When the West family, the founders and still owners of Cruise West, began offering unique and personal travel experiences more than 50 years ago in Alaska, a philosophy prevailed that remains true to this day: to provide up-close travel that focuses on the destination - its scenery, wildlife, natural history and culture - all in the company of limited numbers of like-minded travelers.

While magnificent sweeping views are certainly abundant in every one of Cruise West's destinations, it's the glory of the details, viewed close up, that provides the most rewarding memories - an eagle in a tree on a tiny rocky islet, or the barnacles visible on a humpback's fin. In many of the remote waterways they visit, small ships are the only way to explore the area.

Cruise West’s smaller ships – ten in all – hold between 70-138 people each, and the casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike. And the experience is personally enriching, through on-board narrative and lectures, special local guests from a wide variety of backgrounds, and the library provided on each vessel.