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Cruise West Alaska Cruise - Spirit of Yorktown Alaska Inside Passage Cruise Log

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Cruise West Spirit of Yorktown - Overview of Small Cruise Ship

Cruise West Spirit of Yorktown at the Dock in Haines, Alaska

Cruise West Spirit of Yorktown at the Dock in Haines, Alaska

Spirit of Yorktown Picture (c) Linda Garrison
We loved our light adventure cruise from Juneau to Ketchikan because the Cruise West small cruise ship the Spirit of Yorktown gives its passengers a real up-close and personal look at the Inside Passage of Alaska. The ship touches on the magnificent sites in the Inside Passage and visits several of the quaint historic towns along the way, without ever leaving sight of land. The enthusiastic all-American crew on the Cruise West Spirit of Yorktown do an excellent job of fostering a friendly, informal atmosphere. The passengers on the Spirit of Yorktown chose Cruise West for its exceptional learning opportunities and fantastic itineraries. The small ship was very homey, and the passengers acted like one big happy family--dining, drinking, and comparing travel stories.

The Cruise West Spirit of Yorktown is more like a traveling family tour with a guide than a traditional cruise. You won't find any casinos, organized onboard activities, formal nights, or evening entertainment. You also won't find crowds, lines, or crew members who barely speak English. You will find interesting people, educational experiences, great food, and innovative itineraries. The Spirit of Yorktown is a great ship for those who don't like traditional cruises, but love traveling with a group.

Our cabin on the Spirit of Yorktown was small and the beds were fixed, but we had plenty of room. Since everything is so close-by, we were only in the cabin to sleep. Passengers on this Alaska cruise spent most waking hours in the observation lounge, but I'm sure the sun deck is used on its warmer itineraries.

The Spirit of Yorktown is having a refurbishment in the fall of 2007, so many of the pictures in my photo gallery will be different soon.

Since one of Cruise West's major strength is its destinations, the rest of this article starts in Juneau and focuses on our Alaska itinerary.

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