Cruise West
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cruise line |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Chuck West |
| Defunct | 2010-09-18 |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
Area served | Alaska, Pacific Ocean, Central America, South Pacific, Asia |
| Products | Small-ship cruises |
Cruise West operated as an independent small-ship cruise line with a focus on destination-specific voyages, headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It held the distinction of being the largest U.S.-flagged cruise operator by fleet count, managing nine vessels mainly cruising Alaska and various Pacific Ocean locales. The company halted its operations on September 18, 2010.
History
Established in 1973 by entrepreneur Chuck West, Cruise West initially specialized in tours throughout Alaska. The company transitioned toward cruising in 1990 by acquiring its inaugural overnight ship, the 52-passenger Spirit of Glacier Bay. During the 1990s, it expanded its fleet and broadened its itinerary portfolio to include routes along the Columbia and Snake Rivers, British Columbia, California’s wine regions, and Mexico’s Sea of Cortes.
In 2001, Cruise West ventured into ocean cruises by purchasing the 114-passenger foreign-flagged vessel Spirit of Oceanus, formerly operated by Renaissance Cruises. The firm also extended its presence into Central America through a collaboration with Temptress Cruise Lines of Costa Rica, managing the 100-passenger M/V Pacific Explorer sailing in Costa Rica and Panama.
The year 2006 saw Cruise West strengthen its U.S.-flagged fleet by acquiring two ships from Clipper Cruise Line: the 102-passenger Nantucket Clipper and the 138-passenger Yorktown Clipper. These vessels were renamed Spirit of Nantucket and Spirit of Yorktown. After operating on the East Coast and Great Lakes for two seasons, Spirit of Nantucket was relocated to the Pacific Northwest and renamed Spirit of Glacier Bay. Subsequently, Clipper Cruise Lines withdrew from the industry.
Cruise West’s collection of nine small vessels accommodated between 78 and 138 passengers, allowing for intimate cruising experiences throughout the Americas, South Pacific, and Asia. This smaller scale provided a competitive edge over larger cruise lines through tailored service and distinctive itineraries.
Restructuring/closing
On September 8, 2010, Cruise West revealed plans for restructuring under new ownership, suspended accepting new reservations, and temporarily shut down its booking center. By September 18, it announced a full cessation of operations except for a Danube River cruise scheduled for September 22. Six ships were sold: Spirit of Oceanus, Spirit of Endeavour, Spirit of '98, Spirit of Discovery, Spirit of Alaska, and Spirit of Columbia; some vessels remained unsold.
Un-Cruise Adventures, based in Seattle and formerly known as American Safari Cruises plus InnerSea Discoveries, purchased the Spirit of Endeavour (renamed Safari Endeavour) and Spirit of '98 (now S.S. Legacy). Un-Cruise Adventures provides comparable small-ship cruises to destinations such as Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico’s Sea of Cortes, Columbia & Snake Rivers, Coastal Washington, and British Columbia.
Safety record
Between 2007 and 2008, Cruise West was involved in multiple grounding incidents that impacted its safety reputation. On August 19, 2007, the Spirit of Columbia grounded in Prince William Sound due to navigational mistakes during a bear-watching excursion. The US Coast Guard responded with several assets.
On November 8, 2007, the Spirit of Nantucket (later renamed Spirit of Glacier Bay) collided with an uncharted object near Virginia Beach, prompting emergency services and Coast Guard intervention. In 2008, the Spirit of Alaska struck a rock in Tracy Arm, Alaska; this incident led to cruise cancellations following a Coast Guard inspection.
The most serious event took place on July 7, 2008, when the Spirit of Glacier Bay ran aground on a silt bar within Glacier Bay National Park and remained stuck for more than nine hours awaiting tidal changes. As a result of these occurrences, the US Coast Guard placed Cruise West under a special review program targeting safety protocols and maintenance standards due to the recent operational incidents.
Fleet
- Spirit of Yorktown – accommodates 138 passengers, operated by Americana Cruises
- Pacific Explorer – capacity of 100 passengers, owned by a Costa Rican firm and operated under the Cruise West brand
- Amadeus Diamond – holds 148 passengers, leased from Austria's Lüftner Cruises
Former fleet
- Spirit of Oceanus – 120-passenger vessel, transferred to a Danish company in 2010
- Spirit of Endeavour – with room for 102 passengers, sold to Un-Cruise Adventures and renamed "Safari Endeavour"
- Spirit of '98 – carrying 96 passengers, sold to Un-Cruise Adventures and rebranded as "Safari Legacy"
- Spirit of Glacier Bay – 102-passenger ship, renamed Chichagof Dream and operated by Alaskan Dream Cruises
- Spirit of Discovery (2001) – accommodates 84 passengers, sold to Un-Cruise Adventures and renamed "Wilderness Explorer"
- Spirit of Alaska – with a capacity of 78 passengers, renamed Admiralty Dream under Alaskan Dream Cruises' operation
- Spirit of Columbia – holds 78 passengers, renamed Baranof Dream and managed by Alaskan Dream Cruises
Destinations
Cruise West specialized in unique market segments including:
- Alaska and the Bering Sea with stops along Russia's Chukchi Peninsula
- British Columbia
- Columbia and Snake Rivers
- Gulf of California in Mexico
- Central America, covering Costa Rica and Panama
- South Pacific regions such as French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Micronesia, and Guam
- Asian destinations including Japan, Vietnam, China, as well as Russia’s Kuril Islands and Kamchatka Peninsula
Additionally, the company broadened its offerings by chartering vessels to provide cruises in the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, and along the Danube River in Eastern Europe.
See also
External links
- Defunct cruise lines
- Defunct shipping companies of the United States
- Expedition cruising
- American companies established in 1973
- Transport companies established in 1973
- Transport companies disestablished in 2010
- Defunct companies based in Seattle
- 1973 establishments in Alaska
- 2010 disestablishments in Washington (state)
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment