Our longtime partners at Alaskan Dream are closing their doors as of February 5, 2026. If your trip has been affected, we can help you. See the more than 30+ Alaska small ship cruises we have available or simply contact us today for the fastest, personalized service.
While Alaskan Dream has ceased operations, details about the company remain here and you can learn about other operators in our best small Alaskan cruise lines, compiled from decades of our experts and clients sailing aboard.
Alaskan Dream Cruises was known for exploring Alaska through the lens of authentic Alaskans. By meeting and spending time with real Alaskans, Alaskan Dream guests experienced an unfiltered Alaska.
Alaskan Dream Cruises History
Allen Marine, the parent company of Alaskan Dream Cruises, pioneered aluminum high-speed passenger vessels with water jet propulsion systems. The company was started 1967 by Bob and Betty Allen with deep Alaskan roots running through exploration, industry and the Tlingit Kaagwaantaan Clan. The company began multi-night Alaskan cruises in 2010 after they acquired two former Cruise West small ships and a high-speed catamaran formerly operated by Glacier Bay Tours and Cruises.
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Alaskan Dream Cruises & AdventureSmith Explorations
The Alaskan Dream was one of the initial Glacier Bay Tours boats where AdventureSmith founder Todd Smith worked as a historian and naturalist. During the time he worked as guide in Southeast Alaska, everyone knew Allen Marine because of his high-speed catamarans. They had an established presence of twenty years’ experience and the infrastructure required to run day tours in towns. When Alaskan Dream Cruises introduced itself as an overnight small ship cruising company in 2010, Todd knew their background, knowledge and experience would bring them success and our two companies worked together for 15 years. In line with our company ethos, Alaskan Dream Cruises was conceived with the notion that travelers come to Alaska in search of a deep personal connection with the true Alaska.
Alaskan Dream Cruises
Alaskan Dream Cruises hallmark was that guests got to experience villages and towns that are so far off the radar that most travelers had never heard of them. True Alaskan adventure and colorful native heritage were a focus. Longhouses, fishing villages, and their private calling at Hobart Bay were trademark of their thoughtful handcrafted itineraries that also included marquee attractions like Glacier Bay National Park, Tracy Arm and Misty Fjords.
Uniquely, each route began or ended in Sitka, the company’s home port. With all itineraries one way, travelers always ended up in a different port from where they started. This means they covered more ground than other small ship itineraries that often cruise round trip from a single port.
Alaskan Dream Cruises Fleet
The Alaskan Dream fleet consisted of four small ships ranging in capacity from 40-80 guests. Named for Southeast Alaska’s legendary ABC Islands, the ships all have shallow drafts (the distance from the waterline to the lowest part of the ship). This allows them to explore up close and anchor or dock in small ports inaccessible to larger boats. While by no means luxurious or new, Alaskan Dream ships were perfectly suited to their task at hand, exploring Alaska’s wilderness and communities up close.
- 40-guest Alaskan Dream
- 49-guest Baranof Dream
- 49-guest Admiralty Dream
- 80-guest Chichagof Dream
