Recommend March 2013 - (Page 21)
new “name reflects the personal aspect of cruising for which the
company is known.”
SERGIO ORTIZ (2)
the experience
This season, Un-Cruise Adventures has overhauled its menu by
offering three different types of programs: Active, Luxury and Heritage. As such, the company has three yachts dedicated to Luxury
Adventures—the 22-guest Safari Quest, the 36-guest Safari
Explorer and 86-guest Safari Endeavour—an inclusive, upscale
experience along with adventure activities. The 88-guest S.S.
Legacy, a replica Victorian steamer, debuts in August and will offer
inclusive Heritage Adventures focusing on “Living History” both on
board and on shore through presentations and tours. Meanwhile,
three expedition vessels—the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer,
the 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer and the 76-guest Wilderness Explorer—offer Active Adventures for those desiring more
outdoor explorations at a lower price point.
Un-Cruise Adventures cut the ribbon on expedition-style active
exploration of the Inside Passage only three years ago, and the
ensuing years have proven that this type of cruising is the most
successful and profitable enterprise the company has launched.
Un-Cruise Adventures takes to the waters from Juneau, Alaska’s
earthy port that still bears all the flair of a Gold Rush town. The
ships forego ports-of-call, focusing instead on anchoring in remote
wilderness areas to maximize time for up-close encounters with
nature and wildlife. Two days are devoted to explorations along
Glacier Bay National Park with a park ranger. In addition, the
line offers hiking, kayaking and skiff adventures at nearly every
anchorage. What separates Un-Cruise Adventures from other lines
specializing in exploring the Inside Passage is the quality of its
crews and the highly personalized service that is rapidly becoming
its trademark.
“Traveling by small boat is an ideal way to explore remote
places,” says Tim Jacox, executive v.p. of sales and marketing. “Instead of [merely] cruising by because of a tight schedule, we offer
the flexibility to seek out whales and other wildlife and go where the
day takes us for a more in-depth exploration of each destination.
We have developed our own style of un-cruising to suit each traveler. We’re experiencing great success with our niche of adventure
cruising.”
Adventure cruising comes to life early in the morning in Juneau
when the Safari Endeavour lifts anchor to begin a leisurely trek
north to seek out spots where wildlife can best be observed and
the raw Alaskan beauty is self evident.
Law restricts ships in the Inside Passage to a maximum capacity of 90 berths. The Safari Endeavour, like all Un-Cruise ships, is
much smaller than the guidelines, allowing it to carry equipment for
the many activities offered its passengers.
Says Kendra Nelson, one of the few female ship captains in the
Inside Passage and who commands the Safari Endeavour, “The
ships provide a level of experience built for comfort and outdoor
activities. Each crew member is an expert in both flora and fauna
and will help passengers identify the vast wildlife seen onshore and
in the water.”
As a result, Un-Cruise Adventures voyages are extremely casual. These are no trips where ties and coats are de rigueur. Wet
weather gear and jeans are the order of the day, yet the ships lack
little and mirror the company catchphrase of having “luxury in the
pursuit of adventure.”
Every vessel offers delightful personal touches like foam mattresses, fully stocked bars, pastry chefs and excellent galleys that
specialize in local dishes heavy on Alaskan seafood. The cabins
have outward-facing portholes that reveal Alaska’s singular and
dramatic landscapes.
The Safari Endeavour has a wide choice of berths, ranging from
a master stateroom with twin beds, desks and chairs. The Captain’s stateroom is a luxurious space with a king bed, desks and
chairs, while the Commodore Suite is a large space with a sitting
area. All feature double or triple accommodations and have private
showers and bathrooms. The ship, in fact, has the feel of a luxury
hotel.
The voyages can be as active or as leisurely as the passenger
desires and the day is full of activities that suit most tastes. There
are nature presentations where experts come from shore to discuss history, culture, wildlife and the environment. All ships have an
“open bridge” policy where passengers can discuss the fine points
of Inside Passage navigation with the captain and an ample library
provides games, books and DVDs.
