Over 8 days the Alaska’s Eastern Passages cruise offers a diverse experience of Southeast Alaska aboard the intimate 11-guest Catalyst yacht. See everything from fishing towns to wilderness solitude and islands to glacial fjords. This small ship’s goal is to provide the most remote wilderness experience possible, with up-close wildlife encounters while enjoying the amenities of this ship. Navigate through ice-filled fjords, visit a tidewater glacier, search the shores for brown bears and enjoy the peaceful silence as the Catalyst stops her engines to watch and listen to humpback whales. Kayak up a narrow inlet that John Muir called “an ocean-filled Yosemite” and follow bear trails through rich estuarial meadows.
Ship-based bear viewing at the famous Pack Creek Zoological Reserve is a goal on every departure, with select high-season 2024 dates offering land-based viewing. Listen for wolves, wind through icebergs, paddle beside 5,000-foot granite faces, go in search of moose, hike a glacial moraine and more. Alaska’s glacial wilderness supports a diversity of wildlife as varied as the landscape. On water, there is the probability of sighting humpback whales, orcas, porpoises and Stellar sea lions as well as numerous seabirds. On terra firma, look for black bears, brown bears and mountain goats. These amazing nature and wildlife opportunities qualify this itinerary for our handpicked selection of Alaska family cruises.
Alaska’s Eastern Passages itinerary cruises between Juneau and Petersburg, Alaska; offering a main southbound route and a reverse northern route. As with all small ship Alaska cruises, while there is a general planned itinerary, each trip differs depending upon the time of the tidal currents, the weather conditions, wildlife viewing opportunities and the wishes of the guests on board. The Catalyst averages three to four hours of travel per day, allowing plenty of opportunity for exploring by foot and by kayak. The routes and anchorages are chosen to provide the best available opportunities to experience the rich and diverse environment of this temperate rainforest.
This trip was featured in National Geographic Magazine’s Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime. If you want to experience remote Alaska with an intimate crew, or experience it with your own group via our private Alaska yacht charters, then Alaska’s Eastern Passages is your small ship cruise!
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Alaska trips, small ship Alaska cruise options and Inside Passage cruise itineraries.
The 8-day Alaska’s Western Passages cruise travels through canyons and fjords, stopping at beautiful anchorages at Admiralty, Baranof, and Kupreanof islands. Cruise between Sitka and Juneau to take in a unique experience of Alaska’s wild coast aboard the historic 8-guest adventure yacht Westward. The Westward, purpose-built as an Alaskan charter vessel, is now registered as a Historic Place by the National Park Service. This intimate small ship cruise is a remarkable way to experience the beauty of Alaska as it explores the most remote wilderness areas for up-close wildlife encounters and enriching cultural experiences.
Alaska’s glacial wilderness supports a diversity of wildlife as varied as the landscape, with a likelihood of sighting humpback whales, orca, porpoise, stellar sea lions, black bears, brown bears and mountain goats. Enjoy a dip in the Baranof Hot Springs, explore an enchanted canyon, paddle through tidal rapids, experience John Muir’s “sea flooded Yosemite Valley,” and learn bear etiquette, tracking and more. All trips will feature several walks and chances to kayak in remote and protected bays. These amazing nature and wildlife opportunities qualify this itinerary for our handpicked selection of Alaska family cruises.
The Alaska’s Western Passages itinerary cruises between Sitka and Juneau, Alaska; offering a main eastbound route and a reverse westbound route. The Westward also offers several alternative routes, including an 8-day itinerary between Petersburg and Sitka. The Westward ultimately follows a unique route each trip, allowing the weather and wildlife to dictate her itinerary, which makes her luxury Alaska cruises all the more special. Westward’s flexibility and small size make her an AdventureSmith favorite for private Alaska yacht charters, ideal for those wanting to experience Alaska with their own group.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Alaska trips, small ship Alaska cruise options and Inside Passage cruise itineraries.
