Seward, Alaska’s Harbor 360 waterfront hotel gave us a front row seat to Resurrection Bay and with Major Marine Tours onsite, it’s the ideal start for exploring Kenai Fjords National Park.
Travel Bucket List: Seeing Kenai Fjords National Park
Our Alaska land adventure was exhausting and the most memorable vacation ever! One of the highlights that I looked forward to finally came to fruition when we arrived in Seward, Alaska, on the famous Kenai Peninsula.
You see, the accommodations that we booked, Harber 360 Hotel, had the Major Marine Tours company right onsite. All we would have to do is exit the hotel, walk down a ramp, and board a boat for our 6-hour tour to see Kenai Fjords National Park, the must-see Alaska attraction with glaciers, whales, seals, bears, and more.
Getting to the Hotel
We looked forward to spending three days and nights in Seward, staying at the Harbor 360 Hotel. Seward, Alaska is located just 125 miles south of Anchorage, that would take about a 3-hour drive.
Our previous travel stop was a bit out of the way, but we had a fantastic stay at Hotel Alyeska and Resort in Girdwood. From there, we drove 45 minutes back to Anchorage and returned the rental car. From Anchorage, we boarded the Coastal Classic Train that took us to the Alaska Railroad Depot Seward.
When we stepped off the train, we could see the Harber 360 Hotel and a Norwegian cruise ship docked at the Seward Cruise Terminal. As we were walking towards the hotel, we made a quick stop at Summit Sips for coffee and chai tea. It was nice to just take a breather after being cooped up in a train for about 4 hours.
If you’re wondering how we maneuvered with our luggage from the train to the hotel, we left our luggage on the train and it was transported right to the hotel for us. A short walk later, we were already checking in to the hotel.
In addition to being so close to the railroad and located on Seward’s waterfront, this year-round hotel is literally steps away from restaurants, stores, and Resurrection Bay, where many boat tours begin right at the hotel’s dock.
About the Hotel
When we were planning this trip, the average 4.4 rating among thousands of traveler reviews (many 5-star reviews) was quite impressive. Its popularity made for a quick decision to book our room. I will go on record by saying that the hotel, like most hotels in Alaska, are pricey. We were so intrigued that we may have closed our eyes at the $309 nightly rate, booked one year in advance.
This 96-room hotel looks like a postcard because it offers stunning 360-degree views of both the Kenai mountains and the harbor. The harbor houses many colorful boats. The water is a greenish blue. The snowcapped mountains in the background just adds to the beauty.
As I mentioned before, having the hotel’s boat tour company, Major Marine Tours, right onsite is such an added bonus. This means you can walk straight from your hotel room to the boarding dock.
Crowded Lobby Area
When you step inside the hotel, the nautical atmosphere continues. The first floor where the lobby is located, is also where you’ll find the Major Marine Tours desk.
I will warn you that tour visitors are not just hotel guests. In other words, at times, the lobby is brimming with non-hotel guests, hanging around waiting for the boat tours to board. The same holds true when the train arrives as there could be dozens of train passengers checking into the hotel at the same time.
Please understand that the crowded lobby is not a deal-breaker and hotel staff did their best to keep the crowd moving out of the way. That leads me to say how friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help, each hotel team member proved to be, time and time again.
Hotel Amenities
One of the most appreciated hotel amenities was the automatic baggage handling from our train to the hotel on arrival and from the hotel to the train on departure. It was a smooth process. We did, however, have to retrieve our bags from the lobby and bring them to our room, a task made easier thanks to easy-roll luggage pieces.
While the hotel harbor and mountain views could be enjoyed from any location around the hotel, picture how much more enjoyable it would be while swimming in the hotel’s indoor pool or soaking in the hot tub.
The complimentary breakfast, simple but with a variety of hot and cold items, was a nice start to each day. Even breakfast served in the scenic Eagle’s Cove breakfast area on the hotel’s first floor offered a harbor view. Each day we picked different selections including pancakes, eggs, oatmeal, pastries, breads, cereals, yogurt, and fruit. The breakfast area did get a bit crowded.
We appreciated the free Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel, but it was a bit spotty at times when we attempted to catch up on work emails or communicate with family.
With our wet clothes (thanks to a boat tour in the rain), we were happy to use the onsite guest washers and dryers.
There is no fitness room onsite but the hotel offers free passes to a local gym, 5th Avenue Fitness. Staying at the hotel also gets you special discounts on tours and local activities.
Simple Guest Room With a Harbor View
If you’re expecting a fancy guest room for the high price tag, I wouldn’t describe the room’s vibe as luxury. And while the rooms were clean, the hotel is a bit dated, reminiscent of the look of a motel. Rest assured, even with the basic accommodations, there is still the million-dollar view of the harbor and surrounding mountains.
Our spacious 3rd floor (top floor) room overlooked the harbor, and waking up to the colorful array of docked boats, blue-green colored water, and snow-capped mountains in the distance was the best part of this stay. The Alaskan sky seems to continually change colors.
