Sunday, March 31, 2024

16 Cruises in Alaska

alaska cruise small ships

We offer an unmatched selection aboard more than 25 small Alaska expedition ships. Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey. Some of the countries visited on this itinerary may require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against certain diseases in order to enter the country. 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.

Peru and the Galapagos Islands

And so QuirkyCruise.com was born, an excellent research tool for planning your own unforgettable small ship trip. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Maple Leaf Adventures offers a trio of small ships. The 138-foot Cascadia is a 24-passenger catamaran with 12 cabins, all with private facilities. The Swell is an 88-foot converted tugboat with room for 12 in six cabins, all with private heads.

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Our favourite 'small' ships in Alaska range from Ponant's sleek Sister Ships to the spacious indulgence of Regent's Seven Seas Explorer, carrying 746 lucky guests. Whichever youchoose, it's still a far cry from those giant vessels you may haveseen plying the waters off Alaska, with passenger capacities higherthan the number of residents in some of their ports of call. The largest small ship is the American Cruise Lines' American Spirit.

Small Ship Adventure Cruises

Hmm, not enough words for her mastery in the kitchen. The Captain and Crew of the Discovery made us feel special during the entire voyage. Their knowledge of the region, the hidden coves, the history, and the culture, all made for a magical experience. I can truly say that this trip exceeded my already high expectations. My two sons and my father-in-law also joined and they were equally impressed.

A windbreaker, preferably waterproof, is ideal for time spent on the sun deck whale watching or sailing along magnificent glaciers and fjords. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars as well for up-close viewing of wildlife. Tracy Arm - Prepare for breathtaking scenery as you cruise Tracy Arm. Located 45 miles south of Juneau, Tracy Arm is a narrow fjord extending over 30 miles long. Learn about the rich history of the area, visit Glacier Bay, the world’s largest biosphere to see whales, seals, eagles and bears and visit local tribes of the Inside Passage.

Glaciers

alaska cruise small ships

The cabins are certainly small, but cosy, and I found a childish delight in waking each morning in a bunk with a porthole view onto a scene of exceptional and ever changing beauty as we cruised Prince William Sound. If you’re interested in an immersive experience with knowledgeable guides in an intimate setting I don’t believe you can do better than a trip with Discovery Voyages. M/V Discovery was designed specifically to travel Alaskan waters. Alongside a steel hull, she was engineered to create a smooth ride, and a draft allowing access over shoals that larger vessels cannot cross.

Alaskan Explorer Cruise

Edwina Lonsdale is Managing Director and together with husband Matthew, owner of Mundy Cruising. Most recently she's cruised on Windstar and has also sailed with Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, SeaDream, Ponant, AmaWaterways and Aqua Expeditions. When she’s not travelling she loves reading, food and wine. Your captain may follow a pod of whales, pull up so close to a glacier you could touch it, drift next to a waterfall or even anchor off a remote cove close enough for you to take the gangway ashore. There are no "early" and "late" seating and set dinner arrangements and tables like you have on the big ships.

The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler - The Points Guy

The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler.

Posted: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The bulk of small ship Alaska cruises fall within this range, so if you will have the most choices if you have right around a week’s time, with some flexibility reaching into a second week. About 50% of our set itineraries fall at the sweet spot of 8 days, which allows for 6 full days of sailing and exploring. 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.

For even more detail on the best time to visit Alaska for your Alaska adventure cruise, view our month by month guide. Thus, the best type of Alaska cruise review is a personal referral. Ask your booking agent to put you in touch with a past client that has traveled on a comparable trip. Reputable Alaska small ship cruise agencies will gladly refer their past clients; you can read some of our traveler testimonials below and on each trip and ship page. If your dream itinerary includes Seattle, this definitely makes how to choose an Alaska cruise easier as there are fewer overall options.

alaska cruise small ships

Bethany, Chris the bartender, Phil, Sarah and Paul took good care of us especially. Tucker who drove our skiff boat, the captain and the first mate were very informative as well. The crew was amazing, and the food was a very nice surprise (very accommodating, plentiful and tasted great). I wanted to hike as much as I could, and this ship seemed to meet that.

Newly-relaunched Crystal Cruises will return to Alaska withCrystal Serenity in July and August 2024. A small ship vacation always takes you into the most remote Alaskan locations. It's impossible for the big ships to get you this close. Alaska is also home to the brown bear, the largest carnivorous land mammal in the world, as well as the blue whale, the world’s largest mammal. If you are planning to venture into Canada for excursions, perhaps when you are in Skagway, you will need your passport, otherwise you will not require a passport for itineraries that stay within the US.

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. The next year, I boarded my first small-ship cruise with the venerable but long departed small-ship operator Cruise West. Plan ahead - Most spaces on Alaska cruises sell out 6-9 months in advance, so to avoid disappointment, book early so you can guarantee your space. Mid-April to the beginning of May and the end of August to mid-September offer the most affordable time to go to Alaska, where you can save $400+ compared to traveling in June or July. The best time to cruise Alaska is between April and September, with the high season in June and July, mainly because of the warmer weather and longer days. The beginning of April and end of September are typically the low season but offer the best time to see the Northern Lights because of the shorter days.

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