What is the difference between a large Holland America cruise to Glacier Bay in Alaska versus a small 8-10 passenger yacht cruise through Southeast Alaska, and which one is right for you?
Here, we dive into why take an Alaskan cruise, what makes each unique, and how much an Alaskan cruise costs so you can choose what experience you’re looking for!
Large Alaskan Cruise Ships
The larger Alaskan cruise ships, like Holland America, are approximately 780 feet long and carry 1,500-2,000 people per cruise.
The larger ships offer many amenities, including multiple dining options, theaters, casinos, onboard shopping, spas, pools, and fitness centers. These cruise ships feel like a city with a bustling, energetic atmosphere and live entertainment with many activities and options onboard and a view from your deck.
How much does an Alaskan cruise cost?
These large cruise ships can be more economical due to the large number of people aboard, and they can be an excellent option for budget-conscious travelers. The prices can start at $1,000 to $5,000+ per person for 7 to 10 days.
Your shore excursions are booked separately, so an additional cost depends on your interests and what you want to experience in the ports. Some activities include whale watching, fishing for a halibut, town tours, or shopping. These ships give you a more traditional cruise experience focused on the boat’s features and the onboard activities versus adventure.
These large Alaskan cruise ships, like Holland America, will stop in major ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, or Skagway for your day excursions. These towns often have five large ships daily in port; therefore can get entirely inundated with travelers. The number of travelers can sometimes exceed the actual number of residents. In 2020, the population in Ketchikan, Alaska, was 13,948.
Where does a large cruise ship depart and return to?
These ships can leave from Vancouver, BC, Canada, Seattle, Washington, or Seward, Alaska, and cruise to Southeast Alaska.
What is the cuisine like on an Alaskan cruise ship?
These larger ships tend to have multiple dining options, including local cuisines, upscale fine dining restaurants, casual, more buffet-style restaurants, or international options such as Italian, Asian, or French-flavored dishes. There are several ethnicities and experiences to choose from.
Let’s compare a smaller Alaskan cruise to see what makes the most sense for you!
Smaller Alaskan Yacht Cruise
A smaller wooden boat or yacht cruise may carry 6-20 passengers, and the approximate length is 85 -120 feet.
Since yacht cruises naturally have fewer passengers, this leads to less congestion in public areas and when heading ashore for excursions. These smaller Alaskan cruises may not stop at the large ports. They are focused on finding more unique rugged highlights or the locals favorite stops throughout the Inside Passage.
How much does an Alaskan yacht cruise cost?
The smaller boats or yacht cruises are generally more expensive due to the smaller number of passengers, the higher level of service with crew, and the more intimate adventures in the region. These Alaskan yacht cruises can range from $6,000 to $12,000 per person for 8 days, or if you wanted the entire boat, this could average $60,000 – $70,000 for 8 days for 6-12 passengers. This is a fabulous way to gather your friends and family and plan your cruise based on your Alaskan bucket list and what you want to see.
Typically, these costs include the excursions, as they are the focus of the adventures aboard the boat!
The smaller yacht cruises focus on a more immersive and adventurous experience. They may take you out on side trips, kayaking, or a tender boat into the local areas’ hidden gems.
In Southeast Alaska, US Forest Service Permits are required in these remote areas. Cruise ships cannot put people on the beaches without permits or travel in certain regions. The limited number of permits helps to manage the number of boats and preserve the rugged naturalness that makes Alaska so special. The passenger doesn’t typically pay anything additional for the licenses, but each yacht charter may charge differently. It isn’t like a day excursion fee. So, it can be important when choosing a cruise to ensure your yacht charter has many licenses for the areas you may want to explore in Southeast Alaska or Glacier Bay.
Smaller cruises can also visit more unique destinations that larger ships cannot access due to the size of their boat. That inlet or bay just may not be deep enough. Petersburg, Alaska, is a community of Norwegian folks made up of commercial fishing, and this is one of those ports the large boats can not get into due to the size of the Wrangell Narrows. They can’t get through there due to the depths and narrow passage.
