Photo Credit: Alaska Adventure Sailing

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.

Best Large Ship Itineraries

Good value • Lots of activities • Larger cabins
Season: May - September
Average $1,499
10 Days
Ports of Call: Seattle, Reedsport, Strathcona A, Juneau, Skagway, Gustavus, Ketchikan, Mount Waddington, Victoria, San Francisco
Cruise Ship Type: Large Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Princess, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity

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 sam­pling of Alaska.

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Best Small Ship Itineraries

Fly into Juneau or Sitka • same region as large cruises but more intimate ports • Glacier Bay National Park
Season: May 1 - September 1 Custom Trips, Call for Quote 3 - 21 Days

Dis­cov­er South­east Alaska’s nat­ur­al won­ders aboard a char­tered sail­boat with Sail­ing Alas­ka. Cus­tomize your pri­vate expe­di­tion with expe­ri­enced cap­tain John Joeright and enjoy all-inclu­sive meals, com­fort­able accom­mo­da­tions, and end­less adven­tures on the 46-foot S/V Sham­rock. Watch whales, hike, fish, vis­it local com­mu­ni­ties, and more — all at your own pace.

Season: Apr 15 to Sep 28
$6,100+
13 Days / 12 Nights
Ports of Call: Seattle, San Juan Island, Southeast / Inside Passage, Ketchikan, Tongass National Forest, Sitka, Glacier Bay National Park, Hoonah / Icy Strait, Juneau
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Safari Endeavour, Wilderness Legacy, Safari Explorer, Safari Quest
Season: May 15 to Sep 15
Call for Quote
Custom
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: The Sea Mist

Design your exclu­sive itin­er­ary then set sail into the vast open waters and wildlife-rich shore­lines of Prince William Sound aboard your own spa­cious and pri­vate yacht. Up to six pas­sen­gers can sit back, relax, and expe­ri­ence an inti­mate tour. Most guests enjoy the 5‑day/​4‑night trips, but you can book longer 10-day/9‑night expeditions.

Season: May 11 to Sep 21
$5600+
8 Days / 7 Nights
Ports of Call: Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Hoonah / Icy Strait, Sitka
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Safari Endeavour

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  ...more

Season: Apr 16 to Oct 08
$4,800+
7 Nights / 8 Days
Ports of Call: Juneau, Petersburg, Wrangell, Ketchikan
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Wilderness Discoverer
Season: June - Sept $16,000+ 2+ Nights 4-5 hr & 2+ Nights

Bear Paw Char­ters offers pri­vate, all-inclu­sive day trips and longer tours on its lux­u­ry yacht — per­fect for whale watch­ing, bear view­ing, and expe­ri­enc­ing Alaska’s scenic majesty.

Season: May to mid-September 7 days / 6 nights

Explore Alas­ka by char­ter­ing the 90-foot yacht Alaskan Sto­ry, out of Juneau. It’s the per­fect way to see some of the state’s most stun­ning­ly beau­ti­ful areas, like Glac­i­er Bay Nation­al Park, and enjoy lots of oppor­tu­ni­ties for fish­ing, kayak­ing, hik­ing, and wildlife view­ing along the way.

Season: May - September
$5,850+ (Inside Passage $2,650+)
5 days / 4 nights
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: M/V Sea Star

Set sail for 5 days and 4 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  ...more

Season: Apr 28 to Sep 15
$7,200+
14 Nights / 15 Days
Ports of Call: Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Wrangell, Ketchikan
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Wilderness Explorer
Season: May 24 - Aug 30
$6,100+
8 Days / 7 Nights
Ports of Call: Juneau, Hoonah / Icy Strait, Glacier Bay National Park
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Safari Quest, Wilderness Adventurer

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  ...more

Season: Apr 06 to Sep 29
$6,100+
7 Nights / 8 Days
Ports of Call: Juneau, Hoonah / Icy Strait, Glacier Bay National Park
Cruise Ship Type: Small Ship Cruises
Ship Name: Safari Quest

This itin­er­ary includes two full days in Glac­i­er Bay Nation­al Park, includ­ing active explo­ration in the out­back. Vis­it Marg­erie and Grand Pacif­ic glac­i­ers. Go ashore in Haines for hik­ing, bik­ing, a float trip and his­to­ry. Look for wildlife on shore and at sea, with excep­tion­al bird­ing oppor­tu­ni­ties at South Mar­ble Island.

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