The 8 Best Alaska Cruises For Every Travel Style 2024

Table Of Content

• of the best small ship cruises to Alaska
• Southcentral Alaska – Prince William Sound & Katmai
• A Note about Your Travel Days
• Sailing Lake Clark

Since our Alaska cruise specialists pair travelers with the best small boat Alaska cruise experience for their needs, it’s usually a match made in heaven. Read some of our expert and traveler-written reviews about their small yacht Alaska cruise routes. These small ship Alaska cruise reviews are honest reports of what it’s like aboard a small Alaskan cruise.

of the best small ship cruises to Alaska

Big ships can only offer deckside viewing of the marvels of Glacier Bay, but UnCruise Adventures sends its ships to the rarely visited outback. In Fern Harbor, Dundas Bay or No Name Cove, passengers can get up close to the natural wonders with birding expeditions, paddleboarding, beach walks, and more hiking and kayaking. The best Alaska cruises range from off-the-beaten-path voyages on vessels carrying fewer than 100 passengers to weeklong jaunts through the Inside Passage aboard megaships that hold thousands.

Southcentral Alaska – Prince William Sound & Katmai

Interested in planning your next road trip with AAA Washington? Call your travel agent directly or your nearest AAA store to get pro tips, TripTik maps, and more. The amenities that are included with the purchase of your cruise ticket will depend on the specific cruise package that you buy. Visit this page to learn more about this small-ship adventure to Alaska. Click here to learn more about this exciting Alaska small ship cruise.

A Note about Your Travel Days

Experts onboard these sailings include naturalists, biologists and other scientists who are members of the expedition team. They lead the outdoor activities and provide passengers with a deeper insight into Alaska. Once guests finish communing with nature, they can indulge in gourmet cuisine in multiple restaurants, enjoy a complimentary cocktail or relax in an upscale spa. Make the most of your cruise by keeping an eye out for pop-up sales that can save you even more money—you can even use those savings to indulge in a pre- or post-cruise tour. In contrast to chaotic, large group excursions, Alaska cruises on small ships ensure that shore excursions are intimate and memorable.

Royal Caribbean vs Princess to Alaska: which cruise line is better? - Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean vs Princess to Alaska: which cruise line is better?.

Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Cruisers who want daily activities, be it a leisurely shore walk, or a hard charging hike, will enjoy UnCruise because they are adept at offering options for all skill levels and preferences. The smallest Alaskan cruise line on this list, Sea Wolf Adventures operates one historic wooden boat from the town of Gustavus, the gateway community to Glacier Bay National Park. Owner Kimber and her crew are among the most talented naturalists in Alaska and offer active cruising adventures suitable for people of all abilities on her universally accessible ship. You will pay a premium for an intellectual and educational experience alongside seasoned naturalists and intellectual guides who are professionals in their field. The off-vessel explorations are less about the activities and work out and more about the up-close educational experiences using state-of-the-art tools. This “best of” 7-night itinerary is focused on the region’s iconic Inside Passage, which gives passengers an efficient taste of all the area’s most photographed and talked about sights.

In addition to four coastal-type vessels carrying 62 to 100 passengers that cruise the Inside Passage, Lindblad operates expedition ships in the Arctic on Northwest Passage transits that begin or end in Nome. Set sail on a lux­u­ri­ous 70-ft yacht out of Homer for 3+ days of fish­ing, hik­ing, kayak­ing, and wildlife view­ing while indulging in mass amounts of seafood. Your itin­er­ary will depend on the inter­ests of the group, and the expe­ri­enced local crew can ful­fill those interests. A 5 day voy­age fol­lows this stay in the remote fly-or-boat-in fish­ing vil­lage of Cor­do­va. Brown bear view­ing tour, flight­see­ing, float trip down the Cop­per Riv­er, and explo­ration of the largest wet­land along the Pacif­ic Coast of North Amer­i­ca — The Cop­per Riv­er Delta. Bear Paw Char­ters offers pri­vate, all-inclu­sive day trips and longer tours on its lux­u­ry yacht — per­fect for whale watch­ing, bear view­ing, and expe­ri­enc­ing Alaska’s scenic majesty.

