UnCruise Adventures

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Safari Explorer

34 of us set sail on 2/23 to explore the marine world around the western side of four islands.  The Explorer was filled with an engaging and inclusive group of passengers, who were just the nicest group of people imaginable.(you can ask the crew).  Highlights include the night snorkel with manta rays.  There were more opportunities to snorkel in Kealakekua Bay.  I really enjoyed swimming off the back of the boat.  Some passengers went paddle boarding and kayaking.  One of the other highlights was the dinner served at the museum on Molokai. It was very genuine and very lovely.

Whales were abundant.  We saw great numbers of spouts, breeches, and flukes. There were moms and babies.  There were gentlemen suitors following some of the females.  We saw 3 types of dolphins, and of course, sea turtles.  

This ship had the best food of any boat I have sailed.  Every meal was freshly and individually prepared.  The deserts and pastries were heavenly.

One of the most important aspects of this cruise was the crew.  Each and every one of them worked incredibly hard to make sure passengers were happy and well cared for.  Every crew  member knew, and used, each passenger's name.  

Our cabin was clean and comfortable.  It was refreshed twice daily.  

UnCruise is not for everyone.  There's not a lot of glitz, no games, and no big productions.  Entertainment might be a presentation on sea turtles or fish.  Because we were close to shore most of the time there was cell service but no ship wifi.  You can wear very casual clothing all week and there is no need to get dressed up and nobody really wanted to.

Wonderful Trip

This is our 4th cruise with Uncruise and it was very nice.  The ship had a great crew who were knowledgeable, friendly , and hard working.   They make all activities enjoyable and easy.  Food was good with several choices.  Was nice that the portions were not too generous.  Also good that the chef did not over salt anything.  Ship was very clean.  Our only complaint was the bed location in our cabin,  hard to get into and out of.

The aquatic wild life was wonderful, many humpback whales.  Saw two new species of whales, one which was quite rate.  The night snorkel with the Manta Rays was a highlight.  As the water was cool, low 70's, would have been nice if wet suites were available.  The excursion equipment was modern and well maintained.  The open bridge policy is a good feature as this is the best place to see wild life.

Beautiful Hawaii Waters

UnCruise Hawaii Cruise Review - An Amazing Trip

By Ken Montgomery, 4th time UnCruise passenger Jan 2018

The UnCruise trip from Kona to Molokai (northbound)was a wonderful trip In so many ways. We were on the Safari Explorer for 7 nights. We embarked on Saturday Jan 27th, 2018. There were 33 passengers & 16 crew. There are 18 staterooms. We saw lots of whales, dolphins, turtles, Manta Rays and lots of reef fish. 

Every UnCruise Hawaii trip will have a different itinerary due to weather factors - mainly wind and seas. We had calm winds and seas for the most part, so we were able to stay to the original cruise plan. 

Itinerary

Saturday embarkation day. - passengers had to get their bags to the Hapuna Prince Resort Hotel ( 45 minutes north of Kona)  by 3pm.  There was a gathering room in the hotel for the UnCruisers. The bags were then taken to the ship and placed in the state rooms. At 4:30 the Cruise Activity leader Travis introduced himself and gave a quick cruise briefing, then we all loaded on a bus for a 10 minute ride to the ship. We were shown to our cabins, then had the lifeboat drill and free time till dinner @ 6:30. The dinner started with the welcome aboard  drink and welcome from the captain and introduction of the crew. 

After dinner, Travis explained tomorrow’s activities based on current weather & wind forecasts. There was a documentary or a talk about Hawaii  on the cabin TV or in the lounge every night.  The crew anchored the ship Saturday night off Kona. The ship had a gentle rock to it. 

Sunday

After breakfast we got ready for our first snorkel trip - south of Kona.  Great water clarity and fish. Fins and masks were given to each passenger’s approximate sizes.  They had plenty of extra fins and masks in case the ones given to you didn’t fit. Your gear was stowed in lockers on the bottom deck by cabin number. We then learned how to use their skiffs for snorkeling. 

A fresh water shower & island punch awaited returning snorkelers. Lunch followed and we spent the afternoon positioning the boat for our evening adventure north of Kona. We saw a few whales along the way. 

