Maple Leaf Adventures

Vancouver

Canada & New England

Terrible

MV Swell

Cascadia

Brisbane

Worth the price I paid - NO.  Worth a 7 day excursion - NO.  Did I get what I was looking for  - NO not even close.

At the office I couldn't decide Haida Qwaii or Great Bear.  I wanted nature and was told this was the trip.  I love hiking in the Victoria area and wanted to walk / hike in relatively undisturbed forests. What greater place than Great Bear!    And I was told there was one cabin left so I paid the $11,000.  I was so looking forward to this trip.

Staff onboard were friendly but this is to be expected and has been the way on any of my trips - period. 

Meal were thoughtfully prepared but I didn't come on this trip for the dining.  However, seeing  that this is a selling point, please have proper cutlery.  Yes, a steak knife is sometimes needed.

Boat was beautiful.  My "double" room, as it is listed, should never be marketed as such.  Two adults could not sleep in that bed unless they liked to spoon.  For two people, go for the bunk beds at least you would have room to move your baby toe.

The itinerary : 90% on boat, 6% in zodiacs and 4% on beaches

This is a small craft in a large body of water.  I expected to explore smaller waterways.  I could have saved a bundle on a ferry for the amount of shore experience we had.

This has been my most expensive trip thus far.  That includes a Northwest Passage from Resolute to Anadyr with unlimited helicopter flights.

Again my expectation, as stated to office staff and crew, was to get off the boat and explore relatively undisturbed forest.   Not one person told me this was not going to happen. I had one expectation! ONE! As opposed to wildlife viewing, hiking could be controlled on where the ship can anchor.  There must be some pathways in old growth forest, however overgrown.  I pointed one such path.  Later overheard staff say this may be possible for a future trip.  Is this a recce voyage?

I felt our first outing was a result of several passengers clamoring to get off board.  Yes I heard that this was Native land but surely there must be some areas not off limits.  Another reason, "the tide is too low".  A valid argument? I always thought tides were predictable.  "Can't go there as I have no bear spray."  And it was hanging off his lifejacket.  

This was a glorified boat trip.  

People rave about this trip.  All I can say is travel a bit more.  I've been to 7 continents, close to 100 countries. On a variety of boats from luxury Trans-Atlantic liners to canoe camping on a river in Madagascar.  This review is based on that experience.  There are few trips that I can list as disappointing.  This one joins Maldives and Borneo.  Great Bear is in the penultimate position.

I don't feel any more immersed in the Canadian wildlife and culture  than I  did before.  All of my knowledge about First Nations and history of the area was gained by reading the onboard books.  This was a complete bust.

Vancouver to Canada & New England Maple Leaf Adventures MV Swell Cruise Reviews

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