Explore Glacier Bay National Park for an astounding 6 or 8 days on this Alaska small ship cruise, and enjoy all the beauty this National Park offers. Choose between a 10- or 8-day itinerary and get ready to observe sea otters, mountain goats, humpback whales, sea lions, puffins and grey wolves. Visit several tidewater glaciers and kayak up streams and along meadows on the lookout for foraging bears. Your small ship tucks into secluded inlets and remote bays of this marine-and-land park to expose its natural wonders as a living laboratory, designated wilderness, biosphere reserve and world heritage site. Find solitude in snow-capped mountains, spectacular glaciers and emerald-green forests, and get off the ship daily to hike and kayak with a seasoned naturalist guide. Each night, the ship tucks into beautiful anchorages where peaceful soundscapes, possibly punctuated by a calving glacier, cap off a day of adventure. Extended time in Glacier Bay National Park is a highlight for visitors of all ages and thus why this trip sits on our list of Alaska family cruises.
Discover Glacier Bay aboard the 11-guest Catalyst or the 8-guest Westward, both AdventureSmith favorites for private Alaska yacht charters due to their intimate size and cozy feel. In addition, Westward makes our curated list of luxury Alaska cruises due to her comfy, at-home-in-someone’s-living-room feel. Both vessels offer historic charm and hearty, experienced crew members who offer as much character as the ships they maintain. The Catalyst and Westward feature peaceful nights without a motor or generator running, plus windows and portholes that open to welcome in the sounds of Glacier Bay. Meals are prepared from fresh, natural, local ingredients, and determined to delight.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Alaska trips, small ship Alaska cruise options and Glacier Bay cruise and Inside Passage cruise itineraries.
Depart on an unforgettable 6-day voyage around the San Juan Islands aboard historic yacht 12-guest Catalyst. Enjoy warm days and cool nights, paddle a kayak in quiet coves, walk forest trails and explore crystal clear tide pools. Watch for bald eagles soaring overhead and pods of dolphins and orcas swimming up close. Experience the emerald jewels of the island-filled San Juan Archipelago. Some 130 named islands scattered between the shore of mainland Washington state and the southern end of Vancouver Island British Columbia create a labyrinth of narrow passages through which your small ship meanders.
With departures round-trip from Bellingham Washington, these Friday Harbor cruises are easy to access by air or over land. Every departure is focused on natural history, wildlife, photography, and revealing the robust as well as the vulnerable aspects of wildness. Enjoy opportunities for new perspectives on life, by sitting quietly in a verdant forest or drifting along a serrated shoreline in a kayak. Combine these moments with good companionship and masterfully prepared, locally sourced and hand-gathered foods, for a truly extraordinary San Juan Islands cruise.
Island hop aboard the Catalyst, an intimate purpose-built historic adventure yacht that offers historic charm and hearty, experienced crew members with character. Enjoy gourmet cuisine paired with the beers, wines and spirits discovered daily during these cruises from Bellingham aboard M/Y Catalyst. For those who want to take their own group of 12, consider securing the ship for private charter cruises in the San Juan Islands.
Read on for details about these Friday Harbor cruises, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Pacific Northwest cruises, Pacific Northwest trips and San Juan Island cruises.
M/V Catalyst is a historic 11-guest (Alaska) or 12-guest (Pacific Northwest) yacht with a warm wood interior that takes guests back to a time when craftsmanship was the rule, not the exception. She has decades-old varnished wood paneling, heavy beamed ceilings and glowing mahogany trim and furniture. The slow pulse of her original 1932 Washington Diesel engine, the only one like it in the world, makes the Catalyst a living creature, with a strong iron heart. The pace of a Catalyst cruise is relaxed and unhurried, but the original excitement of exploration and discovery remains on board. Catalyst’s welcoming and nurturing spirit continues to inspire those who find sanctuary aboard her as a lifetime of memories are created.
