We arrived in Sitka several days prior to the cruise. It was very nice having the cruise employees pick us up at the airport and delivering us to our place of lodging. Their overview of the town and a general layout of where things were was also helpful. (Not that Sitka is that big :-) ) Some positives: Overall, the cruise was very good. We saw all the expected wild life - humpbacks, orcas, black bears, brown bears and the list goes on. We were able to visit all the glaciers and locations advertised except for one and that was due to the weather. Those things happen and the alternative morning was handled very well. The Orca point lodge outing was as good as advertised. The cruise employees took care of the embarkation process and our luggage was promptly delivered to our lodging. Some negatives: The local cultural experiences got a little old. There was a method/reason to their cultural selections but we were not made aware of what it was until the trip was over. If we had of been told up front we would have had a better understanding of why we stopped where we did. Some of the cultural outings were actually good - some were really bad - the Sitka one - ugh! The boat itself was not "luxury". My wife thought it was a step up from camping. In reality, it was better than that but was by no means high end. I never understood the alcohol at dinner rules and I don't think the employees did either. On some nights they would come around and refill your wine glass - no questions asked. On other nights they charged for the refill - go figure. Also, we were about 1/2 way through the cruise before I was able to have a beer as opposed to wine for dinner. It was no biggie but the employees looked at me like I had three heads when I asked if I could have a beer rather than wine. All that being said, if these are the only negatives - I was a good trip. Other thoughts. This would not be a good cruise for significantly handicapped persons. The boat and most activities just are not set up to handle significant physical limitations. I probably would not take a small child. My guess would be age 10 and up. I would recommend this trip to anyone interested. Read Less

Our ship came by recommendation from our travel planner. The first day on the cruise we experienced a problem in the main dinning (Metropolitan) with seating our family. This was an issue throughout the cruise and while it was taken to upper management nothing changed. The food in the main dining was pre-prepared, cold, and bland(but we are used to more spice). There was a general air that the staff wasn't there for your enjoyment but to merely do a job. The food in the Ocean view restaurant was sub-standard and generally tasteless and this became worse towards the end of the cruise. Room service was very good but that only runs from 6-11 and not on the last morning. The last morning everyone is sent to eat at the ocean view which is a terrible idea due to inadequate seating and food stations(Bad for a last day impression). There was very little entertainment or activities on the ship even though a program ran 24/7 on the tele with the ships entertainment coordinator touting all that could be done. There is so much promotion of upgrading, visiting this restaurant or that (reference to uncovered specialty dining that's extra), tours, excursions, and general buying on ship. We felt like we were on a floating commercial. At one point we were playing UNO in the ocean view (because really there wasn't much else to do and we got asked to leave to open the table...if there weren't so many exclusive eateries than that shouldn't be a problem, and also there weren't many people in at the time. Read Less

The cooks did a great job and all the meals were excellent with reasonable choices for those who weren't fond of fish. The trip was very educational and included stops at three different tribal villages where we learned about customs and, for two of the tribes, dances. All our stops were both educational and interesting. The day at Hobart Bay, exclusive to Allen Marine who owns and operates Admiralty Dream, was outstanding. Not only was it a beautiful spot, but the four different activities were excellent. The trip down Tracy Arm was both spectacular and great for taking pictures. The captain was able to get us quite close to South Sawyer Glacier and everyone enjoyed this opportunity. The stop at Orca Point Lodge was a highlight. The meal of unlimited fresh crab legs was outstanding. The morning in Juneau was just OK, partly because of rain, but seeing the Mendenhall Glacier in the afternoon without rain was excellent. We ended in Sitka on a beautiful day and we were able to see tourists sights. The whole trip was great and the Admiralty Dream was important in making this possible. Read Less

We decided on going with the Alaskan Dream Cruise line after reading a review of one of their trips in a newspaper many years ago. Being a small ship with only 50 passengers, we knew it would mean we could visit places that the bigger cruise ships could not and we would get to know the other passengers. With the company being owned by an Alaskan family, the promise was to visit select native owned lands which we did. Our journey commenced in Juneau where we were met at the airport by a representative of the company and taken to our hotel. Until our agreed meeting time the following day we were able to walk around the town, view the different shops and eating places for our evening meal. The following day we met at the National Museum for a tour before being transferred by coach to the ship. From this point on there was no question about the quality of the service provided in the staff, food, activities on board, selection of off boat excursions (which were all inclusive of the fare) and settings within the boat. The Captain made himself and the Bridge available at any time we wanted. It was the most amazing trip and we loved every minute of it. Very sad to have a final meal on reaching Juneau again and everyone going their separate ways. We would certainly travel with Alaskan Cruise Lines again and recommend the Admiralty Dream in particular to others. Read Less

We wanted a small ship to really see the wildlife and scenery in Alaska. The Admiralty Dream had 50 passengers and the flexibility to slow down and stop when something incredible, like whales bubble netting happened. Our room was comfortable and they loan you rain gear and boots....The area around Juneau is a rainforest. The crew and guides were exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly. The food on board was great with seafood, game, and vegetarian options.....They were even able to acommodate special dietary requirements form some guests. The cruise was focused on the wildlife and scenery of Alaska. There were edicational presentations in the evenings in the lounge and the staff went ashore with us and provider interesting information at each of the stops' There were kayaks to use, excursions on small boats, beachcombing, and just hanging out in the lounge getting to know our fellow cruisers. This was one of the most spectacular vacations we have ever had. Read Less

