7 Reasons To UnCruise in Alaska
By Heidi Sarna
I recently came back from a week in Alaska with UnCruise and it was an invigorating and memorable experience that I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys exploring the great outdoors in remote places with only the passionate crew and other passengers sharing the experience with you.
Up close and personal with Lamplugh Glacier! * Photo: Heidi & Robin
I cruised aboard the 74-passenger Wilderness Explorer on the second-to-last cruise of the Alaska season in early September, so we had fewer passengers than the maximum capacity, which made an intimate cruise feel even more like a private charter for me — and my 20 best friends.
The 74-pax Wilderness Explorer typically carries 60-some passengers on most cruises. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
Our Inside Passage itinerary wound-up being a bit different than any of us expected and everyone seemed fine with going with the flow.
(Itineraries are tweaked up until the last minute for many reasons, all of which point back to offering the best experience for passengers.)
Our route had a big emphasis on Glacier Bay, Misty Fjords and many remote coves and spots I had never heard of it. I’d say it was a mix of these two itineraries — Glaciers & Tranquility for Adults Only and the 14-night Alaska Adventure Cruise, Fjords & Glacier Bay.
Our wildcard cruise was excellent and just what I wanted from a small-ship Alaska adventure — outdoorsy, off-the-beaten-track and super active.
Not to mention it being a wonderful opportunity to meet a bunch of fun, friendly, fit travelers who were on the same page.
Unlock Extra Savings
UnCruise is offering a handful of different discounts and perks for its Alaska season this year, including early-bird savings of 15% off early Alaska cruise departures in April and May (2024). Reference LeapAK15 when booking.
There is also special pricing for kids and savings on back-to-back cruises, group bookings, solo cabins and more.
And enjoy a $500 per person discount on an Alaska UnCruise when you mention code QUIRKY500.
Terms and conditions apply on all offers.
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Here Are My 7 Reasons To UnCruise In Alaska!
(And stay tuned for my full review of this very special cruise soon.)
1..UnCruise For The Active & Sporty Excursions
Our cruise started in Juneau and ended in Ketchikan, and in between we were in the middle of beautiful nowhere, anchoring each day in some pristine cove or fjord. The forest green-hulled Wilderness Explorer, or WEX as the crew calls her, was our mother ship.
From the safety of her stern marina each morning and afternoon we would run off for a few hours to play, easily boarding kayaks from the handy kayak launch, or stepping onto a paddle board or hopping into a skiff for a ride to shore or sightseeing around the coves.
The convenient kayak launch on Wilderness Explorer. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
Each day we had a choice of what to do — kayaking, skiff excursions or a hearty guided trek over super scenic terrain that was also muddy, rocky and hilly. Some days there would be an easier trek offered as well as a more challenging one, so folks could choose their preference.
I loved that there were opportunities for guided hikes that required a bit of effort and fortitude.
Some fun swashbuckling led by senior guide Erin! * Photo: Heidi Sarna
I opted for one each day (except the last day of the cruise when I was finally worn out!) — including a swashbuckling no-trail hike, a brisk uphill rocky climb to a waterfall and another hoof up to the top of a ridge to look down on the Lamplugh Glacier.
A hearty hike up a craggy ridge for breathtaking views of Lamplugh Glacier. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
I also managed to kayak twice and join several skiff excursions, one of which resulted in a bear sighting (below) and another some dramatic glacier calving.
For me, the excursions were the highlight of the cruise, no question about it.
Spotting a bear shoreside on a skiff excursion. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
2..UnCruise For The Wildlife
The reason most of us go to Alaska in the first place is to see wild critters. I am no exception, and neither were the other passengers. We wanted to see bears and whales. And we saw them!
There were three bear sightings for most of us; one was scavenging along the shoreline, which we could see from deck through binoculars.
Another sighting was from our kayaks, where at some distance we could see a brown bear fishing in a creek that emptied into a cove.
Our guided kayaking excursion homing in on a feeding bear in a nearby creek. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
The last sighting was the most spectacular — a large black bear swam across the cove, near our skiff, from one island to another. Then we watched him walk onto the beach, shake the water off his coat, and proceed into the forest. WOW. Two women in our group on paddle boards saw them even closer than we did!
VIDEO: Here’s one of the black bears we spotted on our skiff excursion near Misty Fjords National Monument and Revillagigedo Island.
We didn’t spot whales often, but the day we saw them was the penultimate treat!
We saw two groups of humpbacks bubble-net feeding. As seabirds flew above in circles (looking for the fish too), the whales engaged in a feeding frenzy that had everyone on deck, including crew, giddy with joy.
