We wanted a small ship. We enjoyed that there were fewer passengers and the opportunity with open dining for every meal to meet and socialize with most of the passengers, The staterooms were very spacious and larger than some of the bif cruise ships. We liked that the passengers were couples our age, either retired or a few years til retirement, We liked that ACL had great personal service and that the smaller ship allowed us to go places the big ships could not. The destinations and shore tours were great, The chef and the food was fantastic. Everyday we had fresh local foods, particularly alaska seafood. The wait staff were college age kids who were very cheerful and work hard to do a great job. We liked that we could interact with college kids from all around the country. Favorite port stops for us were Skagway, the ships captain adjusted the schedule so we would be the only ship docked in Skagway that day. We took a tour bus up into Canada and them traveled the historic train back to skagway following the route taken my gold miners. We had a very knowledgable historian and naturalist on board names Todd Weber who gave several very interesting after dinner presentations about the northwest pioneers. Probably the best day of the cruise was the day we spent in Glacier Bay National Park. The wildlife that we saw and the glaciers we spectacular Read Less

Our Un-Cruise was not what we expected, but because of the Company's/staff's commitment to making our time in Alaska special, we had a remarkable vacation. Due to engine breakdown, the ship did not leave port. Sounds like the making of a disaster - instead it was the beginning of an exciting adventure. Offered the option of ending the trip with total refund and future discount or the prospect of the ship being repaired and some days cruising (refunds for every day we didn't sail), we choose to stick around. Day excursions and two days at an Inn in Glazier Bay (air travel to and from, charters all at Un-Cruise's expense) allowed us to see almost everything the trip promised, even though the repairs were not completed during our stay. Bottom line, we got total refund and future discount, had a wonderful time, albeit not what we expected, met some wonderful people with whom the adversity/uncertainty bonded us as we experienced the amazing response of the crew/staff as they went all out to make our time memorable. Un-Cruise can write the book on "service recovery." Read Less

Took my 18 yr old son for his HS graduation. We had a great time. I was aware of small boat cruises (my wife and I did over 20 years ago in Alaska) so had a pretty good idea of what to expect and the Un-Cruise team met or exceeded expectations in just about every way. This is all about seeing Alaska while being comfortable, not a luxury cruise. So every day there are activities like hiking, kayaking, and skiff tours, but also means some afternoons of riding on the boat cruising to the next great place. We were lucky as weather was perfect so we were able to sit up on top deck and read (or nap) in the beautiful sun. And of course we got to see the whole assortment of sea critters up close and learn alot along the way. Kayaking less than 1/2 mile from Dawe's glacier around harbor seals is awesome also. We had all ages and the crew did a great job to make hikes, kayaking, and activities available and interesting for all. If you want to get close to nature this is a great cruise - but there is never any guarantee on what weather will bring or whether the animals will "cooperate" and be ready for viewing. That's all part of it. If you want to be entertained, you probably should look harder if this is what you want. The crew was fantastic - a total of 15 people to manage the like of 36 of us for the week, and from Captain Rod and his team managing the ship, to the daily activities Jill and Alex organized, to the fantastic meals from Joe/Kiley, the team gave 110% and always appeared very happy to do so every day. It probably helps that we had a great bunch of people on board and I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and talk with all of them along the way. Was a great week and highly recommend this ship / destination for anyone looking for this kind of adventure cruise! Read Less

Full disclosure, this was our fourth Alaska cruise with Un-Cruise Adventures and our second aboard the Safari Quest. There were 18 guests and nine crew - nice ratio! We love to un-cruise because it is the difference between looking at Alaska from a big cruise ship and actually experiencing Alaska by paddling in kayaks or riding in skiffs among the glacial ice floes and other areas, hiking instead of calling on ports and buying trinkets, being treated like royalty by the fun, knowledgeable and guest-oriented crew who work their tails off to create an extremely memorable experience. Expedition Leader Brock Munson is well-versed in all things Alaska and knows how to make sure you are having a good time. Oh - the food! Chef Joe on this cruise produced the 5-star quality meals to which we'd become accustomed on our previous trips, and pastry chef Tori tempted us with her sinfully delicious treats and desserts that were worth hours on the treadmill when we returned home. Our steward/bartender Jade created a "drink of the day" which we could enjoy or choose anything else from the bar. Remember, this is an all-inclusive cruise, the best kind! No buffet line; all plated meals, three a day with beautiful table settings and napkins folded differently each time. Oh, how we love to un-cruise! Read Less

We did the seven night cruise on the National Geographic Sea Bird Explorer. This cruise goes from Juneau through to Sitka and in between visiting out of the way locations in SE Alaska. In my mind this is far better than the big boat cruises with the opportunity to see Alaska in comfort and also get off on land for hikes as well as see the animals. SE Alaska scenery is fantastic and this cruise spends 24 hours in Glacier Bay taking it's passengers as close to the glaciers as one is allowed to go at this time of year. The cruise takes Zodiak rubber rafts with outboard motors for visiting the islands and kayaks to allow paddling the shoreline. The naturalists were knowledgeable and the food awesome. If I have one criticism it is that this is an older boat so the lounge or viewing area is not optimally sited to see the landscape passing when the weather is inclement as it often is during and Alaska summer. It would be better if it was higher with better windows for viewing. I understand Lindblad has new ships under construction which may rectify this. Read Less

The crew was fantastic. The sights were awe inspiring. We saw bald eagles, stellar sea lions, whales, sea otters, moose, bear and many more animals. The fellow explorers were friendly and fun. Tried stand-up paddle boarding for first time, it was great. No complaints at all. Read Less

