Holland America Scraps All Tracy Arm Visits Due to Unstable Conditions
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Holland America Line has cancelled Tracy Arm scenic cruising days on its 2026 Alaska voyages.
The change follows a major 2025 landslide and is due to unstable ice and geological conditions in the fjord.
Instead of Tracy Arm, ships will sail into Endicott Arm to view Dawes Glacier.
One of the highlights of an Alaska cruise is sailing into Tracy Arm Fjord, a narrow, glacier-carved passage southeast of Juneau. Known for its steep granite cliffs and floating icebergs, itineraries that include this beautiful area of Alaska offer views of the twin Sawyer Glaciers.
But guests sailing with Holland America Line during its upcoming 2026 Alaska season will not be able to visit the fjord.
The cruise line has begun notifying booked passengers that its popular Tracy Arm scenic cruising days will be cancelled for the season due to safety concerns tied to unstable conditions in the area.
Ships scheduled to visit the fjord will instead sail into nearby Endicott Arm.
“Due to unstable ice and geological conditions [sic] currently preclude vessels from entering Tracy Arm Fjord; all 2026 departures will explore Endicott Arm instead,” said the cruise line in a letter to passengers.
The change comes after a major landslide in the fjord occurred in August 2025, raising safety concerns in the area.
The massive landslide collapsed near South Sawyer Glacier, sending millions of cubic feet of rock and debris crashing into the narrow waterway. The impact triggered a localized tsunami within the fjord, according to researchers studying the event.
Scientists from the US Geological Survey say the area remains under observation as the steep slopes continue to shift. As glaciers retreat, rock faces once supported by ice are becoming more unstable, increasing the risk of additional landslides in the fjords.
Because of these ongoing concerns, Holland America Line will not send any ships into Tracy Arm in the 2026 season.
Ships to Sail into Endicott Arm
Holland America Line’s first visit to Tracy Arm in 2026 was meant to take place on May 4, 2026, during a 7-night Alaska Inside Passage voyage from Vancouver aboard Koningsdam. Noordam was scheduled to follow on May 6 during its similar 7-night voyage from Seattle.
A third ship, Zaandam, was scheduled to first arrive on May 15 after departing Vancouver for its 7-night sailing, with Eurodam arriving on May 19, also sailing from Seattle for 7 nights.
Each ship, sailing in the area into September, with Zaandam the last to arrive on September 4, will now spend the scenic cruising day in Endicott Arm, a neighboring fjord located within the same wilderness area of Southeast Alaska.
Guests will have an extended viewing day, with the tour of Endicott Arm expected to last for 8.5 hours.
“Endicott Arm offers a stunning view of Dawes Glacier, an active tidewater glacier that regularly calves large icebergs into the fjord,” said Holland America Line, revealing the itinerary title has been updated to be Tracy Arm Fjord or Endicott Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer.
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Both fjords branch off Holkham Bay, southeast of Juneau, and share many of the same characteristics, so passengers shouldn’t be too disappointed by the change.
In fact, most former passengers responding to social media posts about the change say the views and glacier in Endicott Arm are just as spectacular. Holland America Line said safety concerns for passengers and crew drove the decision to adjust 2026 itineraries.
Holland America Scraps All Tracy Arm Visits Due to Unstable Conditions