inside passage cruise reviews

Alaska cruise review: a voyage through the Inside Passage

This seven-day trip on the Koningsdam cruises through Alaska’s scenic coastal waters

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If there’s one place in the world to coax a confirmed cruise-sceptic onto the water, it’s Alaska, where the spectacular wildlife and landscapes are all but unreachable by other means. Even the capital, Juneau, is severed from the rest of the state – and the rest of North America – by the high peaks of the Coast Mountains, which remain unconquered by rail or road.

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In fact, an Alaskan cruise involves whole days seeing no sign of human settlement along the shore, just an endless scroll of ocean, forest, mountains and mist. The ship, by contrast, is the embodiment of our impulse to get out into the world, and take with us all the comforts and luxuries we have created. At times, I would forget I was at sea, only to look up from a table in a restaurant and see a wall of ice slipping serenely past the window – or, on one occasion, the tall dorsal fins of two orcas.

Alaska’s Inside Passage

My week-long trip, aboard Holland America Line’s Koningsdam ship, followed a circular route through the Inside Passage, a network of straits and fjords which snake their way along the coast, protected from the heavier seas of the Gulf of Alaska by a long string of islands. We spent one day each in the towns of Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, one day circumnavigating Glacier Bay, and the rest of the days at sea. We sailed through the nights too, although that’s a relative term in June: on the summer solstice, we had just two hours of true darkness.

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Tours and activities

Such is the range of excursions on offer that any two Koningsdam passengers could enjoy entirely different cruises. One hypothetical couple might proceed from stateroom to spa to pool, signing up for an art class or two and disembarking only for private, chauffeur-driven tours of the Alaskan interior. On their return, they might while away the evening with a whisky or wine tasting, or retire to the theatre to see a live orchestra play along to BBC wildlife documentaries. Another, more restless, traveller, might be in a sea kayak soon after sunrise, on quad bikes or dog sleds one day and up in a helicopter the next, or sailing out in a small boat to fish for salmon. Evenings might be spent roving between the gym, the casino and the live music venues.

I plotted a middle course, keeping some shore time free to explore the frontier towns of Skagway and Ketchikan on foot, but joining tours where they would take me places I couldn’t reach under my own steam (including into Canada’s Yukon territory – even emptier than Alaska – for a landscape photography workshop). The highlight was a small boat tour of the whale-rich waters around Juneau, where we watched a humpback mother and calf making their way through the channel. The hours melted away as we learned and predicted their movements – the water spout, followed by three or four shallow arcs through the waves and a big flourish of the tail before they dived back into the deep.

Koningsdam accommodates 2,650 guests, making it a medium-sized ship by today’s expansive standards (and the best in that class, according to USA Today’s readers’ choice awards). The cheapest rooms are the inside cabins in the belly of the vessel, but it’s worth paying the relatively modest premium (from about £450 per person) for a suite with floor-to-ceiling patio doors leading onto a private verandah. This is not the place to deprive yourself of a view, and the chance to leap out of bed and straight into the chilly dawn air, as I did when jetlag got me up early enough one morning to watch the sunrise.

Restaurants and bars

In four of the ship’s nine restaurants, food is included in the price of the cruise (with the exception of a few special dishes such as lobster and caviar). These range from a food court-style buffet and poolside burger bar to the main dining room, which serves three à la carte courses at most meal times. The speciality restaurants, which require advance booking and a supplement of about £30 per person, offer a more intimate setting. The Pinnacle Grill steakhouse is worth booking early given its tendency to sell out, but Nami Sushi, with its fresh Alaskan seafood and panoramic views, is the pick of the bunch.

Holden Frith travelled as a guest of Holland America Line. A seven-day Alaskan Inside Passage cruise aboard the Koningsdam, departing Vancouver on 16 September 2023, has inside staterooms starting at £1,121 per person based on two people sharing, including one shore excursion per guest, one speciality dining reservation and a signature drinks package. Other dates are available between May and September.

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Holden Frith is The Week’s digital director. He also makes regular appearances on “The Week Unwrapped”, speaking about subjects as diverse as vaccine development and bionic bomb-sniffing locusts. He joined The Week in 2013, spending five years editing the magazine’s website. Before that, he was deputy digital editor at The Sunday Times. He has also been TheTimes.co.uk’s technology editor and the launch editor of Wired magazine’s UK website. Holden has worked in journalism for nearly two decades, having started his professional career while completing an English literature degree at Cambridge University. He followed that with a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Chicago. A keen photographer, he also writes travel features whenever he gets the chance. 

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• Princess Cruises

Discovery Princess Alaska Inside Passage 8/7-8/14/22 review (long)

By nattie , August 23, 2022 in Princess Cruises

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There has been a lot of negativity lately from seasoned Princess cruisers on these boards. I dont want to minimize their valid complaints, but would like to report that this cruise (second for us this year on Princess) was great. The weather might have helped, we have not seen a drop of rain the entire 10 days we were in WA and AK. We were using the pools and sunbathing the entire cruise too.

We are seasoned cruisers, both DH and I are Elite on Princess and have sailed a number of other lines (most recently Haven on NCL) and DS just turned Elite after this Alaska Cruise. On to the review:

Seattle:  We flew in 2 days ahead of time (never know with airlines these days) and enjoyed amazing weather in Seattle as well as "Air and Boat" show weekend. The Mountain was out the entire time, weather was better than what we left on East Coast. We lucked out! On advice from our friends that moved to Seattle are 2 years ago, we stayed in Bellevue instead of downtown Seattle. Very safe and nice area, about 20-30 min ride to downtown.

Embarkation : Somewhat more chaotic than what we are used to in FLL where if you fill everything online and get your medallions ahead of time, you just walk onto the ship pretty much. However, absolutely not as bad as NCL's disaster in New Orleans. Worst part was huge queue for medallions that no one tells you can bypass if you already have them. Also, had to show all the docs (passports, covid vaccinations and tests) even though everything was uploaded to Medallion app ahead of time, in FLL you just tap your medallion and if everything is there, they will let you through. Another minus point for Seattle embarkation is that the ride share lot is at least 5 full minutes walk from the ship (10 with luggage). Port authorities are pretty much forcing you to take overpriced cabs. But that's not Princess's fault.

Sidenote Medallion App : The app worked just fine for me, from dining reservations to ordering drinks, I could not report any issues. I personally quite like the app experience, all of us wear it on the wrist and it makes life so much easier vs constantly misplaced and demagnetized cruise cards. Now Princess is rolling out a program where you can pay with Medallion off the ship at select merchants. Personally I have not tried this, but I am not opposed to it.

Sidenote Internet : BAD, especially comparing to Caribbean. On par with what we had in 2019 in Baltic. I was able to check emails daily (after letting them load forever), but no streaming or actually logging into work stuff.

Ship : Just gorgeous, it still kind of "smells new" :). We liked certain improvements made comparing to Regal (same class, our favorite ship on Princess) : sports court positioning and additional space around it, removal of fountains in between 2 main pools and addition of seating area and hot tub there, overall more spaciousness of interior on decks 7, 6 and 5. Not sure what was removed, but extra space was nice. We did not like the reversal of Princess Live to more of a lounge seating, but I think everyone else liked that. Also, the free pizzeria on 6 is called Gigis and while menu is the same, the vibe and decor are distinctly not. Now it looks more like a diner vs Italian bistro. Again, personal opinion.

