AIAA Announces 2024 Design Build Fly DBF Competition Winners

Table Of Content

• Design/Build/Fly Competition
• AIAA Announces 2024 Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition Winners
• Embry-Riddle takes first place at AIAA’s student aircraft competition
• THE TEAM

Teams from over one-hundred institutions must design, fabricate, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of an unmanned, electric, radio-controlled aircraft that best meets specified mission profiles. This year marks the largest ever DBF Competition flyoff participation, with 868 university students on 81 teams attending onsite. The flyoff event was hosted by AIAA Corporate Member Raytheon in Tucson, Ariz.

Design/Build/Fly Competition

Student team to participate in national custom-built aircraft competition - College of Engineering News - Iowa State University College of Engineering News

Student team to participate in national custom-built aircraft competition - College of Engineering News.

Posted: Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:12:57 GMT [source]

After experiencing issues setting up test flights before the competition, the team from the University of New South Wales in Australia decided to stay on the sidelines and observe. The design report submission period OPENS 1 February at 8AM (0800) US Eastern Time. The Design Report must be submitted by 5pm (1700) US Eastern Time on 23 February 2024, 1700 hrs US ET.The reports will be scored as defined in the design report requirements section. From here you can get a glimpse of any particular competition quickly and easily.

AIAA Announces 2024 Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition Winners

Teams can use MATLAB and Simulink to design and validate their aircraft as well as simulate mission profiles. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Design Build Fly (AIAA DBF) competition is an annual aircraft design competition. Each year students are tasked with designing, building, and flying unmanned, electric powered, remote control aircraft.

Embry-Riddle takes first place at AIAA’s student aircraft competition

This year’s DBF objective was to design, build, and test an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver and drop vaccine components. Missions included deployment of the aircraft, staging of vaccination syringes, and delivery of environmentally sensitive vaccine vial packages. More details about the mission requirements can be found on the DBF website at aiaa.org/dbf.

The airplane must be able to conduct a delivery flight, a medical transport flight, and an urban taxi flight. Teams also conducted a ground mission demonstrating how quickly they can change their aircraft configuration from delivery to medical transport to urban air taxi. This year's flight objective was to design, build, and test a remotely operated radio control airplane for Urban Air Mobility. The AIAA Design Build Fly competition challenges student teams to design and fabricate a radio controlled, electric-powered aircraft to meet a specified mission profile. This competition aims to provide real-world aircraft design experience for engineering students by giving them the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to a practical problem.

Teams from 12 countries, including 32 US states participated in the full DBF Competition, including submitting design reports and attending the flyoff. This year’s contestants had to complete a written report, a ground mission and three flights. The first flight required completing a mission of three laps around the course with no added weight. The second mission required flying the same distance with a circular, rotating radome as the payload.

This year’s Design/Build/Fly event challenged students to emulate electric passenger aircraft

After arriving, they still had to contend with a requirement levied by their professors that they assemble the plane entirely on Thursday to help them when the time came to make repairs. Find premiere aerospace technology, engineering, and science content and research across 100+ topics. Other MathWorks country sites are not optimized for visits from your location. Learn how to use MATLAB and Simulink to design algorithms, create simulations, deploy code, and speed up software development for your projects. Whether a potential member, sponsor, or curious site visitor, our team would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have. “I really see it as a well-rounded project where they pick up technical skills and those teamwork soft skills that really help them become great engineers,” she said.

THE TEAM

Being robotic systems with dozens of moving parts, each aircraft draws from every facet of engineering, including aerospace, mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines. Expertise in business operations keeps our 40+ member team running, while competitive intelligence helps us find new advantages. Model aviators from all majors pitch in to design, build, and fly our aircraft for tests and competitions. Embry-Riddle defeated the biggest field in the history of the AIAA event — 93 teams from 13 countries including the United States. Clouds, temperatures in the low 40s and wind gusts of 37 kph on Saturday caused a few teams to crash their aircraft, but Sunday provided nearly ideal flying conditions with a light breeze.

24 April 2022

AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) DBF (Design Build Fly) is an international engineering competition. Each year, student teams field aircraft for a set of complex missions and compete against each other for the highest score. Through this competition, students gain real-world aircraft design experience. Students working with the team will develop skills with products that will carry over to their professional careers. DBF gives students the opportunity to explore a variety of disciplines within aeronautics and apply what they learn in classes in a setting similar to that of industry. Each year, 300+ teams worldwide submit their design reports- about a third of them are invited to the international flyoff, and even fewer successfully complete all three missions.

For more information, visit , or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Student teams will design, fabricate, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of an unmanned, electric powered, radio controlled aircraft which can best meet the specified mission profile. The goal is a balanced design possessing good demonstrated flight handling qualities and practical and affordable manufacturing requirements while providing a high vehicle performance.

This project is commonly used for senior design, but all others can still join. For more information, visit , or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Each year students of the University of Washington take part in the AIAA Design, Build, Fly (DBF) competition.

Teams from 14 countries, including 27 US states and the District of Columbia participated in the full DBF Competition, including submitting design reports and attending the flyoff. Student teams will design, fabricate, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of an unmanned, electric powered, radio-controlled aircraft which can best meet the specified mission profile. This year marks the largest-ever flyoff participation, with more than 1,000 students on 93 university teams attending onsite. The flyoff was hosted by AIAA Corporate Member Textron Aviation in Wichita, Kan.

These aircraft are required to meet unique and very specific design requirements and mission profiles. Each year the missions change forcing teams to come up with completely new aircraft year after year. About AIAAThe American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit , or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

The Competition Design Build Fly

Table Of Content

• This year’s Design/Build/Fly event challenged students to emulate electric passenger aircraft
• Previous Competitions
• Competition Resources
• University of Washington
• The Competition
• Complimentary Software

The airplane must be able to conduct a delivery flight, a medical transport flight, and an urban taxi flight. Teams also conducted a ground mission demonstrating how quickly they can change their aircraft configuration from delivery to medical transport to urban air taxi. This year's flight objective was to design, build, and test a remotely operated radio control airplane for Urban Air Mobility. The AIAA Design Build Fly competition challenges student teams to design and fabricate a radio controlled, electric-powered aircraft to meet a specified mission profile. This competition aims to provide real-world aircraft design experience for engineering students by giving them the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to a practical problem.

Mizzou AeroTigers fly past the competition in breakout season - University of Missouri College of Engineering

Mizzou AeroTigers fly past the competition in breakout season.

Posted: Mon, 09 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

This year’s Design/Build/Fly event challenged students to emulate electric passenger aircraft

For more information, visit , or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Student teams will design, fabricate, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of an unmanned, electric powered, radio controlled aircraft which can best meet the specified mission profile. The goal is a balanced design possessing good demonstrated flight handling qualities and practical and affordable manufacturing requirements while providing a high vehicle performance.

Previous Competitions

Being robotic systems with dozens of moving parts, each aircraft draws from every facet of engineering, including aerospace, mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines. Expertise in business operations keeps our 40+ member team running, while competitive intelligence helps us find new advantages. Model aviators from all majors pitch in to design, build, and fly our aircraft for tests and competitions. Embry-Riddle defeated the biggest field in the history of the AIAA event — 93 teams from 13 countries including the United States. Clouds, temperatures in the low 40s and wind gusts of 37 kph on Saturday caused a few teams to crash their aircraft, but Sunday provided nearly ideal flying conditions with a light breeze.

Competition Resources

This year’s DBF objective was to design, build, and test an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to deliver and drop vaccine components. Missions included deployment of the aircraft, staging of vaccination syringes, and delivery of environmentally sensitive vaccine vial packages. More details about the mission requirements can be found on the DBF website at aiaa.org/dbf.

University of Washington

The Edward Rusjan Team from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia made their remotely controlled plane out of carbon fiber composites to keep the weight down. The contest fly-off is scheduled for 18–21 April 2024, in-person in Wichita, Kansas.

For the third mission, teams competed to drop the most plastic darts within 10 minutes, a drill designed to simulate the release of bombs called attack stores. The ground mission required demonstrating installation of the radome and attack stores and activating both remotely. Students are required to keep up with changing technologies and mission requirements as the aerospace industry advances. Recent mission requirements have included increased focus on fuel efficiency, environmental sustainability, and electric propulsion.

