Alaska Small Ship Cruises

Table Of Content

• Choose When to Go
• Explore The Possibilities
• Crew & Guides Review
• About Booking This Tour
• Tutka Tours

A pre-cruise overnight is always recommended in case of delays. Travelers east of the Rockies will certainly require one in order to safely embark their Alaska small ship cruise on time. The length of your travel window can also help you figure out how to choose the best small ship Alaska cruise. Most travelers will take only one Alaska cruise in their lifetime and of course want to make the most of it. Like any wilderness-oriented trip, the longer you stay in the backcountry, the better chance you have of seeing animals. This Prince William Sound cruise spends an adventurous 8 days exploring the least-visited shores in coastal Alaska, home to the densest concentration of tidewater glaciers.

Choose When to Go

Guided skiff tours will take guests in search of Alaskan wildlife in remote bays and secret coves. Far from the crowds of conventional high-volume tourism, our personal approach offers a genuine and intimate encounter with Alaska. It’s an eco-friendly way to explore Alaska’s gorgeous and diverse marine environment. Larger expedition-style Alaskan cruise ships in the 50 to 100 passenger range typically have larger cabins, many with view windows, more deck space for watching wildlife and more common areas.

Explore The Possibilities

Cus­tomize your pri­vate expe­di­tion with expe­ri­enced cap­tain John Joeright and enjoy all-inclu­sive meals, com­fort­able accom­mo­da­tions, and end­less adven­tures on the 46-foot S/V Sham­rock. Watch whales, hike, fish, vis­it local com­mu­ni­ties, and more — all at your own pace. Begin planning your U.S. cruise adventure with American Cruise Lines today.

The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024 - AFAR Media

The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024.

Posted: Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Crew & Guides Review

Many of the small ships sailing in Alaska today are the same ones I traveled aboard many years ago. Only one company, Lindblad Expeditions, has built new coastal ships for Alaska in recent years, these being the 100-passenger sisters National Geographic Quest (2017) and National Geographic Venture (2018). I took my first cruise to Alaska in 1988 aboard the old Noordam — an ocean-liner-type ship with over 1,200 passengers aboard, which was considered big back in those days.

Sunlight is at its longest during these months and it is also the driest and warmest time to visit. It’s also a great time to admire nature in full bloom and be inspired by the native wildlife. These solo cabins get our vote because they're located in a complex where a private lounge encourages mingling. Lone travelers can also meet their shipmates while waiting to hop into a race care on the ship's go-kart track, at a showing of "Jersey Boys" or over a muddled drink at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar.

Holland America Line has offered Alaska cruises for 75 years and is clearly a market leader. The line tops the list in terms of cruises, as well as cruise tours, which combine time sailing with overnight stays on land. The company operates its own lodges, rail cars and motorcoaches for exploration of Alaska's interior and beyond. If you're after comfort rather than luxury on your Alaskacruise, adventure specialist UnCruise Adventures operates small ship expeditions in Alaskawith a focus on local culture, active participation and wildlifeviewing. If you book on Oceania's OLife Choice promotion you get tochoose from a menu of added values, including selectedcomplimentary shore excursions, and you can also splash out on moreexciting options including seaplane flights.

This lux­u­ri­ous yacht will be your home base for spec­tac­u­lar bear view­ing and fish­ing in uncrowd­ed waters. Design your exclu­sive itin­er­ary then set sail into the vast open waters and wildlife-rich shore­lines of Prince William Sound. Dis­cov­er South­east Alaska’s nat­ur­al won­ders aboard a char­tered sail­boat with Sail­ing Alas­ka.

Small Ships in Alaska: A Guide to Cruising Off the Beaten Path

Bringing the right clothing for your trip is important – we've partnered with Necessary Gear who provide an "easy-to-use, one-stop shop" for your Tauck travel needs, specifically selected for this trip. Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey. This plan provides cancellation coverage for your trip and other insurance coverages that apply only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages.