This experience was wonderful. The crew was exceptional. Very accommodating. Educated on what we saw and where we were going. If they didn't know an answer they'd know who did. They bent over backwards to make this an extraordinary experience. They sights were spectacular. We saw whales, porpoise, dolphins, sea lions, puffins, bear, mountain goats, and even a banana slug :) Annie the Cruise Director had a great pulse on what to do each day. I told her why I was on the cruise and she helped me make the right decisions. Every day there were numerous activities to be a part of from kayaking to shore walks, bushwhacking hikes to skiff tours. The food was surprisingly good and I was shocked at the choices they provided for every meal. I never felt stuck eating something I wouldn't want to eat. The Pastry Chef Stephanie created delicious deserts and pastries. I actually met her on the plane from Seattle to Juneau where she told me this was her first cruise in Alaska and she created desserts that were as delicious as the sights we saw. This was my first cruise and I had no idea what I was getting into and now I can't wait to do this again and when I do I'll go with UnCruise. Easy decision after the experience they provided. Read Less

For my 70th birthday, my wife and I wanted to cruise to Alaska, but we wanted to avoid the very large ships used on most cruises. We envisioned mostly staying onboard watching the beautiful scenery with the occasional whale. On the Safari Explore,r we got much more, and it was great. Uncruise specializes in active cruises. Everyday activities included long and short kayaking trips, hiking and bushwaking, and zodiac tours of fjords. All activities were led by staff who were very knowledgeable about the local plants and animals. Whether on an activity or just cruising aboard the ship if an interesting animal was spotted, we just stopped and watched. We saw humpback whales, orcas, bears, sea lions, seals, eagles and a wolverine. After activities, we relaxed in a very comfortable lounge with an open bar policy or just watched the beautiful scenery. At night the ship stopped in a cove for a restful sleep. The staff attentive to our requests. My wife said she felt like a queen--ask and it was done. The cabins were adequately large and clean. Lunch and dinner were very good (not great) with adequate portions. Breakfasts were just average and lacked variety. The activities are focused on active adults and teens. The cruise would not be good for children (or anyone else) who needs to be entertained. There is no wifi and mostly no cell phone service. Overall it was a great experience and much better than we expected. In the end, we felt that our cruise on the Safari Endeavour, while expensive, was good value for the money. Read Less

We traveled on-board UnCruise Safari Endeavor from Juneau to Ketchikan on September 2014, the last cruise of the season (7 nights). I cannot describe our experience in words, but I'll do my best. It was WOW! Big WOW!. Huge WOW! Everything was perfect & above it. We were amazed by the kindness of the staff, the comfort of the cruise, and the great beauty of Alaska. The glaciers were breathtaking. We saw many animals, as promised - whales, seals, sea lions, and many many birds. We experienced an amazing time, with great people, and we cannot stop talking about how great it was. It is not a cheap cruise, but you will get more than you wished for. More than you could ask for. This was THE BEST adventure we ever had, and I just wish we will be able to join one of their cruises in the future. Read Less

My husband and I are not cruise people but this one ticked all our boxes. A small boat with only 60 passengers but very comfortable with great food, a fabulous crew and lots of interesting excursions. We enjoyed getting out into the Alaskan wilderness but it was made so much better by the young, energetic guides who were extremely knowledgeable but obviously loved their job too. The whole crew worked so hard at making sure that we were looked after 24/7. We saw glaciers calving; salmon running; bears feeding; and the whales! Everything was great from beginning to end. I supposed it helped that the weather was magnificent but even apart from that we're sure it would still have been lots of fun. Met some great people and really enjoyed every minute. Plenty of time to relax if you wanted to but also lots of trips onto the mainland or kayaks to really do some exploring. 5/5 from us for everything.   Read Less

We just returned from a 7 night cruise on the Wilderness Discoverer. Words cannon describe our wonderful experience. The accomodations were perfect. The food outrageously delicious. The crew was wonderful in every way possible. If you want to see Alaska -- this cruise is the best way to do it. You hit the towns the big cruise ships go to (Juneau, Wrangell, Kechikan) -- but more importantly you see the "real" Alaska -- bears, harbor seals, bald eagles, whales, Northern Lights (we saw at night on our cruise -- the captain made an annoucement about 11pm for anyone wanting to see it), and so much more. We were able to go where the large cruise ships cannot -- into the inner coves and passage ways. I was blown away by the talent and knowledge of our expedition leaders. We were also impressed by the way safety is woven into everything on board. When we disembarked at the end we waved goodbye to the crew (they knew everyone by name!!). That was the best vacation we ever had!!! Can't wait to plan the next Un-cruise adventure. Read Less