Sunday Night - a light dinner was served at 5pm. At 6 we had a briefing about our evening snorkel trip to see Manta Rays feeding. An outside vendor brought in wetsuits for everyone, which were needed.  We took the skiffs out to the location where the Rays were feeding and we broke into 5 groups with about 6 people hanging onto each surfboard. A leader would tow us around the area so the passengers just focused on looking down at the action. We saw plenty of Manta Rays, a truly amazing experience. We were in the water about 45 minutes. Even with the wetsuits, many of us were a little cold and were ready to head back to a warm shower. This was the wildlife highlight for me on the cruise followed closely by all the humpback sightings. 

We had snacks and deserts on board after we returned and had our showers. 

Monday - 2 major activities. In the morning we went snorkeling at Captain Cook’s monument. In the afternoon we visited Kona where you could go on a guided walking tour, do an outrigger ride or just go shopping. In the evening we had a presentation from 2 lovely Hawaiians who told us about growing up and living in Hawaii. 

Monday Night - the crossing from the Big Island to Maui takes all night and can be a little rocky, but our crossing was fairly smooth. 

Tuesday  - the morning activity consisted of a kayak trip along the south portion of Maui or a skiff boat ride exploring the coast. We saw whales before breakfast and during the kayaking trip. We returned to the ship and went whale watching off the west coast of Maui the rest of the day, seeing dozens of Humpback whales as we cruised.  Following cocktail hour and dinner we had a staff presentation. 

Wednesday 

Morning - we did a skiff ride looking for whales and there were many whales putting in shows for us to enjoy. We went kayaking or paddle boarding after that. 

Afternoon- a tour of Lanai City where we visited their museum and explored the small town in the rain. 

Evening - Anchored in the lee of Lanai 

Thursday morning - snorkeling with turtles off Lahaina 

Afternoon - free time in Lahina town

Friday morning / docked in Moloka’i - van tour of eastern portion of island visiting cultural sites. Optional difficult hike to waterfall with 4 stream crossings, walking sticks provided. Bug repellent provided. Very interesting story about Hawaiin culture. 

Friday night - went to a Panai, a Hawaiin party featuring roast pig and other traditional Hawaiin dishes at a local museum & community center with plenty of entertainment. 

Saturday departure- bags out by 7:30, they transported us at 8:30 to the only hotel on Molokai where we waited for a shuttle to the airport. The new UnCruise passengers were arriving here also. Best to book an early flight out of Molokai, as there is nothing left to do on Molokai. 

Misc Notes

Crew Gratuities.  UnCruise Staff recommends a $25 to $35 per day per passenger gratuity. 

Cell service - sometimes you have a few bars, sometimes there is no service, depending on your service provider and location.  There wouldn’t be enough cell strength to use streaming services. There is no wi-fi on the ship. 

Laundry - there is no laundry service on the ship 

Shoes - water shoes are useful for getting in & off the skiffs and walking around. Sandals work for all other needs. 

Optional Excursions - there are no optional excursions - all activities, drinks, meals are included.  The only thing you’ll ever need to pay for are Un-Cruise hats or t-shirts and the Crew Gratituities

Things you should bring

- [ ] 3 swim suits - so they dry in between uses. 

- [ ] Optional - a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit. A shorty would be fine. The water temp in January is in the mid 70’s and the snorkeling sessions were usually 45 to 60 minutes in the water, many passengers were cold without them. You can hang the wetsuit to dry on the deck on a hanger.  

- [ ] Rash guards are great for snorkeling, they give you sun protection and are perfect to wear under a wet suit. Buy them in any “Crazy Shirts” store in Hawaii. They even have rash guards that take on a new pattern once they are wet. They sell for about $48, long sleeves give the most protection, but are a hassle under wet suits arms.  They dry very fast, so you can get by with one.  

- [ ] “Swimmers Ear” drops to dry out the water that stays in your ears from snorkeling. 

- [ ] Bring a long sleeve dry-fit t-shirt for boat trips or sitting out on the deck at night. 

- [ ] The ships store is very small, so bring your cold meds and cough drops in case you need them. A small tube of Vaseline in handy for minor scrapes & cuts. 

- [ ] Eye glass cleaner fluid and the microfiber clothes to clean them. 