Back on board, Gabree recommends The Chef’s Table for a truly memorable meal — and I, too, can attest to this. While on board a Caribbean sailing with the cruise line, I had the chance to indulge in this chef- and sommelier-led multi-course food and wine pairing adventure. Four years later, I still find myself dreaming of the delicious circular-shaped dessert known as “The World” — the perfect combo of peanut butter ganache, chocolate mousse, and salted caramel gelato). For a closer look at Alaska's majestic glaciers, fjords, and wildlife, try these recommended small-ship cruise lines. Exclusive offers valid on new bookings only, subject to availability, and combinable with other select offers.

Uncruise Alaska- Small Ship Alaska Cruise with Kids - Trekaroo Blog

Uncruise Alaska- Small Ship Alaska Cruise with Kids.

Posted: Mon, 06 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Altogether, there are four major small-ship operators plus a few local and regional companies, with ships that carry less than 100 passengers (with the exception of ACL’s American Constellation), and many fewer than 50. The captain of that boat was Dan Blanchard, who is now the owner and CEO of UnCruise Adventures, which today has become the largest operator of small-ship cruises in Alaska. Explore the nat­ur­al won­ders of north­west­ern Prince William Sound Alas­ka in this 3‑day ver­sion of our Clas­sic Dis­cov­ery Voy­age. This is the per­fect cruise for those who don’t have time to do the whole Inside Pas­sage or wish to com­bine their Alas­ka cruise with more shore-based activities. 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.

We advise next considering your special interests and travel needs to find the best small ship Alaska cruises for your group. Use our how to choose your Alaska cruise tips below to make an informed decision when booking your Alaska small ship cruise. Work one-on-one with an Alaska cruise specialist to research, purchase & prepare for your trip. Newly-relaunched Crystal Cruises will return to Alaska withCrystal Serenity in July and August 2024.

We spoke to cruise experts to find the best Alaska itineraries to book this year. Save 5% when you pay in full at the time of booking a select 2025 departure Alaska cruise. Save on small ship cruises now with exclusive cruise savings you won't find anywhere else. 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. We loved the feeling of isolation we got by being a small boat where others couldn't get to.

Take a small ship cruise to immerse yourself in your adventure and maximize your learning. Evening programs include naturalists and speakers who enlighten you about the wildlife, history and culture you’re exploring. During the day, instead of disembarking to, say, go shopping, you may take bikes or kayaks ashore. While the kids enjoy Discovery Princess' spacious children's and teens' clubs, the adults might linger over a craft cocktail or enjoy a massage in the onboard spa. The family can come together for meals in a variety of casual and fine dining restaurants, and enjoy original production shows as the ship sails between ports. The ship offers nine- to 14-night cruise tours that head into the Canadian Yukon, following the route of the Klondike Gold Rush from Alaska to northwestern Canada.

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.

Contact us to receive a personalized-to-you recommendation for your travel style, budget and timing needs. Head to our Alaska Small Ship Cruise Finder to view all available cruises. Offer valid on new bookings only, subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offers except UnCruise’s Loyalty and Referral savings. See all Alaska small ship cruise deals for a comprehensive list of current savings on these and other adventures. For Alaska small ship cruise deals, contact the AdventureSmith experts. With an extensive background in the Alaska region, our talented team can help you find the latest discounts, explain the ins-and-outs of the landscape and help you secure your top choice on small ship cruises to Alaska at the best rate.

It's easy to see why with museums, libraries, restaurants, and amazing wildlife sightings such as mountain goats, black bears, sea otters, humpback whales, orcas, and seals. Most Alaskan cruises will explore the ‘panhandle’ or southeast tip of Alaska. Below are some key highlight areas on an Alaskan small ship cruise.