These smaller yacht charters will visit more rural ports and destinations like Petersburg, Kake, Baranof Warm Springs, Le Conte Glacier, or Five Finger Lighthouse, which are areas that the larger ships can’t get into. These small villages and local highlights make Alaska rich in culture and adventure!
Some of the activities you might experience aboard a yacht charter are:
- Whale watching for humpback whales or killer whales
- Spotting wildlife such as bears, porpoises, sea otters, seals, deer, or moose
- Visit a sea lion rookery
- Bald eagles and many other birds
- Soak in a hot spring
- Fishing for halibut, salmon, shrimp, or crab
- Lighthouses
- Hiking to waterfalls or beach-combing
Le Conte Glacier is the southernmost tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere and not a destination for large ships. Le Conte Glacier is located 25 miles from Petersburg and is a favorite due to all the caving ice.
Travelers get an up-close view of the large icebergs in Le Conte Bay
Soaking in Baranof Warm Springs
Hidden Falls, also known as the bear hatchery. Hidden Falls Hatchery is one of the largest salmon hatcheries in the Baranof Island region in Southeast Alaska. It‘s renowned for its substantial contribution to the local fishing industry, releasing millions of salmon fry annually. We call it the bear hatchery, as the bears show up to feed on the salmon. These are some well-fed brown bears!
Hidden Falls Hatchery
This off-the-beaten-path, hidden local gems are the experiences you can expect to adventure into on a smaller, locally captained yacht cruise.
So, if you have an adventurous spirit, this is an incredible way to experience Southeast Alaska and truly a lifetime trip!
Where does a private yacht charter start?
They typically start in Southeast Alaska in Juneau, Petersburg, or Ketchikan. This gives you more time in the local area to explore versus traveling long distances on the boat at a time and just viewing the scenery.
What is the cuisine like on an Alaskan yacht cruise?
A yacht cruise is a smaller, more intimate dining experience, so typically, everyone eats together in a family style. This can be a great way to chat with the Captain or local crew and learn more about the region, their local experiences, and the history firsthand.
As you know, Alaska has an incredible abundance of seafood, so you may experience wild Alaskan salmon, freshly caught halibut, King or Dungeness crab, rockfish, clams, or even glacier ice in your cocktails! The onboard chef will typically accommodate food requests such as gluten-free or vegetarian.
Fresh Alaskan Halibut – Alaska Sea Adventures
Conclusion
Ultimately, your best choice depends on your budget, personal preference for how you want to experience Alaska and priorities. If you are looking for a more traditional cruise experience with a wide range of amenities and onboard activities, with the boat more of the experience, a large cruise ship may be a good option. You will see many of these large boats cruising into Glacier Bay and can sit back and enjoy the scenery and have the entertainment of a big ship!
If you are looking for a more intimate and adventurous Alaskan experience, you can tailor to your Alaskan bucket list, getting up close to the face of the glaciers, wanting to experience all the wildlife such as whales, sea otters, and bald eagles, cruising through the fjord’s, some fishing, and no schedule so you can linger on that pod of whales breaching and exploring the rugged outdoors, then a small boat cruise would be the choice for you!
Alaska Sea Adventures – M/V Northern Song and a Float Plane Ride
Alaska Sea Adventures is an all-inclusive, 8-10-passenger yacht cruise. We take you through the ice, closer to glaciers, and travel across waters where others can’t go due to the challenges of the sea, with our 85-foot custom expedition yacht. This motor vessel is built for Alaska with a steel hull for bumping up against the ice and NIAD stabilizers for a comfortable cruise!
During our 50 years, we have accumulated over 800 US Forest Service permits, taking you to remote areas where other charters can’t go.
Our 6-pole halibut permit allows you to catch that Alaskan “butt” (halibut)!
Yelloweyed Rockfish
Captain Harley, a local commercial fisherman, leads Alaska Sea Adventures. So, your yacht cruise will be immersed in the region’s locally sourced ingredients.