This sailing had a full ship, which we have not experienced this year yet. We did not feel crowded at any time on Discovery even with the ship being full.

Room:  We had a quad mini suite on Riviera. I am glad I have insisted on quad, so DS (13) could have a bunk bed and a place to lounge around during the day, vs only the couch. My only issue with the room was balcony size, but that's the same on all ships of this class. We normally book a mini, so no surprises there.

Dining:  Most of the evening meals we ate in the dining room. I dont know why but consistently the 6th floor aft dining room (Ketchikan on this ship) that used to be reserved for traditional dining has absolutely the WORST service. It was like that on Regal in Jan and same here. I have prebooked most of our times before we sailed in that dining room and cancelled all of the reservations after first night.

We did not have to wait more than 10 min or so when we came to any other dining room with or without reservation (we made some friends and sometimes wanted to dine together). It did help that our preferred dining time is around 8 pm.

One thing we absolutely hated this cruise was the Bistro Sur La Mer. Never again. But this is purely personal choices because of the food served. Quality of the food was fine and ambience was nice, we simply did not like the food presented. I LOVE escargoes and what is done to them in that restaurant is a travesty.

We did like Alaskan twist on the regular dining room menues, my DS especially loved the Alaskan Berry Soup. 

Breakfasts and lunches we normally had in the buffet or Gigis or from Salty Dog on the pool deck. No surprises at any of these places, we liked the food and the variety offered.

Drinks : I was fretting a bit about not getting Premier package, but it turned out to be not necessary for us at least. Variety of wines on board was quite limited anyways, but the Pinot Noir they carried as "house" variety was quite good and included in the package. Somehow the Strawberry Daiquiri was way better in Alaska than in Caribbean :). Also, bartender at Take 5 turned my son onto mojito zeroes (mojito sans booze), I believe DS was solely responsible for the lack of mint on the ship by the end of this sailing (kidding!)

Entertainment : Did not do any of the shows in main theater. Alaska itinerary is quite brutal with early risings most of the time, so we were pretty much done after dinner. We did see some game shows in Princess Live and enjoy live music (LOVE that about Princess) in various lounges. Especially liked the band in Take 5 and guitar player in Wheelhouse. We also did a lecture on Alaska by the onboard naturalist and while we did get some useful info, the gentlemen himself was quite insufferable (non stop ponderous quotes and boasting). Again, probably a personal opinion.

There was only one production show, Rock Opera. Seen it before, so didnt go.

Ports and excursions:  I normally try to see what cruise line offers and compare to what I can find independently. I was very pleasantly surprised this sailing with quality and price points of Princess excursions, we ended up with ship tours in almost all of the ports.

• - Ketchikan. Did the wilderness cruise and crab feast tour. Very nice, the only somewhat negative is that it is not "all you can eat" now (it was at the time of booking), but we were full after what was offered and blueberry cheesecake was absolutely the best! To the point that DS wanted to make cheesecake when we got home.
• - Glacier viewing tour. We were bumped off that tour originally and waitlisted. I came directly to excursion desk upon boarding and was lucky enough to get our tickets. This is absolutely a MUST if you can afford it (expensive!). There was only one boat going to glacier from the cruise ship (so 50-75 people out of 3000 pax) and glacier and wildlife put on the show just for us. Huge chunk of the glacier (300 ft tall per captain) fell off, we have seen an eagle fish for salmon, several whales and otters as well as distant bear sighting. The weather was also perfect, not a rain drop in sight and clear skies. The crew of the boat was absolutely amazing and my only regret is that I completely forgot to grab a wallet when we left the ship at 6:30 am (yes you read that correctly), so I didnt tip them. They had free coffee/hot chocolate/tea and donuts available for everyone as well as made several Alaska themed snacks (smoked salmon and kelp pickle anyone?). There were food and beverages for purchase too. Captain and his crew of naturalists narrated the whole tour, pointed out wildlife, gave TONS of interesting info. Absolutely the best tour.
• - Juneau. We did the dog summer camp tour. I still dont get the whole point of Iditarod, but I very much like the explanation give by our musher "very expensive hobby" :). This was the most disappointing tour of the cruise. Loved the ride and all the dogs, but "play with puppies" time was absolutely not as advertised, we only got one puppy to hold for like 5 minutes. More puppies, please!
• - Sitka. We were informed ahead of time about the port change, so I prebooked the excursion online before we even departed. We did the wildlife cruise, bear sanctuary and eagle sanctuary. Our driver was Sitka native and clearly loved her city. The boat ride was great and we have seen a lot of whales, momma and bay seal and relaxing sea lions. At the bear sanctuary bears put up a show too. Sitka ended up being my favorite port of the entire itinerary!
• - Victoria. Because of substituting Skagway for Sitka, we were able to dock in Victoria at 5 pm (thank you Captain Tim for negotiating an earlier port time!). We ended up taking a shuttle into the city and just walking the streets for couple of hours. 

Debarkation : Very smooth. We took fool advantage of port valet program, so easy!

While on board we have booked our next adventure - 2 weeks in Med on Enchanted next year. We are certainly coming back to Princess.

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cruisequeen4ever

CruzinNoony

Great review.  Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your review. 🙂

1 hour ago, nattie said: This sailing had a full ship, which we have not experienced this year yet. We did not feel crowded at any time on Discovery even with the ship being full.

How was the staff to passenger ratio, since it was a full ship did it feel under staffed or appropriate for the numbers onboard?  Also do you know if the Chef's Table was available during your sailing?  Thanks, and great review!

8 minutes ago, JeffT237 said: How was the staff to passenger ratio, since it was a full ship did it feel under staffed or appropriate for the numbers onboard?  Also do you know if the Chef's Table was available during your sailing?  Thanks, and great review!    

We didnt have any issues with stuff. Bartenders were busy, but wait times for drinks were normal (or at least they did not seem excessive to us). Buffet was busy at peak times, but we were always able to get seat after a bit of searching. 

Dont know about Chef's table, sorry!

Are the cabs much closer to the boarding area?   Thanks for the heads up, might do that instead of Uber.  Not sure what the cost if but the convenience might be worth it.

15 hours ago, redroses said: Are the cabs much closer to the boarding area?   Thanks for the heads up, might do that instead of Uber.  Not sure what the cost if but the convenience might be worth it.

The cabs are right next door, literally as you walk out of the building. We took a cab on the way back from the cruise and it was $65-70 to the airport area hotel. I believe driver said it was $60 to airport. I might be wrong on $ though.

1 hour ago, nattie said: The cabs are right next door, literally as you walk out of the building. We took a cab on the way back from the cruise and it was $65-70 to the airport area hotel. I believe driver said it was $60 to airport. I might be wrong on $ though.

Thanks! Great info, will do the cabs.

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• Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska
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Alaska & the Inside Passage

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Russell and Sharon Schwenke

Viking is the best in alaska.

We had done Alaska before, but the Viking trip was the best. Staff were helpful and had idea of areas for us to see. My husband and i love to hike--we hiked or walked every day 10 miles or more. Back on the ship it was great. Food the best and service was outstanding. The views of ports so much closer than other trips of Alaska we had taken before. The iceberg were right there--you could feel the cold ice. Other ships you could see, but not like this. Do Alaska on Viking, you will happy you did.  

