Cruise West founder Chuck West established his first tour service in Fairbanks in 1946. He went on to pioneer nearly every element of today’s Alaska travel scene. Chuck Wests wife and lifetime companion, Marguerite, has links with Alaska that go back a century. Her parents owned gold dredges in Nome and she herself was Miss Alaska in 1937. As a young bush plane pilot in Alaska in 1946, Cruise West founder Chuck West was convinced that Alaska’s natural wonders deserved to be shared with a wider world. Through the decades since, Chuck pioneered the first motor coach line the first chain of hotels the first modern small-ship cruises in Alaska. Cruise West has continued to seek out new routes, and new ways to explore, ranging ever farther throughout the West. Today, Cruise West is North Americas leading small-ship cruise line, with unique routes from Alaska and British Columbia to Costa Rica and Panama. Cruise West itineraries are tailored to the interests of travelers who want an in-depth experience at extraordinary destinations. Our intimate acquaintance with secluded waterways and local communities allows us to create itineraries that deliver the exploration of your dreams: up-close, casual and personal.

Ships of Cruise West

• Pacific Explorer – Maneuverable and versatile, the 100-guest Pacific Explorer is the perfect way to travel in comfort throughout your Central American adventures. The intimate vessel is staffed by friendly, knowledgeable, English-speaking Costa Ricans, with an American Exploration Leader. All cabins are air-conditioned with private baths and showers. Delicious international cuisine with Central American specialties is prepared daily using only the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and fish.
• Spirit of 98 – When producers of the Kevin Costner film “Wyatt Earp” were seeking a turn-of-the-century steamer to carry their hero north to the Gold Rush, they were delighted to find our Spirit of ’98. Though she boasts all modern amenities, she was designed to emulate an early-20th century coastal steamer complete with carved wooden cabinetry, plush floral upholstery and a Grand Salon complete with a player piano, plus a full bar with old-world charm.
• Spirit of Adventure – Formerly the Spirit of Glacier Bay, this beautiful vessel is one of the newest additions to the Cruise West’s fleet. In 2011, it will operate exclusively along the Mississippi River. The decor is sleek, stylish, and quietly elegant with light wood accents. The Observation Lounge features expansive picture windows, a lending library, plus cozy banquettes and conversation circles for getting to know your fellow travelers. Every stateroom features a wide picture window or porthole, private facilities, a writing desk and ample storage. And when it’s time to go outside, guests enjoy generous outside space on the bow and aft decks.
• Spirit of Columbia – The Spirit of Columbia is a cozy vessel perfect for shared adventure in the wilderness waterways. With her shallow draft and stately pace of cruising, you wont miss a thing as she lingers among the back channels, bays and wilderness islands. The range of cabin categories is one of the widest in our fleet, ranging from lower-deck inside cabins to Deluxe and AAA categories with picture windows and a TV monitor/VCR. All staterooms offer private facilities and air conditioning.
• Spirit of Discovery – The first thing guests notice when stepping into the Discovery Lounge aboard the 84-guest Spirit of Discovery is light, air, and views wide picture windows port and starboard, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows facing forward. Backing the delightful scene are a bar and library with exquisitely detailed woodworking. This is one of Cruise Wests most popular vessels. Every category stateroom offers a wide view window, many of which open for you to enjoy fresh breezes. Ample outside deck space and easy access to the extra-roomy bow area are perfect spots to view the sights around you.
• Spirit of Endeavor – The Spirit of Endeavor is one of Cruise Wests fastest overnight vessels, allowing for maximum flexibility while en route. The decor is sleek, stylish, and quietly elegant with light wood accents and artistically etched glass. The Explorer Lounge features expansive picture windows, a video and lending library, plus cozy banquettes and conversation circles for getting to know your fellow travelers. Every stateroom features a wide picture window or porthole, private facilities, and a TV monitor/VCR. And when its time to go outside, guests enjoy ample outside space on three decks.
• Spirit of Oceanus – Cruise West’s first oceangoing vessel is also our most spacious and luxurious. Equipped with stabilizers, the Spirit of Oceanus opens up whole new horizons for our style of up-close, casual small-ship cruising. In Alaska, that means the Gulf of Alaska and the remote vastness of the Aleutian Islands and the Bering Sea. Our flagship hosts just 114 guests in comfortable outside suites, each with a picture window or porthole. The 12 suites on the Sun and Sports decks feature private teak balconies, the first in our fleet. Other cabin amenities unique to the Spirit of Oceanus include a walk-in closet or wardrobe, a large marble vanity and sink, and a lounge area. Each suite also features an in-room safe and minibar plus satellite telephone access.
• Spirit of Yorktown – The Spirit of Yorktown is one of Cruise West’s newest overnight vessels, with a year-round cruising schedule that takes her as far north as Alaska and south, through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean. The decor is sleek, stylish, and quietly elegant with light wood accents and artistically etched glass. The Observation Lounge features expansive picture windows, a video and lending library, plus cozy banquettes and conversation circles for getting to know your fellow travelers.