Small ship Alaska cruises are those in ships that carry a dozen passengers or as many as three hundred passengers instead of two thousand or more that might be on one of the larger cruise ships. If you can imagine visiting a small Alaska town with a dozen others, you can probably imagine seeing the sites and maybe chatting with some of the locals. Now, imagine the same incident with two thousand people milling around. Which scenario is more likely to be enjoyable for you and for the locals?
Small ships can get into waters that are too shallow or narrow for the larger vessels. For example, you can see the Misty Fjords National Monument close to Ketchikan. The Tracy Arm Fjord is another option for smaller ships. The out-of-the-way itinerary are more exotic because you get to see more of the unspoiled locations.
You do have to be prepared for less entertainment and amenities on board the small ships. However, you will be more than compensated by the many things that make up Alaska happening around the ship as it travels. Being able to be part of the activity and scenery is exciting to many people. These smaller ships fill up more quickly than the cruise type floating cities. They may also be more expensive, since every passenger counts toward operating costs.
A few of the places visited by small ships with intriguing itineraries include wilderness and Zodiac watercraft experiences. The Inside Passage and waters around the San Juan Islands are popular. An exploration of Glacier Bay can be arranged on small ship line. How about a tour that takes passengers into Glacier Bay National Park using guided hikes and expeditions to kayak the waters. One interesting cruise tour is bi-lingual English-German and begins in Greenland traveling through the “Northwest Passage” to Nome, Alaska.
The small ships that are closer to small yacht size are sometimes luxurious and sometimes could only be classified as rustic. Smaller ships carry smaller crews, you don’t expect to have the level of service that you would get on a full-size cruise ship. You are also not likely to find private verandas on the smaller ships.
Small ship Alaska cruises can be selected with a bent toward soft adventure. They can also be focused on wildlife and scenery watching. Make sure you understand what you will be getting when you plan the cruise. Most people find that the actual cruise far exceeds the expectations.