Inside passage questions
 

I'm thinking of a cruise up (or down) the inside passage. I'd like to fly to port, then cruise back, or visa versa. I'd like a cruise on a smaller ship (don't want to cross the gulf of Alaska), and would like a cruise that includes a naturalist, wildlife biologist, etc. Now for the hard part: I'd like to keep it under $2500 per person! Is this possible, or am I dreaming???

You are describing the Alaska Marine Highway. The state run ferry/ship scheduled route which services the entire Inside Passage. Will you be trolling on your cruise?

Knightly Tours, one of the companies mentioned in the latest Lonely Planet Alaska guidebook, might fit your needs. Here's a description: "This company offers budget package tours for independent travelers; in other words, you're not hereded around with a hundred others. Knightly makes all the reservations for you--for the Alaska Marine Hwy ferries, side tours with American Sightseeing and all your hotels along the way." Visit www.knightlytours.com.

Cruise West has a Juneau/Ketchikan cruise- full of great inside passage sailing

The Alaske Marine Highway is great. A park ranger gets on and lectures and it stops in many ports. You can get a berth, set up a tent or sleep in a lounge chair. It is very inexpensive and a lot of fun.

INTRAV's Yorktown Clipper, a 138 passenger vessel, does a twelve day repositioning cruise from Seattle to Juneau in May and returns in early September.....

Thanks for all the ideas, I'm checking them out now!