Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Pacific Catalyst II, Inc.


Small Ship Cruises exploring Alaska's Inside Passages, Glacier Bay,
the San Juan Islands, and the Sea of Cortez, Baja California

Pacific Catalyst II, Inc.


Small Ship Cruises exploring Alaska's Inside Passages, Glacier Bay,
the San Juan Islands, and the Sea of Cortez, Baja California

Pacific Catalyst II, Inc.


Small Ship Cruises exploring Alaska's Inside Passages, Glacier Bay,
the San Juan Islands, and the Sea of Cortez, Baja California

Pacific Catalyst II, Inc.


Small Ship Cruises exploring Alaska's Inside Passages, Glacier Bay,
the San Juan Islands, and the Sea of Cortez, Baja California

Pacific Catalyst II, Inc.


Small Ship Cruises exploring Alaska's Inside Passages, Glacier Bay,
the San Juan Islands, and the Sea of Cortez, Baja California

Pacific Catalyst II, Inc.


Small Ship Cruises exploring Alaska's Inside Passages, Glacier Bay,
the San Juan Islands, and the Sea of Cortez, Baja California

Pacific Catalyst II, Inc.


Small Ship Cruises exploring Alaska's Inside Passages, Glacier Bay,
the San Juan Islands, and the Sea of Cortez, Baja California

Pacific Catalyst II, Inc.


Small Ship Cruises exploring Alaska's Inside Passages, Glacier Bay,
the San Juan Islands, and the Sea of Cortez, Baja California

Unforgettable Experiences in the Fjords and Coves of the Pacific


Cruise on historic wooden vessels in the world’s most idyllic coastal regions

Get to Know Us


Our crew is made up of dedicated and well-qualified individuals. At least one member of the crew on each excursion is a trained and certified wilderness first responder.

The chefs aboard Westward and Catalyst are talented and creative, tirelessly and creatively preparing every gourmet meal from fresh, organic, locally-sourced ingredients.

Each small-ship cruise is accompanied by a Naturalist who is knowledgeable and passionate about the wildlife and plants we encounter on our excursions, be it outings on foot or by kayak.

Our captain’s primary focus is to provide a safe, reliable, and marvelous trip for our wide range of guests. To operate a vessel at sea requires a great diversity of talents and skills. In addition to maritime expertise, our captains and crew members come from rich and various life experiences. They are here to share their world with you and to make our boat a comfortable home for your ocean adventure.

What we do


We offer multi-day small ship cruises in South East Alaska, the San Juan Islands (Salish Sea) and the Sea of Cortez in Baja California, Mexico.

Our focus is to provide you with a uniquely authentic experience that creates a lifetime of memories. Our itineraries are carefully crafted to showcase the very best of each region in which we operate.

We love being able to introduce our guests to places we have discovered over our years of exploration. On our classic vessels, MV Catalyst and MV Westward, we are able to provide the perfect conveyance for a return to the age of exploration.

Why should you choose us?

About our small ships


MV Westward was built in 1924 and is powered by the original Atlas Imperial diesel engine. She is listed with the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Westward has four private cabins with en suite shower/toilet.

MV Catalyst was built in 1932 and was the University of Washington’s first oceanographic research vessel. Catalyst is powered by the original 6 cylinder 8×10 Washington Estep diesel engine. She has six cabins, four with en suite shower/toilet.

Both small ships feature warm interiors, with decades-old varnished wood paneling, heavy beamed ceilings, and glowing mahogany trim and furniture, that take us back to a time when craftsmanship was the rule rather than the exception.

To read more about Westward and Catalyst, check out the “About Us” page.

Our Passengers Love to Explore with Us


A Memorable Journey...

...on Glacier Bay with our two 13 and 14 yr old grandsons on a historic wooden boat built in 1924……the Westward. Outstanding crew!! Tracie prepared Amazing , Delicious meals with wine pairings and Captain Bill knows the waters and conditions like the back of his hand. Fascinating nature hikes and kayaking. This is a must see to experience the glaciers and all of the wildlife…..Highly Recommend!

– Patti D. | Google
Amazing!

We took a 10-day trip with Bill and Tracie up to Glacier Bay aboard the Westward. Every day was a real treat - from kayaking around peaceful bays, to wandering through meadows, to exploring glaciers, activities were varied and there was always a wealth of beauty to immerse ourselves in. More...

– Kelly H. | Google
Five Stars and Loud Applause

Details abound aboard the MV Westward--whether those of this beautiful wooden motor yacht from yesteryear or the fine crew that made the 11-day cruise in the Sea of Cortez a truly unforgettable trip. More...

– Margaret P. | Google
Surpassed Our Expectations: Sitka to Petersburg on M/V Westward

I’m chuckling as I write this. I just took a look at a mailing from one of those mega cruise lines in which they describe their Alaska and Inside Passage cruise for 930 people. No, thank you. I grew up in a community about that size and don’t consider traveling with a small town a vacation... More

– pfwriterks | TripAdvisor
Fantastic South East Alaska Cruise

We had a fantastic Southeast Alaska cruise aboard the historic motor yacht M/V Westward this month. Captain Bill, Chef Tracie, Naturalist Caroline and Engineer Jimmy went above and beyond to assure that the trip was an amazing experience as we cruised the inland passage between Juneau and Sitka... More

– Dave_Apex | TripAdvisor
Beyond our wildest expectations

Our experience on the catalyst was marvelous. The crew was the best. Michael the most amazing and creative chef EVER made every meal an exquisite adventure (really, this could be the best restaurant in America), Sarah our naturist knows everything and delights in teaching us... More

– N Paine | TripAdvisor
Most Amazing Trip Ever

The crew of four-captain-naturalist, engineer, and chef- are professional, skilled, warm, friendly, and super knowledgeable. They make this trip special. The setting is amazing, but the crew totally completes the experience...More

– Nancy M. | TripAdvisor
Glacier Bay

The bottom line is that this trip was terrific. We have traveled a lot of the world hiking climbing skiing so this was different-and we're older. Having our son and his wife with us just added to the enjoyment! ...More

– Peter S. | TripAdvisor