- Viewing a breaching humpback whale from the ships
- Sampling fresh Alaska salmon during fancy dinner aboard your cruise ship
- Exploring the culture of Alaska’s native americans in Sitka
- Taking a stroll through Ketchikan, which is not accessible by car
- Spotting a bald eagle soaring through the skies
Best Things to Do in Alaska Small Ship Cruise
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Things to do in Alaska Small Ship Cruise - Expert's guide
1. Wildlife Viewing
Visitors to Alaska will find it one of the best places in the world for up close wildlife spotting. When you visit Alaska on a small ship cruise, you have a unique perspective to get a 360 degree view as you glide through glacial waters - bring your binoculars and keep your eyes peeled on the banks for moose, herons, bears, bald eagles and more!
2. Whale Watching
Of course one of the biggest advantages of being on a ship is the chance to catch a whale breach! Usually the ship's captain and staff are great about letting passengers know if they can expect to see whales and give an announcement of when you should venture outside. Have your cold weather gear ready!
3. History Walks
Alaska may be outdoorsy but there’s also a ton of history and culture to be found for those adventurous sorts who prefer a museum thrill to the thrill of whitewater rafting. Exploring the indiginous cultures and customs of Alaska is a key part of any Alaska cruise. Top ports for history buffs include Ketchikan, Sitka, and Haines.
4. Fishing
Alaskan Salmon anyone? Now, you won’t be able to keep your catches but rest assured your Alaska cruise will serve plenty of fresh fish at dinner. For now, just enjoy the solitude, the fresh air, and the calming, methodical motion of fishing. Fly fishing is one of the more popular types for cruisers in Alaska and many excursions include an expert guide to show you the ropes!
5. Kayaking
Being out on the water on a cruise ship is great, but another mode of transport you may get to enjoy on an Alaska cruise is kayaking! A great way to get up even closer to Alaska’s wildlife, kayaking is an invigorating sport and typically excursions can be found for full or half days.
6. Landscape & Wildlife Photography
The scenery in Alaska is second to none and every time of day reveals a new perspective - through the chill blue glacier water or the fresh Alaska air at sunrise. There are ample opportunities to capture the Final Frontier landscapes and wildlife, and oftentimes the excursion choices will feature a session with a professional photographer.
7. Dog Sledding Demonstration
Safe to say that for the majority of tourists to Alaska - international and domestic alike - dog sledding is far from the day to day. But for many small towns in Alaska, raising, training and running sled dogs is a way of life! A popular cruise excursion might involve visiting an official iditarod sled team to learn more about how these teams are put together for this most unique sport.
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C
CLACruiser
Jul 2022
The Best Way to See the Inside Passage
We absolutely loved out 10 night cruise on the American Constellation, round trip out of Juneau, AK this summer. There were so many highlights - scenery, wildlife, ...
T
The Ultimate Alaska
Jun 2022
Unique way to experience Alaska
My 11-day cruise on the Constellation, American CruiseLine, was fabulous! Such a great experience. The small ship is the best way to really experience Alaska. I soun...
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