Could not fault the operation of this cruise that included pickups from airport and hotel. With only 69 passengers and 29 crew members we were pampered with excellent organisation and wonderful food. The wildlife performed admirably although the presence of a brown bear ambling along the shore in front of a glacier meant that we were unable to land as the crew were not keen on losing any passengers as bear food. The scenery is great with the John Hopkins Glacier producing some impressive calving. Apart from the voyage, a number of shore excursions added to the holiday; as did the information about the local native American tribe, the Tlingit. A couple of kayaking sessions produced som amusement as did the sight of seeing about 15 brave souls leap into the rather cold water (they never remained in very long!). The experts, full-time on board and those who joined us for specific shore excursions, provided some great talks, illustrated with slides most evenings. Our cruise was amazingly lucky as we saw the Northern Lights one evening. With such a friendly crew, it was almost like an extended family trip. We saw a number of those huge liners (floating hotels) but none were able to travel to the places that we went. This is the only real way of seeing the Inside Passage if you wish to see all the wildflife and some of the more remarkable glaciers. Full, all-weather gear and binoculars that were provided meant that we neve had to carry excess gear as we flew to Juneau from New Zealand. Having access to the bridge and with a very friendly captain added another dimension to the experience. The information provided before the cruise was very helpful as we were not sure what to expect. We both returned home full of wonderful memories of a truly great holiday. Read Less

We recently completed the “Alaska’s Inside Passage Sojourn“ cruise aboard the Alaskan Dream and would highly recommend this tour. This was our first trip to Alaska and only our second cruise (first being a Crystal River Cruise) and it definitely did not disappoint. A good measure of a company is how they handle the situation when something goes sideways and in our case Allen Marine (the mother company of Alaska Dream Cruises) really excelled. There was a minor incident that delayed the start of our tour, we were supposed to board at 4:00pm in the evening and boarding was delayed until 10:00am the next morning. We were kept well informed by the Allen Marine Tours staff and briefed by upper management. They went above expectations to ensure that we would have a great trip. They handled the lodging and meals for the day we were delayed, and also arranged a wonderful 3-hour wildlife boat tour on which we got to see otters, sea lions, puffins and humpback whales, including one breeching. In addition we received on-board credits and all alcohol was handled by the company. There were 37 people (the boat has 20 staterooms) on our cruise along with about a dozen staff. The boat was well designed for handling this many people, and we spent much of our time in the forward lounge or on the top deck enjoying the scenery and wildlife. The rooms could use a little refurbishment and in general do not expect the over the top luxury of a big boat. The “showlet” (combination toilet/shower) took a little getting used to but was very manageable. The queen bed was very comfortable and we were in the Vista State room which stretched half of the bow end on the second floor. We had a fantastic view and often felt conflicted on if we should lower the shades due to the only 3 hours of “night” or leave them open to enjoy the view. There were a number of notable crew members onboard. Amy was the bartender and she is one of the best, a true mixologist not just the bartender. She had a different drink special each day often made with house-made syrups and mixers, she remembered each person’s preferences, and always had great suggestions. Captain Eric was very personable and maintained an open bridge policy. He was very adept at finding wildlife for us to see, and making sure that we had plenty of time to watch. Alex and Kari were our Expedition leaders; Kari was a native Alaskan (Tlingit), and Alex was the naturalist with extensive experience researching whales in the local waters for her MS degree. During an evening presentation on Humpbacks that include some incredible underwater “whale cam” video of bubble feeding, the captain interrupted as there were orcas just off the boat. As we were all watching the whales, Kari began to sing the Tlingit orca song in her native language - it really brought Alaskan cultures and wildlife together for us. The food on board was excellent and included fresh local fish (salmon, halibut, black cod, clams and several types of crab). Wildlife encounters during the cruise included orcas, humpback whales, seals, sea lions, otters, puffins, bald eagles, bears (brown and black), mountain goats, deer and porpoise. The highlight was the first evening about sunset when we ran into humpbacks “bubble net feeding”. Capt. Eric idled the boat as the waters around us exploded with the group of eight whales feeding, one time they surfaced so close off the bow we had to reverse the engine to give them room. What an incredible thing to be able to see! There was also exceptional scenery – waterfalls, forests, mountains and glaciers. We were able take to the DIBS (smaller 15 person inflatables) several times during the trip including the opportunity to explore Sawyer Glacier and Misty Fjord. We stopped in several very small towns (the smallest being about 50 people) to learn about the Alaskan way of life and more specifically the family structure and moiety of the native Alaskan people. At several of these locations there were optional hikes to view the wilderness or a trail through totem parks. We also visited several Long houses to watch and in some cases participate in native celebrations of song and dance. Overall, we had a great time on the tour and loved being able to see Alaska and learn about it from local Alaskans. If you like the glam and glitz or the casinos and stage shows of the big boats this is not the cruise for you. If you are more adventurous and don’t mind the Glamping approach of the smaller boats then this is an outstanding way to go. We would highly recommend this tour as well as Allen Marine Tours in general. Read Less

