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| Admiralty Dream in the Tracy Arm |
Native-owned small ship cruise line Alaskan Dream Cruises is expanding its fleet for the 2016 season with the addition of the Chichagof Dream, which will sail its inaugural voyage in June.
The 207-foot Chichagof Dream will carry up to 74 passengers in no more than 37 staterooms in five room categories. The four-deck ship will have viewing areas on the bow and aft promenade decks and new carpets and furnishings in public spaces and staterooms. The hull is designed for sailing and comfort in Alaska waters. The vessel was renovated in Alaskan Dream Cruises’ shipyard in Sitka, Alaska.
“We’re entering our sixth year and our sights are trained on growth,” Alaskan Dream Cruises CEO Russell Dick said. “The Chichagof Dream expands our capacity and at the same time we’re consolidating our itineraries to concentrate on what our guests have really responded to.”
The 2016 season will offer three cruise itineraries — eight-, nine- and 11-day sailings — designed to allow active exploration of the local landscapes and culture, the line said.
New for the 2016 season will be "True Alaska Exploration," unscripted days for adventures, often a hike, wildlife encounters or wilderness discovery that the Allen family, the company’s founders, experienced during their personal explorations and asked staff to share with guests.
2016 itineraries include:
Alaska’s Glacier Bay & Island Adventure is an eight-day cruise traveling between Sitka and Juneau, including wilderness days in remote bays for kayaking, wilderness hiking and exploration in shallow water expedition craft (DIBs). Cultural immersion in the small towns of Kake and Petersburg is balanced with scenic cruising through Glacier Bay National Park. The Admiralty Dream, Baranof Dream and Chichagof Dream will make a total of 22 sailings on this itinerary between May 12 and September 11. Rates start from $3,379 with a 10 percent early booking discount through October 31.
The nine-day Alaska’s Inside Passage Sojourn travels between Sitka and Ketchikan, taking guests to several towns: The Tsimshian community of Metlakatla; Thorne Bay, once the largest logging camp in the world; Wrangell, the only city in Alaska to have been under the jurisdiction of three flags and ruled by four nations; and Kasaan, home of the only remaining traditional Haida longhouse in the U.S. Guests spend time in Frederick Sound for whale watching, and sail through Tracy Arm Fjord, Misty Fjords National Monument and Glacier Bay National Park. The Alaskan Dream will make 11 sailings on this itinerary between May 10 and September 7. Rates start from $4,519 with a 3 percent early booking discount through October 31.
Alaska’s Southeast Explorer expands the Sojourn itinerary into an 11-day journey, adding time in Skagway, a town steeped in Klondike Gold Rush history; the small fishing community of Haines; and Petersburg, Alaska’s “Little Norway.” The Baranof Dream and Alaskan Dream will make six sailings on this itinerary between May 18 and August 28. Rates start from $5,799 with a 3 percent early booking discount through October 31.
Naturalists and cultural heritage guides will be available on each itinerary, sharing history and context with guests through presentations and informal conversations. In Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, guests learn from a park ranger and a Huna Tlingit cultural heritage guide as they share perspectives on the park’s natural wonders and history as an Alaska Native ancestral home.
Cruise fares include accommodations on the ship, all meals during the cruise, scheduled shore excursions, airport transfers, use of recreational equipment and standard onboard services.
The Chichagof Dream joins four vessels in the Alaskan Dream Cruises fleet. The Alaskan Dream, Admiralty Dream and Baranof Dream carry anywhere from 40 – 58 guests and the Misty Fjord sails with no more than 10 guests.