13 Reasons Alaskan Dream Cruises Should Be On Your Travel Bucket List

A cruise with Alaskan Dream Cruises means you'll be on a small passenger ship that sails an average of seven-night itineraries. As one guest of just 49 passengers on Baranof Dream (one of their vessels) you'll be able to get to know other guests, have meaningful interactions with the crew, and delve deeper into the real Alaska than big ship cruises allow. For these reasons, an adventure with Alaskan Dream Cruises should be on your travel bucket list.

1. Start and End Your Journey Within Alaska

Beautiful scene of the front of a cruise ship boat painted white with teal trim, reflecting in the water. Purple flowers are in the foreground and evergreen trees in the background in Alaska, for an Alaskan Dream Cruises review. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

Starting and ending your cruise in Alaska, as opposed to Seattle or Vancouver, means you can easily extend your trip before and after your cruise. This allowed us to get to know the culture and people of Alaska more intimately. Additionally, Alaskan Dream Cruises' small ports of call mean you simply walk on and off the ship without cumbersome and time-consuming security checks. Learn more: Our Experience on Alaskan Dream Cruises Inside Passage Sojourn

2. Stand in Awe of the Beauty of Alaska

Rainbow over a snow-capped mountain in Glacier Bay, Alaska. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

The captain and crew ensure you sail through Alaska's most beautiful areas. Since much of Alaska is a rainforest, don't be surprised if it's wet or raining when you're there. But you know what they say – you must put up with the rain for a rainbow! Learn more: Honest Alaskan Dream Cruises Review: Adventure on Small Ships

3. Access Areas Big Ships Cannot, Cruising Through Alaska

Top deck of a small cruise ship sailing through Misty Fjords National Monument in Alaska. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

While big ships cannot fit into the navigable areas of Misty Fjords National Monument, Alaskan Dream Cruises' ship, Baranof Dream, glides through with ease. This breathtaking location is included in many itineraries with Alaskan Dream Cruises, which means you don't have to pay for an additional excursion to reach it like you have to on big ships. Don't forget your premium binoculars to spot goats and birds in the mountains! Learn more: Top Binoculars for Alaska & Antarctica Cruise: Leupold BX-2 Alpine HD Review

4. Get Closer to the Action with Alaskan Dream Cruises

Close up of a man looking at waterfalls in the distance. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

Because of the small size of the Alaskan Dream Cruises vessels, you can get closer to the action than large ships. One day, the captain was able to wow guests by safely positioning the ship mere feet from a beautiful, roaring waterfall. Learn more: Our Experience on Alaskan Dream Cruises Inside Passage Sojourn

5. Find Solace and Rejuvenation in Small POrts

Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

Small ports, like Wrangell, allow guests to be one with nature and easily explore an area on their own. Reconnecting with nature is an exciting part of an Alaskan Dream Cruises adventure that takes guests to lesser-known areas of The Last Frontier. Learn more: Alaska Luxury Cruises That Elevate Your Journey In the Last Frontier

6. Look Forward to Kayaking and Paddleboarding in Remote Areas

Two orange kayaks in the water of a bay in Alaska, with green evergreen trees on the shore. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

Imagine paddling around a gorgeous bay, like Karta Bay, seen here. The Alaskan Dream Cruises crew takes the kayaks to the shore and safely gets guests paddling. Connecting with Alaska in this way is an incredibly singular and serene experience. Learn more: Our Experience on Alaskan Dream Cruises Inside Passage Sojourn

7. Look Forward to Cocktails Crafted with Glacial Ice & Local Spirits

A bottle of vodka on the left and two glasses with drinks on a bar on Alaskan Dream Cruises. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

One of the highlights of our onboard experience was tasting local Alaska spirits and having meaningful conversations with the crew and fellow passengers over evening cocktails. Imagine everyone's delight when glacial ice was brought onboard directly from the water to enhance our drinks! Learn more: Honest Alaskan Dream Cruises Review: Adventure on Small Ships

8. Accommodations With Native Touches

Mirror, sink, and closet in a stateroom on an Alaskan Dream Cruises boat for a review of the ship. — Image credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

The staterooms on Alaskan Dream Cruises have subtle native touches, like the form line art in the bedspread. Supporting locals is a pillar of Alaskan Dream Cruises, the only native Alaskan-owned cruises line of its kind. Learn more: Honest Alaskan Dream Cruises Review: Adventure on Small Ships

9. A More Inclusive Cruise Fare

Interior of Alaska State Museum in Juneau, with indigenous artifacts and art. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

Though the price point of an Alaskan Dream Cruise is more than that of mega-ship cruises, it's essential to recognize that much more is included in your cruise fare, including excursions. For example, in Juneau, the state-of-the-art Alaska State Museum entrance fee was covered for any guests who wanted to visit. Learn more: Our Experience on Alaskan Dream Cruises Inside Passage Sojourn

10. Baranof Dreaming

Alaskan Dream Cruises Baranof Dream ship docked with a pastel sunset behind it. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

The Baranof Dream could be your cruise ship for the Inside Passage Sojourn itinerary, as it was ours. The ship's three decks make it easy to walk around in no time! Enjoy onboard games, like cornhole and oversized Connect 4 if the weather is nice, and hang out in the lounge for special presentations by the onboard naturalist. Appreciate all-American shipbuilding and craftsmanship in the United States as you sail through Alaska. Learn more: Honest Alaskan Dream Cruises Review: Adventure on Small Ships

11. Alaskan Dream Cruises Guest Exclusive at Orca Point Lodge

Wooden building in the distance on an island in Alaska. It is Orca Point Lodge, a structure owned by Alaskan Dream Cruises. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

Look forward to an exclusive experience for Alaskan Dream Cruises guests: a visit to Orca Point Lodge. This stunning waterfront lodge is where guests are taken for a special beachfront bonfire experience. Learn more: Our Experience on Alaskan Dream Cruises Inside Passage Sojourn

12. Get Closer to Wildlife Than Ever Before

Sea otters bobbing in the water in Sitka, Alaska. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

The small size of Alaskan Dream Cruises' ships allows you to get closer to nature than ever before. Whether a whale passing nearby or otters in the ocean, the minimal size of the vessel you're sailing on presents a spectacular opportunity to see wildlife as you've never experienced. Learn more: Honest Alaskan Dream Cruises Review: Adventure on Small Ships

13. Explore More in The Alaskan Frontier

A mama bear and her two cubs trailing behind her on the shores of Sitka, Alaska. — Image Credit: Mikkel Paige Photography

A cruise with Alaskan Dream Cruises is so much more than a boating experience in the 49th state. Extend beyond the cruise itinerary with time before and after your sailing to take advantage of beginning and ending within Alaska. We were fortunate to get to know Alaska better by extending for a few days before we embarked in Sitka, and staying for multiple nights when we disembarked in Ketchikan. We got to know the wildlife more, like spotting cubs with their mama bear during a Bumble Expeditions Wildlife Tour, understood the local cuisine more, and maximized our support for the local economy. Learn more: Complete Guide to Alaskan Cruises in 2024, Including Ports of Call + What to Pack