We arrived on the ship and were greeted with several smiling faces. The staff were absolutely wonderful people from all over the world. From the second we arrived, they were always there happy to help and chat with us. It felt more like we were being invited into their home rather than on a cruise ship. We were gathered in the lounge which felt more like a living room than a luxury cruise lounge and given complementary cocktails. Shortly after everyone got aboard we were shown to our rooms. We learned that despite food and alcoholic drink being served on the first floor, there was no public bathroom on the first floor. The only public bathroom on the entire ship was on the top floor. Huge inconvenience considering the fact that my wife is disabled. The only way up or down the stairs was a narrow, steep flight of stairs. After dinner or presentations in the lounge, we were usually stuck standing around at the bottom of the stairs waiting for our chance to be able to ascend or descend the stairs. As far as our private cabins, they were extremely tiny. The bathroom was a shower/toilet combination that you weren’t even able to stand in with arms outstretched. The shower/toilet combination was a real inconvenience with a disabled wife I occasionally had to help in the shower. As far as entertainment went, there was none. If we were underway we typically all went to our rooms to nap or read while waiting for the next scheduled group activity. I can read and nap at home. My wife and I were pretty bored while onboard the ship and it was a common complaint from more than a few people in the group. The water went out during our stay. No one was able to shower for at least 2 days and our Skagway trip was canceled and replaced with another night in Juneau. Iv heard from other groups that the toilets didn’t work for days as well. If you can’t have a fully operational boat, maybe you should retire it. Overall, I don’t regret paying for the cruise. It was ok at best. Alaska was beautiful but I wish I had gone with a different company. Read Less

I chose this cruise because of the small size of the ship, the opportunity to visit remote areas and also because the focus was on experiencing Alaska directly and personally. We stopped at many interesting locations such as Kake and Petersburg and were able to go ashore. We were able to hike and explore the shoreline at Taku and in Glacier Park. Every night featured a presentation by one of the naturalists aboard or other informational meeting. The food was great; chef was very accommodating for special gluten and dairy free diets. The crew was exceptional, they all went out of their way to make all of the passengers comfortable and to maximize our experience. One of the highlights of the small ship experience was the flexibility to act 'in the moment' when there were whales or bears or other interesting things. The captain would slow the engines and sometimes circle in the area so that we could see as much as possible. This trip was better than I imagined it could be and I am looking forward to going again on one of the Alaska Dream Cruises. Read Less

... and maybe our last - unless we can come up with another one that equals this in the following ways: - small (40 passengers) - amazing crew (couldn't be friendlier or more caring and helpful) - focusing on wildlife (stopping for whales, otters, bears, etc) - allowing lots of on-shore time for walking or exploring or taking part in cultural experiences - very good meals in modest portions (no huge buffet pig-outs with accompanying waste) - many special excursions available only to this cruise line - the bridge was often open. Captain Eric, Charlie and all were welcoming and informative whenever they had guests. - special talks and performances were short and worth attending, all focused on enhancing the day's (or the next day's) experiences. - the ship, a catamaran, was mostly stable and even this landlubber was able to develop sea legs most of the time - every time we encountered a gigantic ship with its thousands of no-name passengers, we felt very lucky: most crew knew and used our first names! Read Less

We chose this ship for a more intimate look at Alaska than a massive cruise ship would have provided as well as the cultural angle. Big mistake. The cultural angle was sometimes informative but it came with some of the worst ports of call, Kasan, Metlakatla and Thorne Bay. So called "native' villages were quite boring and depressing. One would have been enough. We also stopped in Skagway (as did the big cruise ships), Juneau, (as did the big cruise ships) Glacier Bay, (as did the big cruise ships) Tracy Arm, (as did the big cruise ships) Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan (as did the big cruise ships). This ship did not anchor in any remote bays and allow us to simply take in the beauty which was disappointing, instead we drove around all night as if killing time. The food at times was decent but it never felt like we were on an Alaskan cruise while eating lamb chops or Jumbalaya. There was some Salmon and Halibut but it was either overcooked or overpowered with bizarre toppings and sauce. The rooms are quite spartan and the shower/toilet is very small and hard to maneuver for me (73yrs old.) The boat itself appeared quite worn with zero amenities but that wasn't why we came. In summation, this cruise didn't justify the cost. In the future I would book one of the large ships (uggh!) because they go to almost all the same places with much more to offer onboard. Read Less

