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

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

I came across Alaskan Dream Cruises' web site last fall when my wife and I were researching our Alaska vacation. Without exception, online reviews were glowing, and so we decided to book ADC's Eight Day Glacier Bay and Island Adventure on the Baranof Dream, sailing mid-May. The experience exceeded our already high expectations. The cruise began and ended in Sitka, a small town in SE Alaska. We flew there one day early on Alaska Airlines from Seattle, with a stop in Ketchikan. (Delta is now offering service from Seattle as well.) We were met at the airport by ADC staff and transported to our hotel for an overnight stay, which was arranged and paid by us separately. Formal activities started the next morning with an optional walking tour of Sitka sites - we elected to spend most of this time on our own. This was followed by an excursion on a sightseeing boat, which ended with our transfer to the Baranof Dream in the afternoon. For vacationers like us who've only been on large ship cruises, the Baranof Dream was a refreshing change. It accommodates up to 49 passengers (we had about 40), along with approximately 20 crew. It was small enough to let us easily reach anywhere on the boat in minutes, but sufficiently large so that we felt safe and never cramped. The lounge and dining room were comfortable and spacious. Visits to the bridge were welcomed, and I enjoyed my time there chatting with the captain and his staff, who were all very personable and eager to please. Most of our fellow passengers were older than fifty, although a few younger people were along too. Dress was thankfully informal. (There were no laundry facilities on board, so we had to pack for the duration.) Our AAA-class cabin was utilitarian, with a combination toilet/shower separated by a curtain, a small closet, two chairs and tables that we used for storage, and a very comfortable queen bed with an adjacent large window. The sliding metal door didn't lock and there was no safe, but we had no reservations about leaving valuables in our cabin, as all the other passengers were in the same boat, as it were. (Although it wasn’t luxurious by any means, our cabin served its purpose very well - we spent very little time there apart from sleeping – hence my high rating.) Food was excellent: three meals a day with plenty of choices at tables shared with other passengers, served by friendly staff, most of whom performed other duties as well. A late afternoon snack was offered every day, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were always available at the bar. Our Cultural Expedition Leader gave a summary of the following day’s events each evening, peppering his presentations with fascinating stories and facts rooted in his heritage as a native Alaskan. We also had a naturalist on board, who provided insights into Alaska’s abundant animal and plant life that we saw. Thanks to their efforts, we felt a powerful connection to all that we encountered, as opposed to simply observing it passively. Activities during the cruise included visits to glaciers, which allowed us to view them from a safe distance from the Baranof Dream and from a small skiff (large chunks of ice that periodically calve from the glacier pose a hazard to nearby watercraft), and visits to a lodge and two small communities. We spent several hours in Juneau, where we took an optional tram ride to the summit of Mount Roberts, which we found well worth the additional cost (approximately $30 per person). We particularly loved our sunset hike through the forest at Glacier Bay National Park. Kayaking in Windham Bay was enjoyable, though we would have liked to have spent more time there. If I can call attention to one highlight of the trip, it would be the many opportunities we had to watch humpback whales, orcas, and other wildlife, with spectacular scenery as a backdrop. Sightings prompted the captain to slow down and stop to give us ample time to photograph and observe without feeling rushed. Disembarkation was organized, and we were taken to a hospitality room before transfer to the airport. If you’re looking for an Alaska cruise experience that follows the waters less travelled, I recommend Alaskan Dream Cruises highly. Read Less

We just finished our Alaskan Dream Cruise on the Baranof Dream. Not sure I can say enough good things to do the experience justice. First of all, this is a casual, small ship cruise - 48 passengers max. No fancy clothes, no shows, no gambling or shopping. That said, the company seems to be seamlessly and authentically integrated with the local communities and cultures. As passengers we were educated about the nature and culture of the areas we travelled by lay-experts in these areas. We learned so much, and were made to feel so comfortable in the environments we visited. The captain and crew were generous, respectful, accessible, always available to help or answer questions, friendly, (not obsequious), efficient and highly capable. The food was outstanding in every detail at every meal (and more!). The cabins, community areas and decks were always super clean and neat. The activities (kayaking, RTV, sightseeing) were all safely and efficiently coordinated. The places we went were just beautiful, and we saw tons of wildlife: black and brown bears; mountains goats; sea birds (puffins!); orcas; porpoises; and hundreds of humpback whales, sea otters and sea lions. The captain was always willing to stop and look at wildlife, pull into out of the way places for waterfalls and glaciers. We never felt rushed or crowded. All excursions, meals and activities are included in the cost, so you're not nickeled and dimed to death, unless you want to drink. (1 beer or wine at dinner is included.) This is a company with remarkable expertise and integrity all around. Read Less