Un-Cruise Adventures does an outstanding job providing a real Alaskan expedition geared to a wide range of interests and athletic ability. I have been on nine other cruises, all ships with at least 200 people. None had the same "adventure" focus as UnCruise. I think the cruise line fills its niche well. We flew to Juneau the day before, staying at Hotel Baranof. The next morning, we walked to the convention center where we left our luggage in the UnCruise "day room" while exploring the town. As you'd expect from a small ship with only 72 passengers, embarkation and disembarkation were uncomplicated. At disembarkation in Sitka (what an appealing town!), passengers could leave luggage at a convenient hotel. Uncruise arranged for transportation to the airport and passengers didn't have to deal with luggage. Although not a luxury cruise, the food was excellent. Buffet breakfast and lunch offered something for everyone. At dinner there were three entree choices, one vegetarian. The pastry chef created tempting desserts. Crew members were uniformly friendly and accommodating. I appreciated nice touches like water bottles available for use and good binoculars in each room and in the lounge. My teenage granddaughter relished kayaking and paddle boarding. I stuck with tamer activities. Two of our favorites were watching humpback whales up close and walking amid icebergs in a Glacier Bay "ice , garden" . The itinerary was flexible to allow for good wildlife viewing and longer stops to enjoy the beauty. Public spaces: the one indoor gathering spot cannot accommodate all passengers comfortably though this was rarely an issue. Our twin bed cabin was small but efficient (and larger than I expected). There is a separate toilet and shower; the sink is in the cabin. Advice for cruisers: take your own boots; you'll need them for water landings. There are boots to borrow, but borrowed footwear rarely fits well. I sloshed around uncomfortably. Hiking boots are unnecessary. Overall, this was an outstanding cruise except for one thing: engine noise. I knew there would be noise, but this was NOISE. While it wouldn't have been as bad in a cabin farther from the engine, there is no getting away from it in the dining room where carrying on a conversation is impossible when the engine is running. Our last morning, the engine started up at 4:30 a.m. No more sleep after that.   Read Less

I wanted to take my sons on an Alaskan cruise for the past 15 years. It finally came together this August. This was a once-iin-a-lifetime trip and we were all so excited. My sons, their wives, their child, my husband and I went on our first cruise on a "small ship". The American Cruise Line looked so great. When we turned in our paperwork, we each received a call asking if we needed anything special. We didn't ask but they offered a crib and we gladly accepted. My daughter-in-law has a gluten intolerance; they said no problem. We arrived in Juneau the night before to stay at the hotel that the cruise line arranged. They promised transportation. We waited over an hour for it. Had we not been told their was transportation, we would have taken a cab. By the time we realized this, there were no cabs. No crib for my grandson, even though it was promised multiple times. Food: It took three days and several conversations with the staff and chef to get the gluten free food. The food was fine, not excellent, not bad. I liked that they offered half portions, however, the portion size was inconsistent. My half portion was frequently the size of my husband's full portion. The rest of the trip was tainted by the shabby ship.  My room had not been completely cleaned from the previous passengers: dirty trashcans, counters and carpet. It took two more visits from staff to get it cleaned. The carpet was ripped and the mini blinds were broken so they wouldn't stay up. This was never repaired.The good news is that the rooms were roomy with enough storage space, kind of the size of a hotel room. And I liked that the windows opened. By the way, I did fill out the evaluation and asked from a call from the cruise line. I received a call from Paul who said we should have been given a "gluten free menu", and he's sorry about all of the other problems. He hopes we travel with them again. There was nothing in that response that leads me to think that the next experience would be any better.   Read Less

It's Spring 2015 and I simply cannot let the season escape without finally writing my review on the trip of a lifetime, that I was madly planning this time last year... The hubby and I came into an unexpected gift of money and wanted to do something we could remember the person by, and would never have normally would have done...and I found it in and astonishing adventure on board the Safari Endeavor!! We booked the July 14, 2014 week long Discoverers' Glacier Country Un-Cruise out of Juneau, AK. That week in particular had a wonderful Marine Biology host, Jackie Hedgpeth who truly added to the already highly educated and informative staff on board. We were greeted on board on embarkation day by all the staff from our awesome lady Captain, Jenna Stevens down to dining and cabin crews. All folks on the Endeavor rolled up their sleeves and helped out any given time/day on launching kayaks in the morning to being nature guides in the afternoons..many enjoyed multiple roles..our evening table server, would be an expedition assistant leader the following day on a hike or kayak excursion. We truly got to know all the staff... who consistently and constantly reached above and beyond the call of duty to make sure, all on on board were welcomed, comfortable and got the utmost they wanted out of their daily/weekly adventures!!! Every evening in the Lounge all ...84....yes I said that ...84 passengers!!! joined together enjoyed our all inclusive bar libations while listening to talks from the Naturalist or crew on tomorrows upcoming adventures.. Let's stop for a moment and discuss that passenger number. Yes..only 84 passengers on board, what a phenomenon in the Cruise world!! This small ship cruising allowed for the unimaginable development of some great friendships on board...some folks we still keep in touch with to date, a year later! Folks from all over the Globe were on board..from England, Wales, Australia and all over the US. And on a personal note..2nd couple we met were form my hometown in Penna..small world! The staff and crew we got to know as well and shared many a story and photos on our nightly talks in the Lounge of the ship's adventures from the day. Can't tell you the camaraderie that developed over shared hikes, kayaking moments, whale sightings, glacier hikes...on and on to many to describe with the staff, crew and fellow passengers. Back to adventures!!! ....each evening the Expedition Guide would offer tomorrow's listing of adventures passengers can choose to participate in...both AM and afternoon varieties or, all day: from really tame walkabouts on the shore line, to glacier hikes, to half or full day kayaking, to half or full day hikes into wilderness. The hubby, a Georgia Exterra trail series runner was looking for full on daily wilderness adventures..I on the other hand enjoyed the luxury the ship had to offer as well as accomplishing a fine mix of mild AM adventures such as guided group Glacier hikes to afternoon kayaking along the shoreline. I eventually built up my adventure seeking skills to partake in the Hubby's regular all day adventure "crew" on an exciting all day, 8hr hike to a Glacier Lake that no other ship or passenger group got to attain last summer! Our outstanding Expedition Guide, Connor Adams was as great Team Leader who motivated all of us, including me who was definitely in the back 'o the pack shall we say.. to kick it up and we pushed ourselves so well thru the rain forest, he got permission from the ship's Captain to continue onto Swan Lake. What a thrill to share in this accomplishment of an awesome all day hike thru stunning rain forests of SE Alaska! No bear sightings, but fresh footprints were to be had! Super proud and exhausted when we returned to the ship in time for the fun event of Polar Bear Swimming which is an all passenger adventure, if you dare! Even in July the water was cold!! Let's talk about food and drink..the food was scrumptious to say the least! Usually 2-3 entree offerings at each meal and always a veggie option for anyone who doesn't do meat, or in my case who doesn't do seafood. I know, wrong place to be.. to not partake on the super fresh local seafood offerings, but hubby enjoyed it, every meal!! The crew offered any solution if you couldn't possible find anything to eat of the menu for each meal. One lunch was all seafood and they kindly made me a grilled cheese sandwich which I happily ate... All alcohol is included and the Bartenders in the Lounge were excellent,there was a special creative drink offered each evening as well as a full bar. Never failed on service or tastes.. 12 tables I believe, 8 along the viewing windows to catch the ever changing sea/landscape and view wildlife passing by and 4 center round tops were in the dining room. Which lends itself to enjoying getting to know all the passengers or eventually for us, we sought out our favorite group of new friends from England, Penna., NC and NY and shared our adventures of the day! The only complaint I would have about dining is you had to get down there fast at mealtime or the window tables would be taken! Not that you couldn't see but it was cool to be up close. Admiral Cabin....#202. Since it was a gift of money that drove this once in a lifetime adventure cruise, the hubby went full on every day adventure excursions and I went for one of the top of the line larger cabins! Quiet, just off the lounge, low traffic hallway and steps away.. in the jammies to get a morning coffee in the lounge... Comfy bed, wonderful private large viewing window(Upper deck cabins have windows along the outside walkways and passengers sd kinda bothersome), teeny tiny bathroom for us tall folks but super minor detail as you are so busy each and everyday in this Alaskan wonderland..no bothers. Wonderful cabin service on a daily basis if you want service or not...minimal required for us. One of the most outstanding features of the cruise was the desire of the Crew and Captain to offer ever possibility to educate us on, as well as to see, view and experience the wildlife in SE Alaska. One impossibly delightful evening, dinner was delayed as we had the show of a lifetime in front of the ship: a rainbow to the west, a pod of Orcas straight ahead and Humpback whales breaching to the right. The Captain slowed and then stopped the ship and all on board, included as always, the Crew were invited to experience the beauty of this sight. Unforgettable! The saddest day is knowing you are arriving back in Port and your disconnections with people you have gotten to know, and goodbyes are in front of you. The Crew all came out to see us off and it was bittersweet... Would love to partake in their Baja trips in the Winter to see the Humpbacks and other wildlife in a warmer climate. Same ship..same Crew..same Captain..what a dream. Read Less

