Alaska Small Ship Cruise Lines

The list of best Alaska small ship cruise companies and lines, all the renown small ship travel Alaska cruise lines, operating the region with small boat and yacht charters in Alaska and Canada (British Columbia). Luxury Alaskan cruises deals all-inclusive packages (with the exception of the air-fare), the iitineraries include regular Inside Passage, BC, and Glacier Bay trips, along with custom charters.

The Alaska fishing cruise expeditions are probably the most popular brochure ad for the region. The Alaskan fishing adventure trips boast the seasonal King Salmon and Halibut fishing starts from mid-July to September. The spring Herring fishing cruises, and Alaska fishing Trout trips are Apr-Jun, and Sep-Nov.

The authentic classic best luxury small ship cruises in Alaska by the best small Alaska ship lines:

• American Safari Cruises /ASC - (founded 1996 as partnership between former Cruise West executives) - 3 all- inclusive (except tipping) luxury motor yachts for expedition-style cruising (12 to 36 guests), 8-15 days itineraries (also to Sea of Cortez, Pacific Northwest, Columbia and Snake Rivers, Hawaii).
• Hapag-Lloyd - 2 sailings with "Bremen" (165), see "Passenger Cruise Ship Companies List (H-P)"
• InnerSea Discoveries /ISD (founded 2011, Seattle based expedition line, sister brand of ASC) - 3 ships (57-76 passengers), 1-2-week Inside Passage itineraries (Juneau-Ketchikan, Seattle-Juneau(, 1-week Glacier Bay (Juneau-Sitka), daily adventure shore excursions.
• Lindblad Expeditions (founded 1979, leader in adventure cruises) - 2 ships to Alaska (x62 passengers), top academic and enrichment programs (renown naturalists), partner since 2004 with the National Geographic Society (photography expeditions by NG photographers).
• The Boat Company (a non-profit cruise line and educational organization, founded 1979 by McIntosh Foundation) - SE Alaska luxury eco-cruises (Tongass Forest) by 2 ships (20-24 passengers), flexible itineraries, based on the guests' interests (Juneau-Sitka), several family cruises per season.
• Alaska NW Charters (salmon and halibut fishing cruises charters, vacuum /freeze processing) - 1 small top luxury fishing boat boat (8 passengers), 10-days Sitka-Juneau (Dorothy Narrows, Chichagof Island, Slocum Arm, Scenic Island Cove, Waterfall Cove, Falcon Fjord, Miners Cove, White Sulfur Hot Springs, Yakobi Island, Lisianski Strait, Pelican, Point Adolphus, Hoonah, Frederick Sound, Point Couverden, Lizardhead, Chatham Straits).
• Alaskan Dream Cruises (a brand of the Sitka-based "Allen Marine" company, founded in 1970 - boat-shop for aluminium vessels and structural products, also operating a fleet of 30 cessels (mostly ferries) - professional crews, superb naturalists. Sails with 2 ships (78-46 passengers) - 4-5-8 days (Sitka-Jeneau, Sitka-Ketchikan), and 8-11 days (Sitka-Ketchikan).
• All Aboard Yacht Carters (1981, Union WA, emphasis on Alaska fishing and crabbing expeditions) - 1 classic yacht (12 passengers), 8-days Inside Passage Seattle-Ketchikan (Nanaimo, Campbell River, Alert Bay, Prince Rupert), Ketchikan-Juneau (Zimovia Strait, Wrangell Narrows, Stephens Passage, Petersburg and Wrangell), and RT Juneau (Chatham Strait, Baranof Island, Chichikof Island, Tenekee Springs).
• Alaska Sea Adventures - (2000, top luxury Alaskan fishing cruise vacations, member of numerous local organizations) - 2 expedition yachts (8-10 passengers), 7-8-days from Sitka.
• Alaska Yacht Charters (2003, Bainbridge Island, WA) - 1 vessel (10 passengers), 6-10 days Juneau-Sitka.
• Bluewater Adventures - (2007, Bella Bella BC) - 2 yachts (15-16 passengers), 7-10-days eco-tours (Queen Charlotte Islands, Great Bear Rainforest, Khutzeymateen Valley, Northern Vancouver Island, SE Alaska, Gulf Islands), caters to numerous small group events (weddings, reunions, incentive and graduation trips, sailing instruction, etc).
• Maple Leaf Adventures (Alaska Tall Ship cruises, one of Canada’s premium tour operators, expert naturalists and historians) - 1 sailing cruise ship (10 guests), 9-days BC and Alaska coast (Great Bear Rainforest, Northern Vancouver Island), numerous international awards.
• Nautilus Explorer (luxury yacht charter, specializes in family trips, North America's West Coast, lever diving) - 1 vessel (25 passengers, offers suite-accommodations), 10-11-night Alaska and the Queen Charlotte Islands (Vancouver-Sitka-Ketchikan), also 8-12 night Socorro, and 7-day Sea of Cortez, California Channel Islands, and BC.
• Northwest Navigation Co (Bellingham WA) - 1 luxury boat (6 passengers), 12-day Alaska adventure cruise trips,  7-day Alaska Inside Passage expedition cruises, 2-3-days WA San Juan Islands Weekend Getaways, guided kayak tours.
• Ocean Adventures (1 yacht charter company, emphasis on wildlife viewing) - 6 passengers, 2-11 days from Vancouver.
• Pacific Catalyst II Inc (1 original wooden vessel from 1932, 12 passengers) - 6-days RT Friday Harbor WA (San Juan Islands), 7-days Juneau-Petersburg (Frederick Sound through Endicott Arm), Petersburg-Craig (Prince of Wales), Petersburg-Ketchikan (Misty Fjords), 10-days RT Juneau (Glacier Bay) and Ketchikan-Friday Harbor WA (S Inside Passage), and 14-days Friday Harbor-Juneau.
• Sea Wolf Adventures ("green" policy, supports NGO through trips and donations, 1 wheelchair accessible vessel (12 passengers), 6-days Bartlett Cove-Gustavus (Glacier Bay, fly Jeneau), 10-days fly Jeneau, Gustavus RT (Lituya and Glacier Bay' - East Arm).
• Wild Alaska Cruises LLC (1996, 1 vessel (12 passengers). - 7-day Alaska Sport Fishing Packages, and Alaskan Adventure cruises from Petersburg (fish processing and packing, tackles and baits included).

CONTINUING with Alaska Small Cruise Ships.