I’m definitely considering them.
The company we sailed with, Cruise West, is no longer in business. I think they got hit by the huge drop in tourism from the 2008/2009 financial crisis, and shut down in 2010 due to difficulties getting financing.
UnCruise took over most of CruiseWest's ships and refurbished them.
They [the cabins] better be fabulous for that price
Actually, they're not. Pleasant and basic, all have windows. There's a giant suite on the top deck but I haven't checked it out- way out of my price range. Here's what you get for all the extra $$$:
1. US-flagged vessels. Crew are paid according to American maritime laws. Most have advanced degrees in fields such as Marine Biology. One was able to answer my question about a formation that looked like a caldera: no, it was an island formed after the Cocos plate subducted under another tectonic plate. (She named it but I can't remember it.)
2. ONE dining room but very good food, locally sourced, mostly prepared from scratch. Vegetarian options always good. Alcohol included.
3. Fellow passengers- generally successful but low-key. No fancy dress night. Leave your egos and your bling at home.
4. Everything but the tips included and tips really are voluntary. Kayak or paddleboard any time you want if the boat is at anchor. Excursions are included except for one snorkeling expedition in Alaska where I paid $120 to cover the cost of a wet suit heavy enough to withstand the 42-degree waters.
5. One park in Costa Rica (Manuel Antonio) limits the number of people in the park and everyone else has to wait in line; there were so few of us we were able to just take skiffs to the shore and go in. We don't overwhelm sites and we can get into smaller places the big ships can't reach.
6. The captain has a lot of leeway- if there's a pod of whales hanging around the ship for 3 hours, well, we stop. If a particular passage that isn't usually navigable is open, we take it.
7. So much activity- hiking, kayaking, swimming- I never gain weight despite the excellent food and drink.
It isn't for everyone who's expecting a room with a "verandah" and butler service for that price but it's exactly my style.