My husband and I decided to mark our 50th birthdays with a trip to Alaska and this cruise (Discoverers' Glacier Country) was recommended highly by his folks. We liked the sound of it because we believed in a small-ship setting we'd have more opportunity for close encounters with the landscape and wildlife. This turned out to be true. The cabins are extremely comfortable and spacious enough for a week's worth of luggage and gear. The view from our cabin's windows was always spectacular. While there is no TV or Internet reception available, there is a decent DVD library (if you have time and energy to use it after a day full of adventures). Common areas are well kept and cozy. The bar is well stocked, and you can help yourself if there's no crew available. The food was fine. It didn't blow us away, but it wasn't bad by any means. Service around meals was great in that choices were always available and special requests were smilingly honored. Servings were small to moderate, which I actually think is great. We had no trouble getting seconds if we were really hungry. Sometimes it took a while for tables to get served (which made a lot of sense when we saw later how food had to get from the kitchen in the lower level to the dining room level by dumbwaiter), but we weren't in any hurry. Life on board: We took advantage of a yoga class offered each morning before breakfast on the top deck. A beautiful way to start the day. After breakfast, the itinerary for the day is announced, including options for the day's activities. Typically there are activities available after breakfast and after lunch, such as hikes, kayaking, and skiff rides. Depending on itinerary, there might be pre-dinner or after-dinner activities. Generally you don't have to sign up; just show up. Throughout the day, wildlife and other unusual sightings are announced on the PA system so you can go out to view them if you wish. There is a hot tub on the top deck, which gets quite a bit of use. The exercise equipment, also on the top deck, is minimal but adequate. One free massage is included with the cruise, which was a great amenity. With only 18 cabins, the Safari Explorer is geared toward satisfying guests in all respects. When we expressed a desire for more independent hiking so our birdwatching would not slow down other guests, we were offered a crew member who would accompany us at whatever speed we wished (truly independent hiking not being an option because of the potential for bear encounters). The crew are aware that most guests are really interested in wildlife such as whales, dolphins, and bears, so activities are sometimes shifted around in order to satisfy this interest. For example, one morning that a hike had been scheduled, a pod of orca was spotted nearby. Instead of hiking, all the guests boarded two skiffs and followed the orca for a few hours, which was an amazing experience. Nobody missed the hike. We had a lot of amazing experiences on this cruise, partly as a result of the setting and pure luck but also because the Safari Explorer crew got us where we needed to be and provided guidance. For example, we watched bears catching salmon outside a hatchery; we witnessed humpback whales bubble-netting; and we kayaked to a glacier and watched (and felt!) it calve right in front of us. Service and accommodation of guests was really impressive. Even though Un-Cruise Adventures provides guests with a detailed packing list in advance, many items, such as rain gear, rubber boots, mosquito repellent, and water bottles, were freely available for guests to borrow. We always felt well taken care of. We could not have had a better trip. The Safari Explorer gets our highest recommendation. Read Less

