Spirit of Endeavor Gets New Home with American Safari

 

(c) 2011 American Safari Cruises

American Safari Cruises has added another small ship to its fleet: the former 86-passenger Spirit of Endeavor previously operated by now-defunct Cruise West. American Safari says the ship will be renamed Safari Endeavor.

The line says it will renovate the small ship and transform it into an upscale vessel that will sail in southeastern Alaska from May through September 2012. Most notably, the guest capacity of the yacht-style ship will be reduced 16 percent from 102 to 86 guests.
 
“This is an ideal time to expand our fleet,” said Dan Blanchard, principal and chief executive officer. “In our 14-year history, our occupancy rates have never been higher, and we are seeing an increase in demand for the type of small-group adventure travel we offer.”

The yacht-style ship will offer week-long cruises roundtrip from Juneau, Alaska. Itineraries for Safari Endeavor will be similar to that of the line's other vessels with two days exploration in Glacier Bay National Park and expedition cruising in the Icy Strait, Frederick Sound, Thomas Bay, Chichagof Island, Ford’s Terror and Endicott Arm. Inclusive fares will start at $4,795 per person.
 
Two-week cruises from Seattle to Juneau and in reverse also will be offered in spring and fall
 
“The addition of the Safari Endeavour enables more travelers to see the awe-inspiring sights in Alaska—close up adventure on a small ship,” said Tim Jacox, American Safari's executive vice president of sales and marketing. “The newly-created ambiance on board will be casual yet with a full menu of upscale amenities. The highlight remains the wilderness outside which we explore daily in a variety of ways.”

An extensive renovation project will include the reduction of the number of cabins to provide added comfort and more space in guest accommodations. Accommodations will have a twin beds (some convertible to one larger bed) and king beds. The five stateroom categories will include three Master, 21 Commander, 12 Captain, three Admiral and four Commodore Suites.
 
The suites will be created by merging two former staterooms and adding new step-out balconies. All staterooms have one or two outside view windows. Other amenities being added to the ship include two massage rooms, two hot tubs, sauna, exercise equipment, wine bar and a library.
 
The ship will be operated by an all-American crew of 34. Guest-to-crew ratio will be 2.5 to 1.

The line’s other yachts include the 12-guest Safari Spirit, 22-guest Safari Quest and 36-guest Safari Explorer. Specializing in active, adventure cruises with flexible itineraries, destinations include Southeast Alaska, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, Columbia and Snake Rivers, the Hawaiian Islands and Washington and British Columbia.

Visit www.americansafaricruises.com