If you are seeking Alaskan Dream Cruises reviews, you’re in the right place. Our cruise experts have extensive experience with all small ship cruise lines in Alaska. This review is the result of several sailings aboard Alaskan Dream ships. It covers what sets Alaskan Dream Cruises apart and will help you determine if this cruise line is right for you.
ON THIS PAGE – Alaskan Dream Cruise Reviews:
What Sets Alaskan Dream Apart
A Review of their Itineraries
A Review of Alaskan Dream Ships
Cuisine – What to Expect
Activities, Service & Crew
Read More Traveler Reviews of Alaskan Dream
Get Aboard with Alaskan Dream
What Sets Alaskan Dream Cruises Apart
Cruising with Alaskan Dream is like visiting a new place with a close friend who has lived there since birth. And indeed, they have. Owned and operated by a longtime Alaskan family of indigenous Tlingit heritage. The line has an unrivaled history and unique access to the people and culture of Alaska that distinguishes it from other small Alaskan cruise lines.
What sets Alaskan Dream apart are the visits to authentic towns way off the radar of most cruises and the local people you meet along the way. Simply put they focus on authentic Alaskan culture. They call it “true Alaskan hospitality” and we concur; it is unique in Alaska cruising through the lens of authentic Alaskans.
Of course you will see glaciers, whales, eagles and bears. You’ll also explore off the ship on naturalist guided hikes, kayaking and small craft excursions. But choose Alaskan Dream first and foremost for the hospitable people and the authentic places passed over by other cruises.
Cruising Alaska with Locals
In addition to the on-board naturalists, historians and expedition leaders Alaska Dream utilizes local people, many quite prominent in their communities, to introduce guests to their home.
For instance, by day two on the cruise I took with Alaskan Dream, our group had already met five fascinating locals including Fred Olson, the Cultural Resources Coordinator for the village of Kasaan; Joe Wilson, the former mayor of Saxman; Ryan, a former commercial fisherman and son of a cannery worker; a carver named Stormy who gave my kids an adze and let them whack away at his cedar canoe; and a grandmother named Phyllis who is the last native Haida speaker in her village. Each of these connections gave a unique understanding and appreciation of Alaska and its people.
By meeting and spending time with local Alaskans, where they work and where they play, you experience Alaska intimately. It is through the beauty of her people that Alaska reveals its true magic.
Authentic Alaskan Towns
Another reason our Alaskan Dream cruise reviews come back so positive is that guests get to experience villages and towns that are so far off the radar that most travelers have never heard of them.
The longhouse and totems in Kasaan, a remote village of about 60 Haida people, are a highlight. The beachfront Tlingit village of Kake has a subsistence-based lifestyle and boasts the world’s tallest totem pole. Pelican, a tiny fishing village on scenic Lisianski Inlet is built almost entirely along a waterfront boardwalk. Metlakatla is the only settlement of indigenous Tsimshian people and the only Indian reservation in Alaska. Wrangell is a quirky logging town at the mouth of the famous Stikine River. These are places rarely, if ever, visited by other ships, large or small.
Alaskan Dream also visits the popular ports of Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka. But even here the experience is distinguished by a thoroughly local lens.
In Juneau, Alaska’s Capital city, they ditch the crowded downtown cruise port for the sanctuary of Auk Bay Harbor. A working fishing dock in a quiet neighborhood, Auk Bay is known for beautiful views, bald eagles, harbor seals and world-class salmon and halibut fishing. If your cruise embarks or disembarks in Juneau, consider adding a day or two of fishing before or after your cruise.
Cruises that embark in Ketchikan explore beyond Creek Street and totem park to the village of Saxman for a glimpse into a historic and modern native community.
In Sitka, Alaskan Dream’s hometown, guides inevitably have personal stories that bring the historic town to life. Sitka’s unique indigenous and Russian history, combined with incredible wildlife and laid-back fishing town vibe make it worth an extra day before or after your cruise.
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A Review of Alaskan Dream Cruise Itineraries
Alaskan Dream offers a choice of seven distinct Inside Passage itineraries ranging from six to nine days long.
Uniquely, each route begins or ends in Sitka, the company’s home port. All itineraries are one way, meaning they end up in a different port from where they started. This means you’ll cover more ground than other small ship itineraries that often cruise round trip from a single port. But you’ll also have to plan flights accordingly. Other embarkation and disembarkation ports include Ketchikan, Juneau and Wrangell.
The 9-day Alaska’s Inside Passage Sojourn and Ice of the Inside Passage are two of the most comprehensive itineraries available aboard any Alaska cruise line, spanning Alaska’s entire Inside Passage from Glacier Bay in the north to Misty Fjords in the south.
The 8-day Last Frontier Adventure and Glacier Bay & Island Adventure fit the mold of common small ship routes between Juneau and Sitka with a visit to Glacier Bay National Park. Incredible scenery, abundant wildlife and popular ports make these a solid choice.
The 8-day Wild Alaska Odyssey cruise is similar but trades Wrangell for Juneau. In keeping with their authentic ethos, Wrangell is much less crowded but may have more limited flight options.
The 6-day North to True Alaska Expedition Cruise is part of a trend of shorter, less expensive small ship itineraries in Alaska. It manages to squeeze in a lot in a short time and is the only itinerary to visit historic Skagway.
All cruises, with the exception of Alaska’s Ultimate Adventure, include at least one day of cruising Glacier Bay National Park. The Ultimate Adventure is the most active of Alaskan Dream’s programs with longer kayak excursions, more demanding hikes and extended time for wilderness exploration.
Alaskan Dream Cruises Fleet Review
The Alaskan Dream fleet consists 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, these ships are perfectly suited to the task at hand, exploring Alaska’s wilderness and communities up close. Compare the Alaskan Dream Cruises fleet below:
- The 40-guest Alaskan Dream is the only overnight catamaran cruising in Alaska. The stable design is a good choice for travelers concerned about seasickness. Her increased cruising speed means she can squeeze more Alaska into a week of cruising.
- The 49-guest Baranof Dream and Admiralty Dream are simple, casual sister ships perfect for cruising close to shore for wildlife viewing.
- The 80-guest Chichagof Dream is the largest and newest ship in the fleet with personalized climate controls in every room.
- Alaskan Dream previously operated the 12-guest Kruzof Explorer, but she has been removed from service. Check the linked ship page for updates on her return.
All cabins in the fleet have panoramic windows (with the exception of two category A cabins aboard Chichagof Dream). Most staterooms are quite small, with an average of about 90-120 square feet. Deluxe staterooms and suites are 150-200 square feet and are worth the investment if you need more space. All staterooms have ensuite bathrooms which are likewise tiny (think maritime efficiency). The Chichagof Dream has ensuite air controls inside each cabin while others have central air.
The 40-guest Alaskan Dream is the outlier of the fleet. Her smaller size and catamaran hull distinguish her among other small ships in Alaska. The unique design means larger view windows in cabins and common areas. The forward-facing Vista View cabins are a favorite and offer the same view as from the wheelhouse. The most distinctive feature is her speed, which at 13 knots, means she can travel farther and include more towns and wilderness areas than any other small ship in the destination.
A variety of staterooms ensure a wide range of pricing options across the fleet. We recommend travelers consider upper-deck cabins for two reasons. First, the upper decks are farther away from the noise of engines, generators and dining rooms. Second, the upper decks have immediate access to the outer observation decks, so you won’t miss any action when wildlife is spotted.
Overall, the fleet is older, and the ships show their age. The ships are overdue for refurbishment, so ask our experts about current renovations or alternatives to suit your preferences. Thankfully since the fleet is Alaska-based, ships can more easily (i.e. than other operators) receive updates in the company’s Sitka-based shipyard.
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Cuisine Aboard Alaskan Dream Cruises
Our many expert- and traveler-written Alaskan Dream cruise reviews post-trip are unanimous. The food aboard is delicious. Chefs arrange menus highlighting local seafood including salmon, halibut and crab. Our favorite dinners included Southeastern Alaskan Dungeness crab, blackened halibut and shrimp with grits.
We also enjoyed seafood at most lunches including an Alaskan crab BLT, halibut tacos and a Northwest seafood pot pie. Breakfasts were hearty or healthy depending on your taste. All meals are cooked to order with a selection of three nightly specials or a standard menu that includes beef, chicken and vegetarian options. Special dietary requests and kids’ meals were no problem. Take note of the full-time pastry chef who provides a constant stream of fresh baked breads, desserts and afternoon cookies.
Off-Vessel Activities
Active exploration away from the ship on small craft excursions, shore walks, nature hiking and sea kayaking are included aboard every Alaskan Dream cruise. Stand-up paddleboarding is a newer offering—itinerary, ship and weather depending. These light activities are typically guided or available during free time, and designed more for hands-on discovery than working up a sweat or bagging peaks. Activity days are interspersed with port visits and wilderness cruising.
There are other cruise lines that are more focused on off-vessel activities. So, if you’re seeking Alaska adventure, contact us for a recommendation or read more about the best small Alaska cruises and cruise lines.
Alaskan Dream Service & Crew
The local vibe extends onto the ships with crew hired from Alaska whenever possible. Hearing their personal stories of home enhances the feeling that you are experiencing Alaska through its people.
Alaskan Dream’s local guides would frequently be in the middle of their tour when they inevitably ran into friends and acquaintances that provided insights unavailable on conventional tours. People genuinely waved, stopped to say hi, and welcomed us into their small communities.
On our most recent expert’s experience aboard an Alaskan Dream ship, she and fellow guests were treated to Tlingit folktales over the loudspeaker from their Native guide each night. You likely won’t find this sailing with another operator.
Overall, the service aboard Alaskan Dream is a priority, with crew members noted for greeting every guest with a smile and a “how can I help you” attitude. As with most operators, you can expect a mix of tenured and younger guides.
Our Alaskan Dream Cruises Credentials
AdventureSmith Explorations has a long history with Alaskan Dream Cruises and the vessels they sail in Alaska’s Inside Passage. In fact, our founder Todd Smith helped to pioneer this type of activity-based small ship adventure cruising in the 1990s as a naturalist-guide aboard some of these very ships.
Learn more about Alaskan Dream Cruises as a company and our connection to them. We send hundreds of passengers to Alaska each summer cruise season, and partner with 150 different vessels globally and 70 different operator partners, so we can offer a big-picture view at the value each ship and cruise will bring to our travelers.
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