We recently checked off a bucket list destination: Alaska! Imagine embarking on a journey through one of the world's most awe-inspiring landscapes, where glaciers, mountain ranges, and abundant wildlife surround you at every turn. Alaska offers vast landscapes to explore, and one of the most captivating ways to experience the 49th state is by cruising! Alaskan Dream Cruises turned our dream into a reality by inviting us on one of their intimate, small vessel itineraries that are offered May through September each year. If you're seeking a truly immersive and unique adventure in The Last Frontier, here are our recommendations and Top 3 reasons to opt for a small ship cruise experience with Alaskan Dream Cruises.
1. A Cozy & Personalized Experience Aboard the Ship
From the moment we stepped aboard the Alaskan Dream, we knew this trip was going to be special. With its intimate size—just 104 feet in length and 19 staterooms to accommodate 40 passengers—there was an immediate sense of camaraderie among our shipmates and the crew who made us feel like cherished guests rather than just another passenger. We made ourselves at home in one of their AA staterooms, which includes a queen bed, ocean-view windows, a private show-let (toilet-shower combo separated by a curtain), as well as complimentary gear to use for expeditions, including binoculars, rain jackets, rain pants and boots. Outside of our stateroom, there were plenty of other areas for us to relax, like the Vista View Lounge and multiple observation decks providing prime viewing of the beautiful Alaskan landscape and its wildlife. We also took full advantage of the ship’s open-wheelhouse policy, dependent on conditions, which allowed guests to interact with the captain throughout the journey. From the bridge, we had the opportunity to hear stories from Captain Eric about his time at sea with Alaskan Dream Cruises.
The dining experiences on board exceeded our expectations with a daily changing menu that featured dishes inspired by the region’s cultural influences. Dinner service was always a highlight as we gathered in the dining room to swap stories with our shipmates about the things we saw or experienced during the day and we never turned down the complimentary glass of wine. After dinner, we would always end up in the Vista View Lounge to either watch a presentation prepared by our Expedition Leaders, play one of the many games available, or enjoy a cocktail curated by our ship’s bartender. Overall, life on board the Alaskan Dream offered a level of intimacy that larger cruises, in our opinion, can’t match.
2. Immerse Yourself in the Culture & Coastal Towns of Alaska’s Inside Passage
Alaskan Dream Cruises itineraries are designed to be memorable by going beyond conventional tourist routes, reaching remote and lesser-known destinations inaccessible to larger ships. During our 8-day, 7-night Glacier Bay & Island Adventure cruise starting from Sitka, we had the privilege of exploring small, charming, coastal towns like: Kake, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Pelican. At each port, we were met by local hosts who shared captivating stories about the indigenous Alaskan culture and histories of their communities, giving us a glimpse into authentic Alaska. Each stop offered a unique look into life in Alaska and each port brought with it exciting experiences that you won’t want to miss.
KAKE - Our local guide Martha, one of 600-year round residents, met us bright and early to give us a tour of present-day Kake. Tlingit people have inhabited Kake for thousands of years and the small town is home to a 128-foot totem pole, one of the world’s largest. During the time of our visit, we gained a deeper understanding of their rich culture and traditions from locals who shared stories and Native art at a local community center.
WRANGELL - Wrangell is the only town in Alaska to have been under the jurisdiction of three flags and ruled by four nations: the Tlingit, Russia, England and the United States. We began the day learning about the community’s history at the Chiefs House and the Wrangell Museum. We also visited Petroglyph Beach to view the highest concentration of Native American petroglyphs in Southeast Alaska. There have been 40 petroglyphs found to date, all of which depict wildlife or faces. It’s believed to be a form of writing, communication or a way to record events. In Wrangell, we also had the optional opportunity to board a heated, high-speed jet boat up the Stikine River to LeConte Glacier. This was a high adrenaline activity that we thoroughly enjoyed. The views were spectacular around every bend, including waterfalls and snowcapped mountain peaks.
PETERSBURG - By far one of our favorite stops was the charming fishing town of Petersburg, founded by Norwegian fisherman in the later 1800’s, and known as Alaska’s “Little Norway.” We experienced the Scandinavian culture at the Sons of Norway Hall where we watched a folk-dance show performed by local youth and enjoyed some homemade baked treats with coffee. The day continued as we explored the Alaska wilderness on the eastern side of Frederick Sound before returning back to town. Prior to disembarking for the day, Captain Eric recommended we try the best fish and chips in town, so of course we had to make a quick pit stop at Coastal Cold Storage which is open for breakfast and lunch. We’re so glad we did because he was right, it really was the best fish and chips we’ve ever had.
