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If you want to see Alaska up close, you’ve got to go by small ship. But what is small? In Alaska, it’s 100 passengers or under—with our nearly 40 different Alaska small ship cruise options hosting as few as 4 guests and averaging 45. Read our expert take on the top 7 advantages of taking a small Alaska cruise. At its core, it’s seeing the glaciers, whales, bears, eagles, and wilderness you came to see.
1. Special Access to Remote and Untouched Places
Small ships unlock corners of Alaska that bigger vessels simply can’t reach: tight fjords, shallow inlets and limited-permit wilderness areas that are seemingly untouched by human presence. Picture two full days or even a week deep inside Glacier Bay National Park, with time to linger at glaciers, while the big ships are limited to a brief drive-by. Or consider Endicott Arm: large ships can only go as far as they can safely turn around, but small ships continue all the way to the face of Dawes Glacier.
2. Active and Immersive – "Doing, not Seeing"
Once you’re in those remote places, the real adventure begins. Small ship itineraries focus on getting you off the ship—kayaking among icebergs, hiking old-growth forests, joining skiff tours into quiet coves, or beachcombing with your naturalist guide.
Groups are small, and included activities are offered at a range of levels, so you can participate at your own pace. However you choose to adventure, you’re not watching Alaska from a balcony. You’re out in it.
3. Up-Close to Wildlife
From a small ship, you’re right at the surface. Dall’s porpoises ride the bow waves, humpback whales surface nearby, and the ship’s shallow draft allows close-to-shore cruising, where bears often forage. Captains also have the freedom to slow down, drift, or reroute entirely when something spectacular appears.
Out by skiff or kayak, encounters can get even closer as curious sea lions and otters pop up and say hello. It’s a level of wildlife immersion you’ll never get from a towering mega-ship.
4. Expert Guides, No Extra Fees
On small ships, your guiding team is part of the journey, not something you book separately while docked in a port town. A dedicated, expert team travels with you for the week, leading every hike, kayak, and skiff outing. They know the region deeply, and the twice-daily activities are included in your cruise fare. This creates an efficient, seamless, and informed exploration of Alaska’s true wilderness.
5. Personal Service Without the Crowds
On big ships, disembarking can take as much as four hours as thousands of passengers move through queues. On a small ship, you’re off in minutes, maximizing your time in Alaska instead of waiting in line.
Depending on the ship, guest-to-crew ratios typically range from 2:1 to 3:1. The crew learn your name and preferences quickly, meals feel more like relaxed gatherings, and the experience is genuinely attentive.
6. Authentic Culture
Small ships can dock at tiny ports and harbors that mega-ships can’t. Quaint fishing villages and small Tlingit island communities like Haines, Petersburg and Kake offer a real sense of authentic local Alaska beyond the bigger commercial ports.
That authenticity extends onboard as well. Rather than an internationally based and staffed corporation, you may travel with an Alaska-owned, family-run operator. Captains, crew, and guides have often spent years, or their lifetimes, in these waters. Menus may include foraged fare and fresh-caught fish. The whole experience is shaped by people with real local history and perspective.
7. There's Something for Everyone
Activity-focused, culture-forward, ultra-cozy, or comfortably upscale, small ships and small ship cruises come in a surprising range of styles and budgets. Alaska vessels range from 4-to 100-guests (averaging 45), with options like balconies, hot tubs, National Geographic programs, family friendly and/or adults-only departures. Whatever your needs or style, there’s a ship that matches it.
Inspired to go small? Talk to someone who knows these ships inside and out.
For more than two decades, the team at AdventureSmith Explorations has sailed aboard Alaska’s small ships, evaluated routes firsthand, and guided thousands of travelers to the right cruise. That experience is what helps you book confidently, avoid overwhelm, and save hours of internet scrolling.
Explore our lineup of Alaska small ship cruises, including Glacier Bay and Inside Passage cruises, or call 1-866-270-2875 to get started today.
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