Excitedly, the windows opened in our hotel room. Not many hotels have windows that open! We were able to hear the sounds of the harbor and spot marine wildlife as well … lots of sea otters, puffins (sea birds), and other birds. Note that the Seward weather is unpredictable so some days are bright and clear while other days are eerily foggy.
Our Single King Room had a King bed, coffee maker, and mini-fridge. All rooms are non-smoking. The bathroom featured a standard tub and shower, plain white shower curtain, a hair dryer, and white towels.
As for sleeping, the curtains did not appear to be room darkening so it was pretty bright even at night. The mattress was decent but not as plush as other hotel beds we’ve been spoiled with. We could also hear sounds coming from the harbor through our window. Did that deter sleeping? Absolutely not. Exploring Seward each day was exhausting, so we slept soundly.
There are some pet-friendly rooms but we didn’t see a single dog inside the hotel.
Major Marine Tours Cruises into Kenai Fjords National Park
Now, for checking off a bucket list item; our 6-hour boat tour into Kenai Fjords National Park. I’ve said this before, but having the Major Marine Tours onsite made for convenient check-in, boarding was simple, and the boat was comfortable and not overly crowded.
The cruise took us farther into the park than I expected and we got to see a surreal, bluish-colored ice tidewater glacier. There were even chunks of sparkling ice floating in the water surrounding our boat. So beautiful that photos don’t do its magnificence justice.
The humpback whales … at least seven of them … were a tear jerker for me. I’ve spotted whales before but there is something magical about seeing them in Alaska. I also have a fondness for seals as well. Super cute.
Seeing the black bears in the distance amidst the cool Alaskan landscape, made for good photo opportunities. Zooming in with my camera lens and using my binoculars was close enough to the bears for me.
The 6-hour tour turned out to be the perfect amount of time. It rained (with wind) most of the tour so our clothing, despite wearing layers with a waterproof jacket, was pretty soaked. And speaking of the weather conditions, I was glad to have taken Dramamine before the tour started. The seas were slightly rough but not bad enough to affect me.
The tour guides may have been the best narrators that I’ve ever had on a tour. Their knowledge was noticeable and we could hear it from both the indoor and outdoor viewing decks. Of course, the indoor seating was warmer but we had already gotten wet outside so we braved the elements to capture better photos.
If you’re planning to take a Kenai Fjords cruise, I strongly suggest you book in advance. You don’t want to miss it.
Walking Along the Harbor Front
While most Seward attractions paled in comparison to the Kenai Fjords cruise, we did enjoy some great food and beverages, and shopping along the harbor front within walking distance from the hotel.
The cool shops offered us lots of opportunity to buy Alaska souvenirs and you can be sure we bought many t-shirts, hats, whale knickknacks, and more.
Out of curiosity, we walked down to the port area where the fishing boats come in. You can only imagine the “fishy” smell as workers cleaned and cut the freshly caught fish handed to them right off the boats.
While we didn’t eat the fish, we did enjoy the Firebrand BBQ restaurant that served authentic Texas BBQ in Alaska! It’s outdoor seating on gravel and the food is also grilled right outside. The Wagyu Beef Ribs (only available after 3pm) and the unique Frito Pie (beef, beans, cheese, and sour cream on a bed of Fritos) were delicious.
The Resurrect Art Coffee House is a cute little coffee shop and art gallery built in a historic former Methodist church building. Inside it’s eclectically decorated and we sat up in the loft area on soft, upholstered chairs overlooking the mountains while sipping hot chocolate.
At the Lighthouse Café, the coffee and chai tea were extraordinary, and the blueberry muffins were some of the freshest we’ve eaten in a long time.
At Klondike Pizzeria, we actually ordered a Hawaiian style pizza with pineapple … in Alaska. Go ahead and mock us but it was delicious!
Takeaways: Do I Recommend the Hotel?
The Harbor 360 Hotel in Seward is a must-stay-at-hotel if you want to enjoy the convenience of taking boat tours or you want to arrive a day or two prior to an Alaskan cruise from the local cruise terminal. While I’m not sure we’ll have the opportunity to visit Seward again, I would book this hotel again in a heartbeat!
- Walking distance to shops, restaurants, and the Alaska Railroad Depot.
- Major Marine Tours onsite is a bonus.
- Rooms are clean, spacious, but slightly dated.
- Complimentary breakfast had decent options.
- Harbor and mountain views are amazing.
- Friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Author Bio: Originally from Long Island, New York, Donna Wright now calls Deland, Florida her home. An avid traveler, she has journeyed by air, land, and sea, to many cities in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean to exciting destinations like California, Arizona, Las Vegas, San Diego, Myrtle Beach, Lake Tahoe, Reno, and more.
This content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered travel or consumer advice. Inn amenities, prices, policies, and availability may change. Readers should verify all details independently and use their own judgment when planning travel.