Alaska’s Prince William Sound boasts a rare combination of diverse wildlife and dramatic scenery, making it the ideal location for small ship cruising. Here sea otters frolic among the waves, mountains rise from the sea and thousands of glaciers litter the landscape. Prince William Sound is unlike any other place on earth.
Prince William Sound glaciers are probably the single biggest draw for the area. Perhaps nowhere in the world exists a higher concentration of such striking tidewater glaciers. One dramatic spectacle aboard any Prince William Sound tour is calving glaciers – huge portions of ice break free from the glaciers and fall into the sea, creating a thunderous clap and rolling waves. The relatively small size of the Dream Catcher gives us great maneuverability and affords us the opportunity to get closer and stay longer then would be possible aboard a larger ship.
The array of wildlife that can be found in Prince William Sound is astounding. Whales are very prevalent here. Migrating between Alaska in the summer and Hawaii in the winter, enormous Humpback Whales are very common during the summer months. Orca (Killer Whales), Gray Whales, Dall Porpoise and Harbor Seals are also quite common summertime sites in the sound. We often pass Sea Lions sunning on the rocky coastline and Sea Otters lazily floating on their backs, as well.
Not all the wildlife on our Prince William Sound cruises lives in the water. Many bears make Prince William Sound their home, as well as moose and hundreds of species of birds. We’ll always keep eyes peeled for bears along the shores, where we’ll see lots of Black Bears and maybe even a Brown Bear.
If you enjoy sea kayaking, or think it might be something you would enjoy, then a Prince William Sound cruise may be just the thing for you. The many tidewater glaciers here feed a steady supply of ice bergs to the sound, making for excellent paddling among the ice. Hundreds of secluded coves, narrow passages and tiny bays attribute the the phenomenal kayaking here. Plus, kayaks are a fun and easy way to get to beaches and explore shorelines.
Beach combing is great in the sound. The area is rich with history and many remnants from a forgotten Alaskan era still remain for your exploration. Depending on the time of year, berry picking is fantastic along many of the beaches, as is fishing right from the Dream Catcher.
Offering expeditions from 3 days to 7 days.
Alaska weather conditions are variable making layers a must, to insure your comfort on and off the boat. Our voyages are not extreme expeditions, that being said you will not need special clothing or gear to enjoy your trip with us. Remember you have full access to the washer and dryer on a daily basis.
You should dress in layers and keep in mind wool and synthetic clothing keep you warm even when they are wet. Cotton, while a wonderful material, which is quite adequate on board, is not recommended for any outdoor activities since it does not dry quickly and offers no warmth once wet. Remember you will only need enough clothes for 7 days on the boat and we do have a washer and dryer for your use. You will find the days can run the gauntlet from warm, sunny, to cold, rainy, overcast and back again in the blink of an eye, so be prepared.
We will provide rubber boots, the commercial fishing variety, which are designed for hard use and comfort. You will need a wool-hiking sock to wear with the boots. These boots work great for shore excursions and kayaking. On board, tennis shoes or sandals will work just fine. Hiking boots, if you have them, increase your comfort level during high meadow hikes.
Because soft bags pack best on board a vessel, we ask you NOT to bring hard sided luggage. Two medium bags are a much better option than on large bag.
A small day pack is almost indispensable or shore excursions. It will carry rain gear, extra clothes, water bottle, snack, cameras, and anything else you wish to take on short hikes.
During your stay with us we will provide high quality commercial rain gear (top and bottoms) by Helly Hanson and Grunden. Please provide your height/weight and shoe size by filling out our Client Information Sheet once you have made your reservation.
Whittier Alaska is the western gateway to Prince William Sound and serves as our home port for Prince William Sound tours. Just an hours drive south of Anchorage’s Ted Stevens International Airport, the sleepy little town of Whittier is the perfect place to start your Alaska adventure cruise. Daily flights into Anchorage are available from all over the country and the drive to Whittier is one of the most scenic in North America. Plus, if you’re interested in extending your vacation beyond your cruise, the proximity of Whittier to Anchorage is a huge advantage.
There’s no reason to compromise when it comes to cuisine aboard your Alaska small boat cruise, and aboard the Dream Catcher we never will. Our commercial style galley would make any land based chef jealous. Double ovens, dual dishwashers, and warming drawers are just some of the tools at our disposal in the 230 square foot galley area. Wrap around seating for 12, three extra large viewing windows and a cozy breakfast bar beckon our guests to enjoy the smells and tastes coming from the galley morning day and night.
Learn MoreThere are six client staterooms. Only two clients per room each having private bathrooms with shower enclosures. For your comfort there is a central forced air heating system and individual electric heaters in each room along with portholes. Each room has ample storage and data connections for laptops.
*Based on double occupancy of a Stateroom.
Single Travelers pay 1.5 times Per Person rates above.
Whole Vessel Rate of $53,000
Departing from Whittier
All in Prince William Sound, Alaska.