Small Ship & Private Cruises

If you’re interested in cruising to Alaska but want a more customized, off-the-beaten track experience, small ship and private cruises are the trip for you. These cruises explore Alaska’s coastal areas on specially-designed yachts or small ships, often carrying under 100 passengers and sometimes just you and your party. Small ships can reach ports of call that are inaccessible by larger cruise ships, allowing you to get away from the crowds and explore more remote communities and wild places.

Small ship and private cruises in Alaska are equal parts adventure and luxury. Some cruises focus on adventure activities like kayaking, hiking, and glacier trekking, and feature onboard naturalists to guide you on your daily adventures. Luxury and private cruises include gourmet meals, luxurious accommodations, and excursions for every activity level – whether you’re interested in lounging on the deck with drink in hand while watching whales, sea lions, and sea otters, or you’d rather disembark for a day of hiking through a temperate rainforest, fishing for salmon or halibut, or joining an Alaska Native cultural tour or demonstration.

The privacy of these cruises can make for a secluded getaway or the family vacation of a lifetime. Small ship and private cruises voyage throughout Alaska waters like the Inside Passage, Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords National Park, Glacier Bay National Park and even to the remote reaches of the Aleutian Islands in Southwest Alaska and the Bering Sea in the Arctic. Many all-inclusive yachts and private cruises offer flexible or customized itineraries tailored to your interests and activity levels. Cruises typically operate from May through September, with some options during the shoulder seasons in April and October.