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This well-known small ship Alaska cruise line offers a spectrum of price points across a large fleet of boutique yachts and expedition vessels and are known for their generous alcohol and bar inclusions. This operator is unique due to their fleet and longtime experienced crew. Pacific Catalyst II owns and operates two historic wooden yachts that evoke an older era and run an unhurried cruise model. Food is sacred and locally sourced and at the core of any Pacific Catalyst II cruise is the required use of all 5 senses.
UnCruise Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Wilderness Cruise
With an expedition heritage that dates back to 1896, it’s no wonder Hurtigruten Expeditions found its way to Alaska. The cruise line with a keen focus on exploration, adventure and science has two of its hybrid technology ships—MS Roald Amundsen, built in 2019, and MS Fridtjof Nansen, built in 2020—sailing the waters that surround The Great Land. Each of the ships features an observation deck, library, science center, hot tub, pool and Explorer lounge, as well as a bar with floor-to-ceiling windows so you never miss a thing. An expedition team of Alaska experts join each voyage, hosting lectures about the areas the ships visit and guiding passengers on outings like nature walks through rainforests and kayaking trips around the foot of a glacier. Guests learn about the cultural heritage of remote communities and focus binoculars to spot bears, whales, caribou, moose, deer, wolves, birds and more.
UnCruise Eastern Fjords & Glacier Bay Cruise—Ultimate Expedition
If you are leaning towards booking a small Alaska cruise, here are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding small ship cruises. This is considered a small ship cruise as the MS Roald Amundsen can only accommodate just over 500 passengers. The ship offers four upscale restaurants, eight lounges, and a grand dining hall adorned with chandeliers.
Southcentral Alaska – Prince William Sound & Katmai
Be sure to check out SeaWalk, a walkway that cantilevers off the side of the ship and has a glass bottom so guests can see below and above. Princess has been sailing Alaska for over 50 years, and with six ships, five wilderness lodges, and its own domed rail car, this cruise line knows the region well. Fall is the best time to book, especially for families who need a certain cabin type or for those who want to travel during the peak of the season, in July and August. The most desirable cabins and departures are often sold out by the end of November. Eric Goldring is a T+L A-List travel advisor specializing in expedition, small-ship, and medium-ship cruises. The poshest (and largest) small ship in Alaska is Silversea’s 392-passenger Silver Whisper, an all-suite vessel with doting service from a crew of 302.
The atmosphere is casual and all inclusive in cost, encouraging everyone on board to participate. Every day you will be out and about, exploring by kayak or on astand-up paddleboard, or hiking ashore with an expert naturalistguide. UnCruise's fleet of small ships range from tiny (the22-passenger Safari Quest) to very small (the 84-passenger Safari Endeavour). Itineraries are completely different tothose of conventional cruise ships in the area, and excursions areincluded in the fare.
You don't need to sign up for excursions, disembark, then travel somewhere else to launch your adventure. On my cruise, we simply walked to the Deck 4 mudroom to suit up in life jackets and rain gear (when needed), then boarded the kayaks and Zodiacs right from the side doors and a rear platform that folded out from the ship. In Alaska, smaller adventure ships can sail through narrower passages and stop in less-visited towns, which offer a much more personal and authentic look at the real Alaska and its people. These ships are small enough for you to connect with fellow travelers and find like-minded shipmates while offering enough room for you to seek out quiet space when necessary. The more intimate setting also means more personal engagements with staff, who quickly learn your name and your individual tastes. Although we embarked in Vancouver, our smaller ship left late in the day, after the crowds for the big ships had cleared the terminal.
Sailing between Seward (Anchorage) and Vancouver - with someround-trip from the latter - on 7-night itineraries, you'll call inat all of the state's most famous ports of call, including theHubbard Glacier, Sitka, Skagway and Ketchikan. Arctic Cruise Around Svalbard By John Roberts The High Arctic is the land of the polar bears, walruses, and incredible ice floes and formations that encircle the top of the world. Heading to this remote region on an expedition cruise is one of the all-time travel... I had never been to Petersburg, Alaska’s “Little Norway,” until I went there aboard a small ship. On yet another small-ship voyage I disembarked at Bartlett Cove, gateway to Glacier Bay, headquarters for the park service and site of the rustic yet comfy Glacier Bay Lodge.
