Feeling the call of the wild? While Alaska is known as the Last Frontier, it should be the first place on your bucket list when it comes to memorable adventure travel. This coming year marks the 160th anniversary of its transfer from Russia to the U.S., with the 49th state also nearing its 70th anniversary.
That’s a lot to celebrate. But even more praise-worthy is its sheer size and wildness of its distinct regions so defined by their dramatic landscapes—glaciers, fjords, snow-capped mountains—and the wildlife who make them home. And with more than 6,600 miles of coastline (46,000 with islands and bays), there’s no better way to experience it than on a small ship, which gets you up close and personal with everything from its whales to its waterfalls.
Conservationist John Muir understood Alaska’s appeal; returning six times after his first scientific exploration in 1879. Modern travelers are catching on too. Nearly half of today’s out-of-state visitors to Alaska are repeat travelers. And according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), demand for customized, soft-adventure itineraries is soaring, as travelers seek “skill-building and eco-conscious escapes.” Metrics also show a surge in cold-weather and high-latitude destinations, as well as custom, multi-activity itineraries — especially those pairing kayaking, hiking, and cruising (they bill it as “sight-doing” instead of sight-seeing). Between Alaska’s size and range of adventures, there’s more doing than can be done in a single visit.
Here’s how UnCruise Adventures has uniquely found a way to combine the “sight-doing” experiences of small boat travel with the grandeur of the big Alaskan landscape to satisfy the needs of today’s most eager adventure travelers.
Making the Most of Alaska’s Waters
To understand how UnCruise immerses you in its destinations, start with the ships. They range from 22 to 88 guests, offering a small, intimate experience with two excursions daily, led by expert guides. Its multi-day expeditions are all-inclusive and personalized, with private, comfortable cabins, farm-to-table dining (three gourmet meals/day plus snacks like guest-favorite cookie hour), drinks (alcoholic and NA), excursions, and all the adventure gear you need, from boots and binoculars to kayaks to trekking poles.
The focus is on adventure. The ships only go to ports when they pick you up and drop you off. Otherwise, it’s all about exploring, just like Muir. Instead of spending your time in casinos and pools, you’ll spend it in the wilderness, with itineraries as flexible as a whale’s dorsal fin. Your captain might pivot from the day’s outing based on wildlife sightings, weather, or even glacier calving.
You’ll also be with free-spirited travelers who are likely to become fast friends (kayaking with humpback whales tends to do that). Like the school of dolphins surfing your boat’s wake, onboard camaraderie is all part of the package, from late-night guitar playing under the stars to marveling at the northern lights.
“It’s summer camp for adults,” says UnCruise Founder Captain Dan Blanchard.
The small group size lets guests become family. Plus, its guides are all expert naturalists. Rather than just cruising past a glacier, UnCruise takes you ashore to explore them up close. They’ll explain everything from the pace of glaciation to the humpbacks, bubblenet feeding right before your eyes, with nightly educational sessions in the lounge. It’s about experiencing the wilderness rather than just passing through it, with a crew of other like-minded, adventurous folks.
“Once you’ve been on an UnCruise, you immediately want to go on another,” says one guest. “The beauty of the sea, land, and wildlife, the attentiveness of the crew, and the connections made with other guests call you back for more. One of our fellow cruisers was on his seventh UnCruise Adventure. And my son had such an incredible experience and made such sweet friendships that he cried for two hours after leaving the ship. To date, this is one of our favorite family trips.”
Inside the Trip
On a small ship, the crew plays a big role in shaping the experience. UnCruise brings together knowledgeable guides and a dedicated crew to create a more personal, flexible way to explore. Days are shaped around the destination, with guided excursions, time outside, and opportunities to get closer to the places you visit rather than simply making a port stop.
“Every day we had the option of both morning and afternoon activities,” says one guest. “And as the crew got to know my parents’ physical limitations, they were able to suggest what activities they would enjoy most.”
Each location, she adds, was incredibly intimate, with hardly any other ships and the traveling done mostly by night, allowing time to explore a new location every day. “And they’ll divert plans if wildlife viewing is happening,” she adds, noting the stops to quietly witness whale migrations as well as bears on shore. “I loved how excited all the crew got when we spotted wildlife. The joy they took in sharing it with us was wonderful.” Expect plenty of that on your trip, from breaching and spouting whales to pods of dolphins, playfully curious seals and sea lions, and even coastal brown bears, especially when salmon are spawning.
Other Awesome Places UnCruise Explores
Alaska isn’t the only place you can slow down and experience with UnCruise. It also offers similar wilderness-centric small boat trips to Mexico, Hawaii, Galapagos, Panama, and Costa Rica.
Alaska: All of UnCruise’s Alaska ships are U.S.-flagged vessels, meaning no international port calls. Most itineraries depart from Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan, so you can explore rather than spend days on the open ocean (as on larger ships departing from Seattle). Choose from trips April through September to the southeast, southcentral, southwest, and interior (Denali), from seven to 13 nights, with excursions including kayaking, hiking, beachcombing, paddleboarding, skiff tours, wildlife viewing, and more.
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Mexico: Eight- and 11-night itineraries, including a pre-cruise hotel night in San Jose del Cabo, depart from La Paz and explore the Gulf of California/Sea of Cortez, nicknamed the “Aquarium of the World” by ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. Expect spouting whales, flying mobula rays, barking sea lions, birdlife, and more, with excursions for snorkeling, burro rides, hiking, and mucho mas.
Learn MoreHawaii: Seven-night itineraries sail between Kona (the Big Island) and Molokai on a 36-guest ship, offering the chance to watch humpbacks, night snorkel with massive Pacific Manta Rays, hike to waterfalls in Halawa Valley, mountain bike on Lana’i, hike volcanic ridges on the Big Island, and more.
Learn MoreGalapagos: An eight-night itinerary in the Galapagos Islands includes two pre-cruise hotel nights in Quito before hopping aboard “La Pinta” to visit seven islands and islets, including the Charles Darwin Research Center, and search for endemic wildlife found nowhere else on earth.
Learn MorePanama/Costa Rica: Both a seven-night trip in Costa Rica and a 14-nighter adding Panama are great for wildlife viewing, including visits to the Coiba Wildlife Refuge, kayaking one of the world’s only tropical fjords, transiting the 48-mile-long Panama Canal, and more.
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The Call of the Wild
Sound like these award-winning small ship cruises are for you? Learn more and connect with an UnCruise Adventures Adventure Specialist.
This article is sponsored by UnCruise Adventures.
