Best Time To Cruise Alaska
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. April and May also offer stunning scenery as the mountain peaks are still covered in snow.
Mid-April until the end of August offers the best time to see whales, particularly Orca and Humpback whales. However, it doesnt really matter which time of year you choose between April and September, as amazing wildlife sightings are a given, whether its mountain goats, black bears, harbor seals, sea otters or bald eagles, couple that with the stunning Alaska landscape and youre sure to have an adventure cruise to remember.
Spend Less Time In Line
Waiting in line is undoubtedly one of the most tedious aspects of going on a cruise.
Embarkation, debarkation, tendering , and waiting for your turn at the buffet all require standing in line sometimes for extended periods.
Small cruises mean that far less time is wasted in line, giving passengers more time to mingle with others and enjoy land-based excursions.
Read Also: Royal Caribbean Cruise 2022 From Florida
Adventure Cruises In Inside Passage
An Inside Passage Cruise carries passengers along various stretches of the long coastal route. Reaching beyond the USAs state of Alaska along the coast of Canadas British Colombia, Alaskas section of the Inside Passage runs for around 800 kilometres north to south and can span 160 kilometres across. Awash with spectacular scenery that encompasses towering mountains, gleaming glaciers, deep fjords, remote islands, lush forests, and tranquil beaches, theres never a dull moment when you cruise the Inside Passage. A haven for wildlife fans, adventure junkies, and people who love to learn more about different cultures, Inside Passage cruises really are amongst the top adventure cruises in Alaska.
You May Like: What Cruise Lines Depart From Norfolk Va
New Small Ship Alaska Cruises 2023 & 2024
With increased demand for small ship Alaska cruises in 2023 comes more departures and more itineraries to choose from. The new options feature Prince William Sound, Alaskas outdoor-activity mecca of Haines, and wintertime departures. Heres our round-up of whats new to consider for small Alaska cruises in 2023. Watch this space or sign up to receive updates as more new itineraries are released.
Adventure Cruises In Alaska
Vast, untouched wilderness awaits. Alaska hosts magnificent wildlife encounters and spectacular glaciers.
From ice-filled fjords to stunning rainforests, southeast Alaska is an adventurer’s dream. Known as one of the most beautiful cruise areas in the world, exploring the panhandle of Alaska by small ship will deliver a holiday of a lifetime. Exploring Alaska by adventure cruise ship means you can get up close and personal with the wonders of this region.
Learn about the rich history of the area, visit Glacier Bay, the worlds largest biosphere to see whales, seals, eagles and bears and visit local tribes of the Inside Passage. The action and adventure of Alaska is never-ending, and the memories will also last a lifetime. There are many different Alaska cruise itineraries on offer, each one equally amazing.
Most Alaskan cruises will explore the panhandle or southeast tip of Alaska. Below are a few of the key highlight areas on an Alaskan small ship cruise.
Sailing the Inside Passage – shaped by huge glaciers millions of years ago, the Inside Passage stretches from Puget Sound, Washington, through British Columbia and into the Gulf of Alaska. The Inside Passage delivers stunning scenery which is ever changing. Home to whales, bald eagles, sea lions and porpoises, the Alaskan Inside passage covers more than 500 miles and encompasses over 1000 islands.
Also Check: Holland America Cruises In Europe
Small Ship Cruises Are Not For Everyone
Small ship cruises are for travelers who understand the difference between Mass Market and Expedition-Style cruising. On a small ship cruise, Alaska is the focal point, not the ship. These ships are small, intimate and able to take guests up close to find Alaska’s hidden treasures, where the big ships don’t – and can’t – reach.
More Flexible Itineraries And Close
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 are able to hug the shore during their trip.
Also Check: Can You Cruise To Hawaii From California
Mixed: Limited Shopping Options In Small Towns
The flip side of getting off the beaten path is you wont find the same shopping options in small ports that you would in the major cruise ports of Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. This could be a plus or minus depending on your point of view.
