With three ships and two different routes running from May to September, the Voyage of the Glaciers by Princess Cruises offers multiple options for passengers to take in the attractions of Alaska's Inside Passage in 7 days. The Diamond Princess, Coral Princess and Island Princess cruise ships travel both northbound out of Vancouver and southbound from Anchorage on the way to visiting three of the Inside Passage's ports: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. The scenic itinerary features a stop in Glacier Bay National Park on both routes, Hubbard Glacier on the southern route and College Fjord on the northern route. The Princess cruise ships house around 2000 passengers, with the Diamond Princess the largest of the three, and feature a slate of luxurious accommodations, such as multiple restaurants, casino, nightly shows and entertainment, shopping and spa treatments.
Holland America runs the MS Volendam out of Vancouver, British Columbia along the northern route of the Inside Passage from May to September. This mid-size ship ports in Tracy Arm, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan on the 7-day cruise, and offers a smaller alternative to the larger cruise lines with a maximum capacity of only 1432 passengers. Despite its smaller size, the ship does not sacrifice when it comes to amenities, and passengers enjoy a full-service workout room with ocean views, the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, shopping, eateries, art galleries and youth activities for the kids. Holland America also enjoys land holdings in different ports of call and can schedule land tours and lodging accommodations for passengers who wish to see the area up close.
American Safari offers a fresh perspective on exploring the Inside Passage with its 7-night cruise on-board one of two yachts. The two ships, Safari Quest and Safari Spirit, can accommodate between 12 and 22 passengers, and are small enough to maneuver the narrow and shallow parts of the passage that larger cruise ships cannot reach. They offer cruises along both the northern and southern routes, with the Spirit traveling between Juneau and Petersburg, with a stop at Tenakee Springs, and the Quest stopping at Glacier and Icy Strait between Juneau and Sitka. Passengers can still enjoy a little taste of luxury with the hot tub on the observation deck of Safari Quest, staterooms with private bathrooms, a well-stocked bar, dining room, library and on-board chef.
