Small Boat Cruises in Alaska

Small boat vs large boat, for a day trip

The trade is straightforward once you see it laid out.

On Prince William Sound specifically, the small-group Blackstone cruise is the only option that actually lands you on shore — a beach walk that no vessel carrying 150 people can attempt. It runs 3.5 hours, shorter than any large-catamaran sailing here, with a naturalist aboard and a snack rather than a full meal. It is also a new listing with no verified reviews yet, which is a real trade-off against the two established Phillips catamarans and worth weighing honestly rather than assuming smaller automatically means better.

The 26 Glacier Cruise and Glacier Quest are both large Phillips catamarans — several hundred passengers, a hot meal, a no-seasickness guarantee that reviewers say holds up in rough weather, and (on Glacier Quest) a Chugach National Forest Service ranger narrating. Glacier Quest actually works the same bay as the small-group boat, Blackstone Bay, so it is the most direct large-boat comparison to the small-group trip — same destination, very different way of getting there.

Wildlife and photography

This is where small boats earn their reputation. A naturalist on a 20-passenger boat can reposition for a bear on shore or a pod of orcas in a way a 150-passenger catamaran on a fixed narrated route generally won’t. Sea otters, harbour seals, bald eagles and kittiwakes are close to routine on every boat here regardless of size; the difference shows up on the less certain sightings — whales, sea lions, bears — where a smaller, more manoeuvrable boat can occasionally get closer or linger longer.

That said, no operator on Prince William Sound — small boat or large — can promise wildlife. Treat glaciers as the guaranteed part of the day and animals as the bonus, whichever boat you choose.

Seasickness and comfort

Prince William Sound is sheltered water, not open ocean, which matters more than boat size for most people’s comfort. The large catamarans are especially stable — Phillips advertises a no-seasickness guarantee — while the smaller boat moves more, simply because it’s lighter. If you’re prone to motion sickness, the large-catamaran routes are the safer choice regardless of how appealing the small-group option looks on paper.

Who should choose a small boat

Choose the small-group day option if a beach landing, a naturalist you can actually talk to, and a shorter day matter more to you than an established review history or a hot meal. Choose a large catamaran if you want the most-reviewed, most predictable option, a full meal included, and maximum stability in questionable weather. Choose a multi-day small ship only if you actually want a week on the water — it is not a bigger version of either day option, it’s a different kind of trip entirely.

Practical checklist

• Decide first whether you want a single day or a multi-day trip — the two “small boat” products are not substitutes for each other.
• If choosing the day option, weigh the small-group Blackstone boat’s lack of reviews against its beach landing and smaller group size.
• If you’re prone to seasickness, default to a large catamaran regardless of which small boat looks more appealing.
• Book small-group and multi-day options earlier than large catamarans — capacity is much lower, so they sell out sooner relative to demand.
• Dress the same for either size boat: warm layers, a windproof and waterproof shell, hat, gloves and closed-toe shoes. The deck is cold regardless of hull size.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a small ship and a small-group day boat in Alaska?

A small ship is a multi-day expedition vessel — UnCruise’s Prince William Sound itinerary runs 7 nights on a 36-passenger ship with cabins, kayaks and a hot tub. A small-group day boat, like the Blackstone Bay cruise on this site, is a single few-hour sailing that returns the same day. They solve different trip lengths, not different budgets of the same trip.

Is a small boat better than a large catamaran for glacier viewing?

Not automatically. A small boat can land on a beach and reposition faster for wildlife; a large catamaran is more stable, includes a full meal, and — on Prince William Sound — has an established review history the small-group option doesn’t have yet. Neither guarantees closer glacier views; the glaciers are the same regardless of which boat you take.

Does Prince William Sound have a small-group day cruise?

Yes — the small-group Blackstone cruise from Whittier, a 3.5-hour sailing with a naturalist and a beach landing. It is the shortest cruise on this site and the only one that lands on shore, though it’s a newer listing without verified reviews yet.

Are small boats worse for seasickness?

Generally, yes — a lighter boat moves more than a large catamaran in the same water. Prince William Sound is sheltered, so this matters less than it would in open ocean, but if you’re prone to motion sickness, a large catamaran with a no-seasickness guarantee is the safer pick.

Is there a multi-day small-ship cruise in Prince William Sound?

Yes. UnCruise Adventures runs a 7-night “Prince William Sound Explorer” itinerary roundtrip from Whittier on the 36-passenger Safari Explorer, visiting Knight Island, Icy Bay, Chenega Glacier, Esther Island and Barry Arm. It is not sold on this site, which focuses on single-day cruises.

Do small boats cost more than large catamarans?

Not necessarily for a day trip — prices on this site are comparable across small-group and large-catamaran day options. Multi-day small-ship expeditions are a different category and cost substantially more, reflecting a week of travel rather than a single day.