- [ ] DVD’s that you’ve always wanted to watch. The ship has a few hundred movie DVD’s for borrowing. We like to bring documentary DVDs. Do not bring Blu-Ray DVDs, they won’t play on the stateroom equipment. 

- [ ] Extension chord to make plugging in all your chargers a lot easier. We only found one plug in the living area, so the extension chord was really essential. 

- [ ] Small flash lights for night time trips to bathroom 

- [ ] A secure hat for windy skiff rides. 

Things You May Not Need to Bring

- [ ] Binoculars- the ship supplies each cabin with a large 7x50 pair of very good binoculars 

- [ ] Large Suntan lotion container. The shop has them on deck. Bring a small tube if you are staying a few extra days in Hawaii. 

- [ ] Lots of fancy camera gear. This is not really a photography cruise like Alaska and many other places are. Whale photography is particularly difficult. It’s best to enjoy the action and view the professional’s work. There are many great documentaries on whales on U-tube and on Netflix where the photography is better than 99% of photographers can do.

- [ ] Water bottle- UnCruise provides cold water in the dinning room and reusable water bottles for your use. 

- [ ] Alcohol- all the alcohol, beer and wine are free all the time.

- [ ] Shampoos & conditioner are in the shower in large dispensers, so no need to bring your own. A hair dryer is in the bathroom. 

- [ ] Walking sticks - the ship supplies them for the 2 hikes.  They are provided by outside contractors and are not carried on the ship.

- [ ] Sea sickness meds, the ship supplies them. 

- [ ] Fancy clothes - everyone dresses casually all the time.

- [ ] Jacket - it never really got cold enough for anything above a windbreaker 

Summary

A great trip with fun adventures. The food was very good.  The wine and cocktails were excellent & plentiful and free. The crew is hardworking and talented. They even remember everyone’s names.

An Amazing Adventure

We chose this cruise due to the small size & no dress code. Flew into Honolulu, stayed overnight & toured Pearl Harbor Saturday morning. Then flew to Molokai for the cruise embarkation. Ship was fine but the master cabins were lacking (see detailed cabin review). The food was good to very good. Experienced Uncruisers told us they believed the food quality has diminished significantly in recent years. I thought the food was fine with only 1 meal of limited quantities & questionable options-- the night of the manta ray snorkel.

As far as activities, we went for the snorkeling. Almost every snorkel trip was a disappointment, except around the Big Island. The manta ray night snorkel was impressive & the snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay was comparable to anywhere in Galapagos.

Some of the crew were great while others seemed to have to try real hard to pretend to like the passengers. After we gave the recommended $$tip amount & what we had budgeted, some of the crew were downright surly, (Travis & hotel manager).

Busted A/C, Sewer Gas Smell, Surly Crew after Tips Received

My husband & I are in our sixties and love small ship exploration trips.  Our cruise of the Hawaiian islands with Un-Cruise was our best trip yet.  It's all about the small ship casual  experience (less than 30 guests). Definitely worth the price.  No fancy stuff. No entertainment. No crowds.  Just great staff and fellow travelers who love the same things we do: nature, fish, animals, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming and learning about history and culture.  We were busy all day long, doing all the things we love to do. Our chef and pastry chef prepared great meals, and we enjoyed the open bar.  The only negative I can think of is that tips weren't included like they are on most small ships.  We knew this, but found it very annoying.  We don't like having to think about the cost of a trip when we're relaxed and having a great time.  I think this is a very bad practice and provided this feedback to the cruise operator.

GREAT trip, but not for everybody.

We are Sailors but chose Safari Explorer in the Hawaiian Islands because of a lack of  infrastructure for sailboat chartering there.  Our trip included stops in Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and the Big Island. The beauty of Hawaii is stunning and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing it. And we were very pleased with the package of wildlife viewing at sea, snorkeling stops, hikes ashore, and cultural/historic experiences in the itinerary.  I could not have been any more excited by seeing so many whales, dolphins, manta rays, and reef fish.  And they do a marvelous job of making life aboard comfortable.  I was floored by the teamwork between Captain-Expedition leaders-Chef and staff.  Truly first rate.  The expedition leaders' knowledge and interpretive skills of marine science, wildlife biology, history and geology is really quite something. I learned a lot. My wife and I did quite a bit of talking on the trip home about taking Safari Explorer's Alaska cruise.