From the welcoming moment when the crew greets new passengers with champagne and canapes to when the vessel begins to
inch its way into remote destinations like Glacier Bay National Park
to visit Inuit villages; stops in locations such as Icy Strait, where
whales and seals can be seen romping literally at arm’s length;
kayaking and hiking excursions to glaciers; visiting rookeries on
Baranof Island and other appealing places, Un-Cruise Adventures
provides indelible memories.
These are not cruises with lively ports-of-call with nightclubs and
boutiques. Instead, the ships traveling the Inside Passage share
anchorage with crab and salmon commercial fishing boats, adding
an out-of-the-way sense to the adventure.
Very few experiences rival treks into the Inside Passage while
receiving first-class service and the long days (in mid-summer
daylight in Alaska lasts for more than 20 hours) usually give way to
evening relaxation that restores the body after a day of hiking, paddling or merely absorbing the scenery.
sample itineraries
The 14-night Famed Passages of Discovery on board the Safari
Endeavour is a Luxury adventure that cruises through the Inside
Passage of Alaska and British Columbia, floating among the icerich waters of Tracy Arm. There’s kayaking, paddle boarding, and
skiffing in secluded coves and passages, and a visit to Wrangell’s
Chief Shakes Tribal House. Rates start at $6,095 pp and there are
departures in August and September.
The 11-night Gold Rush Legacy itinerary on board the S.S.
Legacy is a Heritage adventure and during the trip Alaska unfolds
before guests’ eyes with a guided narration in Ketchikan, Wrangell,
Petersburg, Sitka, Haines, and Skagway; viewing carved totems;
exploring scenic winding channels and straits; and visiting the
Whale Museum, shops, and galleries of quaint Friday Harbor. Departures are in August and rates start at $7,895 pp. ●
Archived related articles
(available on recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive):
Small Ship Cruising in the U.S. (March 2012)
contact information
Un-Cruise Adventures: (888) 862-8881; un-cruise.com or
un-cruise.com/extranet/index.php (travel agent login)
march 2013 21
20-21 CR/NA AKonboard.indd 21
2/20/13 11:52 AM
http://www.recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive
http://www.un-cruise.com
http://www.un-cruise.com/extranet/index.php
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2013
Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Travel Indochina
Safaris in Southern Africa
Un-Cruise Adventures in Alaska
Alaska is Celebrating in 2013
"Hard Rock" Chicago-Style: Rock out in the Windy City
Mexico Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Planner
Girldfriends' Getaway at Eden Roc, Miami Beach
Kyushu: The Rising Sun of Japanese Destinations
The New All-Inclusives in Jamaica Claim Their Turf
RIU Punta Cana
Costa Rica: A Trio of Detours
Touring Central & Eastern Europe
Recommend March 2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/april2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/feb2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/2019DeltaGuide
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/january2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/deltaguide2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/nov2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/oct2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/sept2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/august2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/SaintLucia2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/july2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/may2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/Guatemala/Guatemala
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/april2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/march2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/feb2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/jan2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/Jandelta2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/DeltaDec2017Guide
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/december2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/nov2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/oct2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/Martinique
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/septrec2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/august2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/july2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/june2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/may2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/DeltaGuideJan2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/april2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/Delta
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/march2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/february2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/january2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/december2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/saintlucia
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/november2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/oct2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/sept2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/august2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/july2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/june2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/may2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/prevue/mayjune2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/april2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/march2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/february2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/january2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/saintlucia
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/december2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/november2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/october2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/guatemala
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/september2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/august2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/july2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/june2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/trinidadtobago
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/may2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/april2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/march2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/february2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/delta2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/january2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/december2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/november2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/october2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/recommendoctober2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/september2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/august2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/july2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/june2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/may2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/april2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/march2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/CostaRIca
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/february2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/delta
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/january2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/recommendnovember2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/october2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/RecommendSeptember2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/august2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/guatemala2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/Brazil2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/july2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/june2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/may2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/IsraelTravelPlanner2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS/Tahiti
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/april2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/mexicoweddingplanner2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/march2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/february2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/january2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/december2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/november2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/october2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/september2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/august2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/july2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/june2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/may_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/april2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/march2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/february2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/january2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/december_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/november_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/october_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/september_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/august_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/recommend/july_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/june_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/may_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/april_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/march2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/feb_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/january_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/December_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/November_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/Recommend/October2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/sept_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/august_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/july2010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com