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Once on board, I waited in another nightmare queue for dinner, as most passengers had not yet figured out the reservation system for dining venues. The intimacy and slow pulse of Pacific Catalyst II cruises makes this small ship Alaska cruise line ideal for travelers seeking authenticity and connection. The boats are quiet when underway inviting guests to slow down and experience the beauty, wildlife, and solitude that surround them. Say hello to our little friend, the 186-passenger Ocean Victory, from American Queen Voyages. And speaking of unlimited food, you’ll be treated to five-course dinners along with 180-degree panoramic views.
Best Itinerary
Like the Southeast, Southcentral Alaska offers remote wilderness, but it is linked via roads and numerous communities that can serve as base camps for land adventures. In fact, this region is home to over half of Alaska’s population, so small Alaska cruises here embark from unique road-accessed port towns like Whittier and Homer, with the city of Anchorage being the hub for your travel. Numerous options to explore beyond your cruise on an Alaska land tour include world-class fishing on the Kenai Peninsula or further exploration inland to Denali National Park. On average, about 45 guests is what you’ll find with our curated Alaska small ship cruise vessels. There are many reasons to choose an Alaska small ship vs big ship, but at the top is that small ships to Alaska focus on immersive, off-ship activities in wilderness areas. In Alaska, large cruise ships are synonymous with cruising, but they really just cruise (fast) past it all.
Day Alaska Inside Passage & Glacier Bay
And that’s precisely why so many people who visit Alaska do so via a cruise. Plus, it’s the best way to experience the iconic Inside Passage, the most popular route for cruise ships departing from Seattle and Vancouver from May through September. The key to planning the perfect adventure is finding the right cruise for your personality, budget, and preferences.
Travel Interests
It meansdifferent things to different people, but for us, small comes downto an attitude, a state of mind, and a way of behaving. Bar Harbor To Limit Cruise Visitors By Anne Kalosh For many years Bar Harbor, with a year-round population of just 5,500, was Maine's busiest cruise port, handling hundreds of thousands of passengers a season. Sponsored Packing Tips For Alaska Cruising With Uncruise Adventures By Heidi Sarna No one does small-ship cruising better than UnCruise Adventures. The leader in small-scale Alaska cruises, the Uncruise fleet carries from 22 to 86 passengers on wide-ranging...
A Note about Your Travel Days
The line’s eclectic 22- to 86-passenger ships explore the nooks and crannies of southeast Alaska’s inlets, bays, and coves. There are countless straits, canals, narrows, fjords, and sounds in the maze-like Inside Passage that only small ships can fit through. And while big ships spend no more than half a day in Glacier Bay National Park, the smallest ships can linger a full day and sometimes more. Small-ship cruises in Alaska offer you the luxury of access and serenity. When the captain cuts the engines near a shushing waterfall or a surfacing whale exhaling gusts of air through its blowhole, you not only see nature but hear it, too. The small, agile ships themselves get you closer, and so do excursions via even smaller Zodiac boats and kayaks.
Some are more educational, with staffing focused on the top experts in their fields. And others take advantage of their Native roots and access to explore Alaskan history and indigenous culture via rarely visited small port towns. The pair of historic wooden ships operated by Pacific Catalyst have varnished wood paneling, mahogany furniture, and great backstories. Need help narrowing down all the Alaska adventure cruise options? Consider your special interests to further hone in on your many choices. Our experts are just a phone call or email away to assist you find everything from the top Alaska cruises for couples or single travelers to the best small ship Alaska cruises for families.
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April and May also offer stunning scenery as the mountain peaks are still covered in snow. The extent of evening entertainment on my sailing was a few nighttime stories from expedition team naturalists over after-dinner cocktails and late-night tunes from the onboard pianist. For travelers comfortable going even smaller, UnCruise has ships carrying between 22 and 86 passengers. Alaskan Dream's fleet carries from 10 to 76 passengers, while Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Alaska cruises carry up to 100 people. Now that you know more about the best small Alaskan cruise lines, it’s time to find your dream cruise! Start by browsing our top Alaska cruises or follow the link to view them all and filter your results.
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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. As with many small cruise ships in Alaska, Ocean Victory's onboard experience was relaxed and casual. As one travel advisor noted, it was "not for people who want to get dressed up and bring out the jewels." Bring your spirit of adventure, because this operator is focused on off-boat adventures—rain or shine. The boats are designed for action, like their EZ Dock launch platforms that make getting in and out of the water EZ’er than ever.
This vibrant corner of the USA is packed with vast frontiers, rivers and natural harbors all ripe for exploration. Look to shoulder season sailingsNot only will you often receive a significant discount, you’ll also be able to witness Alaska’s seasonal transitions and fewer crowds at ports of call. If spotting wildlife is a priority, consider cruising during the salmon runs, when bears are most active and can be spotted from the decks of the ship. Humpback whales often follow schools of herring and other small fish during the summer and can be seen anytime between May and September before they migrate to Hawaii or Mexico. 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.
Look for shorter cruise packages from Anchorage that are perfect to combine with a trip extension to Denali. And there are an increasing amount of 5- and 6-day options to choose from in Southeast Alaska. Look to the spring for statistically drier albeit colder weather, more solitude and the best prices of the year on Alaska small ship cruises. Darker skies in the early spring and late fall can be a chance to spot the northern lights, or aurora borealis. For even more detail on each month, view our best time to visit Alaska guide.
Travel through Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska aboard the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer. 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. We’ve put together this list of considerations to guide you in finding the best small ship Alaska cruises for your needs. Heidi & Ted and their team of curious travel writers explore the far corners of the world to share their experiences & insights about small-ship cruising.
By Heidi Sarna I had a chat with travel advisor Kevin Flink about travel insurance. I met Kevin on a recent UnCruise in Alaska, where we had the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of travel insurance. M.T. Schwartzman has been covering Alaska cruising and tourism since 1988. His articles have appeared in a wide range of consumer magazines, websites and travel industry publications.
Head to our curated Alaska yacht charters if you’re seeking the ultimate customization and savings on per-cabin costs on small ship Alaska cruises. Or perhaps you’re seeking larger cabins with upscale amenities like balconies and gourmet cuisine? You don’t have to trade luxury for adventure on a small ship Alaskan cruise. With our curated selection of Alaska luxury cruises you can have it all. For a more epic route, consider an Alaska to Japan cruise, an Aleutian Island cruise or a voyage from Alaska to Russia. These small ship expeditions in the Bering Sea are longer and provide rich culture, unique and abundant wildlife, and dramatic coastline.
