Azamara Cruises is offering voyages through Alaska aboard smaller vessels that provide access to less-visited ports along the Inside Passage. The company’s Pursuit ship, carrying approximately 680 passengers on an 11-night itinerary from Anchorage to Vancouver, navigates routes that larger cruise ships cannot reach, allowing travelers to explore more intimate and remote destinations.

During a recent call at Klawock, a small town on Prince of Wales Island, passengers experienced cultural performances in natural settings uncommon on standard cruise itineraries. Guests gathered in a transparent “igloo” tent by the Klawock River to hear a native Alaskan perform traditional songs in an Indigenous language. The port has only recently opened to cruise visits, marking an expansion of available destinations in the region.

Azamara’s vessels, each typically accommodating about 700 guests, contrast sharply with the massive ships docked at larger ports such as Ketchikan. There, ships hosting between 2,000 and 4,000 passengers dominate the waterfront, often overwhelming local crowds and limiting access to smaller communities. The reduced size of Azamara’s ships not only offers a more personalized travel experience but also enables stops at ports inaccessible to more substantial vessels.

The cruise line operates four small ships worldwide, emphasizing immersive itineraries and culturally rich experiences. This approach caters to passengers seeking a closer connection to the environments and communities they visit. The Alaska trip illustrates this strategy by combining scenic voyages with opportunities to engage directly with local Indigenous culture.