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My room was one of the few cabins on the bottom deck, near the lounge and dining hall. It had two twin-sized beds, a bathroom with a toilet and stand-up shower, and a sink just outside the bathroom. The National Geographic Quest is the perfect ship to explore from the northern reaches of Alaska’s Inside Passage. Built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, the National Geographic Quest is the first expedition ship of its kind to be made entirely in the U.S.
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While I had fun on every experience, including the trek, most of the excursions felt leisurely and left me wanting a more of a thrill. Although I can't compare my cabin with others as this was my first cruise, the room felt small to me since there wasn't much floor space. Still, I thought it was comfortable, and as a solo traveler, I was glad to have the entire room to myself.
Expedition Team
Sponsored Packing Tips For Alaska Cruising With Uncruise Adventures By Heidi Sarna No one does small-ship cruising better than UnCruise Adventures. The leader in small-scale Alaska cruises, the Uncruise fleet carries from 22 to 86 passengers on wide-ranging... 7 Alaska Small Ship Cruises By M.T. Schwartzman I took my first cruise to Alaska in 1988 aboard the old Noordam — an ocean-liner-type ship with over 1,200 passengers aboard, which was considered big back in those days. I'm up to 78 countries and 110+ cruises worldwide, and it's the small ship journeys that I love writing about most.
Northstar Travel Group
Experience this epic quest aboard National Geographic Resolution and discover the otherworldly icescapes that challenged generations of adventurers. National Geographic Venture is the perfect ship to explore Alaska’s Inside Passage and beyond. Designed with over 50 years of expedition heritage, National Geographic Venture is able to explore the same remote locations we’ve sought out for decades while setting a new standard in comfort and style. She features step-out balconies (available in 22 of the 50 spacious cabins), plus 6 sets of connecting cabins for families and groups; a Sun Deck bar, and a designated mudroom for expedition gear.
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And so QuirkyCruise.com was born, an excellent research tool for planning your own unforgettable small ship trip. Built in 2017, National Geographic Quest is ideal for the fast-moving channels and shallow coves of the Pan-American waters. Her design and engineering were informed by our nearly 40 years of experience in the narrow straits of Alaska, the coast of Costa Rica, and into the gray whale nursery lagoons of Baja.
The lounge became the gathering place for socializing and the classroom for lectures. In one corner was a bar with various beverages, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices. In the other corner, a small library with games, books, and computers drew guests to relax in this intimate space. For me, the highlight of the trip was seeing glaciers, which I'd never seen in person before. While they weren't as exciting as brown bears or as cute as otters, the beauty and size of these massive blocks of ice left me in awe. Each evening, we received an itinerary for the following day with options to sign up for outdoor excursions, such as hiking and kayaking.
Alaska Expeditions
I have traveled between all continents by sea and cruised along three dozen rivers. My journeys have translated into many books and many hundreds of articles. Our knowledgeable and passionate expedition team is complemented by our dedicated hotel team who strives to ensure that your time on board is as comfortable and rewarding as your time on shore. A typical conversation starter asked how many Lindblad cruises we had been on.
One of my favorite on-shore trips was when we docked in Haines, Alaska, and had the choice of an airplane ride, cycling, rafting, or a tundra trek. These smaller rafts allowed us to see animals like bears, whales, and otters up close. On our first Zodiac excursion, I watched a brown bear and two cubs cross over a small waterfall while plucking salmon from the water, less than 20 yards from our boat. I was also eager to learn from the resident researchers and scientists on the ship who are known as naturalists, and who would guide and educate us throughout the trip. The Within the Wild luxury Alaska adventure brings travelers into the Alaskan backcountry without sacrificing comfort. Enjoy remarkable helicopter- and floatplane-assisted adventures, hiking, sportfishing and a wellness program with massage and yoga.
Following the recaps, the passengers and crew spent time in the lounge getting to know each other and chatting about our days. I appreciated these recaps as a refresher on the day, and as a nice chance to bond with my fellow shipmates. After dinner each day, everyone on board gathered in the common lounge for drinks and dessert. As an amateur photographer, I was especially looking forward to having the professional National Geographic photographer onboard, who would lead guided photo walks to share tips for photographing wildlife.
Choose from 6-to-15 day small ship expeditions filled with life changing experiences. Alaska Cruise Packing Tips By Heidi Sarna I’ve been to Alaska many times over the years, having done nearly a dozen cruises there, on big and small ships, but mostly on the small ones, my favorites. And I've learned some things along the way; what to pack and what to...
With a shallow draft and small size, she can easily reach places inaccessible to larger ships. National Geographic Sea Bird accommodates just 62 guests in 31 outside cabins. Having sailed on other expeditions cruises sans apologies, I knew what to expect. I found the experts extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy while at the same time entertaining.
Although I haven't been on other cruise ships to compare, I enjoyed the small-ship atmosphere of this cruise. I appreciated that the limited number of passengers allowed everyone to spend time with the naturalists and experts, and made the excursions feel more personal and inclusive. Between the animal sightings, group excursions, and educational sessions, the trip gave me a greater appreciation for Alaska's wildlife and landscape, plus a renewed enthusiasm for nature photography. The cruise was on the National Geographic Sea Bird, a small ship with 31 cabins.
Visit the Totem Heritage Center to view a unique collection of 19th-century Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian totem poles from abandoned villages around Ketchikan before embarking the ship. Arrive in Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, in the early afternoon and embark the ship in time for cocktails and an introduction of the vessel staff and crew. (Cabin doors can be locked from the inside, but guests do not receive room keys.) A bit unsure about the policy when embarking, I was a quick convert, and enjoyed not having to worry about carrying or losing a key. Still a good 9 miles from Dawes Glacier, the massive chunks of ice strewn across Endicott Arm made it clear the National Geographic Venture could not go any further. This was the first Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic ship to sail into Alaska for the 2023 season, and Venture’s knowledgeable crew — rich with scientists and naturalists — were undaunted by Mother Nature’s roadblock. We walked through old-growth forests dwarfed by stately trees and met locals in places like Victoria, Alert Bay, Petersburg, and Sitka.
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