A small ship Alaska cruise allows you an even closer look at the beautiful scenery and exotic wildlife than most large or mid-sized Alaska cruises. There are several cruise lines with ships that carry from a dozen up to 500 passengers on Alaska cruises. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the advantages of 100 or less cruisers exploring Alaska, enjoying excursions, or even just going ashore in the small Alaska towns like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. Two or three thousand visitors from one ship really makes a difference in a small town!
The smaller ships can also visit some places that the larger ones can only dream about like the Misty Fjords National Monument near Ketchikan, Tracy Arm fjord, or the Dawes Glacier. 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 smaller cabins and less entertainment on board, but the trade off of a closer look at Alaska is worth it to many of us! In addition, small ships have many organized activities included, so the total fare may not be any more than on a large ship if you plan to take many wildlife or glacier viewing shore excursions.
Let's look at some of the small ship Alaska cruises for 2012. In addition to those detailed below, there are also many other small yachts offered for charter that cruise Alaskan waters. The accommodations on these range from bare-bones rustic to luxurious.
American Cruise Lines - Small Ship Alaska Cruises in 2012
Riding the White Pass Railway from Skagway (c) Linda Garrison
American Cruise Lines is sailing in Alaska for the first time in 2012, operating the 92-passenger American Spirit on eight-day roundtrip cruises from Juneau. These cruises will visit Glacier Bay, Icy Strait, Sitka, Petersburg, and Tracy Arm. At the beginning and end of the season, the ship will sail between Seattle and Juneau on 11-day cruises.
American Cruise Lines 2012 Alaska Cruises
American Cruise Lines 2012 Alaska Cruises
American Safari Cruises - 2012 Small Ship Alaska Cruises
Alaska Orcas (c) Linda Garrison
American Safari Cruises has three ships sailing in Alaska in 2012 - the Safari Explorer, Safari Quest, and Safari Spirit. These small ships range in size from 12 to 36 passengers. Two different soft adventure expedition itineraries ranging from 8 to 15 days explore the Inside Passage or Glacier Bay. Both itineraries feature two days at Glacier Bay National Park.
American Safari Cruises 2012 Alaska Cruises
American Safari Cruises 2012 Alaska Cruises
Fantasy Cruises - 2012 Small Ship Alaska Cruises
Petersburg Harbor (c) Linda Garrison
Fantasy Cruises operates the 32-passenger Island Spirit on Inside Passage cruises. These nine-day cruises are all-inclusive and primarily sail between Sitka and Petersburg.
Fantasy Cruises 2012 Alaska Cruises
Fantasy Cruises 2012 Alaska Cruises
InnerSea Discoveries - 2012 Small Ship Alaska Cruises
InnerSea Discoveries' Wilderness Discoverer in Alaska (c) Linda Garrison
InnerSea Discoveries, a sister company to American Safari Cruises, features soft adventure cruises in Alaska on three ships. Innersea Discoveries has three small ships sailing in Alaska in 2012--the 76-passenger Wilderness Discoverer, the 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer, and the 76-passenger Wilderness Explorer. The first two ships sail eight-day cruises between Juneau and Ketchikan, and the newly-acquired Wilderness Explorer sails between Juneau and Sitka. All feature plenty of opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and other activities.
I loved our Wilderness Discoverer adventure cruise between Ketchikan and Juneau and the many off-the-beaten paths we explored, as well as the great wildlife viewing and adventure activities.
Innersea Discoveries 2012 Alaska Cruises
I loved our Wilderness Discoverer adventure cruise between Ketchikan and Juneau and the many off-the-beaten paths we explored, as well as the great wildlife viewing and adventure activities.
Innersea Discoveries 2012 Alaska Cruises
Lindblad Expeditions - 2012 Small Ship Alaska Cruises
Beachcombing in Alaska (c) Linda Garrison
Lindblad Cruises partners with National Geographic to have two itineraries in Alaska in 2012. The 62-passenger National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion sail two itineraries -- a 12-day cruise of Alaska, British Columbia, and the San Juan Islands, and an 8-day cruise of Alaska's Inside Passage between Juneau and Sitka.
Lindblad 2012 Alaska Cruises
Lindblad 2012 Alaska Cruises
Silversea Cruises - Alaska Small Ship Cruises in 2012
Silversea Silver Shadow in Alaska (c) Linda Garrison
Most 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 to 11 day Alaska voyages from 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".
Before and after the Alaska cruise season, the Silver Shadow will be sailing in the Far East, so the ship will feature a Bering Sea repositioning cruise in May and again in September.
Find a Silversea Alaska Cruise in 2012
Before and after the Alaska cruise season, the Silver Shadow will be sailing in the Far East, so the ship will feature a Bering Sea repositioning cruise in May and again in September.
Find a Silversea Alaska Cruise in 2012
The Boat Company - Alaska Small Ship Cruises in 2012
Mist Cove of The Boat Company in Alaska (c) Linda Garrison
The Boat Company operates two small ships sailing Southeast Alaska. This company has been in operation since 1979 and currently sails 7-day cruises between Sitka and Juneau. I sailed on the luxurious yet comfortable 24-passenger M/V Mist Cove on an amazing soft adventure eco-cruise that had marvelous daily opportunities for exploring, hiking, kayaking, and fishing from Alaska streams or bays on its 20-foot skiffs.
Unlike other cruise lines, The Boat Company ships have a fishing license, so anyone who loves fishing for halibut or salmon will especially appreciate a journey on one of these two ships. In addition, the company is owned by a non-profit educational organization dedicated to SE Alaska conservation. This non-profit status means that some of your cruise fare is even tax deductible.
The Boat Company 2012 Alaska Cruises
Unlike other cruise lines, The Boat Company ships have a fishing license, so anyone who loves fishing for halibut or salmon will especially appreciate a journey on one of these two ships. In addition, the company is owned by a non-profit educational organization dedicated to SE Alaska conservation. This non-profit status means that some of your cruise fare is even tax deductible.
The Boat Company 2012 Alaska Cruises
