Cruise Line for Alaskan Photography?

[J. Paul]

Hello All,
Multiple families (no children) are trying to plan an Alaskan cruise this summer.  I along with a few others are very interested in the photography aspects of the trip.  Does anyone have any recommendations for a Cruise Line or a specific ship.  I have heard that the smaller ships can access places the larger ones can't reach.  Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
J. Paul

[aduke]

We cruised Alaska in 2008 and had a very good time. Actually, we took two cruises, back to back, visiting essentially the same ports and areas. This proved to be convenient because the weather was quite variable and a couple of the major points of interest would have been lost if we had not had two visits. Out of 14 days, I got one good set of sunset images.

Be aware that you will, most often, be at sea during sunset and sunrise, Check http://photoephemeris.com/ for a program that will show you sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset times and azimuth. Sunset times will be around 10PM, sunrise around 2AM.

[stever]

small ship cruises are absolutely the way to go.  we had a great time with Cruise West a few years ago, however they are in some financial difficulty now so i don't know what they're offering.  i think there are a couple others.  costs more than the large ships, but a much better experience.  an inside passage cruise in a small ship gets you where the large ships can't go - close enough to a glacier and wildlife for photography (with a long lens)

[PeterAit]

Cruise West is - or was - great, but they are bankrupt and no longer operating. National Geographic/Lindblad is the other small ship cruise line we considered.

[riwong]

If you want a photo cruise and not one of the big cruise lines then look into Alaska Mothership cruising.  A mothership is your base camp and using small boats or Kayaks you will go exploring or fishing during the day and come back to the mothership for your meals and sleeping.  here is a link to a company that does this type of charters:  http://www.alaskasummer.com/pages/alaskacharters.html. 

There are many companies in Alaska that offer this type of cruising. Some are basic like for $200 per person they will take you to a location drop you off and then pick you up in a few days.  Others that will charge you $8000 per person for a week and all you need to bring is you and your gear and they feed you and supply you with a boat and lessons and guides.

REI also offers Alaska cruises they are in between the small mothership cruises and the floating Hotels. http://www.rei.com/adventures/trips/namer/isw.html#sec5


If you are looking for the floating hotel type of cruises then you need to look at the excursions that are offered.  The big ships will not slow down if you sight a pod of whales and it will be like shooting them out of your cars window as you are passing them on the freeway.

I have been of many cruises and it is the way to go if you do not know the area or as a scouting trip.  I have also been to Alaska over a dozen times by air, land, and water and each has it's own strengths.  If you have the time Princess has an 7 day one way cruise where you go up the inside passage then explore Alaska  on land by train to their lodge at Denali NP and ends in Anchorage where you fly home.

Here is a link to my Alaska Gallery where 80% of the shots were not taken on a cruise: http://riwong.smugmug.com/Travel/In-Alaska/12038374_hRkSf#854154462_B8fpu

This link is of photos taken on cruises: http://riwong.smugmug.com/Travel-Journal/Cruisin-the-Inside-Passage/529284_TeC78/1

[wolfnowl]

Really depends on what you're looking for in a 'cruise' ship... http://mapleleafadventures.com/

Mike.

[pikeys]

RiWong,

Thanks for this post..
It is just the info my wife  and I are looking for looking for.
She & I ,and another couple are planning an Alaskan trip next year...

Good info...and your images are great..

Thanks,
Mike

[Sitka]

I would recommend InnerSea Discoveries. They will be operating two small ships this summer in SouthEast Alaska. Operating between Juneau and Ketchikan.

The Eastern Coves  will have more glaciers.  The Western Coves cruise Starts in Ketchikan will have El Capitan Passage, Klawock (a native village on Prince of Wales Island), Little Port Walter and Mist Cove, Endicott Arm and Ford's Terror ending in Juneau. Both cruises are 8 days and 7 nights. You could do both with a roundtrip from Juneau for a 15 day/14 night adventure.

For additional information please look at their website www.InnerSeaDiscoveries.com.

 

[Steve Lefkovits]

As an alternative to a cruise, I am taking my family to a lodge in the Inside Passage for a week of photo touring this summer.  I went last year and the lodge provides guides and small boats and tons of flexibility to allow photographers and nature watchers a chance to see humpback whales, brown bears, bald eagles, seals and occasional orcas (though I didn't see any orcas.)  The lodge is called Whalers Cove Lodge and is about 70 miles from Juneau by air in the Inside Passage.  If anyone is interested, here's a link to a blog post I wrote for some friends and a gallery of images I shot from 22-32' boats there.  It's not a workshop, just great access to nature without a fixed schedule.

http://lefko.posterous.com/photography-of-alaskas-wildlife-june-25-july

Steve

[PeterAit]

You are quite right, the smaller ships are best for photography. We had a great trip on Cruise West last August, unfortunately they went bankrupt. The smaller ships can get closer to the shore, you are closer to the water, and they offer more relaxed shore excursions. I recommend a tour with a land, as well as a sea, component - don't miss Denali! Go in July or August to avoid the mosquitoes.

You can see my Alaska photos here: http://www.peteraitken.com/

Have fun!