The trip up the Inside Passage, from Seattle to Alaska, is an awe-inspiring voyage, with majestic vistas of snow-capped mountains, tumbling waterfalls, deep-blue water, remote coves and the possibility of the sudden appearance of whales, eagles and bears. Culpepper Lagoon, British Columbia (5244' N, 12757' W): This is a spectacular fjord and a must-see when cruising the Inside Passage, although it requires a small detour through Kynoch Inlet. This coincides with the cruise season. We offer the largest selection of Alaska charter boats carrying 8 to 100 travelers, and have curated the ships listed below (8- to 36-guest vessels) for our charter clients. Journeys Through the Inside Passage: Seafaring Adventures Along the Coast of British Columbia and Alaska (Caribou Classics) Check Price Amazon 2. Alaska Inside Passage, Alaska. The Inside Passage Route adds layers of experiences to your journey. Pros are easy to call in the Inside Passage, but it will cost you a lot more money for them to come to you. 13 Days from $4,995. The 2nd edition of Best Anchorages of the Inside Passage covers cruising areas from Victoria to Bella Bella and has been expanded to include the Central Coast waters up to Fitz Hugh Sound, Rivers Inlet, Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy and Queens Sound. Most Alaskan cruises will explore the 'panhandle' or southeast tip of Alaska. Other Options: Also, all of our boats in the mid-30's size range and larger are eligible for a round-trip (10 week) cruise up the Inside Passage to Alaska / Glacier Bay. Starting at: $6295 / per person. ! Wandering what side of the boat is best to get the balcony room in? First the boat. 134 Reviews. Southeast Alaska - 4 Routes (8 Days/7 Nights) These expedition style small ship cruises explore the remote islands & inlets of the Inside Passage between Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. Find Inside Passage cruises from Seattle. Since the Inside Passage isn't a static body of water, we also figure in the currents, which can change the number of hours per day we're underway. One of the best ways to explore southeast Alaska is aboard a charter vessel that allows us visit remote islands, coves . 1. Tayana Vancouver 42 Dave Backus. Whether you go for 7, 12, or 14 nights, there truly is a trip for everyone. pulled away from the dock in Port Townsend and pointed her bow north. Alaska's increasing popularity as a tourist destination (2 million annual visitors) and location in the Arctic and sub-Arctic makes the timing of your Inside Passage cruise tricky. If there was ever any doubt the sailing public still enjoys making its way to Newport, Rhode Island, or Annapolis, Maryland . This 102-foot motor yacht provides the private, luxury experience of Southeast Alaska you've always imagined. Alaska boasts the most itineraries of all our destinations. TIP 1: DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE. Inside Passage. and bears while enjoying some of the best fishing in Alaska. Great Bear Rainforest Expedition. Special Offers. If you worry about seasickness, an Inside Passage trip is the best Alaska cruise itinerary versus a sailing where your ship transits rougher, open waters. Charlie's Charts North to Alaska (Victoria, BC to Galcier Bay Alaska) by Charles and Margo Wood 4th ED. Juneau Shore Excursion: Paddle with Whales! These 7-day cruises usually spend a day in Glacier Bay or another glacier area, and two days at sea. Tayana Vancouver 42. Best Boats 2022. Kayak Adventure (From $451.24) Expedition Black Bear (From $389.00) Inside Passage Sea Kayaking in Haines (From $152.70) Kayak and Boat Small Group Tour (From $203.85) See all Inside Passage experiences on Tripadvisor. One-thousand-foot cliffs tower above the lagoon, and several waterfalls splash into it. Cruise ships in the Alaska Inside Passage are a wide range of sizes, with big ships reaching the thousands of passengers. In-depth power cruiser reviews that give you an inside look at new and used boats of all cruising styles, shapes, and sizes. Their cruises are great educationally but . Below are a few of the key highlight areas on an Alaskan small ship cruise. Passengers can often see whales from the deck While they cruise Alaska's inside passage. Update on The Boat Company 2021 Season Protecting Our Valued Guests & Crew Is Our Priority. Cruise Line: Cunard Cruise Line; Cruise Ship: Queen Elizabeth; Ports of Call: Vancouver, At Sea, Glacier Bay . TIP 5: DECLARE ANY FOOD ITEMS. The Inside Passage (French: Passage Intrieur) is a coastal route for ships and boats along a network of passages which weave through the islands on the Pacific Northwest coast of the North American Fjordland.The route extends from southeastern Alaska in the United States, through western British Columbia in Canada, to northwestern Washington state in the United States. This area contains the largest intact temperate rainforest on the planet. The mileage between Bellingham and Ketchikan is roughly 680 nautical miles so we plan make an average of fifty-eight nautical miles per day, which works out to being about eight hours underway. Check Latest Price. Best Overall Choice. We offer two of these one-way 12-day training trips annually. 