From the "womb to tomb" of each competition, we do everything from preliminary design, to CAD modeling, to prototyping and flight testing in fewer than 7 months. “When we got here and crashed out, we were able to build a whole new plane and get out on the flight line the same day,” said team member Jasper Bossett. The Ljubljana team took an early lead at the end of Friday’s flights at TIMPA, the Tucson International Modelplex Park Association Airfield.

These aircraft are required to meet unique and very specific design requirements and mission profiles. Each year the missions change forcing teams to come up with completely new aircraft year after year. About AIAAThe American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit , or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

Teams from 14 countries, including 27 US states and the District of Columbia participated in the full DBF Competition, including submitting design reports and attending the flyoff. Student teams will design, fabricate, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of an unmanned, electric powered, radio-controlled aircraft which can best meet the specified mission profile. This year marks the largest-ever flyoff participation, with more than 1,000 students on 93 university teams attending onsite. The flyoff was hosted by AIAA Corporate Member Textron Aviation in Wichita, Kan.

See how students are winning competitions worldwide with MATLAB and Simulink. Teams also had to show they could park their planes in a space just 2.5 feet (76 centimeters) wide, which required most of them to fold their wings. University of Central Florida won $100 for the best parking configuration. Embry-Riddle students can become a member of the DBF team by joining our roster.

Rules typically release in late September, with the final fly-off in April. A mathematical formula outlined in the rules calculates each entry's score, which lately combines design report and performance scores from fly-off missions. Teams are required to submit the proposal and team rosters via the online submission system. Proposals and team rosters are due by 5 pm (1700) US Eastern Time on 31 October.The proposals will be scored as defined in the proposal requirements section. The top 110 proposals plus ties will be invited to submit design reports and potentially become eligible for the fly-off. Teams will be notified no later than 17 November if their proposal has been accepted or not.

After experiencing issues setting up test flights before the competition, the team from the University of New South Wales in Australia decided to stay on the sidelines and observe. The design report submission period OPENS 1 February at 8AM (0800) US Eastern Time. The Design Report must be submitted by 5pm (1700) US Eastern Time on 23 February 2024, 1700 hrs US ET.The reports will be scored as defined in the design report requirements section. From here you can get a glimpse of any particular competition quickly and easily.

To encourage innovation and maintain a fresh design challenge for each new year’s participants, the design requirements and performance objective will be updated for each new contest year. The changes will provide new design requirements and opportunities, while allowing for application of technology developed by the teams from prior years. University of Southern California won a $100 prize for best design paper submitted prior to the fly-off event, and also won the Stan Powell Memorial Award for the team that showed it learned the most. Though USC started the fly-off event in first place, it failed to complete one of the flights. Competition rules vary annually, switching between humanitarian and military themes.

The AeroDesign Team Turns a Crash into a Victory - USC Viterbi School of Engineering - USC Viterbi School of Engineering

The AeroDesign Team Turns a Crash into a Victory - USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

Posted: Mon, 08 May 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]

You can find/compare rules, review contest results, and access the Top teams' reports for a particular contest. The team from Trine University in Indiana had to drive overnight from Colorado after their flight to Phoenix was canceled Wednesday night. Get started with the fundamentals of vehicle development for student competitions like Formula Student using Simscape™. If your team is participating in this competition and needs software, fill out the software request form. “We’ve always done well here, but this is the first time we’ve come in first,” said Riley Cox-Gross, an Embry-Riddle graduate student and pilot who has participated in previous at DBF competitions. We are Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott's DBF competition team.

Teams from over one-hundred institutions must design, fabricate, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of an unmanned, electric, radio-controlled aircraft that best meets specified mission profiles. This year marks the largest ever DBF Competition flyoff participation, with 868 university students on 81 teams attending onsite. The flyoff event was hosted by AIAA Corporate Member Raytheon in Tucson, Ariz.

