Un-Cruise Adventures has released its schedule of Alaska adventure cruises for 2016. Two new cruise itineraries — Exploring Muir’s Wilderness and Yachters’ Alaskan Frontier — sail roundtrip from Juneau.
Six boutique yachts and small ships — Safari Quest, Safari Explorer, Safari Endeavour, Wilderness Adventurer, Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Explorer — carry 22-84 guests on adventure cruises lasting one week to 12 days from homeports of Seattle, WA; Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka, Alaska. Itineraries may be combined to create longer voyages of 14 to 22 days.
Every Alaska cruise includes adventure activities in remote wilderness—hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff excursions and whale watching. With few or no port calls and flexible itineraries, travelers spend the week exploring remote wilderness and searching for wildlife.
Exploring Muir’s Wilderness — New in 2016
The 84-guest Safari Endeavour sails 18 departures on a new Exploring Muir’s Wilderness cruise roundtrip Juneau from May through September. Areas visited on the weeklong cruise include Icy Strait, Glacier Bay National Park, Chatham Strait, Kuiu Island, Thomas Bay, Port Houghton, Endicott Arm, Fords Terror and Dawes Glacier.
Yachters’ Alaskan Frontier — New in 2016
The 22-guest Safari Quest sails 11 departures on a new weeklong Yachters’ Alaskan Frontier cruise roundtrip Juneau from June through August. A flexible itinerary explores Dawes Glacier, Fords Terror, Endicott Arm, Port Houghton, Frederick Sound, Baranof Island, Chichagof Island and Icy Strait.
Discoverers’ Glacier Country
The 36-guest Safari Explorer and 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer together sail 36 departures on the Discoverers’ Glacier Country weeklong cruise roundtrip Juneau from April through September. Two full days are spent exploring inside Glacier Bay National Park for additional glacier viewing, kayaking and skiff excursions at various locations inside the park. Other areas explored include Icy Strait, Chichagof Island, Baranof Island, Frederick Sound, Stephens Passage, Endicott Arm, Dawes Glacier and Fords Terror.
Inner Reaches Eastern Coves
All six ships sail one or more departures of the Eastern Coves itinerary from April through September for a total of 17 sailings. The weeklong cruise between Juneau and Ketchikan (or reverse) includes a half-day port call at Wrangell with an onboard presentation on Tlingit and Haida cultures and visits to Kiksetti Totem Park and Chief Shakes Tribal House. The itinerary explores Endicott Arm, Dawes Glacier, Fords Terror, Stephens Passage, Thomas Bay, Behm Canal and Misty Fjords National Monument.
Inner Reaches Western Coves
The 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer and 74-guest Wilderness Explorer sail nine departures on a Western Coves itinerary from May through September. The weeklong cruise explores the outer islands of the Inside Passage with a chance to venture inside El Capitan Cave, one of the largest mapped caves in the Americas, on Prince of Wales Island. A flexible cruise itinerary explores Frederick Sound, Chatham Strait, Stephens Passage and Tracy Arm Fjord with the twin Sawyer Glaciers.
Northern Passages & Glacier Bay
The Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Explorer offer 20 sailings from May through September on a weeklong Northern Passages & Glacier Bay cruise from Juneau to Sitka (or reverse). Areas explored include Glacier Bay National Park, Icy Strait, Chichagof Island, Kuiu Island, Peril Strait, Sergius Narrows and on captain’s choice day—it could be Lynn Canal or Chatham Strait.
Famed Passages of Discovery
In spring and fall, all six vessels sail a 13-day Famed Passages of Discovery itinerary between Seattle and Juneau (or reverse) with 10 departures total. The cruise includes port calls in Friday Harbor, WA, Ketchikan and Wrangell, Alaska; spends three days cruising Canada’s scenic Inside Passage; and explores Misty Fjords National Monument, Behm Canal, Thomas Bay, Stephen’s Passage, Endicott Arm, Dawes Glacier and Fords Terror Wilderness.
Rates begin at $2,295 per person, double occupancy and include meals; adventure activities; transfers day of cruise; hot tub; fitness equipment; and DVD library. Other amenities vary by vessel and may include premium wine, beer and liquor; a massage; sauna and wine bar.
A Family Discoveries program encourages families to bring children eight years and older along with a savings of $500 on fares for kids ages eight to 13. The Safari Endeavour hosts two photography and three marine biology theme cruises. All ships sailing into Glacier Bay will celebrate the National Park Centennial with special activities on departures around August 25, 2016.
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