Before I launch into an “ Oh my god – it was wonderful! “ style review, I would like to offer a brief back ground detailing how I eventually ended up on this truly fabulous cruise. Two years ago I decided that for my birthday I wanted to go whale watching; also I have always wanted to visit Alaska having seen the documentaries and been in awe of the place, so I started a search to see whether it was possible to do both at the same time. I didn’t know exactly what I did want, but I knew exactly what I didn’t want. The thought of a large cruise ship with thousands of people on board stopping for shopping in ports at every available opportunity, having to fight my way through crowds to get anywhere, and having to dress up for dinner made me feel nauseous. A few years ago my boss went on a small ship cruise to Baha to see grey whales, and I knew this was the type of thing that I would be comfortable with, so the search began and I narrowed it down to four companies, but eventually chose Uncruise. Their website is full of excellent information, photos and videos, and when I eventually pick myself up off the floor after seeing their prices (let’s be realistic about it!) I eventually decided these were the people I wanted to go with. We chose the luxury cruise on the Safari Endeavour as my husband and I are not the active outward bounds type, but we still wanted some activity options. We booked the cheapest cabin available and resigned ourselves to the fact that we would be living in a small cupboard for a week. A few months before the cruise I received the final paperwork, and a kit list. Not being the very out-doors type I didn’t have very much of the required equipment for this cruise and I couldn’t afford to spend loads of money on stuff I would only wear for one week, so I improvised with pretty much everything. Something that isn’t explained very well on the website is that as soon as you board the ship all passengers are issued with any waterproof essential kit they might need; wellingtons, a pair of waterproof trousers that fit over the top of your other trousers and a water proof coat if you don’t have one, so please don’t rush out any buy loads of stuff as all the essentials you need are available to you free of charge. Two of the most useful items I took with me were thermal leggings and thermal t-shirts, both purchased from E Bay at a very low cost. The leggings were very comfortable under the water poof trousers, which are not quite so comfortable over jeans or hiking trousers, and the thermal t-shirts I wore during all activities under another t-shirt, fleece/sweat shirt, and coat. I wore 3-4 layers most days. Also, when I received the pre-cruise paperwork I discovered that a gratuity for the crew of 5-10% of the total cruise cost would be expected – please be aware of this, as it does add to the overall cost of your cruise. Sunday 27 July arrived, and we walked down to the harbour in Juneau and saw the Safari Endeavour sitting waiting for us. The welcome we received from the crew was so enthusiastic it nearly knocked me over, and the first wonderful surprise was our cabin. It was not a small cupboard as I had expected, but two full size single beds with the space between being a little wider than the doorway. The beds were high enough to have a large storage area underneath for boots, shoes and luggage. Towards the back of the cabin was a good sized table and opposite was the private bathroom with corner shower and decent quality toiletries in a wall mounted dispenser. This was a small bathroom, but well designed. The whole of the rear wall was wardrobes and large deep drawers, so there was more than enough storage space for all your stuff. The meals on board ship are served at 7.30am, 12.30pm and 7.00pm respectively, and there is no flexibility surrounding these meal times; you understand why after being introduced to the staff and crew who are going to be spending the week looking after you. There are a choice of activities every morning and afternoon, and the activities are basically hard, medium and easy depending on your personal fitness level and what you would enjoy doing. To be able to organise all these activities for 84 guests the crew need to have everyone available at exact times and their level of multi-tasking and organisation is exceptional. You are given the details of the next day’s events and activities at 6.00pm in the lounge before dinner the previous day. If you are not able to get to the lounge the PA system is also in your cabin so you never miss any announcements. Your chosen activity time is then posted in the lounge at breakfast time the next day, and it is announced through the PA system 10 minutes before it is due to start, so you have enough time to get ready and assemble at the requested point. The food is excellent quality, but the portion sizes were smaller than I expected; I have always had really large meals when previously visiting America. The chef tells you each day what the choice of meals for the following day will be; there is a meat, fish and vegan or vegetarian dish as required. I did initially think I might get hungry but they work on the little-and-often strategy; there is a basket of cereal bars in the lounge at all times to pick at as you walk past, which are very welcome if you are going off the boat on an activity, or have just returned from one. In the afternoon there were large trays of freshly baked cookies in the lounge, and at 6.00pm; Cocktail hour in the lounge, a long table was laid out with lovely nibbles, which were very popular. All meals are served slowly, and wine and water is topped up all the time. Because of this I did not get hungry at all. “ A plan to deviate from “ is the theme of the cruise. Whilst a cruise route is set initially, the weather is Alaska is very unpredictable and therefore fast changes have to be made at very short notice. There had been an earthquake a few days before we arrived, and because of this one of the places we were trying to get to was blocked with icebergs, so the plan deviated. If any wildlife is sighted, or the captain gets informed of anything of interest the ship with change course. The emphasis is on seeing the very best wildlife and wilderness Alaska has to offer, and every possible opportunity is taken to achieve this. The crew are very hands-on when it comes to ensuring you have the best possible time; we were encouraged to try kayaking and after taking their beginners lesson we went out several times on our own and loved it. All guests are encouraged to get off the boat in one way or another and see the real beauty of Alaska, and I always felt very safe with the activities crew in whatever I was doing. There is however one instance I would mention to them. I had fallen behind on a walk at Glacier Point and ended up walking alone for some time. Having been warned about the dangers of brown bears and moose in the woods I did become a little afraid, so please be mindful of the slower members of your group. I met some wonderful people on this cruise from all different walks of life, and one of the things I liked the most was the “equal” attitude of the crew. Everyone got exactly the same smile and lovely warm attitude from all the crew irrelevant of who you were, where you were from, and what you did for a living. On the sad day when we had to disembark and say a very fond farewell to the wonderful crew and captain Jenna, as we walked back down the pier into Juneau a very unassuming gentleman approached us and asked if we had enjoyed ourselves. We assured him we had, and he told us he owned the company. I was a little shocked by this, as I really didn’t expect the owner of Uncruise to be waiting on Juneau pier to talk to us? If you were the actual owner of Uncruise, your cruises are the most amazing experience ever. I will definitely cruise with you again one day, as I had the most wonderful, memorable, exciting time ever.   Read Less

