This cruise was the return trip to Seattle for the American Spirit after a summer season of seven day round trip cruises from Juneau. While we visited the usual cruise ship ports of Juneau and Ketchikan, the real attraction was the small "real" Alaskan ports where the big cruise ships cannot go. Petersburg, AK is a working commercial fishing port in the heart of southeast Alaska. The included tour was a one hour guided tour through the fishing docs led by a retired commercial fisherman. He explained the different types of fishing and pointed out how the equipment on each boat was specifically developed for one type of fishing. The wonderful Clausen Museum tells the story of those who lived and worked in Petersburg. Our next port of call was Wrangell, AK. We visited the Chief Shakes Tribal House of the Tlingit (pronounced Clingit) settlers. Visited the Petroglyph Beach where rock carvings have been dated 8,000 years before the Tlingit settlement. All tours were included in the cost of the cruise. Another plus for the small ship: we were able to traverse the innermost and most scenic of the routes down the Inland Passage. Saw numerous Humpback Whales and Orcas. Re-entering U.S. waters we also visited three small ports in the San Juan Islands: Friday Harbor, WA, Anacortes, WA and Port Townsend, WA. Port Townsend has a Historical District which is a treasure of Victorian Architecture; buildings from when the town aspired to be the "New York of the West."

Nice roomy king stateroom on the second deck. All the basics but not luxury. Good bed though. Just aft of the forward lounge, I spend little time in my cabin anyhow. it was convenient and not noisy. American Spirit is not a noisy boat.