Most cities on major cruise line routes are known for their endless rows of jewelry, souvenir and specialty shops many of which are not locally owned. If you love to spend hours looking for deals and gifts to bring home, youll find the most variety in the big-ship ports.
Related: Best Alaska cruise tips to help you make the most of your time aboard and ashore
The smaller ports take a different approach to souvenirs. In Wrangell, there were only about a half dozen stores, including a grocery store, drug store and a few stores that offered essentials, like swimsuits, flip-flops, T-shirts and sweatshirts. One was more of a traditional store than souvenir shop, and the other, the Compass Line Gift Shop, offered high-quality T-shirts, hats hand-designed by the owner, candles and handmade soaps.
We purposely dont carry items that other shops may carry on the island, the shops website says. We like our neighbor shops, so why compete with them.
In Kake, population 500, I didnt come across any souvenir stores at all. Instead, a few locals sold handmade jewelry, postcards and other odds and ends in the community center before the towns children performed local dances for the cruise passengers.
Con: Fewer Dining Options
If your idea of vacation is to sample as many restaurants as possible, small cruise ships arent for you.
Ocean Victory, for example, has only two dining venues the main dining room and a more casual bistro-style area with indoor and outdoor seating on the top deck. The menus vary daily, serving a wide range of options at every meal, and I certainly never lacked for food I enjoyed.
However, if you prefer variety, the ship has no room for specialty venues or bonus shops like ice cream or hamburger stands. On the flip side, you avoid the up-charges and scrambles to secure reservations that go along with additional onboard restaurant options.
Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining
Read Also: What Is The Best Mediterranean Cruise
Helpful Tips Before Booking An Alaskan Cruise
Taking a beautiful Alaskan cruise is something that many people dream of doing at least once in their lifetime. Many terrific cruise lines travel t
Helpful Tips Before Booking an Alaskan Cruise
Taking a beautiful Alaskan cruise is something that many people dream of doing at least once in their lifetime. Many terrific cruise lines travel to this spectacular geographical region where you can still see amazing and unspoiled nature scenes and wildlife up-close and personal in their natural habitat. Some aspects of the cruise need considering before booking your cruise date, including cruise line perks, must-do activities, and when to go.
Every cruise line will have different perks and benefits. Some are family-oriented and have many special programs and activities for children and teens. Other cruise ships cater to older travelers without kids in tow, and some cruise ships are known more for their luxury status and added amenities onboard. That said, most cruises that go to this natural scenic state do not have all the entertainment and extra onboard activities like the cruises that travel to warmer ports.
Travers on an Alaskan cruise should pack breathable clothing that you can layer as the temperature and other weather conditions change rapidly in this region. Bring along your medications, toiletries, a good pair of hiking boots, a pair of comfortable sneakers, a hat to block sun and wind, sunscreen and a light-colored raincoat with a warmer coat too in cooler months.
Frequently Asked Questions About A Small Ship Alaska Cruise:
How many people will be onboard?
Small ships carry less than 100 guests. The average Princess cruise ship carries over 2,400 guests in Alaska.
What is the dress code?
The atmosphere on a small ship is casual for all meals. Other cruise lines have two formal nights, two coat and tie nights, and three casual dress nights. Small ship cruises are casual every night.
Are there open meal seatings? Can I choose my dining companions?
All meals on small ships are open dining. You can eat when you want and with whom you want. There are no “early” and “late” seating and set dinner arrangements and tables like you have on the big ships.
Are there casinos and shows onboard?
A small ship cruise emphasizes Alaska, not the onboard amenities. It’s nothing fancy. Just an up close and personal vacation where Alaska and it’s natural treasures provide the entertainment.
How close will the ship get to glaciers, whales and shoreline?
Very, very close. 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.
Will the ship vary its schedule to maximize whale watching or wildlife sightings?
Absolutely. Unlike the massive 100,000 ton cruise ships, a small ship can follow its own schedule to maximize wildlife sightings.
Will I experience narrow waterways such as Wrangell Narrows and Peril Straight?