We also laid eyes on lots of bald eagles on our kayaking trips and hikes. Seals and otters were spotted on most days, swimming along as if they didn’t have a care in the world. And one misty morning we heard and faintly saw a colony of stellar sea lions barking away with wild abandon.
On our treks we spotted lots of fresh bear tracks like these! And also tracks from wolves and moose. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
3..UnCruise For The Passionate Crew
Crew are there because they want to be and their passion shows. When they share their stories, they’re just as excited about being in Alaska as the passengers.
Drawn to natural wild and sparsely populated places like the Inside Passage, the enthusiasm of the guides, many still in their 20s, was contagious.
Likewise, the waitstaff, bartenders and deck hands were friendly, and just as jazzed to see a pod of humpbacks bubble-net feeding as we were!
In the off-season, knowledgable guide Peter is a teacher with a master’s degree in education. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
Guide Kelsie had a ton of energy. She graduated college just a few years back with a science degree. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
4..UnCruise For The Alaska Expertise
UnCruise knows Alaska. They’ve been cruising there for decades. UnCruise owner and founder Dan Blanchard lives and breathes the place and is based in Juneau himself.
UnCruise offers many different Alaska itineraries, some between Juneau and Ketchikan or Sitka, others round-trip from these ports. Most are seven nights, with a few longer itineraries too, like their new and upcoming Aleutian Islands Adventures.
Take a look at all of the Alaska cruise options here.
UnCruise and its fleet of small ships know Alaska better than just about any travel company out there; not sure about the megas carrying thousands that we crossed paths with once or twice. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
OFFERS: Check out UnCruise Alaska offers here!
5..UnCruise In Alaska To Be Different
There is nothing cookie cutter about the UnCruise experience. Carrying from 22 to 86 passengers, the UnCruise fleet of nine ships are all a bit different; for instance several including Wilderness Explorer have an outdoor hot tub. Some UnCruise ships have the restaurant and lounge on one deck, others on two decks.
No matter the layout, all are hearty expedition-style ships with stern marinas for easy access to the water and a fleet of kayaks, paddle boards and zodiac-style skiffs for exploring the wilds of Alaska.
With UnCruise, no two hikes or kayaking excursions or itineraries are exactly alike, as a go-with-the-flow mojo keeps things fresh and spontaneous.
Bushwhacking in Alaska. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
6..UnCruise For The Community
There’s something special about cruising on a cozy ship with like-minded nature lovers who are game for some adventure and enjoy getting their feet wet too.
In no time, on my recent Wilderness Explorer cruise we gravitated to the same dinner table with our favorite new pals. And likewise, up in the lounge and the adjacent outdoor foredeck, everyone happily chatted with one another like old friends as we looked for whales together and sipped happy hour drinks.
New friends hanging out on the foredeck of Wilderness Explorer near stunning Misty Fjords National Monument. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
The hikes were also very bonding, as the same group of us tended to choose them each day and then rehash the highlights and challenges afterwards. As the week wore on and friendships gelled, it was sweet how we would all fetch drinks for whomever was in the hot tub so they wouldn’t have to get out!
Easy to make friends on an UnCruise. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
7..UnCruise In Alaska Because It’s All Inclusive
It’s so wonderful not to have to worry about paying extra for excursions or drinks. On UnCruise, it’s all included, from a selection of house wines to beer (draft and bottles) and cocktails, including a drink of the day.
On our cruise, bartender Sean made delicious concoctions with fresh fruit and creative twists, often starting preparations the evening before, for instance when he made Watermelon Crushes with fresh watermelon and mint-infused rum — yum!
The only extra cost is the gratuity for the crew at the end of the cruise ($35 per passenger per day is suggested), which can be paid with a credit card and is split among the staff.
Bartender Sean’s delicious Watermelon Crush; each evening he prepared a special cocktail. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
If these seven reasons have you hankering for some UnCruise in Alaska, then go ahead and check out the options HERE.
And stay tuned for the full review of my very memorable awesome UnCruise in Alaska a few months ago.
SAVE: Enjoy a $500 per person discount on an Alaska in UnCruise when you mention code QUIRKY500.
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HEIDI SARNA
Thanks, Heidi, for this very interesting and informative story. I’m so glad there’s a cruise company that’s offering vigorous hikes and outings in nature. It all sounds wonderful!
They were very hearty, loved them! The ship’s hot tub came in handy to soothe our tired legs at the end of the day!