Cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage
Pristine Wilderness Where the Bigger Ships Can’t Reach
On our Alaska small ship cruises, we explore natural wonders aboard a classic, wooden tugboat designed for the ultimate in guest comfort. Expeditions provide an opportunity to personally connect with the natural and cultural history of Alaska’s rugged Southeast, each day becoming more in tune with the rhythm of the coast. Travel with just a few guests, guided by the expert crew, naturalist, and guides of Maple Leaf Adventures.
Highlights
• Alaska’s Most Unique Cruise
Experience Alaska from the decks of a ship that has traversed its natural wonder for more than a century.
• Adventure Set to Glacial Pace
Journey through sheer-sided glacial fjords, reaching the foot of tidal glaciers. Witness spectacular calving events.
• Giants of the Deep
Cruise into Fredrick Sound, a renowned feeding ground for whales. Look out for breaching humpbacks or the playful splash of an orca calf.
• World-Class Bear Viewing
Enjoy special access to remote and protected areas like Salmon Creek & Pack Creek, where brown bears gather to feed.
Day 1: Depart at Ketchikan, Alaska, to wilderness anchorage, wildlife viewing, shore excursion with introduction to the Easter Pacific Ocean and the Wester coastal temperate rainforest.
Day 2: Motor-sailing on route and wildlife viewing. Birdwatching, look for whales. Shore excursion in zodiacs to explore and discover the intertidal, wilderness anchorage.
Day 3: Cruising and exploring ashore in South Etolin Wilderness. Bears, intertidal life, island & islet exploration. Visit remote coves and estuaries. Evening kayaking.
Day 4: Sailing, Wrangell, Wrangell Narrows.
Day 5: Rainforest hike/walk, whale watching, sea lions. Anchor at fjord entrance with view of ice bergs. Beach time.
Day 6: Cruising spectacular fjord to tidewater glacier, ice bergs, wildlife viewing. Option to zodiac, kayak and/or walk, exploring glacier, ice bergs in this awesome ice world.
Day 7: Explore from aboard, around Admiralty Island’s Glass Peninsula and into wild brown bear habitat, estuary shore excursion and Brown Bear viewing.
Day 8: Cruising to Warm Springs Bay, visit small Alaskan coastal hamlet. Rainforest / bog walk and natural hot springs. Cruising the waterfall coast of Baranof Island.
Day 9: Chatham Strait & Fredrick Sound humpback whales. Wilderness anchorage.
Day 10: Cruising and sailing through Tongass National Forest. Seabird viewing.
Day 11 Cruise to Petersburg for disembarkation.
Itineraries are subject to change.
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Cabin
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Cabin
Vessel Type: Schooner
Length: 92f / 28m
Passenger Capacity: 8
Maple Leaf is a 92-foot wooden schooner built in 1904, designed for intimate coastal exploration with a maximum of eight guests. She offers a deeply personal, human-scale experience that prioritises direct engagement with the natural world, accessing remote coastlines, rivers and anchorages unreachable by larger ships. Accommodation is simple but warm: four semi-private sleeping areas, shared washrooms, and communal spaces centred on conversation, observation and shared meals prepared onboard. Stability under sail, long range, and a highly experienced crew make her exceptionally capable despite her modest size.
Constructed from Douglas fir, yellow cedar and mahogany, Maple Leaf blends working-vessel toughness with Edwardian craftsmanship and modern functionality. Life on board revolves around open decks, zodiac landings, kayaking, wildlife observation and, for those inclined, hands-on sailing under crew guidance. Her long history — from luxury yacht to high-performing halibut fishing vessel to pioneering expedition ship — gives the experience a sense of continuity and authenticity. Travel aboard Maple Leaf is immersive, physically engaging, and deliberately unpolished, favouring depth, access and presence over luxury conventions.
Inclusions
• All meals, snacks and beverages prepared from the freshest ingredients by our superb chef.
• Fine wines featured with the evening meal, and a limited amount of beer included and available throughout the trip. (Liquor is not a large part of our trips, so plan on light consumption).
• Services of our naturalist and professional crew.
• Shore excursions.
• Use of gear on board, including rubber boots, kayaks and fishing gear (with fishing licence).
• All accommodations on your vessel and, on trips with a land day, in a local lodging.
Exclusions
• The price does not include transportation to or from the starting and ending points of the Maple Leaf, Swell, and Cascadia trips, except for flights from Vancouver to the start of Cascadia’s Haida Gwaii trips and trips with a current Flight Promotion.
• Canadian trips are subject to a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST), while Alaska trips are exempt.
• There is also a sustainability fee of $200 added to each fare on booking.
• Tipping for the crew is not included and is confidential and at your discretion.
• Fishing licenses are not included and must be acquired by guests wanting to fish prior to their trip.
Small Ship Cruise
Our Associates Include
