A large, packed luxury ocean liner may not be the choice for everyone. Many would-be cruisers are looking for a quiet, intimate way to explore the world, without the parties and endless desserts on a large cruise line like Holland America Cruises or Celebrity Cruises. If you're looking for a small ship cruise to intimate locations like California's Napa Valley, Costa Rica, and Baja, Mexico's Sea of Cortes, Cruise West may just be the company for you.
Each member of their fleet of small ships was designed to provide guests with the most memorable and intimate adventure, wherever the destination. In addition to Napa and Baja, Cruise West explores more of Alaska's Wilderness Waterways than any other line, from the Inside Passage to Prince William Sound and on to the spectacular, far flung islands of the Bering Sea. A Cruise West ship's shallow draft and skilled crews provide access to Alaskan waterways and a wide variety of fascinating ports big-ship passengers can only dream about.
A Leisurely Life on Board Cruise West
On board, you will spend most of your waking hours in the spacious, tastefully-appointed public areas. Dine with new friends, relax in the lounge, or watch for wildlife out on deck. Many Cruise West vessels have open guest access to the bow area -- a rarity among cruise ships. All of the lounges and dining rooms feature large view windows -- all the extraordinary scenery drifting by somehow sharpens the appetite.
Cruise West guests would rather watch for whales in Frederick Sound than spend the afternoon in a casino. They linger outside on deck as the Captain noses under a waterfall, rather than watch a video. On a small ship, the focus is very often outside, on what Nature has provided for entertainment, rather than on amusements provided to occupy your attention on board. Time is spent wisely, too. Rather than making a beeline from port to port, Cruise West captains have the flexibility to linger when whales are putting on a show, when a glacier is calving spectacularly, or to seek out sea otters when a nearby fisherman radios the word.
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