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The waters before you enter the Inside Passage can be calm, rough or anything in between, depending on when you go. Generally, these one-way sailings travel from Seward or Whittier (the cruise ports closest to Anchorage) to Vancouver (or vice versa). Most itineraries are seven nights, but you'll find a handful that are longer. Glacial ice carved this passageway long ago, and today, cruise ships and fishing vessels thread their way through the islets and channels to see some of the most spectacular natural sights in the world. Nearly every major cruise line has a presence in Alaska from May through mid-September, with some offering sailings as early as April or as late as October. Cold temperatures, icy waters and a long snowy season are not conducive to early spring and late fall cruises.
Small Ship Cruises Alaska FAQs
Read some history like Muir's Travels in Alaska, history of decimation of tribes by European exposure and books on Northwest art. We would recommend AdventureSmith to friends and family without hesitation. Divers, Jim and Lynn, added a whole different dimension to our experience. Local guides were essential to understanding Haida and Kwakwaka wakaw cultures. AdventureSmith helped us know what to expect and what we needed (and didn't need) to bring. Great trip and overall experience, I would recommend AdventureSmith to anyone looking for a vacation.
Alaska Small Ship Cruises To Consider — Alaska Expert M.T. Schwartzman Shares Details
Can't say I enjoyed any of it the least, but if I had to choose, there were two days where we really only had one off the boat activity. More full day excursions should be offered when the boat is anchored in the same place all day. 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.
Day Glacier Bay, Fjords & Canadian Inside Passage
Also, by nature, small ship cruises are less crowded than big boats, providing a more relaxing and rejuvenating cruise environment. Itineraries range between 7, 10 and 11 days, with the opportunity to explore extensively,whilst a choice of at least eight dining venues on board guaranteea great experience. For an intimate but stylish Silversea Alaska trip you can't go far wrong with Silver Muse, with 596 guests, or the new 728-guest Silver Nova, accommodated in suites with butler service. Withmagical scenery and adventurous experiences ashore, and superbcomforts and service on board, you have an appealingcombination. Another great advantage of the ship is the choice of destination ports.
The ship cruises Endicott Arm for scenic views of Dawes Glacier and typically visits three Alaska ports and Victoria. The first two weeks of June in Southeast Alaska—the region that nearly all expedition cruises focus on, also known as the Inside Passage—typically offer drier days and better wildlife spotting on the beaches at low tide. This is also a prime time to spot transient orcas, migrating humpback whales, and hauled-out harbor seals. Winds coming off the snow-covered mountain peaks make the air crisp, and the forests showcase an abundance of colorful and diverse wildflowers.
Best Luxury Alaska Cruise: Cunard, Queen Elizabeth
Maple Leaf also offers eight-night Inside Passage voyages between Petersburg and Sitka, and between Petersburg and Prince Rupert. Lindblad pioneered the expedition cruise several decades ago and has partnered with National Geographic since 2004,. It remains a leader in the field and is a great option for small ship Alaska cruises that put landscapes and wildlife front and center. There aren’t just one or two naturalists onboard Lindblad cruises, but four or five. Plus, many of the line's itineraries feature a team of professional photographers onboard to help you snap the best possible shots.
The 8 Best Alaska Cruises For Every Travel Style 2024 - Forbes
The 8 Best Alaska Cruises For Every Travel Style 2024.
Posted: Tue, 08 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Here’s a Run-down of 7 Lines Offering Alaska Small Ship Cruises
Our experts have sailed extensively along the entire coastline and share these tips so you can find the best small Alaska cruise. What are the different seasons for small ship Alaska cruises and Alaska whale watching? What was it like to take a small Alaska cruise during the pandemic? There’s a big difference between last-minute Alaska cruises and our curated choices of the best small ship Alaska cruise itineraries. According to T+L A-List travel advisor Ashton Palmer, the Alaska cruise season is short (typically from May to September) and availability is limited, which is why travelers should plan their sailings six to eight months ahead of time.
Many small ship cruises to Alaska include food, lodging, and on-shore excursions in the booking cost. Other amenities such as WiFi, spa, and onboard entertainment may be included or may be purchased at an additional cost. Big boats tend to stick to large, popular ports and are extremely rigid in their itinerary. Small ship cruises in Alaska, on the other hand, are able to adjust schedules for unexpected sightseeing opportunities. Even better, while large boats are forced to sail far out from land in the deep ocean, small cruise boats can hug the shore during their trip. On these cruises you will meet wildlife on deserted beaches,watch glaciers calve in a timeless and ancient landscape, and hikethrough untouched rainforest in the footsteps of the Tlingitpeople.
Viking Ocean Cruises recently nabbed a 2023 World’s Best Award in the midsize-ship ocean cruise lines category, coming in at first place for the second year in a row. The line’s identical ocean ships offer a sleek Scandinavian design, which only enhances the tranquil atmosphere on board. The luxury adults-only line is also all-inclusive, covering meals, activities, most beverages, Wi-Fi, port taxes and fees, spa access, and one complimentary excursion in every port of call. Cruisers can bask in the mountain and glacier views from the comfort of their private balcony — and, if they’re lucky, they may even spot a whale or two.
Viking is fantastic for planning unique tours and bringing experts onto the ships to bring each destination to life, which for Alaska is perfect. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. For guests who travel with children, our Alaska Explorer Youth Program offers the opportunity for everyone to experience the excitement of exploring the Northwest Coast and Alaska in a meaningful, enriching way. Designed for age groups between 5 and 13, the program is supervised by experienced and enthusiastic youth counselors and include games, activities and Alaska-inspired special events. Perhaps no land captures the adventurous frontier spirit better then Alaska.
Plus view a complete list of all 2024 & 2025 small Alaska cruises. What are the benefits of cruising expedition style through Alaska? Travel through Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska aboard the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer. Compare and contrast the various Lindblad Alaska cruises and ships from an expert who's been aboard. Learn what stands out about Lindblad's Alaska programming, guides and crew. Purpose built to cruise coastal waters, shallow coves and fast-moving channels, the 100-guest National Geographic Quest is a luxurious and state-of-the-art expedition vessel designed for supreme comfort and enhanced wildlife viewing.
Smaller motor yachts carry 8 to 22 guests and range from rustic floating B&Bs to luxurious yachts. Paying attention to the varied amenities, cabin sizes and other features that are important to you is key in choosing among the many small cruise ships to Alaska. Southeast Alaska is by far the most popular cruise destination in Alaska. It’s the closest region for North American travelers to access since it’s located on the arm of land that hugs the shoreline of northern British Columbia.
We greatly appreciated being able to rent the slogging boots on the boat. Another consideration some travelers ask us about is seasickness. Seasickness is typically not an issue on most Alaska small ship cruises. Most cruises travel in protected waters, rarely traveling more than a few miles away from shore. Positioning cruises and small ship Alaska cruises that venture close to the open water of the Gulf of Alaska are more prone to exposure to ocean swells for brief periods of their itinerary.
Travelers east of the Rockies will certainly require one in order to safely embark their Alaska small ship cruise on time. 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. Interested in the most active Alaska adventure cruise with kayaking and hiking?