How big are the “Small Ships” compared to the Big Ships?
Don’t Miss: Which Cruise Line Is Best For Adults
Top Things To Do & See On An Inside Passage Cruise
From observing plentiful wildlife, bird watching, and trying an array of active activities and outdoor pursuits, to honing your photography skills, sightseeing, admiring the dramatic landscapes, and meeting members of local communities, there is so much to experience on an Inside Passage cruise. Some tops things to do when cruising Alaskas and Canadas Inside Passages include:
Glacier Bay National Park – A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Glacier Bay National Park is one of Alaskas real gems. Stretching for 105 kilometres , the many beautiful glaciers are a wondrous sight. The John Hopkins, Marjerie, and McBridge Glaciers are especially popular. Small ship cruises of the Inside Passage let you observe a range of wildlife from close quarters, including whales, seals, sea lions, otters, moose, bears, wolves, deer, and a host of smaller land-living creatures and birds. Kayaking and hiking are amongst the activities you can enjoy.
Frederick Sound – The scenic Frederick Surround separates Admiralty Island and Kupreanof Island. A great place for summer whale watching, the Five Fingers Island Light can present an attractive sight in front of the icy landscapes behind it.
Top Tips for visiting Inside Passage
Wonderful Small Ship Cruise
Inside Passage767772885The best way to see Southeast AlaskaAbsolutely Indescribable!
My wife and I had a 1 week cruise through the inside passage with Un-Cruise and the whole experience could not be more amazing or delightful. The Uncruise Wilderness Explorer was a wonderful experience. Inside of cruising through the breathtaking scenery the Un-Cruise boats have you hiking, boating, and kayaking through this incredible wilderness area. The entire crew and staff of the ship were as friendly and accommodating as one could imagine. The small boat truly felt like home.The guides who took us hiking and kayaking were enthusiastic, caring, and knowledgeable.The whole experience was wonderful, and I could not recommend a better place, or a better cruise line.One more note on the small cruise boat versus large cruise boat. We had someone on our cruise who has recently done almost the same trip on a large boat and said there was no comparison. If you want gambling, pools, tennis courts, and big fancy meals, take a large cruise. If you actually want to be in the landscape and learn about the area, have wonderful meals from local ingredients, work with exceptional guides, and fill your days with kayaking, snorkling, viewing, and stopping to see wildlife, take a small boat cruise.
Also Check: What Cruise Lines Sail To Bermuda
Us / Panama City / Coln / Embark
Upon arrival in Panama City this afternoon, transfer by land to Colón and embark the National Geographic Quest in the evening. Later, as the tropical night falls, our ship enters the Panama Canal at Gatun Locks. Our crossing to the Pacific through this colossal engineering feat, a tribute to sheer human determination, has begun and we make our way towards vast Gatun Lake.
Day 2
Where Do Inside Passage Cruises Depart From
Alaska adventure cruises of the Inside Passages typically depart from Alaskas Sitka, , or Ketchikan. Each is served by an international airport, with direct flights available to and from a range of Alaskan airports. Several direct flights connect Alaska with the mainland US, but, if you add a connection, it is incredibly easy to reach the cruise departure points from almost anywhere in the USA. Alternatively, you can take an Alaska cruise from Seattle too, removing the need of getting to Alaska before your cruise adventure begins.
The closest international airports for an Inside Passage cruise are Sitka Rocky Gutirrez Airport , Juneau International Airport , and Ketchikan International Airport . The most flights to Alaska from the US mainland arrive in Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks connecting flights are readily available from both Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Book your next Alaska adventure cruise to the Inside Passage today. Contact our reservations team.
Don’t Miss: New York Statue Of Liberty Cruise
What Are American Queen Voyages S Most Popular Activities
Seeing the ports along the rivers is central to the American Queen Voyages experience. The line offers a small selection of structured excursions but also encourages individual exploration with dedicated hop-on hop-off buses that provide narrated tours through the towns the ship is docked in. Passengers can also check out bikes to pedal around the destinations.
