Recent travel patterns show a marked rise in the popularity of cruises, with small luxury cruises emerging as a particularly strong trend. These smaller ships combine many of the comforts and services found on larger vessels with more intimate, immersive experiences ashore. Guests on small-ship cruises often enjoy closer access to local culture, wildlife and landscapes, visiting less-crowded ports and remote areas that larger ships cannot reach. Several notable small-ship cruise options were scheduled to debut in 2017, offering a range of itineraries focused on Alaska’s dramatic scenery and wildlife.
Alaska Dream Cruises launched a seven-night True Alaskan Family Cruise aboard the 74-passenger Chichagof Dream. This itinerary includes a day of exploration in the remote reaches of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, giving passengers the chance to view enormous tidewater glaciers, marine wildlife and rugged coastal terrain up close while enjoying family-friendly programming and on-board amenities tailored to a more personal travel experience.
Lindblad Expeditions introduced the National Geographic Quest, a 100-passenger ship that began sailing from Seattle in June 2017 to explore Alaska’s Inside Passage. The ship’s itineraries focus on protected bays, fjords and Glacier Bay National Park, and include stops at small coastal towns. Designed with naturalists and photographers in mind, these voyages emphasize education and wildlife viewing, often featuring expert-led excursions and opportunities to learn about the region’s ecosystems and cultures.
AdventureSmith Explorations partnered with Dream Catcher to offer Quest sailings that expand access to Prince William Sound and Whittier, the gateway to Anchorage and several of Alaska’s scenic parks. These departures aim to connect travelers with the dramatic glacial landscapes, marine life and quieter port communities of the sound, with options for guided excursions and small-group shore visits that highlight the natural and historical features of the area.
UnCruise Adventures scheduled 11 adventure cruise departures in Southeast Alaska for 2017, including the Inner Reaches Western Coves itinerary launching in summer. That route includes visits to traditional Native communities such as the Tlingit village of Kake and emphasizes cultural encounters alongside wildlife and wilderness exploration. UnCruise also partnered with Lifetime Fitness to offer four wellness-focused departures in the summer season; those sailings feature wellness experts and a program of activities like kayaking, on-deck yoga and hands-on cooking classes to combine active outdoor exploration with health-oriented programming.
Together, these small-ship offerings illustrate the appeal of more personalized, experience-driven cruising. By focusing on immersive itineraries, expert-led programming and access to remote coastal areas, they cater to travelers who want a deeper connection to place—whether through wildlife viewing, cultural encounters or wellness activities—while still enjoying the conveniences of a modern cruise vessel.