What Makes Our Alaska Cruise Special?
Small Ships: The small size of the Catalyst—only 12 passengers—means you can anchor in inlets and coves that larger ships just can’t access.
Trip Leaders: The experienced crew offers a great diversity of talents and skills with backgrounds as naturalists, kayak guides, researchers, and authors.
Itinerary Design: We've handcrafted a journey that brings you to the best sections of the Inside Passage in just 7 days. Maximizing your wildlife and landscape viewing while making sure you feel like you have all of Alaska to yourself!
Cuisine: We have a dedicated onboard chef preparing delicious, locally sourced, and artfully presented meals.
Conservation: The traditional engine is efficient, using as much fuel in an entire season as some competitors consume in a week. The built-in electrical system also allows hours at anchor without running a generator.
Overview
Glaciers crackle, bald eagles soar, and the sea is filled with whales, orcas, and porpoises. Explore this northern wonderland the perfect way, on a historic 12-guest wooden vessel that can maneuver around icebergs, follow whales, get close to glaciers, and tuck into tiny coves that bigger vessels wouldn’t even dream of approaching. Enjoy days filled with sea kayaking, hiking, and exploring tidepools, all in the company of a naturalist who is an expert on the local botany, natural history, and native culture. Back on board, savor delightful sea-to-table meals prepared by the talented chef. This is the way to experience the Inside Passage!
This small boat adventure was outstanding! Amazing food, very knowledgeable naturalist, great captain and engineer. The small number of passengers made it really fun and we received very personalized service and interactions.
— Cindy S., Woodside, CA
Note: This cruise is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as agent in booking your reservation with the ship operator. The itinerary, lecturers, and all other arrangements are subject to change at the discretion of the cruise line.
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-2
Juneau / Ford’s Terror (Juneau to Petersburg itinerary)
From Juneau, head into Stephens Passage, watching for bald eagles and orcas. You’ll have an introduction to kayaking (there are six doubles and three single kayaks aboard and no prior experience is necessary). You’re likely to spot the first icebergs as the ship enters fjord-like Endicott Arm and sails to the face of Dawes Glacier, where you’ll witness the calving and booming of the bergs. A skiff ride upriver often reveals jumping salmon and nesting waterfowl. In Ford’s Terror, known as “a flooded Yosemite Valley,” the ship navigates between 5,000-foot granite faces and you’ll explore on foot and by kayak in this spectacular and little-visited realm.
Days 3-5
Seymour Canal / Pack Creek Zoological Reserve
Watching for bears, moose, wolves, and whales, head to Endicott Arm, then enter Seymour Canal, home to the highest concentration of bald eagles in southeast Alaska. At the Pack Creek Zoological Area, enjoy the best brown bear viewing in the area. Head to Admiralty Island for an estuary paddle, and at The Brothers Islands, watch for humpbacks and orcas in this prime summer feeding ground. From the ship’s anchorages, the sound of breathing whales or the call of an eagle frequently drifts across the evening calm.
Days 6-8
Thomas Bay / Scenery Cove / Petersburg
If whales are in our midst, the ship will drop the hydrophone to listen to them. Anchoring at Scenery Cove, ride upriver by skiff for a hike on the ice of the Baird Glacier. Depart on Day 8 from charming Petersburg, or extend to Denali National Park to search for moose and caribou.
Alaska's Inside Passage
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Download a PDF of our Alaska's Inside Passage Detailed Itinerary to learn more about our day-to-day itinerary, prices and dates, the boat, and leaders.