Choose a cruise aboard the Catalyst for a boat and crew with lots of character. The historic wooden vessel has been thoughtfully restored, true to her 1930s heritage. Unique to Catalyst is her ability to be quiet, equipped with electrical systems that enable up to 12 hours at anchor without running a generator. Guests can further enjoy the sounds of whales blowing in the distance, thrushes singing in the surrounding forest, sea turtles breathing in the nights’ cove, or water cascading down nearby cliff faces. Catalyst’s experienced crew and thoughtful itineraries make each departure a truly authentic nature cruise. This unique ship is one of our popular Alaska yacht charters and can offer private charter cruises everywhere she sails.
AdventureSmith Explorations has been aboard the Catalyst firsthand. Read our dedicated Catalyst Ship Review, written by our founder and president who sailed aboard the ship in Alaska. Or consult this page further for a detailed description of the Catalyst, including ship specs, deck plan, cabin images, photo gallery and current links to all the trips she sails. We can help you compare the Catalyst with other small cruise ships offering Pacific Northwest cruises and Alaska small ship cruises. Let us be your ultimate resource to discover if Catalyst is the best yacht for your travel needs.
Aboard this small ship are a bow deck, covered side decks and a covered aft deck, all offering perfect opportunities for wildlife and landscape viewing. A spacious galley and a warm wood-paneled salon, each with a table and two benches, provide gathering space and a place to enjoy the excellent food and company the ship shares.
Catalyst’s storied history is part of what makes this ship and her itineraries so appealing. She was the University of Washington’s first oceanographic research vessel. In 1932 Thomas G. Thompson began a personal crusade to establish a school of oceanography at the university. With the help of a $60,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, he started both the school and the construction of Catalyst. The Catalyst launched as the most state-of-the-art research vessel of her time. She was completed in June of 1932 and took her maiden cruise through the Inside Passage and across the Gulf of Alaska and served as research ship for scientists and students for many years. During WWII the Navy conscripted the vessel, mounted a machine gun on top of her pilot house and racks of depth charges on her stern. She spent the war years patrolling the Aleutian Islands for Japanese submarines.
The Catalyst was built to last, constructed of white oak, Alaskan yellow cedar, Douglas fir, teak and Australian ironwood. After the war, the Catalyst was handsomely refit. Over the next 40 years, she was used for everything from delivering mail to mining supplies and being used as a floating dentist’s office. As a floating marine laboratory she won national acclaim; more importantly, she touched the lives of all who knew her and continues to do so today.
In 1984 she was restored to being the passenger ship Catalyst and began operating tours; she has been doing so under our operator partners Pacific Catalyst II, ever since. Refurbishments in 2013 included: rebuilt bulwarks on the starboard and stern; a rebuilt stern; Port Oxford cedar beams to strengthen her frame; a Cabin 5 redesign; and a “stern lift” to put the steering gear below decks and arrange a more comfortable sitting area on the back deck.
Food is a sacred thing aboard the Catalyst. The philosophy aboard is that food aids and abets the spirit of community on the vessel, nourishing guest (and crew) along with the beauty of the scenery, the activities of the day and the pleasure of each others’ company and life stories.
Food is prepared from fresh, natural ingredients, including produce that is purchased from local Alaskan or San Juan farmers and fishermen. The chef avoids processed foods; using organic, fresh ingredients instead. A sample menu may comprise of: smoked chicken sausage, kale and sweet potato stew and garlic scape pesto spiral biscuits or seared halibut with wild mushroom vinaigrette, brown rice risotto and asparagus. Guests can enjoy local Washington wines and fair-trade, shade-grown coffee from beans that have been roasted locally following their purchase from small co-ops around the world. In this way the Catalyst supports local communities, embracing the idea of eating locally and using green practices whenever possible. Wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary aboard the Catalyst.
