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America's Leading Small-Ship Exploration Cruise Line A Focus on the Destination
For over 60 years, the philosophy of the West family, the founders and still owners of Cruise West, has been that details matter - that the true reward of a travel experience is to create a personal, memorable connection with the destination, the land and the people. The line's nine small ships, cruising in regions as disparate as Alaska's Bering Sea and Mexico's sparkling Sea of Cortés, enable guests to focus on the wildlife, the natural history, and the culture, all in the company of small numbers of like-minded adventurers. Cruise West's flagship Spirit of Oceanus, hosts a maximum of just 120 guests - large cruise ships today can be 2,500 passengers or more! Cruise West got its start in Alaska, but now its unique routes travel far and wide throughout the Great Land, visiting more ports and remote islands than any other cruise line, large or small. Several itineraries explore the spectacular Inside Passage, focusing on the smaller ports and rarely-visited wilderness waterways. Routes visit Prince William Sound, which boasts the highest concentration of glaciers anywhere in Alaska. And for adventure-minded travelers, the 13-night Voyage to the Bering Sea explores remote wildlife refuges and Native villages in the Aleutian Islands, the Russian Far North and even as far as the Arctic Circle. In Harriman's Wake is a 24-night intriguing experience that travels from Vancouver B.C. to Nome, crossing the Arctic Circle and visiting many of the same places as Harriman's Expedition of 1899. New itineraries in Alaska include the 4- or 5-day Glacier Bay Highlights cruises round trip from Juneau and the unique 10-day Best of Both Worlds cruise between Fairbanks and Juneau that features the Glacier Bay Highlights cruise plus the intrigue of Denali National Park and Preserve. In January 2006, Cruise West experienced more growth by adding the 102-guest Spirit of Nantucket and the 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown to its fleet of comfortable small ships. Their itineraries have significantly expanded Cruise West's operational reach with first time itineraries up the East Coast from Florida to Maine, the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the Hudson River, enhancing their presence on the West Coast. Other 2006 developments included the introduction of new itineraries to Japan, the South Pacific and the Kuril Islands. In addition, Cruise West was awarded nearly 80 percent more entries into Glacier Bay National Park, more than double the entries of any other operator for the 2006 summer season. New itineraries for 2007 include Vietnam and China routes. Cruise West owns and operates its own land-tour operation in Alaska as well, offering shore support in key cities, and exclusive tours by motorcoach and deluxe dome railcar between Anchorage, Denali National Park and Preserve, and Fairbanks. Other Cruise West destinations include:
Up-Close, Casual Cruising
The Future of Small-Ship Cruising
Spirit of '98 1984, refurbished 1993 96 tons 96 guests Spirit of Alaska 1980, refurbished 1995 97 tons 78 guests Spirit of Columbia 1979, refurbished 1995 98 tons 78 guests Spirit of Discovery 1976, refurbished 1992 94 tons 84 guests Spirit of Endeavour 1983, refurbished 1996 95 tons 102 guests Spirit of Oceanus 1990, refurbished 2005 4,280 tons 120 guests Pacific Explorer 1995, refurbished 1998 1,716 (ITC)* 100 guests Spirit of Nantucket 1984,refurbished 2006 102 guests Spirit of Yorktown 1995, refurbished 2006 138 guests
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Cruise West ships offer a rare opportunity to get truly up-close to whales, wildlife and wilderness shorelines. In Alaska, the Captain might edge right up to a waterfall pouring from a cliff face, close enough to feel the spray. In the Sea of Cortés, linger off a rocky seamount, home to blue-footed boobies and a huge colony of California sea lions. Whenever Nature is putting on a show - humpback whales are breaching, or a bear is browsing on a rocky shore - Cruise West ships have the flexibility to stay and watch, allowing guests a truly memorable experience.
Small ships are perfect for maritime exploration of pristine areas where roads will never lead, and docks will never be built. Cruise West's small ships can drop anchor in secluded bays, and then launch inflatable excursion craft. Guests step right from the ship into the launch, to motor to the shore for beach activities, or perhaps circle deep-blue icebergs in a glacier fjord.
Such daily shared adventures and the intimate nature of small ships lead to a casual, congenial camaraderie onboard, among guests and crew alike. By the second day of any cruise, the conversation level over dinner is vibrant and abuzz - there's always so much to talk about! And dress is casual too. Cruise West doesn't believe that suits and ties, or cocktail dresses, are necessary to a guest's vacation enjoyment.
The cruise business is growing rapidly. As the demand for high-quality life experiences grows, an increasing number of discerning travelers will seek out alternatives to mass-market offerings - and small-ship cruising is bound to benefit.