10 Best Glacier Bay Small Ship Cruises & Tours for 2022-2023

Alaska travel and dall sheep grazing on Alaska hillside

Embark on the Safari Explorer for an 8-day cruise to Glacier Bay National Park, Chichagof Island, and Peril Strait as you cruise from Juneau to Sitka, Alaska. Explore this majestic region and its wildlife by skiff, kayak, and paddle board. Hike in Glacier Bay National Park and Chichagof Island’s waterfall coast.

Glacier Bay National Park Adventure

8 Days from $3,600

Join the Wilderness Discoverer on this exceptional 8-day Alaskan Cruise where you'll discover Glacier Bay National Park, a 3,223,384 acre park located in Alaska's panhandle, Spend your days viewing wildlife like black and brown bears, eagles, sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, sea birds and more as you sail from Sitka to Juneau.

Northern Passages & Glacier Bay

8 Days from $5,500

Set sail aboard the SafarI Endeavour from Juneau to Sitka, Alaska, on an 8-day voyage to the Glacier Bay National Park, Chichagof Island, and Peril Strait. By boat, kayak, and paddleboard, you may explore this breathtaking area and its animals. Also, hike Chichagof Island's waterfall coast and Glacier Bay National Park.

View of Mendenhall glacier on an Alaska cruise

Alaska's Glacier Country

8 Days from $2,995

Make the most out of this 8-day cruise aboard Wilderness Adventurer as you explore the wilderness and encounter marine animals by kayaking, paddle boarding and taking a skiff into remote inlets. Never miss the beautiful Blue glaciers that can capture your heart while looking at it.

Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Wilderness Cruise

Seattle to Juneau
13 Days from $6,695

Thirteen days take you through the Inside Passages and Glacier Bay National Park, encountering remote wilderness, Native culture, and history. Set sail onboard Safari Explorer searching for the mighty humpback whale, orcas, harbor seals, and Steller's sea lions. Celebrate with a toast to nature's handiwork.

Kayaking among beautiful Alaskan mountains

Glacier Bay National Park Adventure

Juneau to Juneau
8 Days from $4,495

Aboard the Wilderness Explorer on an incredible 8-day expedition to Alaska. Discover the epic ice giants of the world-renowned Glacier Bay National Park. Continue your tour by exploring this wonderful destination as you make your way from Sitka to Juneau.

Kayaking Tracy Arm Fjord in Tongass National Forest.

Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness

8 Days from $7,340

Explore massive glaciers, kayak scenic coastlines, encounter incredible and varied wildlife, and see the hidden wonders of Alaska. This exclusive 8-day sailing adventure aboard the National Geographic Quest is crafted to offer you the most in-depth experience of Alaska possible.

Get up close to amazing glaciers in Alaska

Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness

8 Days from $7,340

Explore Southeast Alaska aboard National Geographic Venture on its 8-day Alaska small ship cruise from Juneau to Sitka. Hike over the spongy earth and float past massive icebergs, glaciers, and, with some luck, bears , humpback whales, wolves, moose, sea otters, orcas, sea lions, and mountain goats.

Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Wilderness Cruise

Seattle to Juneau
13 Days from $3,345

Travel the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay on this 13-day small ship cruise aboard Wilderness Discoverer. Whales and wildlife, kayaking, and hiking. Thirteen days take you through the inside passages and Glacier Bay National Park plus remote wilderness, Native culture, and history.

Calm waters disturbed only by the flick of a whale's tail

Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Wilderness Cruise

Seattle to Juneau
13 Days from $4,995

On this 13-day small ship tour onboard Safari Endeavour, explore the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay. Whales and wildlife, kayaking, and hiking are just some of the activities available. Thirteen days immerse you in the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay National Park, as well as secluded landscapes, native culture, and history.