PELICAN - Located in the Lisianski Inlet is the small fishing community of Pelican. The town is a mile long boardwalk built on pilings, which is home to 100 year-round residents. We were given a tour of Yakobi Fisheries, one of the local fishing businesses and got to watch the daily catch get sorted, cleaned, and packaged for customers to enjoy. We also spent time at Rosie’s, taking Duck Fart shots, playing pool, and chatting with other passengers. Pelican was such a unique town that you would never be able to experience onboard a larger cruise ship.
ORCA POINT LODGE - This is the sister company of Alaskan Dream’s very own, exclusive, day-lodge on Colt Island. Here we were able to dine on wild Alaska salmon, crab, among other things and nestle up to a cozy beachside fire to roast marshmallows and share stories with the other passengers. This private retreat was also equipped with corn hole, which we played multiple rounds of with many of the passengers and crew members we bonded with during our journey.
GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK - We checked off another national park from our list. Will was able to get his National Park Passport Sticker and an Orca Christmas ornament to commemorate our trip. We hiked around for an hour or so, ran into a giant porcupine, and spent quality time on the beach watching the canoes come into the harbor. Our time at the National Park ended with a polar plunge! The water was 55 degrees that day so we made sure to dress in layers before making our way down to the dock to jump in the chilling water. One by one the brave souls took turns plunging into the water and eventually we were up. As we stepped up and grabbed hands, our fellow shipmates began to count us down from 3, 2. 1. JUMP! The cold temperature of the water below smacked us like a bag of bricks! Thankfully a shot of whiskey was waiting for us to warm up and celebrate the feat! Later that evening, aboard the ship, we were inducted as new members of the “Killer Whale Club” by the Expedition Leaders. We never thought a polar plunge would be something we’d do, however, we are so glad we did it!
3. Encounters with Wildlife
One of the most exhilarating aspects of cruising on the Alaskan Dream was the intimate connection it provided with Alaska's natural wonders. The smaller size of our ship allowed us to navigate narrow passages and shallow bays that larger vessels can't reach, bringing us close to glaciers, floating through fjords, and anchoring in secluded coves where we often had the landscape to ourselves for bonfires, kayaking, and paddle-boarding. Highlights included hiking in Frederick Sound and cruising through Tracy Arm-Fjord, often described as "a wild, unfinished Yosemite" with its glaciers, waterfalls, and granite cliffs rising from sea level to about 4,000 feet. At each stop, our knowledgeable Expedition Leaders, Erica and Liana, would share fascinating facts about Alaska's wildlife and the unique landscapes.
Wildlife sightings aren’t always guaranteed which made our experiences even more special because we saw some incredible wildlife throughout our journey. We’ll never forget the day we saw a pod of orcas swimming just a few meters from our ship. We hurried to the observation deck, coffee in hand, to watch these magnificent creatures glide gracefully through the water. Seeing orca during our time was the one thing Will wanted to see and we were fortunate to see multiple pods of these beautiful marine creatures. We also spotted a variety of wildlife from humpback and gray whales to playful otters, soaring eagles and curious sea lions. We even spotted bears foraging along the shore and puffins darting over water with mountain goats looking over to us as we cruised on by. All of these unforgettable moments of connection with nature were a rare and treasured part of our week at sea.
Our Alaskan journey with Alaskan Dream Cruises was truly an adventure of a lifetime and one that we will cherish forever. As we disembarked for the final time, we knew this wouldn’t be goodbye. Alaska has captured our hearts, and we vow to return someday to explore even more of its breathtaking wonders. Until then, we’ll carry the memories of this incredible voyage with us, a reminder of the magic that awaits in the Last Frontier.
You can be sure the incredible onboard experience, the unique stops and cultural experiences, and the wildlife encounters will knock your socks off and offer more than enough reasons to start thinking about checking this item off your bucket list. For anyone looking to cruise in Alaska, it’s not too early to start planning with Alaskan Dream Cruises for their 2025 season from May to September! Follow the link below to book your small vessel voyage and have the experience of a lifetime!
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