Small Ship Cruising --
Nature and Cultural Cruises
Cruise West
Up Close And Personal Cruising
Contact Stoney Creek Travel
877-658-2582
Weaverville / Asheville, NC
Cruise the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Northwest United States, Alaska Waterways, California Wine Country, Cental and South America -- Costa Rica & Panama , South Pacific and Asia -- Vietnam & Japan
Unforgettable natural beauty and an intriguing sense of history reveal themselves in-depth and up-close on the small-ship voyages of Cruise West. These are not typical vacations. These are journeys of discovery that take you into places you've only imagined, introduce you to people you'll always treasure, and put you back in touch with your true self.
While magnificent sweeping views are certainly abundant in every destination, it's the glory of the details, viewed close up, that bring you the most rewarding memories - cruising so close to a waterfall you can feel the mist, or seeing the barnacles on a humpback's fin.
The focus is always on the destination, so informality is key. After all, if there's a whale spouting off the bow, dinner will just have to wait, and you don't have to worry about getting whale spume on a tux!
When you're onboard, you'll spend most of your waking hours in the spacious public areas. Unlike many other ships, Cruise West ships have open guest access to the bow area, giving you the best views. And of course, all the lounges and dining rooms feature large view windows, as do most staterooms.
When you're ready to retreat at the end of the day, your private cabin has all the comforts. Choose from two single beds, or one double/queen/king. Depending on the ship you choose, stateroom types range from economical inside cabins to spacious suites with private balconies. Cruise West staterooms are rustic, except for the Oceanus, their most luxurious vessel.
The casual style onboard encourages relaxation and congenial interaction between guests and crew alike. And the experience is personally enriching, through onboard narratives and lectures, special local guests from a wide variety of backgrounds, and the library provided on each vessel.
When Cruise West guests visit a small port in Alaska's Inside Passage or along Baja Mexico's Sea of Cortés, they don't overwhelm the local communities or crowd nature trails. In fact, the largest vessel hosts just 138 guests. And in the small ports visited, excellent relationships have been nourished with local innkeepers, port directors, and storytellers. That means everywhere you travel, you have entrée to the very best experiences that each community can offer. And in every Cruise West destination, at least one shore excursion or highlight with an exploration leader is included in each port of call, to further encourage your active involvement.
Japan: Cruising the Inland Sea
12 days, 11 nights Round Trip from Kobe, Japan.
Japan is a nation of history, culture, and beauty unlike any other. Over the course of 12 days explore delightful destinations like Hagi, Takamatsu, Nagasaki and Hiroshima as you cruise round trip from Kobe. Aboard the all-suite Spirit of Oceanus you will experience beautiful gardens, shrines, castle, islands, parks and art on your voyage of a lifetime.
Surrounded by the islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku, and dotted with more than 3,000 other islands, the Inland Sea is one of Japan's scenic gems, often compared to the Aegean Sea in its beauty. The Inland Sea is linked to the Sea of Japan by a narrow channel. The shores of the Inland Sea are heavily populated and part of Japan's most important industrial area. The main industries are steel production, ship construction, oil refining and oil-derived productions. The Inland Sea is 280 miles long and from 9 to 34 miles wide. The water is fairly shallow with the average depth at 122 feet and the greatest depth of 344 feet. It is also known for its moderate climate and relatively low rainfall. Over 500 species of marine life are known to live here including the horseshoe crab, the finless porpoise, and the great white shark. The Inland Sea is also famous for its periodic red tides, caused by dense grouping of a certain type of phytoplankton. Spirit of Oceanus Ship
Galapagos: Cruise the remarkable island ecosystem of the volcanic Galápagos sitting 650 miles west of Ecuador. See the unique and abundant wildlife, some of which are found nowhere else on earth. In the company of naturalist guides, aboard the Isabela II, the most luxurious vessel cruising The Galápagos, you'll scout for breaching whales, pink flamingos, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, tiny penguins and flightless cormorants, to name just a few of the many species that call the Galápagos Islands home. Extend your trip to Machu Picchu. Isabella II Ship
Mexico: 8 days, 7 nights Round Trip from Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico Whales & Wildlife Itinerary
The Sea of Cortés is remarkable and unique. Its waters can reveal dozens of shades of blue in one vista. And within those waters are harbored more than 900 islands. Many of the islands are uncharted. Most of them are uninhabited. But only by humans.