10 Best Luxury Glacier Bay Small Ship Cruises & Tours for 2022-2023

Trip Name	From	Days	Next Departure	Summary
Northern Passages & Glacier Bay	$7295	8	May 28, 2022	Embark on the Safari Explorer for an 8-day cruise to Glacier Bay National Park, Chichagof Island, and Peril Strait as you cruise from Juneau to … 0
Glacier Bay National Park Adventure	$3600	8	Apr 24, 2022	Join the Wilderness Discoverer on this exceptional 8-day Alaskan Cruise where you'll discover Glacier Bay National Park, a 3,223,384 acre park … 0
Northern Passages & Glacier Bay	$5500	8	May 21, 2022	Set sail aboard the SafarI Endeavour from Juneau to Sitka, Alaska, on an 8-day voyage to the Glacier Bay National Park, Chichagof Island, and Peril … 0
Alaska's Glacier Country	$2995	8	Apr 8, 2022	Make the most out of this 8-day cruise aboard Wilderness Adventurer as you explore the wilderness and encounter marine animals by kayaking, paddle … 0
Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Wilderness Cruise	$6695	13	Sep 3, 2022	Thirteen days take you through the Inside Passages and Glacier Bay National Park, encountering remote wilderness, Native culture, and history. Set … 0
Glacier Bay National Park Adventure	$4495	8	May 15, 2022	Aboard the Wilderness Explorer on an incredible 8-day expedition to Alaska. Discover the epic ice giants of the world-renowned Glacier Bay National … 0
Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness	$7340	8	May 15, 2022	Explore massive glaciers, kayak scenic coastlines, encounter incredible and varied wildlife, and see the hidden wonders of Alaska. This exclusive … 0
Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness	$7340	8	May 14, 2022	Explore Southeast Alaska aboard National Geographic Venture on its 8-day Alaska small ship cruise from Juneau to Sitka. Hike over the spongy earth … 0
Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Wilderness Cruise	$3345	13	Sep 11, 2022	Travel the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay on this 13-day small ship cruise aboard Wilderness Discoverer. Whales and wildlife, kayaking, and hiking. … 0
Inside Passage & Glacier Bay Wilderness Cruise	$4995	13	May 9, 2022	On this 13-day small ship tour onboard Safari Endeavour, explore the Inside Passage and Glacier Bay. Whales and wildlife, kayaking, and hiking are … 0

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Glacier Bay National Park Travel Guide

Alaska Cruise: When to Go?

Is it best to go on an Alaskan cruise in the highest season, warmest months of July and August? Or do the shoulder months of June and September have advantages? The time that you choose to travel depends on your personal interests & desires. Our Alaska cruise experts reveal their recommendations.

Alaskan Wildlife Guide

Alaska's animals will be the stars of the show during your visit! Several species of bears and moose dominate the landscape, while seals and seabirds inhabit the coastlines. Whale watching is a major attraction, and you may even get a lucky glimpse of playful sea otters. Prepare yourself for a WILD experience!

Glacier National Park Highlights

Here are some of the sites you shouldn't miss:

The Grand Pacific Glacier is a massive 25-mile long, 2-mile wide glacier that starts in the National Park and extends across the Canadian border into British Columbia.

Neighboring Margerie Glacier, is known for its dramatic calving with iceburgs crashing into the sea below.

Johns Hopkins Glacier is massive and approached frequently by sea kayak.

Icy Strait at the entrance of Glacier Bay is excellent for Humpback whale watching. Bring your binoculars!

Bartlett Cove is the trailhead for hikes into the forest along the Bartlett River. Wildlife here includes humpback whales and puffins.

What to Expect on a Cruise of Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, is surrounded by high mountain peaks, including Mount Fairweather, and 8 massive tidewater glaciers that calve ice into the bay dotted with icebergs.

As you enter Glacier Bay through Icy Strait and near the town of Gustavus, a National Park Ranger joins us to uncover coves and corners of the bay that most visitors, especially those on a large cruise ship, will miss.

Listen as the quiet stillness is broken by the thunder of tons of ice calving into the sea. A native Tlingit interpreter joins you to share local lore and legends.

Hundreds of miles of glacially formed fjords are here for you to explore by kayak, zodiac, on foot, and by small ship cruise.

Best Glacier Bay Small Ship Cruise Lines for 2022-2023

UnCruise - Alaska is the company's birthplace and boasts the most itinerary options, whether for 7, 12, or 14 nights. Almost 25 years later, innovation continues to be the core of its motto. The upscale 84-passenger small expedition ship Safari Endeavour leads the Glacier Bay National Park cruises. The Safari Explorer, Safari Quest, Wilderness Discoverer, Wilderness Adventurer, and Wilderness Legacy are other fleets plying this route.
Lindblad Expeditions - has small, swift expedition ships that can explore fast-moving channels where wildlife gathers. Holds National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service special permits to access Glacier Bay, National Park. Custom built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in the USA, the National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture are ideal for expedition travel.
Alaskan Dream Cruises - has all-inclusive, small vessel expedition itineraries that offer a mix of excursions in intriguing towns, native villages, and adventures in Glacier bays and remote wilderness, immersing you in True Alaska. A former Bering Sea crab harvesting boat, Kruzof Explorer, leads the Glacier Bay National Park itineraries. Other ships include Chichagof Dream, Admiralty Dream, Alaskan Dream, and Baranof Dream.