This project is commonly used for senior design, but all others can still join. For more information, visit , or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Each year students of the University of Washington take part in the AIAA Design, Build, Fly (DBF) competition.

31 Hotels near Miami Cruise Port with 'Free' Shuttle in 2024

Table Of Content

• On-site parking
• Cost for Shuttle & Distance
• Tour sassy South Beach
• PortMiami cruise port overview
• Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown Brickell-Port of Miami

Sitting right between the Port of Miami and the Miami International Airport, this hotel has everything you need. The rooms are designed with a little extra room so you can relax and indulge before your cruise. Also, be sure to take advantage of free Wi-FI and breakfast. This is Cruise Fever Ben’s go-to hotel when cruising out of Miami. Book a bay view to get an amazing view of the cruise ships on the morning of your cruise.

On-site parking

A riverside location, Art-Deco decor and an eco-friendly outdoor swimming pool all come together to create the perfect Miami holiday hotel. There is also a modern fitness center and two restaurants, one with a riverside terrace and one with an aviation theme. Located in the trendy Mary Brickell area and overlooking the river, this downtown property is less than two miles from the port.

Cost for Shuttle & Distance

Hotels offering free shuttle services usually factor in the cost of this amenity in the room rate, offering guests a hassle-free experience without additional out-of-pocket expenses. However, this might lead to higher room rates compared to hotels without this service. It’s essential to calculate the overall expense, considering the room rates and transportation costs, to determine the true value for money. Located right on Biscayne Boulevard, this 5-star hotel offers some exquisite dining at its Mediterranean restaurant along with a sports restaurant and casual cafe.

Tour sassy South Beach

In addition, the hotel offers a “Stay & Cruise” deal that includes an upgraded room, free breakfast, and a ride to the cruise port for two. Shuttle costs from Miami airport to the cruise port typically range from $10 to $20 USD per person. Some hotels provide complimentary or reduced-priced shuttle services.

The Homewood Suites Miami Downtown/Brickell is an excellent 4-star hotel nestled in the posh Brickell neighborhood. The accommodation rooms and suites of this extended-stay hotel offer guests an exclusive and intimate view of Biscayne Bay and is only 4 miles from Miami Seaquarium. The Comfort Suites Miami Airport North offers a free one-way shuttle. Please note this shuttle is first come first serve so register at the Front Desk during check-in. If required, a return transfer can be booked, a fee will be charged for this.

PortMiami cruise port overview

The Hampton Inn & Suites Miami has an enviable Blue Lagoon location as well as being just a short drive from the airport and city center. The port is located approximately eight miles away with a journey time of 15 – 30 minutes depending on local traffic. Comfortable rooms, a heated outdoor pool, and a delicious hot breakfast buffet are some of the welcoming features of the property. The hotel is ideally located for the attractions of Miami, the beaches, and your cruise terminal. To help with your search we have put together a list of 30 hotels that either offer a free port and terminal shuttle service or can arrange private transportation for you. Do verify with the hotels regarding their current shuttle services to the port.

Miami cruise port guide: Everything to know about hotels, sites, transfers - The Points Guy

Miami cruise port guide: Everything to know about hotels, sites, transfers.

Posted: Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Located on Biscayne Blvd, this high-rise luxury hotel has over 520 deluxe rooms and suites, many with scenic views across Biscayne Bay to the iconic Miami Beach skyline beyond. There are plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops within walking distance and the scenic Bayfront Park is nearby. This budget Miami hotel offers a shuttle to the cruise port for guests, making it cheap and convenient.

Are there hotels near Miami Cruise Port with shuttle buses to the cruise ship?

Delayed flights and bad weather can be a worry if you’re heading to Miami for a cruise. Staying in a hotel near Miami cruise port before departing on a Caribbean cruise is a smart decision. Once you have safely arrived, you know that nothing can go wrong to stop you from boarding the ship and setting sail. Getting to the Port of Miami — Transportation options from airports and the Miami area to the cruise port. Everything you need to know to get to the port and start your vacation. Miami Marriott Biscayne BayFrom your room at this highly-rated hotel, you should be able to see the cruise ship if you have a view facing the bay.

Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown Brickell-Port of Miami

Consider the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card and get a Companion Fare certificate on the card's anniversary. It's valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com. Sailing out of Miami is a rite of passage, and the sailaway is truly one of the most beautiful in the world. As your ship sets off, timed with the setting sun, the city's high-rises and golden beaches glisten as they bid you bon voyage.

Miami cruise port (see terminals) is the biggest in the world with plenty of modern facilities to ensure a smooth start and finish to every cruise adventure. If you're staying in Brickell before your cruise, there are plenty of drugstores near the neighborhood's many hotels. If you're young and traveling with friends, the Moxy South Beach (starting at 30,000 points per night) was designed just for you. While it might not have all the amenities more upscale hotels have, it's got great views and rooms with quad bunk beds. Outbound flight times don't always dovetail perfectly with your cruise line's disembarkation time, so you might find yourself with time to kill at the airport.

Always give your driver the cruise line’s name and the terminal address, which you can find on your cruise ticket. Miami Cruise Port is one of many cruise ports in Florida, and amongst the largest in the world, and you need to ensure you get dropped off at the right terminal. It would have to be Homewood Suites Miami Airport, Blue Lagoon. On our last visit, we traveled as a family and had a spacious, fresh suite perfect for our needs.

This family-friendly hotel has relaxing rooms with TV, free Wi-Fi and air-con. It’s a great option for cruisers arriving by air but you will need to budget for a taxi ride from the hotel to Miami cruise port. Convenient for the cruise port, Hyatt Regency Miami is an upscale high-rise hotel with Port Miami views across the bay.

Guests can start their day with a complimentary free hot breakfast, before heading out to explore the nearby attractions such as Downtown Miami and Miami Springs. The hotel’s location enables easy access to the city’s iconic attractions, vibrant nightlife, and eclectic eateries. The hotel’s Stay and Cruise package adds another layer of convenience, allowing cruise passengers to transition smoothly to their cruise ships. And, for those who prefer to explore the culinary landscape of Miami, several top-rated restaurants are within walking distance.

Best Alaska Small Ship Cruises

Table Of Content

• UnCruise Alaska's Glacier Country
• Trip Planning Help
• “When I booked I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but maybe not! Thank you all so much.”
• Admiralty Dream
• Most Relaxing Cruises

Travelers who have two weeks can really do it right. You can combine itineraries, take longer small ship cruises to Alaska from Seattle or consider a cruise plus a land extension into Alaska’s interior or other national parks. See our Alaska land tours for a full selection of trip extensions and land-based tours.

UnCruise Alaska's Glacier Country

Please do not throw your cigarettes overboard, as it is a violation of international maritime pollution laws and they can easily be blown back onto the ship. Please refrain from smoking on shore and in shore excursion vehicles and ship tenders. Cruising Alaska's Inside Passage is very relaxing and the pace leisurely. To enjoy this cruise, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. There is a moderate to heavy amount of walking during our onshore excursions.

Trip Planning Help

10 Best Alaska Cruises to Take This Summer, According to Experts - Travel + Leisure

10 Best Alaska Cruises to Take This Summer, According to Experts.

Posted: Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The larger, newer National Geographic Quest( added in 2016) and National Geographic Venture (launched in 2018) carry 100 passengers apiece. Every day you will be out and about, exploring by kayak or on astand-up paddleboard, or hiking ashore with an expert naturalistguide. UnCruise's fleet of small ships range from tiny (the22-passenger Safari Quest) to very small (the 84-passenger Safari Endeavour). Itineraries are completely different tothose of conventional cruise ships in the area, and excursions areincluded in the fare.

“When I booked I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but maybe not! Thank you all so much.”

Take note when making your small Alaskan cruise comparison that there are a variety of ports where cruises begin and end including Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka and Anchorage. And some will require more time to arrive and depart. We’ve put together this list of considerations to guide you in finding the best small ship Alaska cruises for your needs. Use our how to choose your Alaska cruise tips below to make an informed decision when booking your Alaska small ship cruise. We are here to help you find the best small Alaska cruise.