Life onboard centers around the lounges, which, with their antiques and period touches, are homey and well-used. Passengers take up residence and browse the library, play cards or just hang out and read. Another popular activity onboard is listening to the resident riverlorian, affable experts in the history and lore of the region and steamboating who spin yarns and answer questions along the way in organized lectures and individually.
Most of the passengers attend the evening shows provided by onboard entertainers and guest performers, as well. American Queen Voyages has astonishingly good entertainment in beautiful spaces .
American Cruise Lines Alaska
American Cruise Lines small ship sailings in Alaska include itineraries through the Inside Passage and Southeast Alaska. The line has traditionally drawn an older crowd more interested in ports than adventure, and its Alaska sailings are heavy on narrated boat, coach and walking tours.
Related:Alaska on a Budget
American Constellation, built in 2017, carries 175 passengers and most of its staterooms have private balconies. Rooms range from 226 to 450 square feet — they’re billed as being among the largest in Alaska. There’s elevator service to all decks, which is a great feature for those with mobility issues.
Round trip sailings out of Juneau, or between Juneau and Seattle, generally include stops in Glacier Bay, Icy Strait Point, Petersburg, Sitka and Tracy Arm.
You May Like: Don Juan Ii Dinner Cruise Paris
Is Everything Free On American Queen Voyages Cruises
Nearly everything. Cruise fares include a pre-cruise night at a hotel, transfer to the ship, dining , soft drinks, coffees and bottled water and complimentary wines and beers at dinner. On American Duchess, an unlimited beverage package is also included, and gratuities are prepaid for passengers.
At least one shore excursion in each port is usually free, as are the hop-on hop-off coaches and the bicycles. Wi-Fi is complimentary, but for most of the fleet, you will pay extra for gratuities and for drinks apart from those served at dinner.
How To Pick The Best Alaska Cruises
My journey to Alaska began in Vancouver British Columbia, where we boarded Holland America for a cruise through the inside passage. When choosing a cruise for your next trip, here are some things to consider. What is the budget? Where do you want to go? What kind of experience would be best? Do you have any favorite destinations? Or ports of call that should be included in your itinerary? And excursions on land, in addition to tours onboard, do they look interesting? Make sure theyre offered by the cruise line .
Alaskan sailing trips can vary greatly depending upon which route or region you choose. For example, a luxury yacht might give passengers access to more intimate views but wont often allow them onto land. . In contrast, smaller vessels may provide an even closer view of glaciers than their bigger counterparts but may have fewer onboard amenities like hot tubs.
Many cruise lines offer a wide range of itineraries in Alaska, so its important to do your homework before making any decisions. The most popular routes are from Vancouver up to Skagway and then back down again , with occasional sailings around the state. Though shorter versions are available, but these typically last seven nights.
Also Check: What Is The Top Rated Cruise Line
Don’t Miss: Cruises That Leave From Nyc
Expedition Cruise Experiences On Ocean Victory
Ocean Victory is an expedition ship, which means it’s designed around getting guests close to nature and wildlife. For many passengers, this cruise will be an experience that challenges and surprises at every turn.
The ship is designed for expedition cruising, with the highest ice-class rating — something you won’t need to worry about in Alaska but is handy when the ship sails in Antarctica, when it’s chartered to Albatros Expeditions. The ship has a marina, which includes a floating platform used for loading kayaks or the popular polar plunge. It also has a mudroom filled with small lockers, assigned to each cabin. Guests can store their outdoor gear — raincoats, waterproof pants, personal flotation devices and boots — in these lockers and gear up in the mudroom rather than their own cabins.
With more than a dozen Zodiacs onboard, passengers can count on plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, and many of the ship’s port visits are done so via these rigid inflatable boats Ocean Victory anchors out at sea, and guests load into Zodiacs to get ashore. The expedition crew assures that it can safely get anyone in and out of Zodiacs, and we saw this in action on our sailing, as several passengers with injuries or chronic joint problems were able to get into and out of the boats.