On this 8-day Exploring Alaska’s Coastal Wilderness 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.
Alaska Small Ship Cruises
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. Here are some highlights and key features of Alaska small ship cruises:
- Scenic Beauty: 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 is also home to dense forests, cascading waterfalls, and breathtaking coastal scenery.
- Wildlife Encounters: Alaska is teeming with wildlife, including bears, moose, whales, sea otters, eagles, and more. Small ship cruises offer passengers the opportunity to observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitats, both from the ship and during guided excursions ashore.
- Glacier Viewing: One of the highlights of Alaska cruises is witnessing the calving of glaciers as massive chunks of ice crash into the sea. Small ships can navigate close to glaciers such as Glacier Bay, and Tracy Arm, providing passengers with unforgettable up-close views of these icy wonders.
- Remote Ports and Destinations: Small ship cruises in Alaska often visit remote ports and destinations that larger cruise ships cannot access. Passengers can explore off-the-beaten-path communities, visit Native Alaskan villages, and experience the wilderness away from the crowds.
- Adventure Activities: Alaska offers a wide range of adventure activities for outdoor enthusiasts. Small ship cruises may include opportunities for hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and even glacier trekking, allowing passengers to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the region.
- Cultural Experiences: Alaska’s rich cultural heritage is celebrated through art, music, dance, and storytelling. Passengers on small ship cruises have the opportunity to learn about Native Alaskan cultures, traditions, and history through cultural presentations, museum visits, and interactions with local residents.
- Small Ship Experience: Alaska small ship cruises are conducted aboard intimate vessels that accommodate fewer passengers, creating a more personalized and immersive travel experience. Small ships can access smaller ports, anchorages, and waterways, allowing for exploration of remote and pristine areas of Alaska.
Alaskan Wildlife
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 Adventures
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.
When to go to 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 entire crew, from top to bottom, were very accommodating of our kids. It was unforgettable.
Alaska Cruise Itineraries
Wild Alaska Escape: Haines, Inian Islands & Tracy Arm Fjord
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.
Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska and British Columbia
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.
Wild Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell, and the Misty Fjords
On this 6-day Wild Alaska Escape itinerary, experience the pure power of primal wilderness on this compact expedition along the untamed southern regions of Southeast Alaska. Witness the electric blues of iceberg-dotted LeConte Bay and navigate narrow channels like Behm and Blake, as well as Walker Cove in Misty Fjords.
A Remarkable Journey to Alaska, British Columbia & Haida Gwaii
Embark on a 15-day adventure between Sitka, Alaska, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, visiting the remote, moss-draped archipelago of Haida Gwaii—the ancestral territory of the Haida Nation. Spend a full day among the towering glaciers and expansive wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and walk in silent old-growth forests, kayak in secluded coves, and search for foraging bears and soaring eagles in mist-shrouded fjords.
Voyage to Great Bear Rainforest
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.
Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Wilderness Cruise
On this 13-day Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Wilderness Cruise, travel through the inside passages and Glacier Bay National Park plus remote wilderness, Native culture, and history. Experience whales and wildlife, kayaking and hiking.
Glacier Bay National Park Adventure Cruise
On this 8-day Glacier Bay National Park Adventure Cruise aboard the 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer, spend two days in Glacier Bay National Park, getting an up-close look at glaciers, old-growth forests, and sea life. Hike remote coastlines and take in diverse birding at South Marble Island.
Wild, Woolly and Wow
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.
Northern Passages & Glacier Bay
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.
Alaska Fjords & Glaciers
On this 8-day Alaska Fjords & Glaciers cruise aboard the 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer, wind through canals and explore the Tongass backcountry on foot and by kayak. Visit Endicott Arm, Thomas Bay, Blashkee Islands, Behm Canal and more.
Alaskan Explorer Cruise
On this 12-day Alaskan Explorer Cruise aboard the 170-passenger American Constellation, experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Venture to the most captivating destinations in southern Alaska and along the Inside Passage, in the comfort of the most modern cruise ships in the region.
Southeast Alaska Cruise
On this unforgettable 8-day Southeast Alaska cruise aboard the 170-passenger American Constellation, discover the unique ports, colorful culture, and inspiring wildlife of Alaska in the most personalized way possible. Travel in the perfect comfort of the region’s most modern ship as you cruise Alaska’s scenic Inside Passage.
Alaska Inside Passage Cruise
On this 15-day Alaska Inside Passage Cruise aboard the 170-passenger American Constellation, discover the majestic splendor of a summer in Alaska. Relax and enjoy traveling the protected waters of the famed Inside Passage as the ship drifts through a vast archipelago of picturesque islands which stretch from Washington’s Puget Sound, along British Columbia, and throughout Alaska’s southeastern panhandle.
