Cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage
Pristine Wilderness Where the Bigger Ships Can’t Reach
On our Alaska small ship cruises, we explore natural wonders aboard a classic, wooden tugboat designed for the ultimate in guest comfort. Expeditions provide an opportunity to personally connect with the natural and cultural history of Alaska’s rugged Southeast, each day becoming more in tune with the rhythm of the coast. Travel with just a few guests, guided by the expert crew, naturalist, and guides of Maple Leaf Adventures.
- Close-range wildlife viewing across Southeast Alaska: whales, bears, sea otters, seabirds.
- Access to small coves, fjords, hot springs, and waterfall coasts unreachable by large ships.
- Immersive travel on a classic wooden tugboat with naturalist-led shore walks and cultural insight.
Availability is always subject to confirmation. Please check with us before booking flights
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Day 1: Meet in Ketchikan, historic walking tour, including gold rush history. Welcome dinner.
Day 2-3: Breakfast at hotel, free time to explore, Tlingit history experience, board ship. Cruising Clarence Strait. Visit remote, off-the-grid community of Meyer’s Chuck and rainforest walk ashore. South Etolin wilderness exploration by boat and ashore. Exploring intertidal life, islets, black bears. Cruising north.
Day 4: Scenic Wrangell Narrows cruise, with a view of Alaskan water-based lifestyle. Marine mammal viewing in Frederick Sound to Cascade Creek. Rainforest and waterfall hike.
Day 5-9: Cruising Frederick Sound, watching for whales. Visit sea lion haul out, small island beach walk. Visit Five Fingers Lighthouse. Beach wildflower walk at a glacier’s terminal moraine. Cruising spectacular fjord to tidewater glacier, icebergs, wildlife viewing. Exploring glacier, icebergs in this awesome ice world. Guided brown bear viewing and walk up salmon creek at Pack Creek on Admiralty Island, with special access for Swell guests.
Day 10-11: Cruising the waterfall coast of Baranof Island. Visit hot springs and small community of Baranof. Shore walks, whale watching, bear viewing, sea otter viewing.
Day 12: Cruise to Sitka, watching for wildlife.
Itineraries are subject to change.
Swell
Vessel Type: Converted Tug
Passenger Capacity: 12
Length: 88 feet / 26.8 meters
Swell is an 88-foot converted coastal tug refitted to deliver a warm, character-rich expedition experience. Her solid timber construction, classic lines and thoughtful interior upgrades create an atmosphere of authenticity paired with comfort. With just 12 guests across six private cabins, the ship offers an intimate environment supported by a small, expert crew. Spaces such as the wood-panelled salon, panoramic wheelhouse, covered aft deck lounges, and upper-deck viewing areas provide calm, inviting places to relax between shore excursions. Daily life revolves around well-crafted meals from the galley, quiet moments in the hot tub, wildlife watching from the bow and easy access to the coastline via Zodiacs and kayaks.
Her compact size and rugged build allow her to reach locations inaccessible to larger vessels, giving guests close contact with coastal ecosystems, remote anchorages and wildlife-rich shorelines. Purpose-designed expedition tools—including two rigid-hull inflatables, four clear-bottom kayaks, fishing gear and a hydrophone—support a wide range of activities. Cabins vary from generous suites to efficient, well-designed smaller rooms, all with private ensuites and exterior doors for direct connection to the outdoors. The result is a boutique expedition platform that blends maritime heritage with practical comfort, delivering a human-scale, highly immersive coastal cruising experience.