The Catalyst is a perfect base camp for exploration, with daily off-vessel activities offered. Six double sea kayaks and three single sea kayaks are enough for the entire complement of passengers to experience naturalist-led kayak tours. The Catalyst carries a 12-foot aluminum skiff and a 17.5-foot inflatable utility boat to explore up close and ferry guests ashore for hikes. The Catalyst also holds permits to visit specific areas only offered for small groups. Aboard the Catalyst wildlife viewing is primary; watch humpback whales, Dall’s porpoises, sea otters, moose, bears and more from the viewing decks; listen to the whales underwater with the ship’s hydrophone; enjoy the ship’s viewing aquarium and microscope; learn from the presentation projector and two laptop computers, one for navigation, one for digital pictures from the boat’s camera; and use one of the twelve pairs of binoculars for guests.
Catalyst’s classic accommodations include cozy private staterooms. Despite stateroom capacity reaching beyond 11 guests, the Catalyst keeps an intimate feel by only offering bookings for up to 11 guests in Alaska, and up to 12 guests in the Pacific Northwest. Cabin #1 is on the main deck and can be accessed from the main salon. Cabins #2-5 are located below deck and are accessed by steep stairs. Likewise Cabin #6 is on the upper deck and accessed by a steep outside stairway. Cabins #4 and #5 have shared bathrooms while all others have private bathrooms with a sink, toilet and shower en-suite. All cabins have portholes except cabin #6, which has a window. Regular 110-volt electrical outlets are in each cabin.
This unique Baja cruise and land adventure focuses on exploring the Sea of Cortez aboard the historic 8-guest adventure yacht Westward. Daily hikes, kayak paddles and snorkeling excursions are led by expert naturalist guides, and all land transfers and hotel accommodations are included. Enjoy one of the most intimate Baja cruises that travels primarily north and south between Loreto and La Paz, with seasonal variations to take advantage of the best wildlife opportunities.
The main Westward Voyages in the Sea of Cortez cruise follows an 11- or 12-day land-and-sea itinerary with a highlight being grey whale watching at the 30-mile Magdalena Bay or Laguna San Ignacio (when conditions are better farther north) on the Pacific Ocean. These lagoons are famed for the California grey whales that come here each winter to mate, give birth and prepare their young for the journey back north. Westward travelers access the region by crossing the Baja Peninsula, then returning to the ship in the Sea of Cortez. In addition to this classic route, a shorter 9-day cruise-centered itinerary skips the gray whale lagoons to focus on island hopping in the Sea of Cortez. All itineraries features 6 full days of island hopping and one day dedicated to snorkeling with whale sharks.
Whichever itinerary you choose, the goal of every Westward Baja cruise is to explore nature, which is why each night’s anchor is in a secluded cove or bay, free of manmade illumination. By day, enjoy close encounters with playful sea lions, leaping mobula rays, whales, dolphins and an array of Baja birdlife that traveling aboard this historic small ship so intimately affords.
Island hop aboard the Westward, a purpose-built adventure yacht registered as a Historic Place by the National Park Service. This intimate small ship offers historic charm and hearty, experienced crew members with character. This vessel is an AdventureSmith favorite for private charter cruises due to her cozy feel and size. Enjoy Baja’s sounds of serenity via windows and portholes that open and the absence of a motor or generator at night.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Baja cruises and Baja vacations. This cruise was featured in Travel Pulse magazine as one of the 6 Best Cruises for Whale Watching.
Westward is a historic 8-guest yacht that is “arguably Seattle’s most famous motor yacht,” yet off the radar of most travelers making her a unique gem. She is listed with the US National Register of Historic Places and remains dependably powered by her original Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine. Westward’s historical and adventurous spirit enriches the voyages of those who are lucky enough to cruise the waters of Alaska and Baja California with her.
AdventureSmith Explorations’ Westward review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our small ship experts have been aboard the Westward firsthand. Please read our Westward review below then contact our small ship cruise experts to compare the Westward with other expedition ships and yachts offering Baja cruises, and small ship Alaska cruises.