Your Cruise West voyage is highlighted by visits to these unspoiled islands, teeming with plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Visit breathtaking, private beaches with turquoise coves that invite you to dive in, and inland to where the giant cardón cactus grows.
Over 140 million years ago the Baja peninsula began to move slowly away from the mainland, forming the Sea of Cortés - the planet's newest sea. In this region more than 900 species of fish, one-third of the world's species of whales and dolphins, hundreds of varieties of birds and thousands of species of marine animals flourish. Many of them found only here. And many of them as curious to learn about you as you are to learn about them.
Stand on the deck as hundreds of dolphins welcome us into their midst. Swim with playful sea lions in their home waters. Kayak over gently flapping butterfly rays and schools of sergeant majors. And go ashore on islands that are home to both plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
The turquoise waters here are so impossibly brilliant and crystal clear that floating on the surface can be disorienting, like walking into space with nothing but air below you. Nearby shores are rimmed with white-sand beaches and cacti. And idyllic towns still echo with mission bells of a bygone era. Spirit of Endeavor Ship
European Rivers: Cruise the historically romantic Danube River to the Black Sea, sailing gracefully through 6 countries along the way. The site of some of the earliest Old World cultures, you'll discover well-preserved medieval towns and beautiful landscapes along this major trade route used since the Middle Ages. Tour romantic castles, quaint villages, regal cities and inspiring monuments along this 11-day excursion aboard the brand new 148-guest MS Amadeus Diamond, encountering the varied and fascinating cultures along this Central European route. Amadeus Diamond Ship
Costa Rica and Panama: 10 days, 9 nights from Panama City, Panama to San José, Costa Rica...or reverse
Your Cruise West voyage of exploration in Costa Rica and Panama is a true insider's experience. You'll meet fascinating local people, and visit tropical gardens and wildlife reserves accessible only by special arrangement-and only by small ship.
Exploration Leaders in Costa Rica are expert naturalists who are intimately familiar with their native land-one quarter of which has been set aside in nature preserves. In Panama, you'll wonder at the vast panorama of history, from pre-Conquest civilizations to the legends of the pirates of the Spanish Main. Add Monteverde Rainforest Extension to enhance your cruise. Pacific Explorer Ship
Asia
Grand Asia Cruise: 19 days/ 18 nights from Kobe, Japan to Hanoi, Vietnam or reverse
Cruise the coasts of Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam. Cruise the Sea of Japan and the South China Seas, winding around islands and down the coastline. Wander through ancient temples and pagodas. Experience a bustling market and the silence of a tranquil monastery. Spirit of Oceanus Ship
Hidden Treasures of Japan: 12 days, 11 nights Round Trip from Kobe, Japan
Japan is a nation of history, culture, and beauty unlike any other. Over the course of 12 days explore delightful destinations like Hagi, Takamatsu, Nagasaki and Hiroshima as you cruise round trip from Kobe. Aboard the all-suite Spirit of Oceanus you will experience beautiful gardens, shrines, castle, islands, parks and art on your voyage of a lifetime. Surrounded by the islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku, and dotted with more than 3,000 other islands, the Inland Sea is one of Japan's scenic gems, often compared to the Aegean Sea in its beauty. The Inland Sea is 280 miles long and from 9 to 34 miles wide. The water is fairly shallow with the average depth at 122 feet and the greatest depth of 344 feet. It is also known for its moderate climate and relatively low rainfall. Over 500 species of marine life are known to live here including the horseshoe crab, the finless porpoise, and the great white shark. From $7949 per person.
The distant and isolated Kuril Islands, a paradise of bird and marine wildlife, contain over 100 volcanos, 35 of which are still active. Begin your journey to Anchorage, cruise through the Bering Sea past the Aleutians to the Kamchatka Coast, through the Kuril Islands into Japan's northern islands, ending up in Kobe. This is unparalleled exploration cruising along the Kamchatka coast, through the Kuril Islands, and into Japan's northern islands. Enjoy dramatic scenery, and encounter the region's ancient cultures and fascinating people whose lives are rarely touched by outsiders. The Kuril Islands are a chain of over 50 heavily-forested and volcanic islands - paradise for birdwatchers and twitchers. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime voyage through some of the most unusual terrain on earth.
