No Shore Shopping — This Is a Wilderness Day
Tracy Arm Fjord is one of Southeast Alaska’s most remote and spectacular landscapes. The fjord is a designated wilderness area within Tongass National Forest, and no commercial development exists within its walls. There are no gift shops, no art galleries, no jewelry stores — nothing but ice, granite, and wildlife.
This is genuinely a good thing. Tracy Arm is the antidote to the tourist-heavy shopping streets of Ketchikan and Skagway.
What You Can Buy Onboard
Your ship’s gift shop is open on scenic cruising days and typically stocks:
- Branded Alaska merchandise — shirts, hats, and hoodies with cruise line or Alaska graphics
- Practical cold-weather gear — gloves, beanies, and fleece layers (useful if you packed light)
- Insulated travel mugs — practical for the hot chocolate stations set up on deck
- Alaska photo books — good reference for what you’re seeing, though wildlife field guides are more useful
The Best Tracy Arm Souvenir
The most valuable thing you can bring home from Tracy Arm costs nothing from a gift shop. With two active tidewater glaciers, floating icebergs, waterfalls, and mountain scenery, a good camera is the best investment you can make.
If you’re serious about photography, a zoom lens (200mm or longer) lets you photograph calving glacier faces, mountain goats on cliff faces, and seals lounging on ice floes from a comfortable distance. Protect your gear from the cold and spray with a waterproof case or bag — both available on Amazon before you leave.
Save your shopping budget for Juneau or Skagway, where you’ll find locally made Native art, high-quality Alaska smoked salmon, and jewelry worth buying. Tracy Arm day is for watching, not spending.
Pre-Trip Purchases Worth Making
If you want to get the most out of your Tracy Arm scenic cruising day, a few purchases before your trip pay dividends. A pair of compact binoculars in the 8x42 range lets you spot harbor seals on ice floes and mountain goats on distant ledges that are invisible to the naked eye. A waterproof phone pouch protects your device from spray when you’re standing at the rail watching glacier calving events — the dramatic crashes send up plumes of mist that carry surprisingly far. Hand warmers are another smart buy, since Tracy Arm’s glacial air can drop temperatures well below what the rest of your itinerary delivers, even in summer. These small items cost far less than anything in the ship’s gift shop and dramatically improve your experience on one of Alaska’s most scenic cruise days.