Choose this small ship for a quiet, nature-based refuge from the world while experiencing in-depth exploration of Baja, or Alaska. Several factors make a voyage aboard the Westward unique including the historic nature of the yacht itself, the remarkably talented crew, the pace and depth of exploration, and the quiet calm of the yacht at anchor. Another key feature is the opening windows and portholes that allow guests to hear the sounds of leaping rays, breathing whales and bird song from the dawning shore. This connection with the natural world is a hallmark of cruising aboard the Westward, and what ranks among our luxury Alaska cruises and top Alaska yacht charters.
Note that the Westward’s four cabins accommodate 8 guests, but that the yacht can accommodate more passengers (up to 11) for private charter cruises or families who want to share a cabin.
Westward is a classic yacht that feels cozy with her wood paneling and intimate dining and lounge area. With wicker chairs, a large table and hot and cold beverage service station, the large covered back deck becomes a comfortable second, al fresco salon. The main Salon features a fireplace from where Captain Bill is known to offer fireside chats and readings. Canopies can be hung to provide additional shade. In addition to the back deck’s hard cover, the Westward has a shade cloth over the foredeck and the side decks are also covered, keeping the vessel cool.
The Westward operates without air conditioning but she features opening portholes in each cabin. Her Baja season is scheduled during the coolest part of the year when the below deck cabins are cooled by the surrounding water. Without the constant hum of a generator running 24 hours a day, no air conditioning allows for guests to better take in the natural environment around them.
Westward’s history is part of what makes this ship so intriguing. The renowned Northwest naval architect L.E “Ted” Geary designed Westward. This small ship was built at the J.A. Martinolich Shipyard in Dockton, Washington and was modeled after a salmon cannery tender. She was launched in 1924 as the flagship of the Alaska Coast Hunting and Cruising Co. and pioneered hunting, fishing and adventure travel in the remote regions of Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Westward served a noteworthy clientele of hunters and fishermen for nearly 20 years as well as distinguished guests such as Bing Crosby, Walt Disney, John Wayne, George Eastman, A.C. Gilbert, E.F. Hutton and Marjorie Merriweather Post, Paul Mellon, Richard K. Mellon, Hal Roach, Rudolph Schilling, Dean Witter and numerous other VIP’s of the era.
During World War II, Westward served as a patrol boat off the California coast before returning to the Pacific Northwest where she operated another 20 years, as both private yacht and charter vessel. She even sailed 47,000 miles, circumnavigating the globe from 1970 to 1976.
Pacific Catalyst II Inc purchased Westward for use in their adventure travel business. She is now ported in Friday Harbor, Washington, alongside the M/V Catalyst. Westward remains dependably powered by her original Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine and has benefited from continuous upgrades to her engine, systems, structure and accommodations. She is listed with the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
The philosophy on board the Westward is that delicious cuisine enables the sense of community on the boat, nourishing the guests (and crew) along with the beauty of the landscape, the activities of the day and the pleasure of one another’s company and life stories. Meals are prepared from fresh, natural ingredients, including produce that is purchased from local Baja, Pacific Northwest and Alaska vendors and fishermen. The chef avoids processed foods when possible, substituting with organic, fresh ingredients. In this way the Westward supports local communities, embracing the idea of eating locally and using green practices whenever possible. An added bonus is a rooftop garden providing fresh greens for meals aboard the Westward.
The Westward is a perfect base for exploration with daily off-vessel activities offered. Six double sea kayaks and three single sea kayaks are enough for the entire complement of passengers. The Westward carries an aluminum skiff and an inflatable utility boat to explore glaciers and islands up close and to ferry guests ashore. The Westward also holds necessary permits to visit marine sanctuaries and parks in Alaska and the Sea of Cortez.
The goal of Westward’s knowledgeable and experienced crew is to create a safe, reliable and marvelous trip for their wide-range of guests. The diversely talented crew all come from rich and various life experiences and work hard to create a comfortable, fun and warm atmosphere.
All cabins are outfitted with one double bunk (4’6″ wide x 6’8″ long) and one single bunk (2’6″ wide x 6’6″ long), a settee, sink, toilet and shower. Each cabin has three portholes that may be opened by hand and a portable, battery-powered fan.