Virginia from Pennsylvania

Exploration of a lifetime.

Exploration of a lifetime. Every minute is filled with building vivid memories of Earth’s wonders. I saw the unexpected and unforgettable. The ship was intimate and luxurious. The crew made everyday life on board heavenly. Bravo!  

All we had hoped it would be.

The cruise was all we had hoped it would be. The ship was great and never felt crowded. Our stateroom was very comfortable and had everything we could possibly need. Food was great. . . . Entertainment in the theater was to a very high standard. The staff were always so polite and friendly, often there before we asked. . . . The guides were very informative and we felt we knew a lot more about the country and its indigenous people by the end of the cruise. We also had adequate free time to explore on our own. . . . Following the cruise we had a 6-day trip into the interior of Alaska to see places we were not able to on a cruise up the coast. . . . The whole 6-day trip was organized by Viking and up to their usual extremely high standard. We already have another cruise booked for January 2020, and that will be our 12th Viking cruise. Each one has been different and each one has been brilliant.

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The Ultimate Alaska Inside Passage Cruise Guide

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I’ve been dreaming of taking an Alaska Inside Passage cruise ever since my first visit to the state in 1999. During that trip I took a half-day Kenai Fjords National Park cruise, saw all sorts of glaciers and wildlife, and vowed to myself that I’d return one day to explore more of America’s last frontier.

So when my daughter Allie began expressing interest in visiting Alaska, I decided to surprise her with an Alaska trip as a high school graduation present. Since we loved our previous voyage to the Galapagos Islands  together, I started reading Alaska cruise reviews and planning our 2-week Alaska vacation.

As luck would have it, around that same time we received an email from AdventureSmith Explorations , a small ship cruise specialist that offers 25 Alaska cruises from numerous different cruise companies.

The fact that AdventureSmith also offered land-based wilderness adventures and several early season Alaska cruise deals got our attention. After a phone call with one of their personalized adventure planners, we had the rough outline for what ultimately became the daddy/daughter trip of a lifetime.

So here’s our guide to planning the ultimate cruise of Alaska’s Inside Passage. It covers everything from choosing the best time time to go and how to decide between the best cruise lines to the best Alaska cruise excursions and the wondrous array of wildlife you might see along the way. 

READ MORE: 20 Best Small Ship Cruises for Your World Travel Bucket List

ALASKA INSIDE PASSAGE CRUISE GUIDE

• The Best Time to Cruise Alaska
• Alaskan Dream Cruises vs. Uncruise Alaska
• Our Alaskan Cruise Map
• Inside Passage Cruise Excursions
• Wildlife on a Cruise of the Inside Passage

THE BEST TIME TO CRUISE ALASKA

Alaska’s increasing popularity as a tourist destination (2 million annual visitors) and location in the Arctic and sub-Arctic makes the timing of your Inside Passage cruise tricky. 

The Alaska cruise season begins in May, when daily high temperatures generally range from 53°F to 62°F, and daily lows are in the 40s. It rarely gets above 70º, and it almost never dips close to freezing. 

On the downside, winds and bad weather can make it feel frigid on a cruise ship deck. And some animals, particularly Grizzly Bears, may not be visible at this time of year. On the plus side, shoulder season crowds are smaller, and you may find deals on cheap Alaska cruises.

The peak season for cruising Alaska is summertime. Temperatures are warm, with highs in the ’70s and low ’80s (and rising, thanks to climate change ). On the downside, cruise ships tend to be booked to capacity, and Alaskan cruise prices are at their highest.  

Another factor to consider when choosing the best time to cruise Alaska is what you want to see while you’re there. 

In May and early June, there’s still snow on the mountains, and cruising Glacier Bay is particularly spectacular. Summertime brings the Salmon run (and the Bears and Wolves that capitalize on it), but also larger crowds on shore excursions. Taking an Alaska cruise in late August or September may give you a chance to see the world-renowned Northern Lights.  

But the truth is, whether you choose to visit in late spring, peak season, or just before the autumn snows arrive, you’re guaranteed to have your mind blown. For us, the more difficult choice came down to which of the Alaska cruise tours was best suited to our travel style. 

READ MORE: Visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

ALASKAN DREAM CRUISES VS. UNCRUISE ALASKA

We’ve always preferred small ship cruises, and not just because smaller cruises are more eco-friendly . They also offer more personal space, better service, better shore excursions, and more exclusive experiences than mega cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises can.

So our trip through the Inside Passage really boiled down to a choice between two small Alaska cruise companies, Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise Adventures. Each of these companies offered quite a few different Alaska cruise routes to choose from. 

UnCruise had a slight advantage going in: We’d met with them at a few travel conferences and had heard great things about the company from numerous blogging friends. We also liked the fact that they had six different 7-day Alaska cruise itineraries to choose from in the Inside Passage alone. 

Alaskan Dream Cruises was more of a wild card, as we’d never heard of them. But we liked the fact that the family that owns the parent company , Allen Marine, are all Alaska natives. They were also the very first company ever to offer an Alaska Inside Passage cruise, and had numerous options available.

Once we narrowed it down to these two cruise companies, choosing the best Alaska cruise for us really came down to the itinerary. We didn’t want a dedicated Glacier Bay cruise. But we did want to spend a few days in the national park , see lots of wildlife and glaciers, explore as much of the wilderness as possible, and learn more about the indigenous cultures of the area, especially the Tlingit . 

In the end, my daughter and I decided that Alaskan Dream Cruises’ 8-day Last Frontier Adventure had the best Alaska cruise itinerary for us. It offered an active schedule that included lots of hiking and kayaking , indigenous people as the expedition leader and cultural interpreter, and numerous intriguing shore excursions that were not available on any of the UnCruise Alaska trips.

We also liked that this Alaska cruise itinerary covered more of the Inside Passage territory than any of the other cruise holidays we compared it to. With prices around the same as those offered by UnCruise, and their ships’ cabins all offering full windows (some of UnCruise’s only had portholes), we ultimately felt that the Last Frontier Adventure was a better fit for us. 

READ MORE: Exploring Denali National Park, Alaska

OUR ALASKA CRUISE MAP

OUR INSIDE PASSAGE CRUISE EXCURSIONS

Every day of our Alaska trip brought engaging morning and afternoon activities that allowed us to get off the ship and get active. One thing we loved about Alaskan Dream Cruises was how quickly they adjusted the itinerary when bad weather interfered. Here are a few of our favorite Alaska cruise excursions:

The Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area

The Last Frontier Adventure sometimes departs from Sitka, but ours began in Juneau. So our first excursion was a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, part of the Tongass National Forest .

The glacier was named for Thomas Mendenhall, who led the National Geodetic Survey from 1889 to 1894, but never actually visited the area. Stretching 13.6 miles long, the gorgeous glacier is part of the Juneau Icefield, the fifth largest icefield in North America.

Attractions here include an impressive Visitor Center and hiking on the East Glacier Loop (which leads to an excellent overlook), Nugget Falls Trail (to a waterfall near the glacier), and Photo Point Trail. We loved the Steep Creek Trail, where we saw a family of Black Bears and a Porcupine. 