We are not "cruise people." Our idea of a vacation is not being crammed onto a floating city with thousands of other people but getting out and hiking in beautiful places. However, to see the Inside Passage, you need to go on a cruise. It quickly became obvious that the large cruise lines were not a good fit for this region, as they spend too much time on open ocean and can't get into the fjords and nooks and crannies that make the Inside Passage what it is. (And "excursions" booked as extras from those big lines are a hassle and can quickly add to the price.) We also didn't want a super "active" water adventure cruise, as we're not water people. We did, however, enjoy the sea kayaking one day with ADC. After reading several reviews, we settled on ADC and decided we liked the layout of the Admiralty Dream ship the best, as you can walk around the entire craft on two levels. The cabins aren't fancy, but they have been recently updated a bit (not what you see on the website this summer), and the beds are very comfortable. Besides, we were only in our cabin to sleep and change layers. We were either on a shore excursion, listening to an interesting naturalist or Tlingit interpreter give a presentation, eating, or standing outside watching for wildlife and visiting with other passengers and crew. To be fair, we seem to have had exceptional weather and wildlife siting on our week. The crew said it was the first time this year they had seen the tops of the mountains in Tracy Arm Fjord, and we saw 13 Alaskan brown bears (aka, grizzlies), including one up close at Reid Glacier! An hour and a half of whale-watching in Frederick Sound during a magical sunset was another highlight. However, even if the weather had been wetter, the crew goes out of their way to make sure you get the most out of every wildlife-watching opportunity. Michele and Jamie were wonderful expedition leader naturalists--informed, easy-going, professional. Everyone associated with this Sitka-owned company was outstanding. They all clearly love working for this company and go out of their way to make the whole experience "real," enjoyable, and friction-free. If you want to be pampered with spa treatments, take a big cruise line trip. If you want to see Alaska and learn about it, go with Alaskan Dream Cruises! We packed layers of the same clothes we would have taken on a hiking trip and felt right at home. (Do take a warm hat, gloves, and core layers so you can enjoy being outdoors.) Note that I'm not giving an "entertainment" score because there wasn't "traditional cruise entertainment." However, our fellow passengers were entertaining! Thank you all for our most memorable trip ever! Read Less

WOW OMG... I only have superlatives for this cruise...I cannot begin to thank this company for what turned out to be a truly fantastic voyage (8day Glacier Bay & Island Adventure) From an included airport shuttle and hotel drop-off ( get there a day early to enjoy Juneau) this trips gets off to a great start, with a visit to the Alaskan State Museum and the Mendenhall Glacier after free time (shopping anyone??)in this lovely port city. After boarding the Admiralty Dream ,we were taken to a private island for dinner at the Orca Point Lodge which was incredible in both cuisine and location. Onboard, I found my single cabin #202 to be well-appointed and spacious with two comfy twin beds (which I switched off every night lol) plenty of storage, under bed and in a deep closet, as well as a large picture window allowing for wonderful scenic views. The "shotoilet", as I dubbed the combo toilet and shower, were the epitome of maritime efficiency, stocked with locally made toiletries. All meals provided were culinary delights (thanks chef Eric and galley) starting with early breakfast of freshly baked danishes/pastries at a 24 hour coffee/tea/hot water station, full breakfast, lunch, 3 pm cookie time (which paired nicely with an Alaskan stout), 530 pm hors d'oeuvres, then dinner in a casual setting with picturesque views served by an amazing waitstaff who also doubled as room stewards. (thanks Val!) Complimentary wine/beer provided with dinner featured local brews and vintages from CA/OR/WE...After dinner and those over the top dessert (thanks Sunshine!) you can relax in the lounge with its daily drink special prepared by Brent (spruce tip martini anyone?) using Alaskan spirits, syrups, and themes for reasonable prices as alcohol is not included. Raingear, boots and binoculars provided by the cruise line came in handy for our numerous outdoor excursions...be it above deck, on land or sea. And what fun they were! Paddling 2 person kayaks on gentle Sound waters, DIB rides (inflatable boats) expertly steered by Kevin, took us as close as possible to wildlife, glaciers and waterfalls. Hiking backwoods trails in the forest or a bog allowed us to burn off those calories! The Admiralty Dream's decks and windows allowed for many phenomenal photo-ops and her gracious Captain, Capt. Gavin, allowed us to visit his bridge often. Her size allowed us to visit smaller port towns like Kake, a Tlinglit, and Petersburg, settled by Norwegians, giving us time to truly experience Alaskan cultures and her people. A few brave souls(myself included) took part in a polar plunge of sorts, joining the "killer whale club" by jumping off the back of the boat into those frigid waters...bracing but invigorating! And what an education ADC delivers! Tlingit heritage guides, Gary and William, joined us at Glacier Bay along with a US Park Ranger, Patrick, and together with our resident naturalists, Michelle and Jamie and Sam Sockeye, Tlinglit artisan and guide, they provided thoughtful and insightful lectures on all things Alaska. Glaciers calving, humpback whale watching,sea lion haul-outs, bald eagles galore...even a white wolf made a cameo....the only thing I missed was the Aurora Borealis but not from a lack of trying (and there was a wake-up call for that lol) I highly recommend this cruise line and this trip as a great way to see and appreciate a more intimate Alaska than one can achieve via those big boats (sorry NCL!) I feel truly blessed to be one of the"Lucky 13" passengers meeting wonderful people who really made this the trip of a lifetime for me. Thanks!! Read Less

After cruising over 35 times on the large ships, five of those to Alaska, we decided to try a small ship. What a delight. For us, Alaska is all about the history, scenery and wildlife. Though we enjoy the large ships, the experience on a small ship in Alaska is simply incomparable. The staff and management are extremely helpful and friendly. Getting up close to the glaciers and in to small remote coves was wonderful. I enjoyed kayaking in the serene inlets. The food was amazing! Fresh fish everyday. Freshly baked cookies at 3:00 pm and happy hour at 5:30. After dinner there were interesting speakers, such as the ranger from the Glacier Bay National Park, or a Klingit tribe member. Fellow passengers were enjoyable and we did get to know everyone quickly since the ship is so small. Pricing includes all shore excursions and transfers to and from airport or hotel. Fellow passengers were interesting, well travelled, retired people with mutual interests. For Alaska, I recommend Alaska Dream Cruises, owned by Alaskans who know how to provide the most personal service and allowed us to experience the REAL Alaska. Read Less