A fascinating blend of history, culture, natural beauty and unflagging energy, Vietnam's new revolution of peace and prosperity invites visitors to share it all. The elegant architecture, exquisite art and beautiful boulevards of cities from Hanoi to Hue are reminders of the country's colonial rule, while the poise and grace of Hoi An and the hustle-bustle of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) are windows on a culture that values its past as it moves eagerly into the future. Discover pagodas, shrines, painting and sculpture that define the country's spiritual roots, as well as traditional crafts like pottery and weaving that fill markets with color and vitality. Enjoy dance, martial arts, puppet theater and extraordinary cuisine that perfectly meld past and present. Spirit of Oceanus Ship
If you've traveled with big ship cruise lines in the past, it's time to forget everything you thought you knew about cruising. And if you've avoided cruising because you thought it would be like traveling in a glitzy, crowded, floating mall, it's time to think again. This is something else altogether.
Cruise West guests would rather watch for whales than spend the afternoon in a casino. They linger outside on deck as the Captain noses under a waterfall, rather than watch a video. On a small ship, the focus is outside where Nature provides the entertainment, rather than on artificial amusements conjured up to occupy your attention during long hours of open water.
With Cruise West, you're not just a visitor, you're a participant. Whether you're kayaking off a wilderness island in Mexico, hiking in a rainforest in Alaska, or enjoying a spectacular spring garden in British Columbia, each of our small-ship cruises is an engaging experience for all your senses.
Each one of the small ships in the fleet is ideally suited to up-close, casual and personal style of cruising. Their shallow drafts, small size and skilled crew give you access to places big-ship passengers can only see through their binoculars.
And while all are designed to put you where the action is, depending on your destination, you may have a choice of styles to choose from including the luxury flagship, Spirit of Oceanus, or the steamer-style Spirit of '98.
Cocos Island: Cocos Island lies 300 miles off the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, between the Mainland and Galapogos Islands. It is the largest uninhabited island in the world with tropical and cloud forests, stunning waterfalls, caverns. It sits on top of a submerged volcano mountain range and is home to about 90 species of birds above the sea and a wide variety of tropical fish below including sharks, rays, and turtles. It is one to the top 10 SCUBA diving spots in the world. Pacific Explorer Ship
Cruise West offers three itineraries on the Columbia & Snake Rivers between April and October. All are round trip from Portland, OR.
The River Voyage of Discovery covers an impressive 1000 miles. Cruise guests watch the impressive transition from lush evergreen forests to semi-arid buttes, passing dramatic waterfalls, orchards, canyons etched with prehistoric petroglyphs and historic landmarks noted by Lewis & Clark. Learn about the geologic forces that sculpted these landscapes. Venture ashore to visit frontier forts. Board a jet boat for an exhilarating ride up Hells Canyon. Transit 8 monumental locks and dams. Enjoy a special series of excursions, guest speakers, narrations, and presentations.
On the Taste of the Pacific Northwest cruise you’ll sample area wines, meals created by award-winning chefs and have a hands-on experience at the Consumer Seafood Center fusing fresh seafood with other local flavors of Oregon. Also on the agenda is a tractor tour of the family-run Fruit Company orchards, a jet boat tour of the Hanford Reach National Monument and breathtaking views of the Hood River Valley and Columbia River Gorge.
Northwest Passage: The NEW Northwest Passage cruise — Summer Celebration itinerary on the Spirit of ’98 celebrates the traditions of the past and wines of the present while exploring the indigenous cultures and history of the Columbia River Basin and the neighboring Mt. St. Helens. Experience popular favorites like a jet boat ride into Hells Canyon, visits to boutique wineries, and new excursions to Mt. St. Helens, the Pendleton Underground Tour and the museum at the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute — all highlights of this enriching cruise.
From the past to the present, Cruise West shows you the spectacular Columbia & Snake Rivers in USA's Pacific Northwest like no one else. Columbia & Snake Rivers cruises savor the rich history and flavors of the people, land and bounty of some of the Pacific Northwest’s most remote and scenic territory.
