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Why Go?
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 Recent $2 million refurbishment, including new balcony cabins
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Interaction among passengers and crew, casual onboard atmosphere
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Port-intensive, destination-focused itineraries
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Creative American cuisine with a regional flair
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Lectures, slide shows, and presentations by expert local naturalists
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Itineraries and Ports of Call: U.S.A.
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Spirit of Yorktown Review
Editor's Note: The Spirit of Yorktown will undergo a refurbishment in wet dock in November 2008 before its winter season in the Sea of Cortez. The big addition will be four cabins on the Sun Deck that are being reconfigured to become deluxe balcony cabins with queen-sized beds, private balconies and additional amenities including mini-fridges.
You come onboard for the intimate experience a small ship provides. What you don't anticipate is competitive wildlife viewing. But there you are in the dining room. And someone shouts "Whale!" And you expect the ship to tip as 100-plus passengers move to the windows lining the room's starboard side to check out the spout and then hump of a whale emerging from the calm waters. And just as you lose sight of that whale, there's a shout from the port side, and everyone rushes across to the matching windows where two killer whales, their distinctive black and white backs visible, are frolicking (or maybe trying to kill something) in the distance.
It's exciting and fabulous, until a lady seated on the port side shouts "Our whales are better than yours!" And the competition is on. Those of us starboard head back to our tables but keep our binoculars at hand. We aren't giving up our sighting opportunities, despite the fine meal being served.
During a one-week sailing onboard the Spirit of Yorktown in Alaska's Inside Passage we viewed plenty of whales, sea lions, bald eagles, mountain goats and even a giant brown bear who thrillingly stood on his feet to show us his full height -- fortunately we watched the bear display through binoculars from the comfort of our ship, a safe distance away (brown bears can be as tall as 11 feet).
The crew meticulously wrote each spotting on a display board. Many were college students working on the ship for their summer breaks. They were in Alaska to see as well as serve, and were as excited as we were about the sightings. And even the bartenders kept binoculars close at hand so they wouldn't miss anything (binoculars are provided in each cabin for passengers who don't bring their own).
Yorktown is the largest ship in the Cruise West fleet and is comfortable as a home-away-from-home -- as long as you don't expect big ship ambience or amenities. There is no spa, no casino, no entertainment, no Internet access. Having the right expectations is key.
Enjoying scenery and talking with other guests about wildlife spottings, politics, the environment, family, relationships, whatever, is the order of the day. There are lecturers who come onboard to enhance the learning aspect of the experience. But on most days of our Alaska cruise, passengers bundled up against the chill and spent time gazing out on the ship's open decks. (Hint: In the bow on the Main Deck on the port side are vents from the crew laundry that provide a flow of hot air when the laundry machines are in use.)
Read Complete Spirit of Yorktown Review
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Cruise West Ships: Pacific Explorer • Sheltered Seas • Spirit of '98 • Spirit of Alaska • Spirit of Columbia • Spirit of Discovery • Spirit of Endeavour • Spirit of Glacier Bay • Spirit of Oceanus • Spirit of Yorktown
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Priority Access to Members-Only Deals