If you are looking for an Alaskan cruise where you dress for dinner, and have shows and casinos, this cruise is NOT for you! If you want to see all the things you associate with Alaska, then I say "Welcome aboard!" On our 11-day cruise from Ketchikan to Sitka, we crossed off every item on our Alaska bucket list: Northern Lights, orcas, humpback whales, black bears, mountain goats, sea lions, puffins, glaciers calving, and more. We even had a rainbow on our last day out. Now, I know that no cruise can guarantee that you will see all of those things, but I have never been on a cruise where they tried so hard to make our experiences the very best. Note: Other Alaskan cruises seem to charge for every shore excursion; this cruise is all-inclusive. Think about that when you are comparing prices. What surprised me from the beginning was how the captain and crew, barely 4 hours after dropping off the passengers from the 11-day cruise from Sitka to Ketchikan, greeted us with so much excitement and enthusiasm - which was the tone for the entire trip. The Alaskan Dream is a catamaran-type ship, 40 passengers/ 20 cabins and, with the exception of 1 [I think], most are small with a shower/toilet combo. Don't let that deter you; everything fit in our cabin 304, and the shower curtain kept our mini-bathroom dry and gave us plenty of laughs.The food was outstanding; so good, our baker is one of three contestants going on "Cake Wars" after the cruise season! By the way, the cruise company provides each passenger with rain boots and a rain jacket and rain pants, on hooks just outside the cabins, so we didn't have to bring that stuff. The best things about the trip were the relaxed atmosphere [jeans at dinner, yea!], and the ability to stop and see whenever the opportunity presented itself. The captain would come on the intercom and say, "Folks, there's a pod of orcas around us, so we're going to stop for awhile" or "Folks, I know it's late, but if you want to put jackets on over your pajamas and come on deck, we're going to stop and watch the Northern Lights" or "We've got some black bears fishing on the shore to the left. We'll stop so you can get a good look." I feel like I was able to have a REAL Alaskan adventure. I'm ready to go again! Read Less

My wife and I had a wonderful time on our 7 night Alaskan Dream Cruise on the Chichagof Dream embarking in Juneau and ending in Sitka. The Chichagof Dream is a small ship built in the 1980's and overhauled in 2016 for Alaskan Dream Cruises.. It had only 37 passengers on our cruise so we got acquainted with most of them over meals and excursions. We enjoyed the small ship experience which included kayaking and DIB boat days in Kelp Bay and Takatz Bay in eastern Baranoff island, visits to Petersburg and Kake, dinner on shore at the Orca Point Lodge, and a DIB boat tours in Endicott Arm to view Dawes Glacier as it calves into the water and to a sea lion "haul out." We were interested that our captain, who was very experienced and did a fine job of navigating, was hired only for this trip, and that our tour leader had only been on the job for a month or so. A kick-off visit to the newly opened Alaska State Museum would have been informative and enjoyable with a knowledgeable guide. But the DIB boat, dining room, and lounge staff were very helpful and accommodating. Our cabin, category A, was small with 2 twin beds and portholes but was comfortable. The visit to the fishing village of Petersburg included an explanation of how Norwegian settlers got to Alaska and some children dancing Norwegian folk dances, a village bus tour, and a hike along a board walk to see muskeg required more time than the sights warranted. The same was true for a visit to Kake, a Tlingit village where we saw some native dancing, the world's tallest totem pole, a presentation by a local carver, and a local fish hatchery where we watched a black bear catching a salmon. The after dinner presentations by the staff in the lounge on Alaska living, native animals, and Tlinigit culture were informal, well intentioned, and amateurish. The food in the dining room was abundant and generally good but the chef didn't deliver on the full ambitions of his menus. Not surprisingly, the visits to Juneau (where there were 4 large cruise ships in port) and Sitka which were the most interesting shore excursions, but we were partly, if not mostly on our own. We got to see whales, sea lions, harbor seals, bears, mountain goats, salmon, and lots of birds as well as the fantastic Alaska fjord/mountain/seaside scenery. Interestingly, in Sitka we docked at the home of the cruise line owners and disembarked from there. So for an informal and relaxing exposure to southeast Alaska, this was a very enjoyable cruise with some rough edges which I hope will be addressed in the future. Interestingly, several college alumni travel tours as well as Road Scholar tours use Alaskan Dream ships. Read Less

MY 50th bday was to do something from my parents bucket list. They wanted Alaska cruise, I wanted to experience Alaska, not 500 to 3,000 other passengers. WHat we got was so much more than expected. By the end of our first of 11 days on cruise, we pretty much knew everyone on board and the staff was already picking up everyone's nuances. Captain Eric made the effort for us to see even the most difficult. Chef Brie and her crew gave us 5 star dinning while they managed to feed my very plain meat and potato husband ( a running joke onboard ). I could go on and on about the small things that each staff member did to make the trip special. Leaving was so sad. You felt like you were saying goodbye to family, passenger and crew alike. I will never go on another large cruise agin, but I'd sail with them again in a heartbeat. The ship was nice and between serving and doing things with us the staff was always cleaning. The cabins were small and cozy (be realistic if your choosing to go on a small ship) and I wanted to bring that bed and bedding home because it was so comfy! I miss that bed as much as our dessert/bakers 3:00 cookies and our bartender's awesome drinks. The ports were great as were our evening lounge info sesssions. We researched and went out on one outside excursion to a dog sled camp, which was well worth the money. Our captain even took us verses us waiting for a van to pick us up. THis is a 40 passenger ship, I wouldn't bring kids. My husband is 44 and was the youngest passenger on ship. Read Less