Best way to see Hawaiian Islands

Our two week trip to Hawaii was twenty years in the making and my wife and I considered all our travel options very carefully.  We booked an Un-Cruise Hawaii for the week of March 5 through 12. For us, the total $9,500 fare is a significant amount and we came into the trip with very high expectations.  I would never have imagined that our expectations would be so thoroughly exceeded and that we would finish the week so delighted with the experience.

In our mid-fifties, we consider ourselves physically and intellectually active; we are not content to travel to a warm clime and spend all of our time on a beautiful beach with a book.  At first glance, being on a small cruise boat/yacht might sound confining but this was not the case at all.  Instead, every day was full of activities, sightseeing, and learning from the time we woke up until we fell asleep exhausted at the end of the day.  That said, my “gushing” should not mask the fact that this cruise would not be for everybody. The majority of the guests were very active and if you are not able to get about easily, you may want to consider another, less physically demanding, adventure.  The value proposition is largely centered on unique Hawaiian activities. Also you might not be happy with the cruise if you are not “social” but more on this aspect later.  

Our Yacht, the Safari Explorer carries 36 passengers and 15 crew.  It is a converted research ship.  The condition of the passenger common areas and cabins is very comfortable, clean and well kept. It has a full compliment of “toys” (kayaks, paddle boards, exercise equipment, DVDs, library, etc.) and nothing was wanting in that respect.  The Bar was very well stocked with top shelf wine, craft beer and liquor. It should be noted that for our week, there were only 16 passengers booked- I understand this is an anomaly that occasionally happens (I tried to book other dates that were full).

The following summarizes what made this cruise so wonderful.

Crew:  I have had the opportunity to travel on business and stay at high-end lodgings so I have a basis for comparison.  The crew was by far the most exceptionally great hospitality professionals I have ever encountered.  At every level, from the Captain to the stewards, they made you feel like you were “their guest” on a very warm and personal level. One example, the night we were going to have a “stormy” crossing to Hawaii, the Captain spent considerable time explaining what was going on and how it would proceed in great detail and with clear concern that all of the passengers would be as comfortable as possible.  Realizing the crew gives so much of themselves every week to a different set of guests is amazing.

Activities: First, there were at least two to three activities each day. These included whale and dolphin watches, snorkeling, kayaking, snorkeling with sea turtles and manta rays, yoga, massages, marine biology and cultural lectures and land excursions. Additionally, the activities were very well planned and executed.  When the weather or some other factor did not work with plan A there was always a plan B & C as backup. The Expedition Leaders were incredibly well informed about the science and culture of every aspect of what we were doing.  They were clearly passionate about the subjects and enjoyed sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with us passengers.

Food:  We consider ourselves foodies.  We have very high standards from four-star restaurants to food trucks- very, very high bar to clear on this one.  I was amazed but every meal was very good to excellent.  Flavorful, artfully presented, freshly cooked, and in a very appropriate proportion size (not needing to make up for a lack of quality with quantity).

Other Guests:  We had a very enjoyable and fulfilling time getting to know the other guests.  I am sure the dynamic with each cruise is probably somewhat different. In the group we were in for the week the passengers were all couples (55 or older) or pairs of friends, all professionals and not particularly diverse beyond different home locations- which included the USA, New Zealand, Australia and England.  The meals are served based on a scheduled seating time and seating is family style; meaning you sit with one or two other couples.  Our dynamic was such that we all very comfortably rotated around to different groupings each meal.  It was a lot of fun from a social standpoint getting to know the other passengers in this manner. Additionally, you have the opportunity to interact during activities and cocktail hour.  We established some relationships and are hoping to keep up with our fellow cruisers.

Conclusion: The Un-Cruise is not going to be for everyone but if you consider yourself active and a foodie it is worth a serious look.  We came away with a deep appreciation of the parts of Hawaii we visited and some great memories of our activities and companionship during the week.  We particularly left with deep admiration and respect for the crew.