The Safari Quest and its crew are top notch in every respect. I have never experienced more competent, capable, friendly, and helpful people as this crew. They made this adventure fun and interesting. The boat has a capacity of 22, but we had 13 guests. Rooms are comfortable, if small, but small is to be expected at sea. Food was absolutely outstanding. Every dinner had a choice of seafood or meat, with plenty of alternatives for vegetarians. Dungeness crab, one night, was outstanding. Another night, we had short ribs that the chef had braised overnight for 8 hours. Best I had ever eaten. Both my wife and I ate fish or seafood most nights (and she is not a fish fan). Day trips were wonderful. We visited many glaciers, saw lots of bear, seals, sea lions, sea otters, etc. I kayaked for the first time in my life. We had a National Park Service Guide on the boat for several days in Glacier Bay. She knew her stuff and was able in to communicate facts while keeping it interesting. We saw more humpbacks than I could have imagined. They seemed to cavort just for us. That was a highlight. Nice cabin. Small, as is to be expected, shipboard. Queen bed. Bathroom is small but functional. Shower (no tub) works well. Only downside is that cabin is next to galley and one or two mornings we heard galley noise around 6. Chef commmented to us that he made efforts to be quiet in the AM, but sometimes stuff happens. I think the room was better than those below, if not as nice as the 4 A deck rooms, which have sliding glass doors that open to the sea air and more storage space. Un-Cruise, the "cruise" line, is outstanding. I would try any of their boats. The owner came aboard one night, and the obvious rapport between him and the whole crew was something to behold. He is sincere and committed to the environment. His employees are dedicated to making a trip a true pleasure. This was the trip of a lifetime. Read Less

My wife and I had a spectacular time on the Discoverers' Glacier Country itinerary this summer. The intimate small ship experience was wonderful - a chance to really get to know a group of like-minded adventurers. The crew was fantastic - from the captain to the adventure guides to the stewards, everyone made you feel welcome, and it seemed like they really enjoyed being there and helping the guests have a great vacation. This is an itinerary for people who like nature more than visiting the casino and rushing through cheesy gift shops at a bunch of touristy ports. Every day you wake up in a new and beautiful place with lots of options for activities from relaxing on the ship to fairly strenuous hikes and kayak trips. I'm much more of an outdoorsy and active person than my wife is, and we were both able to find activities to suit our interests every day. Everyone is there to see the beauty of Alaska, and more than once a meal ground to a halt - in a good way - when a whale was spotted and everyone moved from their tables to the windows to get a better look. Speaking of the food, the "gourmet" food was generally quite good but a little uneven - a burnt roast here, an overcooked piece of fish there. The servers were charming and friendly, but courses could take a long time to come out, and occasionally they forgot to serve a course to our table! On the plus side, every meal had a selection of entrees, plus they would bend over backwards to accommodate you. My wife and I have some dietary restrictions but never had a problem because the kitchen was so adaptable. I also have to give the servers some credit - they also serve as the cabin stewards - how they have the energy serve three meals, make up the rooms, and do other tasks - and do it all with a smile - is beyond me. Our cruise was one where a naturalist was on board. She was not only highly knowledgeable, she was also a hoot! That was another plus. This was a great trip and I would recommend this itinerary to anyone without hesitation.   Read Less

This was our third cruise in the past 10 years. Each cruise has been with a different cruise line. This was the most disorganized and the employees did not seem very happy. Our disembarkation was a mess. The ladies at the Westin Hotel were at the table the day before disembarkation for check in. But the next morning there was not a table or sign indicating where we were to meet. There were 10 in our group so we all gathered in the lobby near where the table was the day before. We didn't see any Princess employees until we sent out family members to check out the lobby and they finally found one of the ladies outside where the buses were gathering. There were 2 bus loads of people in the lobby needing some reassurance that we were in the right place and we didn't get that until 10 minutes before the buses were to leave. We were supposed to have priority check-in since we were in a large suite but there were not enough princess employees to direct the crowds once we got off the bus. We ended up waiting in the long check-in line only to find out that we could have skipped that line with our priority check-in. I would say they were definitely short staffed. We enjoyed our suite and our room attendant, Ernie (Ernilito), was very helpful and always upbeat and smiling. There were some minor inconveniences like the sink was slow to drain and the tub drain stopper didn't work so we called Ernie and both times he arrived immediately assessed the problem and got the plumber out quickly to do repairs. Our bed was very comfortable although the room was a little to warm with the AC at the lowest setting and this was in Alaska! The food was very disappointing! The 14th deck buffet was confined in a very hot cramped space and we tried everything in there for two days and the food did not look appetizing and didn't taste good either. We had the same experience with the food in the Canaletto traditional dining room which was hardly edible. This dining room is difficult to access and our waiters were not friendly. Once the dining room filled up with people it turned hot and stuffy. We ended up scheduling and paying $25 for 10 of us to eat dinner in the Crown Grill one night and in Sabatinos on two other nights. Their food was better but just not the quality of food that we are accustomed to enjoying in our hometowns of Dallas and Houston, TX and Charlotte, NC. That was an extra $750 to get a few decent dinners on the ship. The best food was in the International Cafe where you could get fresh salads and sandwiches and Lattes. The entertainment was plentiful. The singers and dancers were great and the comedian was pretty good. The magic show was very dull and the theatre lights were down so low you couldn't see anything anyway and we were on the 4th row of a large theatre. One of our biggest complaints about cruising with Princess is the big push to sell jewelry and art. We were irritated to receive fliers in our mailbox everyday about jewelry and art sales and the insult comes when you arrive at the ports and find the towns are full of Princess owned jewelry shops. We enjoyed an excursion in Juneau which included a helicopter ride which landed on Mendenhall Glacier and a salmon bake which was the best food of our whole trip. Other cruisers that went into Juneau to look around said the Princess owned shops had salespeople standing outside of their shops aggressively trying to recruit buyers. These shops ruined the experience of the quaint looking town. Disembarkation was very disorganized. The employees in charge were giving us and other families who had elderly parents in wheelchairs conflicting instructions and sent us all to the wrong exit. It just sort of left us with a bad ending to the trip. I can't imagine ever wanting to go on another Princess Cruise. Read Less