01 . Explore Alaska on the Wild Dawn. One year a boat had a fuel hose fail. TIP 4: ALLOW ENOUGH TIME FOR GOING THROUGH BORDER CONTROL AND BOARDING. Beneteau Swift Trawler 44. John Guillote. 2022 Northbound . Sitka, Skagway, Ketchikan, Anchorage, Vancouver, Inside Passage, Kenai Fjords, Hubbard Glacier Inside Passage Alaska. Please contact an agent today to enquire about booking this tour as a private tour for your group. The Best of Ireland. Swift Trawler 50. It doesn't matter that Princess sells the cruise as an Inside Passage cruise - the ship won't sail there. Once a route plied by Klondike gold rushers, Alaska's Inside Passage spans 500 miles of shoreline jam-packed with some of the world's most amazing landscapes and abundant wildlife. Seaside towns nestle beside coastal mountains where thrill seekers whale watch, kayak, dog mush, and even snorkel. Our Alaska cruise adventures deliver action, exploration, and the unexpectedpaddling and hiking, calving glaciers, Glacier Bay National Park, bears, whales, and polar plunges. Price: $185.00. Obviously when it gets really rough the bigger boat is king so compromise is best. Discovery's scenic wildlife cruises of Alaska's Inside Passage offer a perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. Both of our boater education cruises run approximately 690 nautical miles of the Inside Passage between northern Washington state, British Columbia, Canada, and the southern panhandle of Alaska. Inside Passage and Rocky Mountain Adventure. Whale-watching & cultural tour with Homalco Tours in Campbell River. Popular Inside Passage cruise ships Explore all cruise ships Safari Endeavour Alaska from $ 383 / day 9.3 Superb 4 Reviews Wilderness Discoverer Alaska from $ 256 / day 8.7 Fabulous 9 Reviews Wilderness Explorer Alaska from $ 361 / day 9.2 Superb 5 Reviews Safari Explorer Alaska from $ 514 / day Baranof Dream Alaska from $ 576 / day 7.6 Good Alaska inside passage small ship cruises offer a relaxed atmosphere, with more window and balcony options a smaller, narrower boat means fewer interior cabins and more water-view staterooms. You'll visit beautiful cities, historical sights, and, most importantly, great natural parks and natural viewpoints that will leave you breathless. Routes take into account the seasonal movement of wildlife and scenic wilderness of the Tongass National Forest. Its more a testament to the beauty and bounty of SE Alaska than it is to my skills as a photographer. Once you get settled, your first outing should be to see Alaska's capital city from above. Embark on the Safari Explorer for an 8-day cruise to Glacier Bay National Park, Chichagof Island, and Peril Strait as you cruise from Juneau to Sitka, Alaska. On a roundtrip Inside Passage cruise, enjoy quicker access to Alaska while also exploring the friendly ports of British Columbia. Less a cruise, more a coastal adventure - this scenic route through Alaska's islands is easily explored using the state-run ferry system. And so here we are again. While beautiful, the waters of the Inside Passage offer plenty of navigational challenges. From its beautiful teak wood decks, to its 360-degree . Leading up to the departure, our focus was on the unfamiliar characteristics and additional dangers of the . Best Overall: Norwegian Cruise Line. Norwegian boasts that it has the "youngest fleet cruising to Alaska," 1 and the Norwegian Bliss is NCL's newest ship (debuted in April 2018). From the Inside Passage and Prince William Sound, to sailings along the coast to Seattle, our custom private Alaska cruise options show you the state at its best. A bike trip, family time, art, writing, back to work, an article on the trip for SBM- hopefully December publication, and then I started sketching out a one man show based on events from the trip. BC Ferries may not rival the QE II in size, but is majestic enough to carry freight trailers, family sedans, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and touring bicycles. The smallest boat in the Inside Passage offering cruises is 8 guests, two examples being the Westward . Welcome to Alaska's Inside Passage. When Beneteau started introducing passage-making "fast" trawlers like the Swift Trawler 44 back in 2011, lots of folks in the North American boating market sort of scratched their heads. Ta Yang, builder of Tayana sailboats, has been building capable cruising boats forever, it seems. Private tours of this popular route is available. It comprises channels and straits between the mainland and islands (including Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Can., and the Alexander Archipelago, Alaska) that protect it from Pacific storms. The Great Bear Rainforest (north part of Canada's Inside Passage) - Highlights are spectacular fjords, incredible bear viewing of grizzly bears and the rare white spirit bear, rainforests, hot springs and rich First Nations cultural history. This is a great opportunity to see humpback and/or orca whales, Dall's porpoises, sea lions, seals, bald eagles, and more on a boat that holds a maximum of 40 guests; compared with typical cruise line tours which hold 140 guests. From the comfort of your ship, you'll enjoy 360-degree views of the Alexander Archipelago, a collection of over 1,000 coastal . COST. Publish date: Jan 7, 2022. Hi All, I'm looking at the Alaska inside passage roundtrip from