Expectations Exceeded

I've been reading through the reviews and have noted that I actually travelled on the same cruise as Carl, however my booking was through New Zealand based Wild Earth Travel.  Carl has done an excellent summary of the cruise, I could not agree with his comments more. 

In particular - 

a) the crew made us feel like family, they were so welcoming and really embodied the Hawaiian hospitality. 

b) I really appreciated the knowledge aboard, particularly the Cruise Leader Dai Mar's expertise and of course Captain Rod's. Having Dai Mar, a marine biologist, as a cruise leader meant that we had the best opportunities to see the marine life that Hawaii presents, and boy, we didn't lose any opportunities. From the humpback mother and calf only 20 metres away before we had left the wharf at Molokai to snorkelling with Green Turtles, Dai Mar was always making sure that we had the best wildlife experience. When snorkelling he would go to a huge effort to make sure that we saw the highlights of the underwater world, whether it was coral, fish or other wildlife. I also appreciated that they bought experts on board, such as whale experts, manta ray experts, and local Hawaiians to teach us more about their culture. It was a privilege to spend time with them. 

c) I found the Safari Explorer perfect for a small, intimate and informal cruise. As Carl mentioned, the ship was not full, so we were extremely well looked after, but it was never overbearing . 

d) The activities. I loved the opportunity to try sea kayaking, snorkelling, stand up paddle boarding and even snorkel with Manta Rays at night. I was initially apprehensive about this, but it was one of the best experiences that I have ever done. I could not recommend it more highly. 

e) The chance to visit less populated islands - such as Molokai. As a big fan of Alan Brennert's book Molokai, this laidback island was a big highlight. 

f) the food. As Carl mentioned, the food was so fresh, and delicious, and incorporated a lot of local flavours. The chefs went to a huge effort to make sure that we were well fed, not to mention the delicious cocktails that they served us. 

All in all if you are looking for a small, informal, relaxed cruise with a nice mix of adventure and relax time, I would really recommend this. I think it would be perfect for groups as well, in fact one of my dreams is to bring my friends and family back again in a big group.

Whales, Manta Rays,

My spouse and I have 40-something cruises under our belts.  We've done mainstream cruise lines including Celebrity, HAL, Cunard, Oceania, Seabourn and Crystal.  We were looking for an interesting cruise in Hawaii over Thanksgiving and found Un-Cruises on the web.  Judging from previous member reviews, we weren't quite sure what to expect. 

Short and sweet, this was one of the top 5 cruises we have taken.  The staff was simply amazing and knocked themselves out repeatedly.  The ship was beautifully maintained and I have a pretty critical eye. Each morning the chef provided menu choices for lunch and dinner - the cuisine was artfully prepared and unusually varied.  Wine choices were good and plentiful.   It isn't Michelin 5 stars but it equaled what we have had elsewhere and we looked forward to mealtimes. 

Activities were extremely well organized with staff members taking part in everything.  We were impressed with how they accommodated a wide spectrum of ages and ability levels.  Our fellow passengers represented a diverse group of nationalities, were cultivated and inquisitive without being stuffed shirts. 

The only criticism we had was a temperamental toilet system which needs an engineering overhaul.  We have deposited for another cruise already and can't wait to try another of their itineraries.

The only way to go!

The absolute best part of Un-Cruise was the crew.  Each was outstanding and did their part to ensure that we each had the best possible experience.  Everything that i did on this cruise i would have done anyway but they took all the anxiety out of it.  Five mile hike to a sacred waterfall, drift snorkeling off the coast of maui, night snorkeling with giant manta rays - all made accessible to everyone, including a handicapped guest.  

If i wanted help fording  a stream, they were there to help, if my husband wanted to go scuba diving instead of snorkeling, they arranged it.  They personalized the experience for each of us.  

There was never a dull moment but be clear this is a cruise for nature/wildlife loving people who have something of an adventurous spirit.  

Everything is included in the price.  In fact, you'd be hard pressed to spend any money on board.  I had to beg to buy a t-shirt.  All excursions included, gourmet meals, top shelf open bar.  There was nothing to spend money on.  

Cabins were reasonably sized for the ship.  You're not getting a huge room and you're not getting a private balcony here.  But really all you're going to do is sleep in the room and sleep you will because you'll be exhausted from all the activities.

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