We chose this cruise as it was smaller boat which made it easier for us as my husband Neville is blind. The crew and staff were very welcoming,and loved that the meals were not buffet. Had beautiful food. The guides on board and the ones that came on for day trips were very knowledgable about the areas we went to. Loved the kayaking and the walks we did. The polar dip was great too. Totally recommend this type of cruise. We embarked at Juneau quaint town pity it was wet. The first day was interesting looking at Mendahal Glacier on our way to our boat. Staff gave us a great welcome as we boarded. Our cabin was awesome nice and cosy. Well maintained boat. One of the highlights was when we had 60 Whales around the boat right at dinner time. Credit to the captain for allowing us to just hang with the whales. Thanks Chicgonof Dream Read Less

We took the family cruise with our 14 year old grandson! This was an awesome experience. For people that are hooked on electronics (no TV, WI-FI, etc) we were never bored. The staff was very helpful, always keeping us informed of what we were seeing, where we were going & how to dress for the climate. We enjoyed the intimacy of the small cruise, only 64 passengers. If you are looking for "luxury", this is not for you. If you are looking for an experience, BOOK. If the opportunity presents itself, we will definitely booked with Alaskan Dream Cruise again. Be aware that there are no locks on the cabins doors, so our grandson I-Phone was stolen (not lost) from our cabin. From the evidence that was left, we do not believe it was a crew member but another passenger (child). With that being said, my grandson is saying this was the best trip ever! Read Less

Right off the bat, I'll say that I would give this cruise 10 stars if I could! We couldn't have been any happier and the cruise and staff more than exceeded our expectations. There are so few reviews of this boat, that I was a little worried about what we would find when we got there. The Alaskan Dream holds about 40 passengers and is a large catamaran, which makes it fairly speedy and very maneuverable. I couldn't picture what it would be like, but it's a very smooth ride and very functionally comfortable. There is no need to sign up for any shore excursions, because everything was included. We were whale watching all the time, bear watching, bird watching, with cultural activities, hiking and city tours every day. Plus free time in town, if we chose. During our voyage, we saw tons of humpback whales, fluking, breaching and even bubble net feeding. There were so many whales and they were so close that Alex, our boat Marine Biologist, mentioned that the odd smell we all could smell was whale breath!! The cool thing (one of them), is that whenever we saw whales, Captain Eric would follow them for as long as it was still interesting. In addition to humpback whales, we followed several pods of Orca Whales, including babies fluking and breaching. We followed them for an hour while several big ships cruised right by. I'm sure while we were enjoying an up close and personal experience, no one on the big boat even realized what was there....it was during the dinner hour on the big boat. Our dinner was postponed until the whales were out of sight. In addition to whales, we saw Momma bears and cubs along the shoreline. Captain Eric brought the boat as close as was allowed so we could see them feeding along the shore. We also went to the Anan Bear Conservancy, which ended up being a highlight. The bears were feeding on salmon while we were watching from a deck and a blind, just a few feet from the bears. We saw beautiful waterfalls and icebergs all over Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay. We even saw a moose at Barlett Cove. In Glacier Bay, we had a National Park Ranger on board, and he was very helpful identifying the animals and birds along the way to the glaciers. We saw Crested Puffins and Horned Puffins and many other sea birds, mountain goats, sea otters and sea lions. We were lucky enough to see several glaciers calve and were, close enough to feel the wave from the ice dropping into the water. Jno, our onboard Alaskan Cultural Expert explained the history and culture of the three native groups in this part of Alaska. We saw many totems, longhouses, dancers and families. All were very proud to share their culture and to educate us on the modern practices and bringing back the language and customs. It was equally as fun and interesting as the wildlife. The boat provided binoculars, rain boots and waterproof rain suits, that we wore several times when it got really cold or wet. When we were on the boat, I would wear flannel lined hiking pants, a winter "undershirt" and a light sweater underneath my lined raincoat. When it got really cold, and it did a few times, I would put the rain suit over everything. Now granted....I'm a tourist and spent a lot of time outside. I also wore a winter hat and gloves a few times. In the towns, jeans, hiking shoes and my lined jacket were adequate....and remember, this was the end of July. This area is a temperate rainforest, so it's wet all the time. The food on the boat was spectacular, as good as any very nice restaurant. I'm gluten free and every meal was presented beautifully prepared and delicious AND gluten free. Only on one other cruise (and we've done several), was I able to get gluten free meals without a hassle. We were in cabin 102 on the main level. It was small, but adequate. By the time we got in our cabin each day, we were usually ready to nap and the bed was comfy. The shoilet is interesting and takes some getting used to, but we had plenty of laughs about it! It's a toilet/ shower combo and small, but perfectly adequate. Everyday at 3:00 there were homemade, warm cookies and at 5:30 a new cocktail of the day and appetizers. The food, crew and staff were outstanding and personal. What you won't find is a casino, TV or a Broadway show or dress up night. Only bring functional clothes, which simplifies packing!! Almost half the boat was from Australia or New Zealand, a family from UK and the rest were from all over the US. A wonderful group that we enjoyed tremendously. Go for it!! You won't regret your time on the Alaskan Dream! Read Less

