It's a rather unusual destination for cruise enthusiasts, but Alaska may well provide the most unique maritime experience travelers can hope to find. There are several things to see and do on an Alaskan voyage, and visitors can choose from a range of cruise options, from conventional to intimate.Alaska is not necessarily appropriate for standardized corporate cruises, so vacationers expecting conga lines and comedy shows should look elsewhere. It's best to experience Alaska in a more authentic manner, and Alaskan Dream Cruises is in the business of arranging memorable and down-to-earth voyages.
What Makes Alaskan Cruises Unique
Alaskan Dream Cruises is owned by a family with indigenous roots, so the cruise allows passengers to experience Alaska from the perspective of a resident, which imbibes the adventure with a genuine feel. There are a number of ships and travel packages available, and all of them are intimate and personalized. Most ships carry around ten passengers at a time, so by the end of the trip, everyone becomes one big crew. The most popular package lasts for five or six days and is packed with activities and sights.
What makes Alaskan Dream Cruises special is that they have exclusive access to places that most commercial cruises do not. Because they are indigenous-owned, the ships are allowed to dock at Hobart Bay. This is Alaska's smallest community and is greatly protected, so cruises are generally not allowed to stop there. The insides of this community have rarely been seen by outsiders, so it is an incredible privilege to be able to visit.
Another area that Alaskan Dream Cruises has privileged access to is Glacier Bay National Park. Glacier Bay is home to the headquarters of indigenous culture. At this location, much like a community center, the locals conduct meetings and ceremonies. Thanks to special permits and the small-scale of the cruise, passengers are given the opportunity to enter the headquarters and learn about local culture and history first hand.
Quite consistently around the world, humans tend to settle near bodies of water. This is largely true of Alaska as well. Many of the indigenous tribes have lived on the coasts for millennia, subsisting on fish, seals, and other sea life. For a more intimate engagement, the cruises take passengers through the Inside Passage - a series of internal straits and channels that pass by various villages. The Sitka settlement is one of the places the cruise stops at, which is especially interesting because the owners themselves have Sitka heritage.
With a personal tour guide, travelers get a private look at the lives, traditions, and rituals of indigenous Alaskans. They see the totems, igloos, and fishing practices, and on the Inside Passage, sail the same waters that have been sailed by locals for thousands of years.
In terms of wildlife, the Alaskan cruise is unparalleled. Most of America's bald eagles and otters live in Alaska, so visitors are sure to see some phenomenal sights up close. Beyond that, various whales, such as belugas and porpoises, make an appearance, giving onlookers a misty waterworks show. Harbor seals are friendly creatures, often found lounging with seagulls on ice sheets, demonstrating their playful and neighborly charm to spectators.
For lucky wildlife enthusiasts, a black bear might pop out of the woods to snack on some mussels and seaweed on the shoreline. Dall sheep migrate along sheer cliffs to higher pastures that were frozen during the winter, finally fertile and blooming in the spring.
In the summers, icebergs shed some of their corners, which creates an ominous, alien sound. Early in the morning, passengers are often woken up by white thunder - the noise of grinding and splashing as tonnes of ancient glaciers crack and scrape, casting chunks of lustrous blue ice into the ocean.
Beyond sightseeing and cultural tourism, there are a lot of physical activities as well. The ships stop at remote islands where passengers can spend the day hiking, exploring, and picnicking. The Inside Passage is protected from harsh tides and waves, which makes it a perfect site to engage in water activities. Pushing off from the shores, adventurous visitors can kayak into the aquamarine depths, exploring different sides of the island and soaking in the tranquility.
At quiet patches of water near the woods, the ships drop anchor, giving passengers the opportunity to dive into the turquoise water for some restorative swimming or exploratory snorkeling.
In terms of food, not all the meals are served on board. To partake in indigenous cuisine, some feasts are eaten in the villages alongside the locals. On quiet nights, the ships might dock at a secluded island where the staff will serve a scrumptious dinner under the moonlight. Guests can lounge on a private beach and nourish themselves after a long, activity-filled day.
To get an idea of how much the cruise costs, here's a look at one of the most popular packages.
- Company: Alaskan Dream Cruises
- Cruise: Alaska’s Spring Wilderness & Wildlife Safari
- Duration: Five nights and six days
- Price: $3,390
- Included: Airport pickup, comfortable cabins, fresh meals, exclusive access to settlements and forests, professional guides
Best Time Of The Year For An Alaskan Cruise
It's probably no surprise that the best time for an Alaskan cruise is in the summer. However, the springtime is arguably more beautiful, even if it is colder. The winter can be treacherous, and a lot of the wildlife is not very active. Similarly, the local residents are most active in the spring and summer, preferring to hunker down and save energy during the long winter.
While it is not what most people imagine a cruise is, it is certainly what an Alaskan cruise should be.