Un-Cruise Safari Explorer..July 2014 Alaska  I have had the good fortune to have taken hundreds of pleasure trips in my life. I have taken trips that range from cruising with the Regent Line, to going down the Colorado on a raft and sleeping in tents, as well as skiing at numerous upscale resorts. I’ve have hiked New Zealand and also biked with Backroads, helicopter hiked with Tauck in the Canadian Rockies and have had many more exciting and varied travel experiences, but my Un-Cruise adventure on the Safari Explorer was the worst trip I have ever taken and the least value for the money spent. Discoverer’s Glacier Country was sold as a luxury trip. My expectations of luxury aboard an exploration ship were not the same as they would be on a large cruise ship, but I found nothing luxurious about this experience. The cabin interior was unimaginative and colorless, the duvet lumpy, the towels might have been larger, fluffier and more abundant. There was nothing in the space that could not have been upgraded. We were requested to use each towel for as many days as possible, which I did, but I was a single in a cabin. Had there been two of us it would have been far from luxurious to shower and dry my hair with a single bath towel. Food portions were small but that was okay as we spent half the day doing nothing while the ship was in motion. Food flavor is a matter of individual taste but the presentation on a luxury experience should be lovely and professional appearing. Dinner looked as though I had plated it myself....in a hurry. The lectures were nearly non existent, dull and certainly the speakers could not compare to the educators on other exploration ships. I must add that two members of the crew were outright rude to me, without any provocation and with no reaction from me. On the positive side, this line attracted well traveled, outgoing, interesting and friendly passengers. The only luxury item on this trip was the inclusion of wine and liquor. To really be impressed by Un-Cruise one would have to be drunk.   Read Less

We have enjoyed several Big Boat cruises in the past - but never again. UnCruise Adventure's Safari Endeavour accommodates 85 passengers and before you finish your week, you'll know most of them by first name - we even got invites to come visit their home from several. Accommodations are very comfortable - we had their basic cabin with two comfortable twin beds and private bath. Meals were EXCELLENT with several options (including vegetarian) at each meal. During the morning breakfast, you would learn about that day's meal options and make your choice. Every day, there were Morning and Afternoon adventure options ranging from high skill and exertion to more moderate walks and skiff rides. We are moderately active senior citizens and thoroughly enjoyed each activity. We had never done kayaking before but we did it here - and loved it The ship has dozens of ocean-going kayaks and has an easy-launch system that makes heading out and docking simple. Before we launched, we got lots of lessons and great tips. We enjoyed kayaking so much, we bought one after we got home. The ports of call were beyond our expectation. The ship is so small, we were able to motor right up into the channels where the glaciers live. We watched the Big Boats sit at the mouth of the channel and pass out binoculars. Once we got close to the glacier. the crew lowered kayaks and skiffs and took us even closer. We got some amazing photos. The crew was beyond attentive - they became our friends over the week and made this trip a memory we will never forget. Read Less

Read about Un-Cruise last spring and fell in love with the "dream" of it. When my dream started becoming reality I was beyond excited... I had read and read about all the rave reviews of the cruise line... so had all kinds of hopes and fantasies in my head of our cruise. Un-Cruise did not disappoint!! The experiences and adventures...there's no way anyone else could offer this. I remember one night in Icy Strait we were surrounded on 3 sides of the boat by whales... everyone outside amazed and fascinated with the show they were putting on for us, baby breaching, hearing them vocalize with chirps and clicks and even one that sounded like a boat horn! During all this, I happened to look behind us and saw a large cruise ship crossing behind us... they never knew of, nor would ever be able to experience, the amazing show the whales were giving us. My husband and I both agree, there is no way we could ever go on one of those large cruise ships ever again... We learned so much, we experienced so much... it's really hard to put it all into words... The rooms are small, but seriously, you are only in there when it's time for bed. There are shelves and hooks to hang your clothes, even hooks outside to hang wet clothes (which you have a lot of!) Our only downfall we found was not enough electrical outlets. The "sho-lette" takes a bit to get use to...lol (shower / toilette combo) But we were happy with the cabin overall. Read Less