READ MORE: Hiking Grey Glacier in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Hiking Reid Glacier

While cruising the Inside Passage, you’ll be forgiven if you see so many spectacular glaciers, you start having trouble telling them apart. 

But Reid Glacier will forever stick out in our memories because it’s the first one my daughter ever got a chance to climb on. (Longtime Green Global Travel fans may recall that Mary and I climbed during a glacier crazy storm in Norway back in 2014.)

Named for geophysicist Harry Reid during the Harriman Alaska Expedition , the 11-mile-long glacier feeds into an inlet about 2 miles south of Glacier Bay. Hiking up to (and, briefly, on) it was awesome, as you could hear the cracking ice and the roar of melting water running into the rushing river. 

READ MORE: Climbing Nigardsbreen Glacier (A He Said/She Said Story)

Visiting Glacier Bay National Park

There are so many things to do in Glacier Bay National Park , we were delighted to spend two days exploring the 65-mile fjord. It was especially cool having a park ranger narrating this part of the cruise, as well as a native Huna Tlingit naturalist who told us all about the tribe’s history in the area. 

We’ll have a full story on the national park coming soon. But some of our favorite highlights included seeing tons of wildlife (including Mountain Goats, Steller’s Sea Lions, Puffins, and more) and watching the jaw-dropping calving displays at the famous Margerie Glacier (one of eight in the park). 

The best part for me, as someone who loves traditional indigenous cultures, was hiking through the forest in Bartlett Cove to a remarkably ornate Tlingit tribal house. The native interpreters there gave us an excellent overview of Tlingit culture, which we’ll talk about in more depth in a future post.

READ MORE: Hiking Glacier National Park, Montana

Kayaking the Endicott Arm

It was a grey, gloomy day when we headed south from Glacier Bay to explore the dynamic  fjords of the 648,883-acre Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness .

The Endicott Arm and the Tracy Arm are both over 30 miles long and bordered by sheer mountains  dotted with sproce and hemlock forests. About 20% of this rugged wilderness is covered in ice, and the most distinctive characteristic of the Endicott Arm was the massive icebergs floating within.

My daughter was aclearly a little nervous as we paddled our kayaks around and even through the icebergs, which towered at least 20 feet above us. The drizzling rain and fog made for dramatic photos, but the brilliant glacial ice shimmered like blue diamonds all around us. 

READ MORE: The Haunting Beauty of Icebergs in Antarctica

Hiking the Cascade Falls Trail

If you want to know how crazy the weather can get during a cruise of Alaska’s Inside Passage, just take a look at the photo above.

What started that day as a light drizzle gradually became a relentless drenching. The fog was so thick, our ship had to crawl at a snail’s pace, blasting its horn to ensure any coming ships could hear us (since they definitely couldn’t see us). 

But that only made hiking the Cascade Falls Trail that much more of an adventure. The roaring waterfalls created a crazy mist that gave the entire trek a haunting feel. And my daughter loved using the rope to climb a steep, slippery section as I stayed back to photograph the surreal scene. 

READ MORE: The 10 Best Waterfalls in Iceland

Visiting the Wrangell Museum

While we were in Juneau we were fortunate to get an opportunity to explore the exceptional Sealaska Heritage Institute, which is arguably the finest indigenous art museum I’ve visited. 

Located on Wrangell Island (which has a total population of around 2,500), the Wrangell Museum has a decidedly more small town feel to it. But still it offers Inside Passage cruise passengers a great opportunity to learn more about the colorful history and indigenous culture of southeastern Alaska. 

Their unique collection includes four beautiful Tlingit house posts carved in the late 1700s, numerous stunning Tlingit masks, turn-of-the-century spruceroot and cedarbark baskets, and displays on the impact of the gold rush, trapping, and foreign influences (Russian, Chinese, Japanese, etc) on the area.  

READ MORE: Museo Maya de Cancun (Cancun Mayan Museum)

Exploring Petroglyph Beach

To be honest, our visit to  Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park was hampered by terrible weather. It was cold and rainy, the rocks at low tide were extremely slippery, and our local tour guide (who was new and not exployed by the cruise companies) didn’t seem to know much about the site’s history. 

Still, the simple knowledge that these 40+ rock etchings (which are only visible during low tide) date back around 8,000 years is fascinating. Especially when you consider that these images of salmon, whales, birds, human faces, and circular patterns represent the oldest native art in southeast Alaska. 

Designated a State Historic Park in 2000, this Wrangell attraction has a ramp to provide easy beach accessibility. There are also replicas of some petroglyphs on the deck overlook, on which visitors can make rubbings. But do step lightly on the rocks in order to preserve this unique cultural treasure.

READ MORE: List of US National Parks By State (An Epic Guide)

Rainforest Hike to Lake Eva

The last of our cruise excursions before making our way to the port in Sitka was a hike to Lake Eva, which is part of the Tongass National Forest. 

Located near the northeast coast of Baranof Island , the Lake Eva trail leads 1.5 miles, from picturesque Hanus Bay to the south end of the lake. There’s also an unmaintained section of the trail, which adds an additional 1.4 miles to the trek and takes you to the remote Lake Eva cabin.

The hike takes you through gorgeous maritime forest and pristine rainforest, which has thankfully been protected from deforestation . Along the way you’ll find stunning river reflections; wildlife such as birds, Sitka Deer, and Black Bears (during Salmon season); and several great fishing spots.

READ MORE:   The 20 Largest Lakes in the World (By Continent)

Doing the Polar Plunge

As much as I loved these other Alaska cruise shore excursions, my favorite activity from my two Alaksa trips was the one we did right off the back deck of the Admiralty Dream. 

Back in 2012, Mary and I had a chance to take a small ship cruise of Antarctica . One of the most memorable highlights of that experience was me using FOMO (fear of missing out) to convince Mary to do the polar plunge in 27ºF waters. The results, for those who haven’t seen our video, were hilarious!

The waters of Alskas’s Inside Passage were considerably warmer, so there was no need for ropes to haul us in or doctors waiting with electrical cardioversion paddles in case our hearts stopped. In fact, the weather that day was so unseasonably warm, I decided to do the polar plunge twice! 

It was an invigorating way to wind down our 8-day adventure with Alaskan Dream Cruises. 

READ MORE: Mary’s Hilarious Freakout During the Polar Plunge in Antarctica

WILDLIFE ON A CRUISE OF THE INSIDE PASSAGE

The wildlife you can see on an Inside Passage cruise can vary widely depending on the time of year, itinerary, weather, and plain old luck. But here is a brief overview of the Alaskan animals we say during our 8 days with Alaskan Dream Cruises: 

No matter which Alaska cruise vacation you choose, you’re guaranteed to see plenty of beautiful birds along the way. We saw massive Ravens, Black Oystercatchers, Semi-Palmated Plovers, and several American Bald Eagles in Juneau before we even set foot on the Admiralty Dream. 

Once you’re at sea, keep your eyes peeled for the penguin -like Common Murre, Pelagic Cormorants (which nest on coastal cliffs), and four different types of Gulls. And you shouldn’t have any trouble spotting the popular puffins, including the Horned Puffins and Tufted Puffins.  

READ MORE: 25 Species of Birds You Can See During a Galapagos Cruise

Land Mammals

If you really want to see lots of land animals during your vacation, you may want to consider taking a combination Alaska cruise and land tour, as we did. This will give you a better chance to spot Dall Sheep, Grey Wolves ,  Moose  and Sitka Deer than you’re likely to get during your cruise excursions. 