I had always wanted to see the Inside Passage, and family/friends who had gone said the only way was to go on a small ship. This ship has only 40 passengers, a full crew (chef, baker, bartender, etc. in addition to captain and his staff). We were able to see lots of wildlife: whales, eagles, bear, moose, seals, otters, puffins, etc. and many incredible views of glaciers, mountains, icebergs and more. We had guided tours of two native villages/towns, which were both quite special, and saw many beautiful totem poles in those places, as well as Ketchikan and Sitka. We had day trips in Juneau and Wrangell. The food was always delicious, as well as the desserts (full time baker on board). A nice surprise was a bartender, who made special cocktails every day. There were kayaks available, so most of us kayaked a few times on the calm waters of the inside passage. Read Less

I chose this cruise for my husband, myself, and two of our friends because of its excellent blend of natural adventure experiences, educational opportunities, and cultural enrichment, but also because it was a small ship with only about 60 cruisers. The trip was met to be a fun adventure. The trip far exceeded our expectations!! Every detail was managed seamlessly from being picked up at the airport in Juneau for embarkation to be taken to the airport in Sitka for disembarking according to our scheduled flights. The staff was courteous, friendly, and accommodating. The onboard director was knowledgeable, accessible, and extremely organized. The boat and staterooms comfortable, attractive, and well maintained. The captain and crew outstanding. We had adventures from whale watching in Glacier Bay (hundreds), to taking zodiac boats up close and personal to a calving glacier, to hiking waterfalls, visiting native villages, kayaking, an impromptu dance night, and the invigorating polar plunge. (if you desired) There was always a naturalist on board as well as a native Alaskan tribal member. During our exploration of glacier bay we were treated to a visit all day by a park ranger. Kids activities were implemented by the staff as well. There was always a choice of food for all meals as well as a well stocked bar for a minimal charge. Food was excellently prepared and gluten free and vegetarian options were always available. During the cruise you had many opportunities to met new friends, socialize, and adventure together. Absolutely the best choice for the money!!or even for more money! It was great!! Read Less

The previous reviewer has done a very comprehensive summing up of a cruise on Alaskan Dream so I would just like to reiterate the main points. The ship is lovely and very intimate with no more than 40 passengers (we had 38). The Itinerary is comprehensive (we did the South East Explorer trip)and we visited many places that the large cruise ships cannot get to. One of the best was Rudyerd Bay in Misty Fjords. What a pleasure it was to be able to go deep into the inlet without the distraction of a massive boat in the vicinity. The food was fantastic, with everyone able to have exactly what they wanted even if it was a mix and match from the menu items that was not intended by the amazing cook. The cabin was comfortable; having said that we had the most expensive cabin, called a Vista Suite, which was not as large as the Owners Cabin but which faced forward with nice armchairs. Best of all was the crew, who were, without exception, wonderful. Captain Eric was fantastic, caring and so calming with a wonderful voice. He made sure we saw everything we possibly could and hung around with the engines cut for ages when we were surrounded by whales in Frederick Sound. This is not a cheap cruise but would I have swapped it for some of the massive cruise ships we encountered en route? Not a chance! We got to know all the other passengers and the crew, which made it feel like we were on a family cruise. We saw some terrific scenery, wildlife and cultural gems. If you can afford it then do it. Read Less