Boarded S.S. Legacy in Juno on 6/22/14 with my father, 32 crew members and a bunch of other people I didn't know. Left the ship 7 days later sadly saying good bye to a bunch of new friends from the crew & passengers. THE ENTIRE CREW WAS INCREDIBLE! After sailing with Un-Cruise, I couldn't imagine sailing with anybody else. Getting to know the crew, their life stories, seeing how they were truly passionate about giving their customers an incredible sailing experience was what made this cruise an experience that I will fondly remember for the rest of my life. I was truly bummed out when we had to disembark on the last day. EVERYTHING WAS INCLUDED IN THE CRUISE PRICE. YOU DIDN'T GET NICKEL-ED & DIME-ED (probably much more) FOR DRINKS, ROOM SERVICE, PICTURES, PORT EXCURSIONS, AND ALL THE OTHER ADD-ON COSTS THAT THE BIG LINERS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR! The food was nothing short of first class. Dinners were a great time to catch up on what adventures my new friends experienced that day. Breakfasts were used to plan the days activities. You could either go on the day's adventures or chill out on the ship soaking in the jacuzzi, getting a massage, reading on deck or in your cabin. The open bar was wonderful. Every day the bar tender had his special concoction for the day at happy hour. The drinks were wonderful and it was all included in the cruise price. Wildlife viewing was phenomenal. Saw a hump back whale the first night out of port. The helmsman actually turned the ship around so we could follow the whale from a safe distance to continue watching it. See if you get that type of responsiveness from one of those huge cruise liners. The crew would regularly alter course to enhance our wildlife viewing experience. The port excursions were also wonderful. The smaller vessel meant that we could get into smaller ports than the big cruise liners. That meant that we didn't have to fight the other 10,000 + tourists that descended upon these ports when the big liners showed up. On-board entertainment was provided by "Letters from Home" and was wonderful. The crew also provided several events of story telling and poem readings. The best experience was the "open microphone night" on the 2nd to last night. It was a blast. IF YOU GO ON A CRUISE WITH SOME OTHER CRUISE LINE YOU WILL; A) MISS OUT ON THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME, B) PAY TOO MUCH, C) MISS OUT ON GETTING TO KNOW THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE CREW, D) MISS OUT ON NUMEROUS WILDLIFE VIEWING OPPORTUNITIES, E) BE JUST ANOTHER HERD TOURIST AMONG THOUSANDS WHEN YOU GET INTO PORT, Read Less

Recently retired from teaching, we chose this un-cruise because of the opportunity to get into Alaska, not just see it. The Discoverer has 72 cabins, comfortable public areas, sun deck with seating and fitness equipment. Appeared that the ages of the participants ranged from late 30's to 70's. There were no children on this trip. We had been in Backcountry Denali for a week and arrived in Juneau to board the Wilderness. Our luggage was stowed on board by staff, we embarked meeting the captain and staff as we were shown to our rooms. Welcome cocktails, safety practice completed and supper. Meals were served at specified times, breakfast and lunch buffet and dinner plated and served. Dinner had 3 entree choices which you made during the day. Evening social hour provided snacks and a special drink. The bar was complete and the bartender well trained and personable. The chef and his staff were amazing. From Lamb chops, duck, smoked trout, crab, and various other beef and fish selections, we were amazed at every meal. Morning and afternoon activities were scheduled the day prior, as we motored in the inner reaches. Kayaking alone or guided, hiking in the Tongass forest or to glaciers, strolling the shores, touring in the sciffs, bushwhacking, paddle boarding, morning yoga, snorkeling, polar plunge - always led by experts so the experience was complete. All equipment was provided on the boat. There was a library in the public area, trivia contests in the evening, films, and time to get to know your traveling companions. We disembarked in Ketchikan, our luggage was taken to a hotel for us, we checked in to confirm our flight times, were provided with beverages and snacks, and we had the day to explore. Upon return to the hotel, our luggage was transported to the airport and we were checked in and motored also. This trip was all we had hoped for and more. It is for active explorers who want to get out and see.   Read Less

We got lucky and found Un-Cruise Adventures online. We wanted, and got, a wonderful small-ship adventure, totally unlike the corporate behemoths of the seas that hold no appeal for us. The descriptions in the company brochure, in print and online, are reliable. We're very experienced, non-wealthy travelers, but our only previous cruise was another small ship, 30 years ago on the Nile. (That was great too.) We splurged for this one, but the up-front cost was cushioned a bit by the all-inclusive policy (including adult beverages). The daily, up-close encounters with glaciers and all the magnificent southeast Alaska scenery, and with a great variety of wildlife, were just what we hoped for. The sea was calm, the weather better than expected, the crew absolutely terrific. Guides accompanied small groups for each excursion, offering troves of information, helpful encouragement for inexperienced kayakers and hikers, and assurances of safety. We're 60-plus, reasonably fit but not athletic, and we found the daily choices of activities perfectly suited to our abilities and interests. Kayaking up a salmon stream; hiking along a deserted beach, through back country, or up the side of a glacier; cruising on a pontoon boat accompanied by orcas.... We brought back memories to last a lifetime and hundreds of gorgeous photos. The food was of a very high standard, usually with two choices of main course at each meal (and an option to try both), impeccably served in a casual atmosphere. The chef and pastry chef came up with delicious alternatives to accommodate a friend with a restricted diet. Our fellow passengers were mostly of similar age to us, a few younger and one in his 80s, with several Australians, New Zealanders, Brits, other Europeans, and Chinese in the mix. Despite the open bar and generous pouring of wine and beer at meals, I saw no sign of bad behavior. We're eager to sail with this company again on a different itinerary. Read Less