Seattle. Book by June 30, 2022, to receive free roundtrip airfare from Seattle to Alaska on select departures on Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness and Wild Alaska Escapes, or free one-way airfare on select departures on Treasures of the Inside Passage: Alaska & British Columbia and A Remarkable Journey to Alaska, British Columbia . Numerous cruise ships ply the waters of the 314-mile (507-km) Inside Passage en route to Alaska. Comparison Chart of Top 10 boat for inside passage 1. Welcome aboard for a custom Alaskan adventure cruise on the beautiful yacht Wild Dawn. Typically, this is a round-trip cruise from Seattle or Vancouver, then back to the same port, with stops at three or four port towns, such as Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and either Sitka, Haines, or Victoria, B.C. The Inside Passage - Small Boats Magazine From The Editor The Inside Passage From Issue July 2016 When I read Quill Goodman's account of his Race to Alaska in 2015, I was amazed at how difficult the conditions were. The best time to see whales in Alaska is from May to the end of September. The Robert Harris-designed Tayana Vancouver 42 has been a mainstay of the serious cruising fleet since the day it was launched in 1979, and is still in demand today. Victoria, one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest, puts its British charm on display. A Chance to Visit the "Emerald City" When you cruise to Alaska from Seattle, spend extra time exploring the city's landscapes and uncovering the origin of its nickname. This unique small boat cruise allows you unparalleled personal experiences with the real Alaska. PassageMaker Magazine, the cruising under power authority, covers the boats, owners, gear, and destinations of those interested in seaworthy, ocean-going motorboats traditional full-displacement or faster semi-displacement trawlers, efficient lobster-style Down East . Contact us for a quote with additional "round trip" savings (1-800-677-7245 or charter@sanjuanyachting.com ). Less a cruise, more a coastal adventure - this scenic route through Alaska's islands is easily explored using the state-run ferry system. Whale Watching Cruise. Some sailboat activity is also present in Prince William Sound and in and around Whittier and Seward, both of which have deepwater ports. TIP 2: PLAN YOUR ISLAND HOPPING CAREFULLY. The northbound trip departs from Bellingham, WA and you will fly home from Ketchikan, AK. Explore this majestic region and its wildlife by skiff, kayak, and paddle board. 30 to 35' boats are best. Uncover treasures in the Great Land on an Alaska cruise from Vancouver. Tracy Arm fjord, located south of Juneau, offers breathtaking views including waterfalls, sheer rock walls, icebergs, and a variety of wildlife, such as black bears. No Product Score Action; 1: Journeys Through the Inside Passage: Seafaring Adventures Along the Coast of British Columbia and Alaska (Caribou Classics) 9.8: The Alaska cruise season begins in May, when daily high temperatures generally range from 53F to 62F, and daily lows are in the . TIP 3: CONSIDER WHETHER YOU NEED A CABIN. 10 Best Alaska Small Ship Cruises from Ketchikan for 2022-2023. . Southbound Inside Passage Wilderness Circle Tour. (May 29 - Aug 14) All Ketchikan Cruises. porpoises, harbor seals, brown bears, blacktail deer, bald eagles and a variety of marine birds from the boat's expansive topside observation . Best Boat For Inside Passage Our team scanned 49867 reviews before putting any suggestions for the boat for inside passage in this article. Our experienced captain and crew will guide you on an amazing trip through the Inside Passage of Alaska. Larry Csonka refers to Wild Alaska as ".the most unique sportfishing . Ta Yang, builder of Tayana sailboats, has been building capable cruising boats forever, it seems. Day 1 Fly to Juneau 1 View on Map Enjoy your direct flight from Anchorage or Seattle into Juneau. Best of all, wherever you go, you'll find yourself surrounded by nature at its bestwhich is why so many Pacific Northwest sailors have come to regard it as their dream summer cruising grounds. Maximum of eight anglers per week, 4-anglers per boat and guide. Alaska Roundtrip cruise from Vancouver, June 4, 2022. Bob Lane is a retired Seattle Times reporter; Polly Lane is a Times business reporter. The annual Slowboat Flotilla is heading up the Inside Passage, expecting to reach Sitka, Alaska, around June 5. Beneteau Swift Trawler 44. Exploring the Inside Passage to Alaska: A Cruising Guide from the San Juan Islands to Glacier Bay [Douglass, Don, Hemingway-Douglass, Reanne] on Amazon.com. But the most common small ship Inside Passage size is under 20 guests, with ships in the 50-100 range also being common. Wilderness Travel, my host for this trip uses the MV Westward , an 8 passenger, 86 foot wooden yacht built in 1924, the first charter yacht in Alaska. In case you hadn't heard, the fall 2021 boat show season was one for the record books. Juneau to Sitka. Flotilla leaders are available to help troubleshoot problems, and we have practice obtaining parts in the most remote places along the Inside Passage. With peak whale watching being from mid June to mid August. The main systems that we check are plumbing, electrical, pumps, and the engines.