Q: Halibut or salmon for dinner?
A: I just have to say yes. Either way, you can't mess that one up!

Q: May or September in Seward?
A: Probably May. I love the beginning of the season when everything's kind of starting to pick up.

Q: What is your favorite month to be in Seward?
A: My favorite month to be in Seward would have to be June. I love June. Not quite super busy, but everything's here.

Q: Favorite Seward restaurant?
A: My favorite Seward restaurant would have to be the Cookery.

Q: The most underrated location in Kenai Fjords National Park?
A: The most underrated place in the Kenai Fjords National Park is probably Coleman Bay. It's one that's really overlooked, but it's probably my favorite coast in the Kenai Fjords National Park. Your best chance to see it is on the Captain’s Choice Tour, but it’s not guaranteed – after all, it’s Captain’s Choice!

Q: Best tip for someone taking a boat tour for the first time?
A: The best tip for someone taking a boat tour for the first time is probably to wear a lot of layers. It does get cold, and be outside as much as possible.

Q: Is it better to sit on the top deck or the lower deck?
A: I would say the lower level, and that's probably an unpopular opinion, but I think it is the better spot. A lot of people head to the upper level thinking that's the better spot, but the lower level on a lot of our boats doesn't have anyone who can stand in front of your view, so it's an uninterrupted view the whole time.

Q: What is your favorite part of the job?
A: Probably getting to see people experience Alaska, get to experience the Kenai Fjords National Park and the wildlife for the first time. The joy that comes with watching them experience it is my favorite part of the job.

The Captain’s Choice Tour with Kenai Fjords Tours is perfect for those who want to go beyond the usual and explore the park through the eyes of an experienced local captain. With more time on the water and flexible routing based on wildlife and conditions, it’s one of the best ways to experience the magic of Kenai Fjords. Learn more.