Inside Passage Cruises
Mention an “Alaska cruise” and what comes to mind? Usually, the answer is the “Inside Passage.” Why? 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. On small ship cruises, you’ll visit even more intimate ports of call.
Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier are highlights. Ever since the 1890’s visitors have come to Alaska because of wondrous reports about Glacier Bay—stories of towering glaciers which calve icebergs into the sea and scenic beauty beyond belief. When the famous naturalist John Muir explored Glacier Bay, much of the bay we have today did not yet exist. In fact, one of the key reasons Glacier Bay has been preserved as a national park is that it’s a living laboratory; as the ice recedes, scientists can now study the advancement of plants and animals, unlocking mysteries of ice ages past. Ever changing, Glacier Bay National Park is still one of Alaska’s most popular coastal attractions and most visited national parks.
Expert Advice
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Best Small Ship Itineraries//Get closer to wildlife and glaciers • Active • Go places big ships can't go
UnCruise Northern Passages & Glacier Bay
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Wilderness Discoverer, Wilderness Explorer
Start your wilderness journey in Juneau, the state capitol of Alaska, and end in Sitka, the perfect spot to view the melding of Russian and Alaska Native cultures. In between, visit Glacier Bay National Park, go bird watching on South Marble Island, look for whales in Icy Strait, hike along intertidal zones, and when your captain sets the course for adventure, slip into your kayak or skiff for a day of guided exploration. (Itinerary also available in reverse, starting in Sitka and ending in Juneau).
UnCruise Whales, Wildlife & Glaciers
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Safari Endeavour
Leaving from charming Sitka, this cruise takes you along a rugged coastline up to Glacier Bay National Park, famed for its massive tidewater glaciers. Journey on through wildlife-rich waters, searching for whales, porpoises, and sea lions. You may also spot black bear or five along shore. More wildlife and glittering waterfalls await in Lynn Canal, North America’s deepest fjord More...
UnCruise Alaska’s Inside Passage & San Juans Cruise
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Safari Endeavour, Wilderness Discoverer, Wilderness Explorer
Explore the coastline from Seattle to Juneau or vice versa in this extravaganza of fjords, forests, and wilderness adventure. This 15-day cruise showcases the best of the Pacific Northwest and the Inside Passages of Canada and Alaska, including Glacier Bay National Park, Olympic National Park, the Tongass National Forest and Misty Fjords National Monument. Watch for whales and More...
UnCruise Alaska’s Glaciers & Whales
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Safari Endeavour
The glacier-packed cruise from Juneau to Sitka features visits to LeConte, Sawyer, South Sawyer, and Baird Glaciers. Hike along Baird’s terminal moraine, a lunar landscape of ice and shimmering rocks. Visit the village of Kake and count the many totems on their 132-foot pole, dancing, and telling stories that reveal a new perspective of the natural world around you. Watch More...
UnCruise Alaska Fjords & Glaciers
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Wilderness Adventurer, Wilderness Discoverer, Wilderness Explorer, Safari Quest, S.S. Legacy
Wind your way between Juneau and Ketchikan on a 8-day cruise full of scenic wonders, spectacular wildlife viewing, and wilderness adventures. The blue face of Dawes glacier, the whale-rich feeding grounds of Stephens Passage, the diverse ecosystem of Misty Fjords National Monument, and the Kiksetti Totem Park in Wrangell will all captivate you for different reasons. Hike among More...
North Pacific Expeditions
May - September
Set sail for 7 days and 6 nights with the crew of the M/V Sea Star for small ship adventure cruising in Prince William Sound, Kenai Peninsula or along the Inside Passage. The well-appointed yacht accommodates just 12 guests, allowing for a personalized experience where you are the explorer! Unplug from day-to-day life and soak up the wonders of Alaska’s amazing coastline. All meals prepared by an on-board chef and featuring fresh local ingredients.
UnCruise Alaska’s Glacier Country
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Safari Endeavour; Safari Quest, S.S. Legacy, Wilderness Explorer
Get close to Dawes, Margerie and Grand Pacific Glacier and spend one day in Glacier Bay National Park, guided by an expert naturalist. Explore Fords Terror Wilderness area by skiff, hike inland on Chichagof Island, and Bushwack in the Tongass National Forest. Search for Humpback whales in Frederick Sound and Chatham Straight, and be on the lookout for black and brown bears, eagles, seat otters, harbor seals, sea lions, and sea birds during your journey.
Best Large Ship Itineraries//Good value • Lots of activities • Larger cabins
Inside Passage with Glacier Bay
May - September
Cruise Ship Type: Large Ship Cruises, Princess Cruises
Ship Name: Grande Princess
For those looking for a cruise-only experience, this is a great option. It is a round-trip cruise from San Francisco (meaning you will not have to by one-way tickets like you will for a cross-gulf cruise), and you still hit the highlights of the Inside Passage; Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway & Glacier Bay National Park. While you will not be able to add a land tour, it offers a great More...