Cuisine and local seafood are Harley’s passions, so this is an internal part of your experience. Each evening, Harley shares his 40 years of fishing expertise during dinner, explaining the catch of the day and how the commercial fishing industry has evolved.
Golden Crab Feast, Seafood Risotto, and Shakshuka for Breakfast
You might even catch a glimpse of commercial fishing boats in action or haul a crab pot yourself!
Ultimately, the best choice for you depends on your personal preference of how you want to experience Alaska and your priorities. If you are looking for a more traditional cruise experience with a wide range of amenities and onboard activities, with the boat more of the experience, a large cruise ship may be a good option.
Suppose a more adventurous exploration focusing on exploring the magical details of the Inside Passage, getting up close to the face of the glaciers, and viewing the bears feeding in the streams is what you’re looking for.
In that case, a small yacht cruise is truly incredible. Not being on a schedule is pretty luxurious, so you can have the freedom to snap 100 pictures of that pod of whales breaching and exploring the fjords; then, a small boat cruise may be the right choice for you and your family!
Alaska Sea Adventures – M/V Northern Song and a Humpback Whale
An Alaskan yacht cruise is more than just a trip; it’s an immersive experience into one of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes. Download our curated bucket list guide to inspire your Alaskan adventure!
Southeast Alaska stands as a testament to glaciers’ immense power and beauty, sculpting its rugged landscapes over millennia. The region’s iconic icy giants are the North and South Sawyer, LeConte, and Baird Glaciers, each weaving a unique tale of geological history and environmental change.
A Journey Through Time: Glacial Formation and Dynamics
What is the Last Glacial Maximum?
At the peak of the last glacial maximum somewhere between 19,00 and 26,000 years ago, Southeast Alaska was blanketed in ice. The tidewater glaciers we see today, like many others in the region, reached their maximum advancement during this period, carving long winding fjords and shaping steep mountain peaks, creating the incredible landscape that is Southeast Alaska today.
As these glaciers retreated into the fjords they carved, they left behind a vast barren landscape, creating a blank canvas for Alaska’s plant population to evolve and thrive. This evolution of plant growth can still be seen today along the more recently exposed walls of the fjords where glacial ice only recently receded and plant growth has just begun. Traveling deep into the fjords provides an experience akin to traveling back in time, getting to witness the early stages of vegetation starting to inhabit the barren landscape left behind by receding glaciers.
Southeast Alaska’s Tidewater Glaciers Today
South Sawyer Glacier
Located in the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, South Sawyer Glacier is popular for its stunning blue ice and dramatic calving events. Calving occurs when chunks of ice break off the glacier, crashing into the water below with a thunderous roar.
South Sawyer Glacier- Photo by First Mate Ryan Walker
This glacier is actively monitored for its retreat and melt rates, providing valuable insights into current climate trends. South Sawyer Glacier has receded roughly 1300 annually over the last 100 years, creating a vast ice-field at the face of the glacier made up of chunks of ice ranging from the size of a baseball all the way up to icebergs larger than the MV Northern Song!
MV Northern Song at the mouth of LeConte Glacier by Russell Graves
The vast ice field of South Sawyer Glacier creates the perfect breeding grounds for harbor seals to give birth to their pups. Harbors seals from all over Southeast Alaska make the long trek into Tracy Arm in the late spring and early summer to give birth to their pups on icebergs safe from predators such as killer whales and bears. They raise their pups on the icebergs and in the surrounding fjord waters until it is safe to return to their typical habitat along the shores of rocky islands and sandy beaches throughout Alaska.
North Sawyer Glacier with Harbor Seals & Pups
North Sawyer Glacier
Just six miles northwest of South Sawyer Glacier, North Sawyer Glacier has receded into a relatively narrow and shallow portion of the fjord, stabilizing the face of the glacier and causing any calving to cease. The glacier’s shallow water and gradual movement have resulted in the accumulation of glacial till at the foot of the glacier, creating what is known as a recessional moraine.
