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Small Cruise Ships Are Big on Adventure The small cruise ship visitor leaves behind more money in Alaska’s towns than the average large cruise ship passenger. By Joan Pardes While the large cruise ships still bring the majority of cruise travelers to the state, Alaska’s small cruiseline business has been growing over the years as well. This season, five small cruise companies (many of which have several boats in their Alaska fleet) will bring thousands of visitors to Alaska’s Panhandle. From the smallest ship, Lindblad Expeditions’ Sea Lion that can accommodate 70 passengers, to the largest, American West Steamboat Co.’s Empress of the North that holds 236 passengers, the small cruise ships that visit Alaska offer travelers–and the ports they visit–a totally different experience than the mega-cruise lines. “I think the big difference between the large and small cruise ship traveler is that the guests on smaller boats are typically more focused on an educational slant to their experience,” said Ketchikan Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Patti Mackey. “They want a more intimate experience than what the large cruise ships can provide.” More OpportunitiesDue to the size of the vessels, the small cruiselines have more flexibility regarding the places they visit and typically venture into areas that are not as well-traveled as the deeper waters that confine the movements of the larger cruise ships. “Our goal is to go where the large cruise ships can’t go,” said Larry Johansen, the Southeast Regional Manager for Cruise West, the state’s oldest and largest small cruise ship operator. “Since our ships are smaller, we can offer a more personal, up-close experience that brings people to special places that aren’t part of the larger cruise package.” Along with different itineraries, the small cruiseliners usually offer day tours that include kayaking from the ship, exploring pristine beaches and wilderness, and other activities that are not available on the larger ships. “Our guests are a cross between the independent and cruise
traveler,” said Johansen, from his office in Juneau. But unlike the large ships that visit Alaska’s Panhandle, many of Cruise West’s vessels–along with many other smaller cruiseliners–home port in Alaska, which translates into added revenue for the state. Show Me the Money“Ninety five percent of our itineraries overnight in Juneau or Ketchikan and many times our guests will overnight in both cities,” Johansen said. “We also highly encourage our guests to add days before and after their cruise in the communities that we visit. Plus on many of our tours, people eat meals on shores.” The smallest Cruise West vessel, the Sheltered Seas, offers a tour that sails Alaska’s waterways by day but allows guests to explore the ports they visit by spending nights on shore in hotels or lodges. “The small cruise ship traveler definitely spends more time in our communities,” said Mackey of Ketchikan’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They’re eating in our restaurants, spending more time in our shops, sleeping in our hotels and leaving behind–per visitor–more money than the large cruise ship passengers.” As for the future of Alaska’s small cruise industry, all indicators point toward continued growth. “From my vantage point, the interest and inquiries about small vessel cruising has definitely increased over the past few years,” said Cruise West’s Johansen. “This year, we’re showing a strong rebound from the dip that occurred after 9/11 and from all we hear–it should be a really good season.” Along with American West Steamboat Co.’s Empress of the North, Lindblad Expeditions’ two ships, and the six vessels owned by Cruise West, Southeast Alaska will also welcome two ships owned by Clipper Cruises and several Glacier Bay Cruise Line boats as they make their rounds during the 2004 season. |
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