When you are considering this cruise and wondering whether it is worth the extra money be assured it is worth every penny!! The crew on this ship makes it a part their code to make sure everyone has a great time and feels like family. There is no reason to purchase shore excursions because at every port there are activities planned for you. Every day we were able to get off the ship and walk around if we desired. Even though he didn't to, Captain Eric also made sure that a few of our passengers who were limited in abilities to walk long distances, were able to visit some of the destinations. He arranged for transportation to get them as close to the site as possible, which allowed them to visit all but one of the sites. And at that site he personally took them on the small Zodiac boat for a private excursion of their own! The hikes were always supervised by crew members. The ports were small towns whose economy is being revived by the influx of cruise passengers from this small cruise line. Big cruise ships can't get to many of the ports that they visit, so you won't be swallowed up in the crowds that come out of those monstrosities. You are able to interact with the true Alaskans who make this their homes and experience their culture. The small ship can also get you up close and personal with the wildlife and scenery. We were extremely lucky to witness bubble net feeding by humpback whales not once but twice. Other wild life we had were orca whales, brown and black bears, sea otters, sea lions, goats, many types of birds. None of which we had to get off the ship and take or pay for a shore excursion. The captain is able to adjust his schedule to take you to where the wildlife has been spotted and spend some time finding it and then allowing you to enjoy it once it has been located. We have some AWESOME photos because the whales and glaciers were so close to the ship. And don't worry if you aren't able to get awesome pictures of your own because you don't own high end camera equipment, at the end of the cruise you will get a disc of pictures that the crew have been taking of you and your fellow passengers through out your cruise. Getting to know your fellow passengers is another bonus to taking a small ship cruise. We had just 36 passengers on board with 16 crew. By the end of the week we didn't need name tags any longer as we were on a first name basis and shared email addresses to keep in touch and share pictures once we got home. Amy, the waitress we had for most meals since we tended to sit at one of her tables, had our drink orders memorized by the second day. Dani the bartender knew that when she brought out our drinks that someone had made a mistake because we ALWAYS ordered diet not regular coke! My mother has an allergy to nuts and chocolate, so she many times is left out of dessert options, but not with Shannon the baker around. Shannon made sure that for cookie time, lunch and dinner desserts, there was something that Mom could have. Even when we didn't have our meals on board the boat there was a dessert with her name on it. Chef Bri made some very delicious meals with the help of Dustin and Harry in the kitchen. The breakfast menu was extensive but did not vary except for a daily special, which was usually what I got because they sounded, and were so good. Lunch and dinners had a fresh baked bread, soup, salad and entree with dessert. Seafood was present on the menu once or twice a day and there was always a vegetarian option. At 3pm we had fresh baked cookies that are so delicious baked by Shannon. At 5:30 was happy hour and a light snack prior to dinner. A complimentary glass of wine or beer was offered with each dinner. Each night we had a chocolate and a paper highlighting the next days activities on our beds. The forward area of the ship had comfortable seating that passengers could mingle in while waiting for wildlife to be spotted and the large windows afford great views and easy access to the "bull pen" at the front of the ship where many great photos of wild life were taken. Another great place for a good view was the ships bridge. The only times the bridge was closed to passengers were when they were docking or concentrating on close manuvers. It was interesting talking to Captain Eric and his crew, Nick, Jeff John and Kristen. I just can't say enough about the leadership and teamwork that this crew exhibits. The company that they work for should be very proud of the team and if you sail with them you will be very luck indeed. Read Less

When you are considering this cruise and wondering whether it is worth the extra money be assured it is worth every penny!! The crew on this ship makes it a part their code to make sure everyone has a great time and feels like family. There is no reason to purchase shore excursions because at every port there are activities planned for you. Every day we were able to get off the ship and walk around if we desired. Even though he didn't to, Captain Eric also made sure that a few of our passengers who were limited in abilities to walk long distances, were able to visit some of the destinations. He arranged for transportation to get them as close to the site as possible, which allowed them to visit all but one of the sites. And at that site he personally took them on the small Zodiac boat for a private excursion of their own! The hikes were always supervised by crew members. The ports were small towns whose economy is being revived by the influx of cruise passengers from this small cruise line. Big cruise ships can't get to many of the ports that they visit, so you won't be swallowed up in the crowds that come out of those monstrosities. You are able to interact with the true Alaskans who make this their homes and experience their culture. The small ship can also get you up close and personal with the wildlife and scenery. We were extremely lucky to witness bubble net feeding by humpback whales not once but twice. Other wild life we had were orca whales, brown and black bears, sea otters, sea lions, goats, many types of birds. None of which we had to get off the ship and take or pay for a shore excursion. The captain is able to adjust his schedule to take you to where the wildlife has been spotted and spend some time finding it and then allowing you to enjoy it once it has been located. We have some AWESOME photos because the whales and glaciers were so close to the ship. And don't worry if you aren't able to get awesome pictures of your own because you don't own high end camera equipment, at the end of the cruise you will get a disc of pictures that the crew have been taking of you and your fellow passengers through out your cruise. Getting to know your fellow passengers is another bonus to taking a small ship cruise. We had just 36 passengers on board with 16 crew. By the end of the week we didn't need name tags any longer as we were on a first name basis and shared email addresses to keep in touch and share pictures once we got home. Amy, the waitress we had for most meals since we tended to sit at one of her tables, had our drink orders memorized by the second day. Dani the bartender knew that when she brought out our drinks that someone had made a mistake because we ALWAYS ordered diet not regular coke! My mother has an allergy to nuts and chocolate, so she many times is left out of dessert options, but not with Shannon the baker around. Shannon made sure that for cookie time, lunch and dinner desserts, there was something that Mom could have. Even when we didn't have our meals on board the boat there was a dessert with her name on it. Chef Bri made some very delicious meals with the help of Dustin and Harry in the kitchen. The breakfast menu was extensive but did not vary except for a daily special, which was usually what I got because they sounded, and were so good. Lunch and dinners had a fresh baked bread, soup, salad and entree with dessert. Seafood was present on the menu once or twice a day and there was always a vegetarian option. At 3pm we had fresh baked cookies that are so delicious baked by Shannon. At 5:30 was happy hour and a light snack prior to dinner. A complimentary glass of wine or beer was offered with each dinner. Each night we had a chocolate and a paper highlighting the next days activities on our beds. The forward area of the ship had comfortable seating that passengers could mingle in while waiting for wildlife to be spotted and the large windows afford great views and easy access to the "bull pen" at the front of the ship where many great photos of wild life were taken. Another great place for a good view was the ships bridge. The only times the bridge was closed to passengers were when they were docking or concentrating on close manuvers. It was interesting talking to Captain Eric and his crew, Nick, Jeff John and Kristen. I just can't say enough about the leadership and teamwork that this crew exhibits. The company that they work for should be very proud of the team and if you sail with them you will be very luck indeed. Read Less