You will travel in comfortable sea-view accommodation, and enjoygourmet cuisine. Pick from expedition-style itineraries in remote territorieswith extraordinary landscapes and varied wildlife, or cruise-styleoperations on the captivating Inside Passage route between Juneauand Vancouver. Excursions are included in the fare on thoseitineraries designated as 'Expeditions'.

Our partners may have a limited supply of face coverings, gloves, and hand sanitizer, so please bring such personal items for your own comfort. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel. Download the details to make planning your trip easier - including an itinerary overview, pricing based on your selected departure date and accommodations, plus protection plan costs. Uncruise emphasizes the natural areas of Alaska on their excursions.

8 Considerations When Helping Clients Decide Between a Small vs. Big Ship Alaska Cruise - Travel Market Report

8 Considerations When Helping Clients Decide Between a Small vs. Big Ship Alaska Cruise.

Posted: Tue, 27 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

If your dream itinerary includes Seattle, this definitely makes how to choose an Alaska cruise easier as there are fewer overall options. In the summer, small ships are busy exploring up in Alaska. But each spring you’ll find them repositioning from Seattle to Alaska, and each fall they return from Alaska to Seattle. Southcentral Alaska’s terrain ranges from volcanic landscapes in Katmai National Park, home to an impressive population of brown bears, to the windswept Aleutian Islands that make a 1,000-mile sweep toward Asia. In between lies a massive bay of blue ice, which can be experienced on a Prince William Sound glacier cruise. Flights to Juneau and Anchorage are common, while the smaller ports used by many Southeast Alaska small ship cruises may require a bit more padding on your travel days.

UnCruise Adventures, located in Juneau and Seattle, fields Alaska’s largest small-ship fleet with seven vessels carrying 22 to 86 passengers. As its name suggests, UnCruise focuses on outdoor activities like satisfying hikes and kayaking in hidden coves and secluded bays for a different kind of cruise experience. Some departures are sold as adult-only or family cruises. In Glacier Bay National Park, I remember going ashore through a bow ramp for an impromptu hike led by a park service ranger. Another time, I recall the excitement onboard when we came upon a humpback whale “lobtailing” — slapping its fluke against the surface of the water to create a big splash. I saw bears foraging in the intertidal grasses lining the shore and sea lions basking in the sun on an outcropping of rocks.

Learn about the various options to explore Glacier Bay, Kenai Fjords & Denali in this itinerary round-up. Learn about AdventureSmith Founder and President Todd Smith's slow cruising experience in this detailed review and get inspired to enjoy authentic Alaska aboard historic small ships Catalyst and Westward. The 84-guest Safari Endeavour offers the luxury and amenities of a yacht with the price and efficiency of a small ship. Suites on this ship feature balconies, and activity options include stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. Considerations include private balconies, the onboard programming, the crew-to-guest ratio, the adventure equipment aboard, family-friendly programming and so on.

Your itin­er­ary will depend on the inter­ests of the group, and the expe­ri­enced local crew can ful­fill those interests. Small ship cruises are more expensive than big-ship cruises, but in return, you get a more personal level of service, and the chance to travel with a typically curious, adventurous group of travelers. If you envision sipping Champagne as you watch a glacier thunderously calve into the sea, consider booking an all-inclusive luxury cruise on a Seabourn ship. The line always stations one or two Quantum-class ships in Alaska for the season. Adults can linger in the glass-walled Solarium, relaxing in the indoor pools and whirlpools, while their kids zoom around the SeaPlex in bumper cars. Edwina Lonsdale is Managing Director and together with husband Matthew, owner of Mundy Cruising.

All you need to know before you take an Alaska UnCruise. Read this review to hear from an expert’s eye what sets this operator's cruises apart from others in Alaska. A replica turn-of-the-century coastal steamer, the 86-guest Wilderness Legacy features a dance floor, full bar and old-world charm, with modern adventure gear including kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.