However, even Alaska cruises that depart early in the season can offer surprising wildlife sightings.

We were fortunate to spend nearly an hour watching a mama and two baby Black Bears during a hike at Mendenhall Glacier. We also saw a Porcupine there, and Mountain Goats and Red Squirrels in Glacier Bay National Park. Grizzlies are common along the Inside Passage shores in July and August.

READ MORE: 40 Species of Alaskan Animals You Can See on an Alaska Cruise

Marine Animals

Marine life has been a highlight of all the Alaska cruises I’ve ever taken. From Kenai Fjords and Glacier Bay National Park to the many Sounds and Straits of the Inside Passage, watching wildlife in the waters of Alaska has always proven rewarding. 

Whales are, of course, are the main attraction. And you’ll likely see at least a dozen Humpback Whales and Killer Whales (a.k.a. Orcas) during a 7-day Alaska cruise. We spent several memorable evenings watching whole pods of Orcas swimming along the surface at sunset.

But there are countless other marine animals in Alaska worth watching for. We spotted several pods of Dall’s and Harbor Porpoises leaping in the wake of our small cruise ship. We also saw huge colonies of Steller’s Sea Lions , adorable pairs of Sea Otters, and tons of Harbor Seals along the way. 

Ultimately, these engaging wildlife interactions proved to be among the most memorable aspects of our incredible Alaska adventure. –Bret Love; photos by Bret Love & Allie Love

About the Author

Green Global Travel is the world's #1 independently owned ecotourism website encouraging others to embrace sustainable travel, wildlife conservation, cultural preservation, and going green tips for more sustainable living.

We've been spotlighted in major media outlets such as the BBC, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Travel Channel, Washington Post and others.

Owned by Bret Love (a veteran journalist/photographer) and Mary Gabbett (business manager/videographer), USA Today named us one of the world's Top 5 Travel Blogging Couples. We were also featured in the 2017 National Geographic book, Ultimate Journeys for Two, for which we contributed a chapter on our adventures in Rwanda. Other awards we've won include Best Feature from both the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Magazine Association of the Southeast.

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Alaska Inside Passage Cruises

An Alaska Inside Passage cruise is the most iconic way to explore Alaska. Cruises along this coastal route sail amid steep, irregular coastlines, dramatic tidewater glaciers, dense evergreen forests and abundant wildlife. Many towns here have no major in-roads, so visiting by ship is not only the best way to see them—it’s also the only way. Read on to learn more about the Alaska’s Inside Passage and how get aboard an Inside Passage cruise.

ON THIS PAGE – Alaska Inside Passage Cruises : What Is the Inside Passage? Where Is the Inside Passage? Inside or Inland Passage Alaska? Key Ports & Places Inside Passage vs Glacier Bay The Smallest Boat of the Inside Passage Alaska Inside Passage Excursions Inside Passage Cruise Reviews View All Small Ship Inside Passage Cruises

What Is Alaska’s Inside Passage?

The Inside Passage is a coastal route for ships and boats. Virtually all Southeast Alaska small ship cruises sail in the Inside Passage, so the terms “Southeast Alaska” and “Inside Passage” are pretty much synonymous when it comes to cruising.

During the Klondike Gold Rush, the Inside Passage was popular for American prospectors seeking gold, but today its popularity remains for tourism and commercial fishing. It’s now by far the most popular destination to take a small ship Alaska cruise thanks to its protected waters, interesting geological features and abundant wildlife.

Where is Alaska’s Inside Passage?

The greater Inside Passage extends as far south as Olympia, Washington, but the northernmost section of the route is in Alaska. The Alaska portion extends 500 miles from north to south and 100 miles from east to west. It begins in Ketchikan in the south and runs to Skagway in the North. The area encompasses 1,000 islands, 15,000 miles of shoreline and thousands of coves and bays, many protected from the Pacific Ocean by the Alexander Archipelago. Prefect for small ship cruising,

Inside, Inner or Inland Passage Alaska?

Take note that many travelers mistake the name to be the Inland Passage Alaska, or even Inner Passage Alaska or Alaska Passage. So next time you hear about an Alaska Inland Passage cruise, just know the person is referring to an Alaska Inside Passage cruise.

A good way to remember the region’s name is to think of it as cruising “inside” the Alexander Archipelago (between the islands and the main shore), not “inland.” There’s not much “inland” about Alaska Inside Passage cruises as they mostly hug the shoreline due to impassable terrain as you head farther east from the shore.

Some travelers may also confuse the area with the Alaska Marine Highway used by the ferry systems, but our overnight cruises are much more immersive than these to/from transportation services. No matter… whether you call it Inland Passage, Inner Passage or simply the Alaska Passage, most travelers will catch your drift!

Key Ports & Places on an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise

At the northern reaches of the Alaska Inside Passage are the small towns of Skagway and Haines located up the Lynn Canal . These two towns are not the most commonly visited on Alaska Inside Passage cruise routes, so be sure to look for them in an itinerary if you wish to visit these historic places.

At the southern end of the Inside Passage are Ketchikan and Misty Fjords National Monument , a spectacular 2-million-acre wilderness preserve surrounded by 3,000-foot vertical cliffs, glacial fjords and cascading waterfalls. While you can take a Misty Fjords boat tour on a day trip, nothing compares to the broader experience of sailing farther up the Inside Passage.

Up and down the Alaska Inside Passage are dozens of glaciers, fjords, islands and towns including Juneau , Alaska’s capital city; Tracy Arm (pictured above); and Sitka , the former capital of Russian America. Designated bear viewing is available at Anan Creek near Wrangell and at Pack Creek Bear Sanctuary on Admiralty Island near Juneau. Many travelers seek to do the Inside Passage with Tracy Arm Fjord (about 45 miles south of Juneau) due to the twin Sawyer Glaciers (North and South Sawyer), but nearby Endicott Arm and its Dawes Glacier are also spectacular. Many Inside Passage cruise routes will include them both!

Cruise itineraries here include a mix of these ports and places, and routes can really vary by cruise line and the timing of your Inside Passage trip. Ask one of our experts about what might be the best small ship Inside Passage itinerary for your needs. Southeast Alaska small ship cruises are our specialty and our team of specialists have collectively been to every port.

ASK AN INSIDE PASSAGE EXPERT

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Inside Passage vs Glacier Bay

Just to the east of Lynn Canal on the northernmost end of the Inside Passage Alaska is the famed Glacier Bay National Park . To experience the park, you need to technically sail out of the Inside Passage coastal route, and into Glacier Bay. Many Inside Passage cruise itineraries will explore both Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage, spending two to three out of eight days within the national park.

In fact, about two-thirds of the Inside Passage cruise itineraries listed on this page include Glacier Bay. But note that there are some cruises that spend their entire journey only within the park. See our Glacier Bay cruise routes to be sure you access this national park if it’s on your must-see list.

The main difference of Inside Passage vs Glacier Bay (if you aren’t going to have them both in your cruise) is visiting towns and cultural interaction. Glacier Bay is an uninhabited national park that offers the epitome of remote wilderness and solitude. Yet the Inside Passage has glaciers in many other locations and remote solitude in many bays and coves. So you don’t have to go to Glacier Bay to see glaciers!

