American Cruise Lines will begin operating its small-ship cruises in Alaska in June 2012. Seven- to 11-night cruises will operate roundtrip from Juneau and visit Skagway, Glacier Bay, Icy Strait/Hoonah, Sitka, Petersburg, and Tracy Arm/Dawes Glacier. The company also will offer two 11-night repositioning cruises between Juneau and Seattle before and after the season.

The company has not decided which ship will operate in Alaska, but President Charles A. Robertson said it will probably be the 100-passenger American Star. Sales opened a few days ago through top-producing agents and performed well, he said.

Shore excursions will be included in the Alaska cruises, as is generally done on other small-ship cruises, he said. The ship will carry kayaks for passenger use.

American, which offers many cruises along the East Coast, decided to expand into Alaska because “it surveyed very well” with past passengers, Robertson said. The company has, he said, “as far as we can tell, the highest repeat rate of anybody.” On any given cruise, he said, about 35 percent of passengers have sailed with American before.