Small Ship Adventure Cruises
Most Alaska cruise ships will have binoculars available, but if you have your own, bring them so you don’t have to wait for a pair to become free or share. 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.
Best All-Inclusive Ship
Nova and Moon offer the Sea and Land Taste program (S.A.L.T), offering culinary connoisseurs the incredible opportunity to experience the local food scene and culture both on and off the ship. Last but not least, keep in mind that Silversea sails between Vancouver and Seward (with the exception of one September 2024 itinerary, which sails from Nome to Vancouver). Viking Ocean Cruises recently nabbed a 2023 World’s Best Award in the midsize-ship ocean cruise lines category, coming in at first place for the second year in a row.
We can advise you which ships and itineraries may have a better chance to encounter these conditions. Look for cruises aboard ships branded with National Geographic if you are seeking the highest level of education. The naturalists and expedition cruise leaders aboard these ships are experts in their field and may include professors, authors, scientists, researchers, photographers and generalist guides who have a lifetime of experience in Alaska. To learn more about these unique guides, read our review of Lindblad Alaska. Next up in choosing an Alaska cruise is often deciding when to go.
What's the Best Cruise Line for Alaska? - Cruise Hive
What's the Best Cruise Line for Alaska?.
Posted: Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
All 98 cabins face out (no inside cabins), and 68 of those feature step-out balconies. Can’t-miss portPetersburg, on the northern tip of Mitkof Island, is a busy and scenic fishing village lined with all kinds of Alaskan ships, from large fishing trawlers to sailing boats. Many of its streets showcase the town’s distinctive native and Norwegian heritage. Taking a stroll is the best way to experience Petersburg’s wide range of public art, Tlingit Totem Park, and Norwegian heritage sites (including a Sons of Norway hall).
“If you are looking for a more casual and laid-back experience, Seattle-based UnCruise Adventures offers down-to-earth trips with enthusiastic naturalist guides, simple accommodations, and hearty local cuisine,” says Palmer. Per the pro, travelers can “choose between a menu of included excursions such as kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, zodiac cruises, whale watching, and more.” All in all, UnCruise really does offer something for everyone. For nearly 30 years, UnCruise Adventures has embarked on voyages with a mission to provide its guests with an enriching adventure travel experience that inspires an appreciation of local cultures and the natural world. Founded in Alaska in 1996, the company has a strong pretense in The Great Land with seven-, 12- and 14-night itineraries that set sail April through September. Whichever itinerary you choose, you can be sure to have a plethora of adventurous excursions at your fingertips, right from the ship. One day could find you paddleboarding in the morning and hiking in the afternoon, or maybe kayaking and taking a skiff out later in the day to try and spot wildlife.
When cruise lines send a fleet of ships to Alaska for the summer, the older, smaller ships tend to offer more reduced prices than you'll find on the lines' larger and newer ships. Cascadia is Maple Leaf's newest acquisition, a 24-passenger catamaran with a crew of 10, offering a dozen cabins. The ship is 138 feet in length, with a lounge, terrace, dining area and open bridge policy, as well as kayaks for passenger use.
Uncruise offers one of the longest Alaska cruise seasons in the industry, with departures from April through September. As a busy individual, you deserve to have a seasoned travel expert take care of the logistics for you so that you can sit back and fully enjoy your time off. While your packing list may vary depending on the season that you visit Alaska during, here are 10 general things that you should never embark on an Alaskan cruise without. If you intend to do a small cruise to Alaska during peak season, make sure that you get your dates locked in and tickets booked well in advance so that you don’t miss out on your Alaskan adventure. The best time to cruise Alaska depends on the excursions you want to have, the weather conditions you want to experience, and the crowds you are willing to endure. A 26 day cruise that introduces you to the wild natural beauty of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, AAA’s Northwest Passage Cruise will satisfy your craving for frosty fjords and majestic arctic wildlife.
Skagway was a jumping-off point for the Klondike Gold Rush beyond Chilkoot Pass and has an old railroad to prove it. This is a breathtakingly beautiful, ideal cruise environment, since most of the spots visited are only accessible by sea. Seattle - As a major US city, Seattle offers numerous ways to get there, from planes and trains to trams; there are plenty of options to get to Seattle. However, if you prefer variety, the ship has no room for specialty venues or bonus shops like ice cream or hamburger stands.
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