The Smallest Boat Cruising the Inside Passage

Since our team at AdventureSmith Explorations specializes in small ships, we often get asked about the smallest boat in the Inside Passage. Cruise ships in the Alaska Inside Passage are a wide range of sizes, with big ships reaching the thousands of passengers. But the most common small ship Inside Passage size is under 20 guests, with ships in the 50-100 range also being common.

The smallest boat offering Inside Passage cruises is 8 guests, two examples being the Westward and Sikumi yachts. These ships are great for Alaska yacht charters , or a more intimate experience with fellow travelers. The largest ship on our curated Inside Passage cruise itineraries are the 100-guest identical sister ships National Geographic Venture and Quest.

Find Your Inside Passage Ship

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Whether you choose the smallest boat or a larger expedition ship is up to you and your group’s travel needs. We’re here to help you decide and select your Inside Passage cruise small ship route and boat.

Alaska Inside Passage Excursions

Alaska Inside Passage excursions off the ship are a big part of the day when you are small ship cruising. Being off the ship exploring actively and intimately is a hallmark of any itinerary AdventureSmith Explorations offers worldwide. And an Alaska Inside Passage cruise on a small ship is no exception.

On an Inside Passage cruise, spend your days hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, going on Zodiac and skiff rides to spot wildlife, and even snorkeling and fishing on select itineraries! Beachcomb, forage, explore small towns, cruise Misty Fjords, visit tribal houses and more on our small boat cruises in Alaska Inside Passage. Most often these shore excursions are included in the cost, another bonus of choosing a small ship cruise !

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All Small Ship Inside Passage Cruises

Find and filter below all the Inside Passage cruise routes aboard small ships. These cruise tours include excursions and expert guides to enhance your experience. Search by your travel dates or price range to find your best Alaska Inside Passage cruise. We’re ready to help you plan your Inside Passage trip.

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Enjoy 2 days venturing farther than 99% of visitors into Glacier Bay National Park. Plus, Tracy Arm, Frederick Sound, Icy Strait and Chatham Strait. Choose between two 76- & 84-guest Wilderness expedition ships as your home base.

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Inside Passage Cruise Reviews from Our Travelers

This trip exceeded our expectations (and that isn't an easy thing). It fit our style and interest. Just the right mix of activity and fun. The scenery in SE Alaska was spectacular and the weather (mostly) cooperated. The ship and crew were exceptional. The guides were knowledgeable and really seemed to enjoy their jobs. So glad that we chose a small ship and especially Uncruise. We liked it so much that we signed up for a future cruise with them. I can't recommend them enough.

We Loved our cruise w Alaska Dream Cruises on the Admiralty. AMAZING crew & staff that made everything so easy & fun!...The ship size & smaller guest list made this the PERFECT cruise experience for us!

All details were attended to. Everything went smoothly. Many instant connections were made.

Enjoyed kayaking almost every day. Got some great photos of dolphins, jelly fish, otters, seals, bears, and Orcas. We did see Humpbacks, but only a glimpse. Glaciers were excellent, and all of the many beautiful views along the way.

We've done a fair amount of travel and have never had a better trip. We wanted to travel with a small group vs a monster cruise. Good travel companions. Small group made it an especially comfortable and friendly environment.

The service was impeccable, and I truly appreciated Lindblad's focus on education and developing a better understanding and awareness of our environment. I also completely embraced the true exploratory spirit of this expedition, bushwhacking into the rainforest to find muskeg and salmon streams where there was no trace of any human touch. I absolutely loved it!

Accommodations Review

Cabin was small, but met all our needs. We spent very little time in the room anyway. 

Meals Review

The meal choices were varied and always found something that we liked - even if was the optional salad with the fish of the day. Presentation was as amazing as was the taste. The bartender would mix fun drinks of the day, one day it was called a mudslide (after a muddy hike!).

Itinerary Review

The views, wildlife and activities were terrific. There were a few days in quiet bays that were not as exciting as the other days. Enjoyed the kayaking on these days. We saw a large pod of orcas, sea otters, humpback whales, bears, jelly fish, sea lions, eagles, jumping salmon and more. Got to go on a hike on the glacier with incredible views.

Crew & Guides Review

The guides were absolutely incredible. I can't imaging the hiring process to find such knowledgeable and upbeat, fun, happy people. You can't teach the service attitude that they demonstrated. Very impressed with the guides.

Fellow Passengers Review

We found ourselves with a lot of people like us - mostly young retirees just wanting to be active and have fun. Everyone was very easy to get along with.

Traveler Advice

This is not the trip for you if you want casinos, a fancy cabin or entertainment. If you want an active, casual trip with excellent food and service, go with Uncruise.

Featured in this Traveler Review

• Northern Passages with Glacier Bay & Sitka
• Safari Endeavour

We Loved our cruise w Alaska Dream Cruises on the Admiralty. AMAZING crew & staff that made everything so easy & fun! We were lucky to see incredible wildlife, our highlight was watching the humpback whales bubblenet feeding multiple times! The ship size & smaller guest list made this the PERFECT cruise experience for us! We got to enjoy many outdoor activities everyday and we were blessed w good weather! We would Highly recommend Alaska Dream Cruises!

The scenery was spectacular and all the beds were comfy!

Omg…the food! So delicious!

The sincere upbeat & fantastic crew (how do they do this for over 100 days in a row?!!) on the cruise impressed ALL the passengers!

[I most enjoyed] Watching the humpback whales bubblenet feeding! Enjoyed everything, even thru the rain! We had NO complaints!

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Lauren was great!

• Last Frontier Adventure
• Admiralty Dream
• Alaskan Dream Cruises
• Lauren Pilholski

All details were attended to. Everything went smoothly. Many instant connections were made. [I chose this destination and trip based on the] Reputation and expertise of National Geographic and adventure to somewhere I’ve never been.

Spending time with the naturalists in nature was just the best. I especially enjoyed being with Shaun in the zodiac listening to stories laced with his fun sense of humor. He seemed to thoroughly want to be with us.

[I most enjoyed] Watching the Sawyer glacier calving and hanging out with the sea lions and eagles.

Be open to all excursions and reach out and connect with those journeying with you. Relax. Enjoy.

• Wild Alaska Escape: Juneau & Ketchikan
• Lindblad Expeditions

Great trip. Most enjoyable. Enjoyed kayaking almost every day. Got some great photos of dolphins, jelly fish, otters, seals, bears, and Orcas. We did see Humpbacks, but only a glimpse. Glaciers were excellent, and all of the many beautiful views along the way.

Room was very small, but we were OK with that. We didn't intend to spend much time there.

Food was great. No complaints.

All leaders were professional, and some, in particular showed great enthusiasm. Our favorite was Sam. He was a true leader, knowledgeable, and fun. He is a great people person, and truly needs a beard trip! Jess was also very enthusiastic. Her bright spirit was a constant.

Sitka and Ketchikan, and even Juneau, were OK, but we could have done without any of them. We were there to see nature in all its glory. We met one couple who will be a life-long friend, and most every other fellow passenger was pleasant, as well.

Transportation Review

All was good. The only negative was our uncertainty of our arrival in Seattle. We easily could have taken an earlier flight home, but were uncertain of our arrival time, and debarkation in Seattle. Also, we were uncertain of how we could and would get to the airport.  It was fine, but that day turned into a very long one.