Admiralty Dream

These ships are small, intimate and able to take guests up close to find Alaska's hidden treasures, where the big ships don't - and can't - reach. Baranof Island features hidden coves, hot springs, and an amazing array of wildlife calling this island home. The weather was less than desirable, but I don’t think we missed a thing. The adventures, included kayaking, photographing amazing wildlife, walking among the glaciers, and learning do much about Prince William Sound.

Alaskan Explorer Cruise

Planning ahead also allows for the excitement of anticipation. While a last-minute trip is better than no trip, it’s certainly more fun to have the time to learn about the destination and feel the flutter of anticipation longer. For the most current information, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by clicking here and the World Health Organization (WHO) by clicking here. You may also wish to visit the web sites for the embassies of the countries you will be visiting. Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary.

Haida Gwaii, Gwai Hannas, Old Massett, and Alert Bay were strong cultural experiences which made the whole trip worthwhile. Sometimes after dinner talks were repetitious, but small issue. The Sea Bird is old and cabins are what they are, but still really good.

The 8 Best Alaska Cruises For Every Travel Style 2024 - Forbes

The 8 Best Alaska Cruises For Every Travel Style 2024.

Posted: Tue, 08 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

In the summer, small ships are busy exploring up in Alaska. But each spring you’ll find them repositioning from Seattle to Alaska, and each fall they return from Alaska to Seattle. Southcentral Alaska’s terrain ranges from volcanic landscapes in Katmai National Park, home to an impressive population of brown bears, to the windswept Aleutian Islands that make a 1,000-mile sweep toward Asia. In between lies a massive bay of blue ice, which can be experienced on a Prince William Sound glacier cruise.

Jerusalem, The Red Sea & Petra

Find your Alaska family cruise with our selection of top family-friendly small ship cruises. Plus discover planning tips, extensions and insight into charters and deals, from the Alaska family cruise experts. What are the benefits of cruising expedition style through Alaska? Travel through Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska aboard the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer. This sleek 80-guest vessel features expansive viewing areas on the bow and aft promenade decks, and a commanding hull design, optimized for supreme comfort in Alaskan waters, regardless of weather.

[I most enjoyed] the longer excursions (e.g. full day hike) and kayaking (a first for me). St. James Bay was extremely beautiful, and I'm glad we spent the whole day there. Hiking Mt. Riley in Haines was also a highlight (challenging hike, with a rewarding view up top). Can't say I enjoyed any of it the least, but if I had to choose, there were two days where we really only had one off the boat activity. Days when we got off twice were much more enjoyable. More full day excursions should be offered when the boat is anchored in the same place all day.

Most boats have put a lot of effort into scheduling the itineraries, so no matter which one you pick, you will have a memorable experience. Alaska itineraries are usually 7, 8, or 10 days, depending on your chosen trip. Various boat sizes are available for cruising Alaska; see our Best Small Ship Cruises in Alaska page for more information.

With our all-inclusive pricing, everything from exquisite dining experiences featuring the freshest Alaskan seafood to exhilarating excursions and activities is part of your package. Save up to 20% on the remaining available 2024 departures of the below-linked Alaska cruises. Save up to 20% on select 2024 departures of your Alaskan Dream cruise aboard Alaskan Dream, Admiralty Dream, Baranof Dream, or Chichagof Dream. Save on small ship cruises now with exclusive cruise savings you won't find anywhere else. We would recommend AdventureSmith to friends and family without hesitation.

Best way to see the Inside Passage is via small boat cruise. Large cruise ships don't come close to what the small boats can offer. The owners of the Discovery, Dean and Meg, were so accommodating and helpful. Dean got a sense for what the group wanted to do and tried to cater to everyone’s interest and activity level. The two guides, Phyllis and Hugh, were extremely knowledgeable and fun to be around.

When the captain cuts the engines near a shushing waterfall or a surfacing whale exhaling gusts of air through its blowhole, you not only see nature but hear it, too. The small, agile ships themselves get you closer, and so do excursions via even smaller Zodiac boats and kayaks. That experience in the 1990s hooked me on small-ship cruising and inspired me to start QuirkyCruise.com to share reviews and news about this special corner of the cruise world.