Find all you need to know about small luxury Alaska cruises, including which have the best amenities and what sets our definition of luxury apart from more mainstream cruises. We’ve hand picked and personally inspected the options to bring you only the finest vessels and experiences. Start here to learn more about the best luxury small ship Alaska cruises, then let us create you a bespoke experience.
ON THIS PAGE – Luxury Alaska Cruises:
Luxury in Alaska – Small Ship vs. Big Ship
The Experience
Luxury Vessels – Small Ships vs Yachts
Alaska Luxury Charters
Planning the Best Small Luxury Alaska Cruise
More Alaska Luxury Cruise Resources
View the Top Luxury Alaska Ships
Why Smaller is Better When It Comes to Luxury Alaska Cruising
While you might find more “traditional” luxury amenities aboard larger cruise ships, know this: When you choose a massive cruise line with 3,000 other guests, you are choosing to sacrifice up-close and active off-vessel adventure exploration for extreme onboard luxury. But you don’t have to. You can have both adventure and upscale comfort on a luxury small ship Alaska cruise.
Sure, we still aren’t talking about onboard hair salons, 24-hour room service, opera performances or gala nights. That’s not our Alaska style. (Read more in our Alaska Big Ship vs Small Ship primer.) But we are talking about Alaska’s most elegant small ships, along with generous upgrades on the no-frills expedition ships that we know and love. Why not look to a luxury Alaska cruise that puts nature first?
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The Alaska Luxury Small Ship Cruise Experience
Fact: All of our Alaska small ship cruises provide a comfortable vessel with a focus on exploring wilderness landscapes and incredible wildlife through daily guided shore excursions and off-vessel explorations. It is at the very core of our business model. So then the question becomes, how is a small luxury Alaska cruise different from a typical cruise? It’s still an adventure, but it’s with elevated service and top of the line accommodations in their small ship class.
Traditional expedition-style Alaska vessels are your baseline boat with all the basic amenities. These could include a RV-style bathroom, sinks on the outside in cabin and a buffet breakfast and lunch.
When you choose a luxury Alaska cruise expect generous inclusions, beautiful cabins and the finest amenities. Find a wider array of cabin options with two-room suites and even in room Jacuzzi tubs and heated tile floors. Cabins aboard upscale luxury yachts and small ships come with exceptional view windows and/or private balconies and may offer bathrobes, larger mattress dimensions and added turn-down service.
Elsewhere on board, expect gourmet cuisine, fresh Alaskan seafood, plated meal service, larger lounges and public spaces, spas with a complimentary massage, superior service and top-rated naturalist guides with a high crew-to-guide ratio. Many luxury Alaska cruises are also all-inclusive with activities, excursions and even alcohol included in the price.
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Which Vessels Offer the Best Small Luxury Alaska Cruises
Your luxury Alaska cruise experience will be profoundly impacted by the vessel you choose. Each small ship and yacht on our luxury list has features and amenities that makes it unique. Read the short ship highlights below then allow us to help you narrow down the options to focus on the best luxury Alaska small ships to suit your needs and interests.
Alaska Luxury Yachts
- The 22-guest Safari Quest is a top choice with a casual elegance and upscale amenities including memory-foam mattresses, heated tile floors and private balconies in Captain category cabins.
- The 8-guest Golden Eagle is our premier high-end Alaska yacht charter. This is the ultimate way to go to make your trip truly your own.
We have an array of other yachts that might make the list depending on your idea of luxury. If your own personal definition involves the top exclusivity in a place, we might recommend something like the 8-guest Sea Wolf (the best experience for Glacier Bay cruises) or the 8-guest Westward who’s history and charm make her high on some bucket lists. Her list of past distinguished guests includes Bing Crosby, Walt Disney and John Wayne.
Alaska Luxury Small Ships
- The 100-guest National Geographic Venture and National Geographic Quest are state-of-the-art, purpose-built luxury expedition ships with all the usual upscale amenities plus in-room balconies. In addition, the National Geographic ships feature thoughtful design considerations such as open decks with a tiered system for optimal wildlife viewing and specialty tools for exploration like an underwater rover, hydrophone, video microscope and splash-cam.
For select guests seeking a more elevated experience in Alaska but not minding a more expedition-style basecamp, we also often recommend the 36-guest Safari Explorer and 84-guest Safari Endeavour. The Safari Explorer is sometimes referred to as a Goldilocks of small ships: not too big, not too small, but just the right size for a yacht-like feel with the amenities of a larger ship. Safari Endeavour offers unique amenities usually found aboard a yacht such as hot tubs, an intimate wine bar and memory-foam mattress bedding.
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Alaska Luxury Charters
All our Alaska luxury small ships and yachts are available for a full boat charter. There are a number of benefits to booking an Alaska yacht charter. Full boat charter rates will cost less per person than booking individual cabins.
A charter offers added exclusivity, intimacy and safety of your own private group. Finally, a charter allows you to custom craft the experience and itinerary to fit the interests and abilities of your group.
For more tips, see our posts on How to Charter a Yacht in 7 Steps and How Much Does it Cost to Charter a Yacht. Charters are a great option for families. View our best Alaska cruises for families.
Planning the Best Small Luxury Alaska Cruise
As a baseline introduction to cruising in Alaska, our Alaska Cruise Guide is a great place to start your research. Our list of Alaska small ship cruise deals will you find the best small luxury Alaska cruise at the best price. But the quickest route to your luxury Alaska cruise is contacting one of our specialists, who are here to help compare, contrast and provide you with personalized recommendations for the best luxury small ship Alaska cruise based on your interests and timeline.
We are award-winning Alaska experts who helped pioneer small ship cruising in Alaska. Work with a dedicated Adventure Specialist with expertise to help you research, book and prepare for your luxury Alaska cruise. Our crew will handle all the arrangements including permits, park fees, transfers, flights, pre or post hotel arrangements and custom Alaska land tour extensions. Consider adding one of our Alaska luxury land tours to Glacier Bay, Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords or Alaska’s Arctic.
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MORE ALASKA RESOURCES:
Alaska Small Ship Cruises
Alaska Yacht Charters
Alaska Cruise Guide
Alaska Cruise Deals
Small Ship Alaska Cruise Reviews
Best Alaska Cruises for Families
The Best Small Alaska Cruises & Cruise Lines
Glacier Bay Cruises
Alaska Inside Passage Cruises
Alaska Whale Watching Cruises
Alaska Trips
Alaska Tours
Visiting Denali National Park
Alaska National Park Tours
Best Time to Visit Alaska