Ask questions about last day arrival, and connections to the airport. We were unaware that we would have transportation to the airport. When we did, our driver was there on time, and she was efficient, pleasant, and gave us confidence that we would have no problem getting to the airport on time.

Very good experience. We would recommend AdventureSmith Explorations to friends and family.

• Wilderness Discoverer
• Inside Passage with Olympic National Park & 2 Days in Glacier Bay

We've done a fair amount of travel and have never had a better trip. We had never visited Alaska and wanted to see at least a small part of it. We wanted to travel with a small group vs a monster cruise. We prefer active trips rather than sightseeing, so the hiking and kayaking were exactly what we wanted. Kayaking Ford's Terror in the rain [was an] engaging activity in a peaceful and beautiful setting. Campfire/dinner on the beach at The Brothers was unexpected and thoroughly enjoyable evening on shore whale watching and wildlife viewing everywhere. Crew did a great job of spotting and allowing opportunities to view a wide variety of wildlife. Low-tide hike/excursion at Wood Spit was difficult footing in places was really the only negative. Good travel companions. Small group made it an especially comfortable and friendly environment. 

Individual cabins were admittedly very small, but the Catalyst was more comfortable and accommodating than we expected. The addition of the private head in our cabin was an unexpected plus. We loved the boat!

Paul, Shane, Caroline, Michael and new trainee, Jimmy, made a wonderful team. Always professional, yet very personable and engaging as individuals. Constantly interacting with guests. Paul was great at spotting wildlife, getting the boat in the best position and allowing us to linger and watch. Caroline was always enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable about all things animal, plant, and other. Shane never failed to entertain and demonstrate/explain the running of the boat. 

Andrew provided complete/thorough information. We felt very prepared. 

Meals prepared by Michael - delicious, beautiful presentation, varied and always interesting. No room for improvement.

Be flexible.  Leave expectations at home and just enjoy what comes. We did decide that headlamps/flashlights are not necessary in Alaska in June.

• Alaska's Eastern Passages
• Andrew Browning

Starting with Andrew who has been the best travel consultant to date, the trip with Lindblad/Nat. Geo. Expeditions to Southeast Alaska has been one of the most memorable weeks of my life. The service was impeccable, and I truly appreciated Lindblad's focus on education and developing a better understanding and awareness of our environment. I also completely embraced the true exploratory spirit of this expedition, bushwhacking into the rainforest to find muskeg and salmon streams where there was no trace of any human touch. I absolutely loved it!

The bed was incredibly comfortable, and the ship sailed so smoothly that I could tell if we were cruising or anchored. Bathroom was quite adequate.

The food was inconsistent, though many meals were great, some were not as good. Pancakes and french toasts were so dry that they were some of the worst. Some meals were rather salty. Overall, I was quite satisfied, however.

All naturalist guides were excellent and were clearly passionate about their work and sharing the wilderness with us.

The opportunities to land on pristine rainforest bay areas with untouched wilderness was simply magnificent. My best day was Kelp Bay in Baranof Island, where we had a fantastic encounter with 2 bears in the salmon stream. I will never forget that for the rest of my life. I was hoping to see more marine wildlife, but that did not turn out to be the case during our week. The fantastic bear encounter made up for the entire week, however.

Andrew has been the best consultant ever. Always prompt, always full of information and detailed in his response. I have never had a better person to prepare me for a trip. Anyone would be so fortunate to have Andrew's guidance.

Be prepared for whatever weather that Alaska throws at you. It rained the entire week, and so good waterproof gear is a must. Don't expect to find wildlife up close -- it does not happen reliably, or you might get disappointed. Make the most of each day and get the most out of the naturalists.

• Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

What It’s Like Cruising the Inside Passage of Alaska

Our team is adept at personalizing recommendations for an Alaska Inside Passage cruise to fit your timing, budget, activity level and travel style. All we need are a few details like how many travelers are in your group and some basic interests to get started on a custom travel recommendation. Or if you have time to browse, consider taking an Inside Passage trip we’ve recently experienced and reviewed. Linked here are some of our most recent tales from small ship cruising the Inside Passage of Alaska.

Compare and contrast the various Lindblad Alaska cruises and ships from an expert who's been aboard. Learn what stands out about Lindblad's Alaska programming, guides and crew.

All you need to know before you take an Alaska UnCruise. Read this review to hear from an expert’s eye what sets this operator's cruises apart from others in Alaska.

Alaska is the perfect destination for slow travel. Learn about AdventureSmith Founder and President Todd Smith's slow cruising experience in this detailed review and get inspired to enjoy authentic Alaska aboard historic small ships Catalyst and Westward.

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• UnCruise   - "Innovation" has been their motto since 1996.  Alaska has the most itinerary options of all its destinations, whether it's a 7, 12, or 14-night excursion.  Safari Endeavour ,  Safari Explorer ,  Safari Quest ,  Wilderness Explorer ,  Wilderness Legacy ,  Wilderness Discoverer , and  Wilderness Adventurer  all sail the Inside Passages with guest capacity ranging from 22 to 86.
• Alaskan Dream Cruises  - offers an authentic and intimate small vessel voyage through Alaska's Inside Passage. Each experience has been hand-selected for its potential to immerse guests in True Alaska. Each ship in this fleet has a shallow draft, which allows for a closer approach to shore than larger cruise ships:  Kruzof Explorer ,  Chichagof Dream ,  Admiralty Dream , and  Alaskan Dream . 
• Lindblad Expeditions  - a family-owned operation founded in the 1960s that pioneered expedition-style cruising. In partnership with National Geographic, inspiring people to explore and care for the earth offers passengers an expanded selection of experts and lecturers. ​ National Geographic Quest , and National Geographic Venture , have dual boarding platforms, enabling the team to load two Zodiacs at once means guests get off the ship quickly to take advantage of wildlife sightings and maximize exploring time. 
• Silversea Cruises   is the gold standard in luxury cruising, acclaimed for its legendary European lifestyle and global destinations. Never skimping on choice nor luxury. And always all-inclusive. Its fleet of small ships Silver Muse  and Silver Shadow  offers extreme comfort for the adventurous Inside Passage Alaskan traveler. 
• American Queen Voyages  -   (formerly American Queen Stemboat Company and Victory Cruise Lines ) offers small-ship cruising with immersive shore excursions and onboard programs. The new adventure-style Ocean Victory  will sail 12 and 13-day voyages through the less-traveled sections of Alaska's Inside Passage with an experienced expedition team.
• Aurora Expeditions - will make its inaugural journey to Alaska in June 2022, sailing from Vancouver to Anchorage via the Inside Passage.  Sylvia Earle  features the revolutionary  Ulstein X-BOW® , which allows the ship to cross oceans more comfortably and efficiently, with expansive observation decks to bring you closer to the environment.   

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It’s not as bad as you think: 6 reasons I’m happy booking a windowless ‘inside’ cabin on a cruise ship

As regular readers know, I'm a big fan of cabins with balconies. As I explained in a recent story , there's nothing quite like being able to step onto a balcony on a ship to breathe in the fresh ocean air.

But that doesn't mean I'm opposed to the idea of staying in a cabin without a balcony. In fact, at times, I'll even book a cabin that doesn't have a window — or, as they're known in the cruise world, an "inside" cabin.

