The smaller ships can also visit some places that the larger ones can only dream about like the Misty Fjords National Monument near Ketchikan or Tracy Arm fjord. If you are looking for a more exotic, out-of-the-way itinerary, a small ship Alaska cruise might be the best choice. One word of caution. These smaller ships are usually more expensive and often fill up fast. For this extra cost, you'll probably get less amenities and entertainment on board, but the trade off of a closer look at Alaska is worth it to many of us!
Cruise West's Alaska’s Inside Passage itinerary will offer an extended cruise season and two new add-on land tour options -- two nights at a Denali Backcountry Lodge in conjunction with the four- or five-day Glaciers of Prince William Sound cruises; or a four day fully escorted Denali land tour traveling roundtrip from Anchorage in conjunction with the nine-day Alaska Whales & Wilderness cruise. I sailed an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise on the Spirit of Yorktown in 2007, and loved the ship and its ability to get us "up close and personal" to the Alaska sights. Cruise West will have eight ships in Alaska in 2009, ranging in size from 78 to 120-passengers.
Cruise West 2009 Alaska Cruises
Other small ship cruise lines are sending their ships north to Alaska in 2009. Most of these small ships do not offer private verandas or luxurious accommodations. However, if you are looking for ultimate luxury on board, the Silversea Cruises' Silversea Silver Shadow will sail 7-12 day Alaska voyages from San Francisco, Vancouver, or Seward. With 382 passengers, she is much larger than the other ships in this category, but the Silver Shadow provides more amenities and is still considered "small".
Silversea 2009 Alaska Cruises
Lindblad Cruises will be sailing two itineraries in Alaska in 2009 with the 62-passenger National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion. The first is a 12-day cruise of Alaska, British Columbia, and the San Juan Islands. The second is an 8-day cruise of Alaska's Inside Passage.
Lindblad 2009 Alaska Cruises
American Safari has four ships sailing in Alaska in 2009 - the Safari Explorer, Safari Quest, Safari Escape, and Safari Spirit. These small ships range in size from 12 to 36 passengers. Five different soft adventure expedition itineraries run from 8, 9, or 15 days.
American Safari Cruises 2009 Alaska Cruises
In addition to marketing cruises on the American Safari Cruises' yachts, Abercrombie & Kent will send the 118-passenger Clipper Odyssey to Alaska, and she will sail the Inside Passage and Bering Sea between Nome and Vancouver.
Abercrombie & Kent 2009 Alaska Cruises
There are also many other small yachts offered for charter that cruise Alaskan waters. The accommodations on these range from rustic to luxurious.
We've looked at the large and mid-sized cruises and small ship cruises to Alaska. There is certainly something for everyone! Other than looking at the scenery and wildlife, what else is there to do in Alaska?
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