If you want to explore the Alaskan coastline away from the crowds of larger ships, small-ship cruises offer you a way to do that. Voyages on small-ships are able to dock in more bays and cities than large- or even mid-size ships. This allows you a chance to see more of Alaska than you otherwise would. Small-ship tours typically have fewer than 100 passengers so you are not over whelmed by the amount of people on board. Smaller ship trips are generally focused more on outdoor experiences than shopping, but tickets are usually more expensive than for a larger liner. Here are five intimate Alaskan cruises for you to look into if you want to travel to Alaska in a truly breathtaking way.
- 13-Day Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Inside Passage Voyage
This offering hugs the lovely Alaskan coastline and is run by the Alaskan Dream Tours company. The ship, named the Admiralty Dream, has only 27 staterooms and can hold about 58 passengers. Points of interest include Sitka, the Icy Straits, Glacier Bay National Park, Skagway, Haines, Juneau, Orca Point Lodge, Tracy Arm Fjord, Windham Bay, Kake, Petersburg, Wrangell, Thorne Bay, Kasaan, and Misty Fords. The excursions offered include walking tours, kayaking, skiff tours, and a folk dance show.
- Discoverers Glacier Country
The company Un-Cruise Adventures offers this 7-night packages from August to September. Its three ship offerings are the Safari Endeavour, which has room for 84 guests; the Safari Explorer, which can fit 36 passengers; and the Safari Quest, which has room for only 22 passengers. Points of interest include Glacier Bay National Park, Chichagof Island, Baranof Island, Frederick Sound, Stephen’s Passage, Endicott Arm, and Fords Terror. Passengers can go kayaking, paddle boarding, and hiking.
- The Boat Company’s Alaskan Cruise
The Boat Company is a non-profit educational organization that offers tours in their two ships, the 20-passenger Liseron and the 24-passenger Mist Cove. From May to September, they offer journeys between Sitka and Juneau. The ships have fishing equipment, and they are small enough that the cooks will prepare your catches for you. They also offer whale-watching and glacier viewing.
- Wilderness Cruise
Fantasy Cruises has one ship called the Island Spirit, which holds 32 passengers and can turn off the engines at night and run on battery power. This is a 9-day tour that starts in Juneau and loops back. It visits Dawes Glacier, Kake, Chatham Strait, and Tenakee Springs. Passengers can watch bears salmon fishing and a native dance.
- Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness
Lindblad, the company that runs all of National Geographic’s cruises, has 8-day options from Juneau to Sitka in a 62-passenger ship each year from May to August. The ship visits Tracy Arm Fjord, the Inian Islands, and other places. It offers hikes, expedition landing craft, kayaks, live undersea video feed, and five naturalists to guide passengers on expeditions.