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If you've never been on a cruise before, you might not even know there's such a thing as a cabin without a window. But there is, and they're actually quite common. Many ships operated by major lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line have hundreds of windowless cabins.

That may seem almost unthinkable to people who are used to staying at hotels on land. After all, there aren't a lot of hotels that have hundreds of rooms without windows. If there were, we're guessing they wouldn't be huge sellers.

But it's fair to say that accommodations on cruise ships have their own set of quirks.

The upside of an inside

The lack of a window isn't the only reason to pooh-pooh the idea of staying in an inside cabin.

In addition to offering nary a peek at the world, inside cabins — named because they're generally located toward the middle of ships, away from exterior walls — also often are the smallest cabins on any cruise ship. Many are downright tiny. That latter point can be a big turnoff for some cruisers.

But there are advantages to inside cabins, too. For starters, inside cabins often are significantly less expensive than ocean-view cabins. They also offer a sort of "less is more" minimalism that can appeal to a keep-it-simple crowd.

Related: 5 reasons to turn down a cruise ship cabin upgrade

For me, at least, there are times when a cabin that's inexpensive and modest in size is just fine, even if it doesn't have anything in the way of a view.

After all, for the most part, I'm not taking cruises to spend a lot of time in a cabin. Like most cruisers, I get on ships to enjoy all they have to offer in their public spaces and to explore all the wonderful places to which they sail.

In that context, does it really matter if the room where I'll sleep each night is big and fancy?

Related: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship

To steal a line from Arthur Frommer, the legendary guidebook author and guidebook company founder, "Most of the time you're in your room on vacation, your eyes are closed."

Frommer said that to me years ago during an interview about his favorite hotel rooms. He thought spending huge sums on fancy digs was a waste. His words stuck with me over the years, and now, I see their wisdom.

Here are six reasons you might want to seriously consider the least expensive inside cabins on any cruise ship.

You'll save money

This is, for sure, the big allure of an inside cabin. They can be an incredible deal.

At the time of this story's publishing, fares for inside cabins on six-day Royal Caribbean cruises out of Fort Lauderdale in November 2024, for instance, were running a whopping 136% less than fares for balcony cabins. The fares for inside cabins were roughly a third of the cost of the least expensive suite.

Specifically, you could get on the line's amenity-packed Freedom of the Seas out of Fort Lauderdale on a Nov. 3, 2024, departure for just $414 per person, not including taxes and fees, if you were willing to stay in an inside cabin. That works out to just $69 a day.

Related: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide: Everything you want to know

The thing to remember here is that all of Freedom of the Seas' major attractions, from deck-top waterslides and a surfing simulator to an indoor ice skating rink and a giant theater with Broadway-style shows, are open to everyone on board, whether they're staying in the smallest or biggest cabin. So are nearly all the ship's onboard restaurants, bars and lounges.

Other than having to sleep in a smaller, windowless room, you'll be getting much of the same onboard experience as someone who pays far more for a snazzy cabin but at a fraction of the price.

You'll sleep like a baby

There is no dark in the world like the dark of an inside cabin. Once you turn off the lights, it will be pitch black — the kind of darkness that's almost scary to contemplate.

This can be a bit disorienting for someone who's used to at least a little moonlight getting into the bedroom at home. But if you're the kind of person who has trouble sleeping with any kind of light disruption, an inside cabin can be pure bliss. You'll go to bed without any worry about the morning sun sneaking through your curtains to wake you prematurely. And moonlight is definitely not a problem.

Related: 8 cabin locations on cruise ships you should definitely avoid

Inside cabins can be particularly appealing if you're sailing far north around the summer solstice when the sun stays up for much (or all) of the day. We're talking about places like Alaska , the Norwegian coast and around Iceland and Greenland. Ditto if you're sailing far south during the winter to places such as Antarctica or the more southerly parts of South America.

You'll spend more time enjoying the ship

The trick to having a blast on a cruise ship is to dive right into anything and everything it has to offer. If it has a rock wall, you need to climb it. Karaoke? Get ready to sing. Leave no waterslide or late-night comedy show unexperienced. To do this, of course, you need to get out of your room, and there's no better motivation to venture out of your room than to have one that lacks much space or even a window.

When I book inside cabins, I find that I get up and out early. Instead of ordering room service for breakfast, I'll head to a restaurant with a view and then explore the ship more than usual in the morning. I'll spend daytime hours playing on the ship's top decks and evening hours out late at the bars, lounges and showrooms.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on your next cruise

By offering you little more than a small, dark place to rest your head at night, inside cabins can be just the impetus you need to make the most of your cruise vacation.

You might get less seasick

Worried about getting seasick on your next cruise ?

The most stable place to be on any cruise ship is low down on the vessel near its equilibrium point, which is generally near its center. Since inside cabins are closer to the center of a ship than "outside" ocean-view and balcony cabins, they can be more stable in rough seas. The trick is to find an inside cabin toward the center of the ship in both directions — lengthwise and widthwise.

The counterargument to this, for the record, is that you can't look at the horizon when you're in an inside cabin — a common tip for people experiencing seasickness. And you won't have access to fresh air as you would in a balcony cabin.

If you're solo, you might avoid extra fees

Nearly all cruise ship cabins are designed for two travelers, each paying their own fare, and solo travelers generally have to pay an extra fee to stay in one alone. But some ships have special inside cabins specifically designed for solo travelers . If you're traveling alone and stay in one of these special cabins, you can avoid the extra solo traveler fee, known in the industry as the "single supplement."

Norwegian, which has been at the forefront of the solo cabin trend, now has hundreds of inside cabins for solo travelers spread across more than half a dozen vessels.

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their 1st cruise

While Norwegian's solo cabins do have windows, they open up onto hallways, not the outside of the ship. They're also unusually small, at around 100 square feet, but they're superbly designed to maximize storage space, too. Additionally, they're clustered around exclusive lounges where solos can mingle at daily hosted happy hour gatherings.

Royal Caribbean, Cunard and Holland America are among other lines that have been adding solo cabins to some ships — many of them inside cabins.

There are a few ocean-view cabins designed for solo travelers in the industry, but they are very rare.

You might still get an ocean view (with a twist)

On a few innovative cruise ships, there are windowless inside cabins that offer a view of the outside world, thanks to the magic of technology.

On some Disney Cruise Line ships, some inside cabins come with "magical portholes" that show real-time views of the outside. They're actually screens built into the walls of the cabin to give the illusion of a porthole view.

Royal Caribbean has gone a step further, adding large "virtual balconies" to inside cabins on some ships. These are floor-to-ceiling LED screens that show real-time views of the outside, built into the walls of the cabins in such a way that they offer the illusion of a balcony.

If this idea sounds a little hokey, it is. But I've stayed in these cabins, and the illusion is surprisingly real. The addition of the screens really changes the feel of the rooms. The Disney cabins are particularly fun, as Disney characters sometimes make cameo appearances in the magical portholes. If you've got young kids with you, they're going to love it.

Bottom line

• Booking a room without a window on a cruise ship may seem like an odd choice. But there are good reasons to consider one, not the least of which is that rooms without windows on cruise ships — known as "inside" cabins — can be an incredible value.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise