My Experience Sailing with Discovery Journeys Cruise in Alaska (Honest Review)

Last month I joined Discovery Cruises on their Juneau to Juneau tour. It was super last minute, and to be honest I had no idea what to expect - or even what the itinerary would be. Luckily, I was very impressed. Over the past few years I've been on multiple cruises through Southeast Alaska, and this would be my 4th in the last 5 years. I was very eager to see how it would compare and what would be different, and if it would actually be worth the price difference. Below, I share my complete and honest review of my experience onboard the Discovery, including whether I'd recommend it.

My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's to compare the best rates & stays in the state.
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If you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your travels to the great state of Alaska.

About Discovery Journeys & Planning Your Trip

About Discovery Journeys
Discovery Journeys is a small ship expedition company based out of Seattle and Southeast Alaska during the summer. They have a few different trips during the summer months throughout Alaska, beginning and ending in different cities like Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Petersburg. I joined their Juneau to Juneau trip, which was 8 days total. Their trips include a variety of activities, including guided hiking, fishing, whale watching, bear viewing, shrimping, and even a polar plunge - but availability depends on the exact trip you book.

Their ship (technically a luxury yacht) has a maximum guest capacity of 12, but there were only 10 guests, including myself, during my trip. I would say their ship and itineraries are designed for people who want to visit the real Alaska - not the popular cruise ports filled with jewelry stores. It's perfect for solo travelers, couples, honeymooners, and small groups.

I have a full breakdown of what a "small ship cruise" is here, but essentially it's exactly what it sounds like - a cruise through Alaska on a much smaller vessel, or ship. You can expect personalized attention from the crew, more flexibility on the itinerary, and meals and activities that are more catered to your personal preferences.

What to Know Before Booking
If you've never been to Alaska before or you've just never been on a cruise through Alaska, there's a few things you'll want to know before booking a small ship cruise. This way, you'll know exactly what to expect if you go and can make the best plans.

Southeast Alaska can be chilly, even in the summer, and especially if you plan to visit or see some glaciers before you return home. I recommend packing layers, even hats and mittens, for your cruise in Alaska. This way you can stay in the best viewing spots outside during a glacier visit without having to hide inside to stay warm.​ I also recommend bringing a majority of activewear, things you can wear in the rain or in the mud.

The best part about small ships is you generally have some say in the itinerary. With Discovery Journey Cruises, you can choose which general itinerary you'd like to join (like Juneau to Juneau or Petersburg to Ketchikan), and from there you can voice your own opinion of which places you'd really want to visit, or which places you wouldn't mind skipping. Of course, final say is always up to the captain.

Most small ships, including the Discovery, don't offer Wi-Fi to guests, so you'll want to plan ahead if you need service while you're in Alaska. Typically you'll have service in any town you visit, but no (or spotty) service once you're out of town in more remote areas.

My Favorite Tours in Juneau :
- Whale Watching Boat Tour
- Canoe Tour on Mendenhall Glacier Lake
- Educational Alaska Native Tour & Tram Combo

My Experience Sailing with Discovery Journeys

Rooms, Bathrooms & the Ship
Onboard the Discovery, they have single occupancy rooms and double occupancy rooms. Because I traveled alone, I was in a single room, and even though it was fairly small, I think that's just a trait of small ship cruises. Currently, none of their rooms have private bathrooms, although some of them do have a sink inside the room. They did mention they were thinking about updating this to include heads (toilets) inside the cabins. You can see a full tour of my room and the ship in the video linked below!

Even though my room was small, I did have some space to store my things and hang my clothes while I was onboard. Like I mentioned, the bathrooms onboard are shared, and all guest rooms are on the very bottom floor of the ship, which is also where you can find the two shared toilets and two showers.

There's also lots of common areas onboard, and if you're an introvert like I am, even with nine other guests, I still felt like I had plenty of space to myself. Onboard the Discovery there's one main outdoor viewing area at the front of the ship, and an enclosed outdoor space in the back with a propane fire pit.

On Discovery Journeys website, they describe themselves as a luxury yacht, and you can definitely feel that when you're onboard. Everything has been kept in such nice condition, especially considering it's been around since 1931, and you can feel the cozy and comfortable vibes as soon as you step onboard.

Wildlife & Included Activities
One of the main differences between a mega cruise and a small ship cruise is the included activities. On a giant cruise, you'll usually need to pay for each additional excursion for each person, whereas onboard the Discovery, everything is included. On my trip, I went kayaking almost every morning, and every time you cruise to another location is another chance at whale watching. We did multiple bear viewing adventures, which are usually very expensive to add onto any Alaska trip. There were also multiple times we were guided on remote hikes, and one morning we even pulled up a shrimp pot. You don't get that on other cruises.

Personally, I think this is one of the greatest draws to booking a cruise with Discovery Journeys. Every single activity is already included, and generally speaking, we did three main activities every single day. A day could start with kayaking, then breakfast, followed by whale watching and fishing, lunch, maybe some bear viewing or hiking, and then dinner. There was always something to do, but it never felt like we were being rushed or like we were going to miss anything.

Meals, Crew & Guides
Another huge difference between Discovery Journeys and any other cruise ship I've been on is the attention to detail and overall more personalized experience. Before I even boarded or got to Juneau, I was asked to fill out a questionnaire so that the chef could meet any dietary restrictions or preferences I had. Speaking of - you even have your own personal chef onboard who provides a plated breakfast, lunch, afternoon hors d'oeuvres, and dinner - which is usually a three-course meal that includes dessert.

Personally, I thought the meals were absolutely delicious, and I had the best seafood chowder and lemon-crusted halibut that I've ever had (which if you know me is saying a lot). Plus anytime we'd catch salmon, halibut, or shrimp while fishing, it would get filleted and served at one of our next meals - it doesn't get fresher than that.

Because the ship itself is so small and only allows up to 12 guests, there's also a very small number of crew onboard. There's Captain Ben, who has some incredible stories if you're willing to listen; his wife, Jamie, who does all the housekeeping and deck duties; their son Brandon, who is the first mate; and Chef Rolando, who plans and executes all the amazing meals I mentioned above. If you book an adventure with Discovery Journeys, you'll get to know each and every one of them.

The Flexible Itinerary
The flexible itinerary can feel a bit intimidating if you're traveling alone, but honestly, I think it worked out for the best. Unlike large cruise ships, which have a specific itinerary that they have to follow, small ships have a bit more freedom. If needed, they're able to adjust their itineraries to truly give their guests the best experience.

Before your cruise, you'll have a general idea of where you'll be each day of your adventure. However, this is Alaska, and plans can change whether it's because of weather, wildlife patterns, or something else. It's best to leave your options open. Having a flexible itinerary allowed our Captain to choose the best experiences based on his knowledge and current wildlife patterns - it also allowed guests to voice their opinions.

For example, on our trip, we were initially planning to go up Endicott Arm. However, a few guests mentioned that they'd prefer Tracy Arm Fjord to see the changes after last year's tsunami. One of the guests onboard my trip was a geologist, and he was very excited to see the rock formations along Tracy Arm. After making sure it was alright with the other guests, Captain Ben was able to switch the itinerary and we ended up making it through Tracy Arm Fjord to Sawyer Glacier instead.

It also allowed us to take multiple detours anytime we'd see whales, and if a planned fishing stop wasn't getting us any bites, we were able to simply move on and try somewhere else. This is the kind of flexibility that you simply don't get on a large cruise ship, where the itinerary is much more rigid and can't be changed based on what's happening around you.

My Honest Review of Discovery Journey Cruises
​Overall, I would say the experience that Discovery Journeys offers is completely out of this world. We had so many incredible wildlife encounters, and honestly they were better than many of the wildlife viewing tours I've been on. Because everything is so personalized and there's only a handful of other guests onboard, it really feels like its just you and Alaska. Epic mountains, breaching whales, giant brown bears, all in an intimate setting in the middle of nowhere Alaska. If I'm being completely honest, as an introvert, I did sometimes get tired of long dinners and conversations, but if that's the only negative I can find in a weeklong trip - then I'd say that's pretty good.
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If you're someone who wants a true Alaskan experience - to see wildlife up close, and to visit off-the-beaten-path gems without the crowds - then this is definitely for you. It's perfect for anyone interested in wildlife, solo travelers, couples, and in my opinion, the ultimate honeymoon experience.

So, would I sail with them again? Definitely. I've been on a lot of experiences throughout Alaska over the years, and this instantly earned one of my top spots. I'll recommend Discovery Journeys Cruises to everyone I know who even mentions that they want to explore Southeast Alaska. If you book, make sure to let them know I sent you - and let me know how your trip was!

Watch My Discovery Journeys Cruise Here!

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> Best Things to Do in Juneau
-> Best Places to Eat in Juneau
-> Is a Small Ship Cruise in Alaska Worth It?

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