South Sawyer Glacier -Photo by First Mate Ryan Walker
Moraines are significant accumulations of unconsolidated rock and debris deposited by glaciers. The primary moraines seen in Southeast Alaska are recessional and terminal. Recessional moraines, like the one North Sawyer Glacier rests on today, are small ridges of rock and debris created when a glacier pauses during its retreat, and debris previously frozen in the glacier’s leading edge is deposited along the foot of the glacier. Terminal moraines are prominent ridges of debris pushed forward by the leading edge of a glacier and dumped at the farthest-reaching point of the glacier’s advance. During the last glacial epoch, Sawyer glacier reached out to the mouth of Tracy Arm forming a massiver terminal moraine that can be witnessed today in the form of a shallow bar that must be crossed when entering Tracy Arm. Many other Glaciers in the area have the same shallow entrance to their fjords created by a terminal moraine, including Baird Glacier in Endicott Arm and LeConte Glacier.
LeConte Glacier
16 miles from the M/V Northern Songs home-port of Petersburg, Alaska, sits LeConte Glacier, the southernmost tidewater glacier in the northwest hemisphere.
Alaskan Yacht Cruise – LeConte Glacier
Like South Sawyer Glacier, Leconte Glacier is actively calving off large icebergs into the surrounding waters of LeConte Bay, creating a vast ice field perfect for harbor seals to give birth to their pups.
LeConte Glacier has been meticulously studied by students from Petersburg High School since 1983. Every year, they take the much-anticipated trip from Petersburg to LeConte Bay to examine the location of the glacier’s terminus, resulting in one of the longest ongoing studies of a single glacier. Captain Harley Ethelbah also participated in these studies in high school.
Various organizations have conducted numerous other studies over the years to understand the tidewater glacier cycle better. Information collected from studying Leconte Glacier has provided significant insight into glacial studies worldwide.
Baird Glacier
Located 16 miles north of Petersburg, Baird Glacier reaches down from the vast Stikine ice field into the head of Thomas Bay. For over 100 years, Baird Glacier rested on a terminal moraine, allowing visitors to climb onto it and the glacier. In some cases, it even acted as the starting point for mountaineers attempting to ascend Devil’sThumb, an iconic mountain peak 15 miles east of the glacier.
Over the years, the glacier continually lost volume, helping to initiate the break up of the terminus in 2015 when a glacial flood starting in the upper reaches of the glacier caused the already thinning terminus of the glacier to slowly break, sending icebergs into Thomas Bay. As the terminus receded from its terminal moraine, it left behind a large mud flat that was filled with runoff from the glacier, creating a lake at the new terminus of the glacier. Accessible at high tide skiff from our 8-day yacht cruise, Baird Glacier still allows visitors to enjoy the beautiful landscape and unique characteristics it has to offer.
Conclusion
Southeast Alaska glaciers are more than just stunning natural wonders; they are vital components of the region’s ecosystem, culture, and climate. From the massive icebergs calving off of South Sawyer Glacier to the intricate textures and beauty of Baird Glacier, these icey giants offer a unique window into the Earth’s past. By fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Southeast Alaska’s glaciers, we not only celebrate their existing beauty but also help safeguard their legacy for future generations.
So, whether you’re drawn by their majestic landscapes or the scientific mysteries they hold, the glaciers of Southeast Alaska are best experienced close up, where their majestic beauty can be truly absorbed and appreciated.
Our goal with Alaska Sea Adventures aboard the MV Northern Song is to build lasting memories of a once-in-a-lifetime Alaskan yacht cruise and give you up-close and personal interactions with the vast beauty that Southeast Alaska has to offer.
North Sawyer Glacier Photo by First Mate – Ryan Walker
And as you can see, each of these giants is a little different, so you have to explore them all! Explore our Alaskan Yacht Cruises
Written by First Mate Ryan Walker
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