REAL ID will be required to fly beginning May 7, 2025. Learn more.
Alaska small ship cruises offer travelers a unique and intimate way to explore the rugged wilderness, stunning landscapes, and abundant wildlife of America’s Last Frontier. These cruises allow for a closer connection with the natural beauty and cultural richness of the region.
Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage aboard a small ship provides passengers with unparalleled views of towering glaciers, snow-capped mountains, and pristine fjords. The region’s diverse landscape also includes dense forests, cascading waterfalls, and breathtaking coastal scenery, offering a constantly changing and awe-inspiring backdrop throughout the journey.
One of the most captivating aspects of an Alaska cruise is witnessing the calving of glaciers, where massive chunks of ice crash into the sea. Small ships are able to navigate close to glaciers such as Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm, providing passengers with up-close views of these icy wonders, creating unforgettable experiences as they watch the glaciers in action.
Alaska’s rich cultural heritage is celebrated through art, music, dance, and storytelling. Passengers on small ship cruises have the chance to learn about Native Alaskan cultures, traditions, and history. Cultural presentations, museum visits, and interactions with local residents offer deep insight into the region’s heritage and way of life.
The small ship experience is one of the key features of these cruises. Aboard intimate vessels that accommodate fewer passengers, the cruise offers a more personalized and immersive travel experience. Small ships can access smaller ports, anchorages, and waterways, enabling passengers to explore remote and pristine areas of Alaska that larger ships cannot reach, enhancing the overall sense of discovery and connection with the environment.
Alaska is renowned for its abundant wildlife, including bears, whales, eagles, seals, and more. Small ship cruises often offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, with onboard experts helping passengers spot and identify animals from the deck or during shore excursions.
Alaska is unique in the many methods to explore. Have up-close and personal encounters aboard a zodiac, kayak or paddle board. Hike Alaska’s temperate rainforest, take a polar plunge and even snorkel in Alaska.
Check out our chart that shows the best time to visit Alaska, based on temperature, weather, wildlife and northern lights.
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sailings | ||||||||||||
| Avg. Temp (F)* | 48°/33° | 60°/39° | 65°/44° | 68°/49° | 65°/46° | 59°/42° | ||||||
| Avg. Precip. (in.) | 2.96 | 3.53 | 3.13 | 4.29 | 5.34 | 7.21 | ||||||
| Northern Lights | Best | Better | Good | Good | Better | Best | ||||||
| Humpback Whales | Better | Better | Best | Best | Best | Better | ||||||
| Gray Whales | Best | Best | Good | Good | Good | Best | ||||||
| Bear Sightings | Better | Best | Best | Best | Best | Better | ||||||
| Bird Migrations | Best | Best | Good | Good | Best | Good | ||||||
| Spawning Salmon | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Good |
The trip included every highlight we could have expected from Southeast Alaska!
On this 8-day Alaska’s Inside Passage cruise aboard the National Geographic Quest or National Geographic Venture, explore Southeast Alaska on an unrivaled experience, guaranteed of in-depth encounters with all its wonders. Do more than just see Alaska—be an active participant in all that it has to offer.
On this 6-day Wild Alaska Escape itinerary, indulge your inner explorer on this compact expedition along the untamed coastal landscapes of Alaska’s Inside Passage. This pristine wilderness is home to a rich Tlingit culture, an enduring frontier spirit, and a panoply of wildlife.
On this 14-day Treasures of the Inside Passage cruise, enjoy active exploration amid a dramatic scenery of mountains, fjords, rivers and glaciers along the Inside Passage of Alaska and British Columbia.
On this 6-day Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell, and the Misty Fjords cruise itinerary, experience the pure power of primal wilderness on this compact expedition along the untamed southern regions of Southeast Alaska.
On this 15-day Voyage to Alaska, British Columbia and Haida Gwaii between Sitka, Alaska, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, visit the remote, moss-draped archipelago of Haida Gwaii—the ancestral territory of the Haida Nation, by special invitation.
On this 8-day Voyage to Great Bear Rainforest aboard the National Geographic Venture, explore the northern coast of British Columbia and sail into Great Bear Rainforest, the only place where the elusive Kermode bear, or spirit bear, can be found.
On this 8-day Glacier Bay Adventure Cruise aboard the 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer or 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer, spend two days in Glacier Bay National Park. While many ships keep their distance, UnCruise takes you up close to Alaska’s iconic glaciers and landscapes.
Save up to $500 per person on select sailings. Limited time offer expires March 31, 2025.
On this 13-day Glacier Bay National Park with Inside Passage and San Juan Islands cruise itinerary, take a scenic journey north to Alaska from Seattle through Canada’s Inside Passage, spending two full days in Glacier Bay National Park.
Save up to $500 per person on select sailings. Limited time offer expires March 31, 2025.
This 8-day Wild, Woolly and Wow Alaska cruise itinerary sailing roundtrip from Juneau aboard the 86-guest Wilderness Legacy is the most active backcountry itinerary that UnCruise offers. See areas that no other boats visit, and stretch your legs and imagination in all new areas. Special Adult-only and Kids-in-Nature sailings available.
Save up to $500 per person on select sailings. Limited time offer expires March 31, 2025.
On this 8-day Northern Passages & Glacier Bay cruise sailing from Juneau to Sitka or reverse aboard the 84-guest Safari Endeavour, skiff, kayak, and paddle board through fjords and inlets as wildlife greets you from land and sea. Explore the wilderness of the Tongass National Forest and Glacier Bay National Park.
Save up to $500 per person on select sailings. Limited time offer expires March 31, 2025.
On this 8-day Alaska Fjords & Glaciers cruise aboard the 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer, discover Southeast Alaska on an adventure that begins in Juneau, where you can explore its historic streets or take a scenic tram ride, and ends in the charming town of Ketchikan, the “Salmon Capital of the World.”
On this 8-day Alaska’s Glacier Wilderness with Glacier Bay cruise itinerary aboard the 22-guest yacht Safari Quest, embark on a journey through Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes. Experience Alaska’s hidden gems, rich Native cultures, and diverse wildlife like never before on this unforgettable adventure.
On this 14-day Alaska’s Coastal Treasures cruise itinerary aboard the 36-guest Safari Explorer, embark on a journey crafted for the intrepid traveler, those with a spirit for adventure and a yearning to explore the untamed.
Embark on a 12-day Alaskan Explorer Cruise aboard the intimate 170-passenger American Constellation or American Constitution, where you’ll experience the awe-inspiring beauty and rich history of Alaska.
Embark on an unforgettable 8-day Southeast Alaska cruise aboard the 170-passenger American Constellation or American Constitution, where you’ll discover the region’s unique ports, vibrant culture, and awe-inspiring wildlife in the most personalized way possible. Cruise through Alaska’s scenic Inside Passage aboard the region’s most modern ships, ensuring the perfect comfort as you explore.
On this 16-day Alaska Inside Passage Cruise aboard the 170-passenger American Constellation or American Constitution, embark on a captivating voyage along nearly 1,000 miles of America’s most stunning coastline.
