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Desserts are simply delectable and served after dinner in the salon. In contrast to chaotic, large group excursions, Alaska cruises on small ships ensure that shore excursions are intimate and memorable. With fewer passengers to divide their attention, tour guides are able to devote more effort towards creating a high-quality, more personal experience for guests. Savor the serenity of raw wilderness on an unscripted morning and afternoon of Southeast Alaska discovery. The countless options are dictated by the day’s unique circumstances. Opportunities may include a coastline kayak paddle, up-close whale encounters or a hike through an alluring old-growth forest.
What Kinds of Excursions Do Small Ship Cruises Provide?
Peak cruising season runs from May through September, during which time droves of other tourists will also be congregating at Alaska’s top sights of interest. Even though passengers during this season will have to content themselves with sharing Alaska’s beauty with others, it is the ideal time to catch the best weather for sightseeing and exploration. Fewer passengers also means that shore excursions will be more time-efficient, enabling you to see and do more during each excursion. Alaska cruises have grown significantly in popularity over the last decade. As the largest U.S. state by area at 665,384 square miles, Alaska boasts 6,640 miles of coastline, making it an ideal destination for cruising and land expeditions. This vibrant corner of the USA is packed with vast frontiers, rivers and natural harbors all ripe for exploration.
Inside Passage with Glacier Bay
These small ships and remote lodges let you skip the crowds. Learn about the various options to explore Glacier Bay, Kenai Fjords & Denali in this itinerary round-up. The bed was really comfortable and I loved looking out of the large picture window at night to see the light....LOL and also on occasion when I would wake up early in the morning I would see the night sky and the moon. The shower and toilet combo worked well but was a bit of a tight squeeze but makes sense for this type of transportation. I really liked the nightly sheet left on our bed about the following day's activities.
Popular Inside Passage cruise ships Explore all cruise ships
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. Learn about AdventureSmith Founder and President Todd Smith's slow cruising experience in this detailed review and get inspired to enjoy authentic Alaska aboard historic small ships Catalyst and Westward. Our team is adept at personalizing recommendations for an Alaska Inside Passage cruise to fit your timing, budget, activity level and travel style. All we need are a few details like how many travelers are in your group and some basic interests to get started on a custom travel recommendation. Or if you have time to browse, consider taking an Inside Passage trip we’ve recently experienced and reviewed.
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. Expect historical walking tours and cultural experiences in towns, while hiking and wildlife viewing are on offer in more natural ports. Round-trip Seattle cruises always visit either Victoria, B.C. (home to Butchart Gardens and the storied Fairmont-Empress Hotel) or Vancouver.
When we did, our driver was there on time, and she was efficient, pleasant, and gave us confidence that we would have no problem getting to the airport on time. The only negative was our uncertainty of our arrival in Seattle. We easily could have taken an earlier flight home, but were uncertain of our arrival time, and debarkation in Seattle. Also, we were uncertain of how we could and would get to the airport.
Great Alaskan Road Trip
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]
Small ships in Alaska typically carry fewer than 100 passengers and have a far calmer vibe. You wake up to the sound of birds and days consist of kayaking or hiking, rather than shopping and taking helicopter tours. Evenings are spent reading in your room or listening to a naturalist talk. Compare and contrast the various Lindblad Alaska cruises and ships from an expert who's been aboard.
When you come back from an Alaska cruise, it’s a given that you’ll rave about the landscape, its vast and wild nature, and the wildlife you spotted. But what you might not expect is all the AHA moments and adventures you had, and to form lasting connections with your shipmates and crew on an adventure of a lifetime. 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.
Authentic and personal small expedition adventures through Alaska’s Inside Passage
This approach to small vessel expeditions in Alaska offers travelers a comprehensive look at all the Inside Passage has to offer. Every experience is hand-picked for its value in immersing you in True Alaska. Wildlife abounds in Behm Canal and the surrounding Tongass National Forest. In the water, porpoises, seals and otters go about their business.
Some of the animals that passengers aboard an Alaskan cruise may see include polar bears, whales, walrus, eagles, harbor seals, sea otters, Kodiak brown bears, and puffins. The 9-day Inside Passage Sojourn Alaska small ship cruise combines easy wilderness cruising and glacier viewing with visits to Alaska’s popular ports and authentic Tlingit villages. The 49-guest Baranof Dream has a sleek hull design optimized for supreme comfort in Alaskan waters and features spacious common areas and cabins that are configurable for families.
The Tongass National Forest spans 17 million acres, 500 miles from north to south, and is the largest intact temperate rainforest on the planet. And, on an adventure with The Boat Company, a registered non-profit that promotes the protection of the Tongass, you and yours can actually experience all of it, not just float by and gaze at its wonder. The highlight for many is the Margerie Glacier, known for its dramatic calving displays. This protected waterway is one of the most scenic in the world and one of the few locations where deep-draft vessels can sail close to steep mountain walls. Massive tidewater glaciers, forest-clad islands, ice-carved fjords, and charming coastal towns such as Juneau, Ketchikan, Haines and Skagway await you here.
Inside Passage cruisers can choose from mass-market lines with massive ships, including Royal Caribbean and Carnival. The high demand for Inside Passage cruises can be partly attributed to the convenience of ending a cruise in the same place you first set sail. Plus, they can be less expensive than cross-gulf cruises, which typically require a pricey flight to Anchorage (the gateway for nearby Seward and Whittier). Sometimes Sitka, with its heavy Russian influence and alpine meadows, or Haines, known for exceptional fishing and its bald eagle preserve, swaps in. Glacier Bay National Park, or another scenic cruising area like Tracy Arm Fjord, is normally part of the itinerary.
The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler - The Points Guy
The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler.
Posted: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Enjoy an exciting kayak or skiff expedition in stunning Endicott Arm, a glacial fjord in the Tracy Arm Ford’s Terror Wilderness area. Later, scout for humpback whales and other wildlife in Frederick Sound. The Inside Passage Sojourn is perfect for travelers seeking an easy cruising adventure with a focus on up-close exploration and authentic native culture. The number of ports visited and wilderness experienced over the course of this itinerary is impressive. Immerse yourself in a multi-day Alaskan adventure that promises incredible views and jaw-dropping bear viewing in Katmai National Park, along with a warm camaraderie that only a small group expedition can create.
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. You can watch migrating animals returning in the springtime and wildflowers bursting into bloom in the forests. Summer is several local species' main mating and birthing season; watch as seal pups drift on large blocks of ice and birds teach their offspring to fly and swim.
