How UnCruise Adventures Survived
By Anne Kalosh
The privately held, small-ship UnCruise Adventures said it quickly returned to profitability after the pandemic shutdown while many lines are still dealing with massive losses and crushing debt.
This should give UnCruise customers and travel advisors confidence, according to owner and CEO Capt. Dan Blanchard.
“Our approach to adventure cruising and business management is different from the big multinational cruise lines,” Blanchard said. “We have always focused on small group and sustainable travel, and that has paid off.
“The best investment we can make is in ourselves and our environment. Our guests appreciate that, coming back year after year,” he adds.
“Our return to profitability proves that with determination and adaptability, you don’t have to give up your dream,” Dan Blanchard said. * Photo: UnCruise Adventures
Profitable in 2021 & 2022
The Seattle-based company said it was profitable in 2021 and 2022, which were very tough years for most cruise lines.
And 2023 looks very promising.
“We believe in the power of U.S. small private business to drive change and create positive, profitable outcomes. Our return to profitability proves that with determination and adaptability, you don’t have to give up your dream. And that is a message worth sharing,” Blanchard said.
Recounting the company’s journey through the pandemic, he noted that in August 2020, there were only eight UnCruise employees left, some working without pay, and “our future was uncertain. But we persevered, and today we can see how far we’ve come.”
The company took immediate action in March 2020 to save millions in expenses, which included the painful decision to lay off most staff and reduce the wages of those who stayed.
That same month UnCruise moved seven of its ships to freshwater layup in Seattle, which greatly reduced the cost of keeping them in certification and helped preserve their conditions.
Cruises Resumed in April 2021
Cruises resumed in April 2021, months before most other lines. This was possible because UnCruise required all crew and passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19. This gave people the confidence to travel, and most sailings were filled in 2021.
UnCruise instituted a vaccination mandate early on to restore confidence that it was safe to travel. Here, passengers masked for a snorkeling excursion. * Photo: UnCruise Adventures
Blanchard also led a coalition of six small ship competitors to lobby in Washington, D.C. to ensure these U.S.-flagged, tax-paying companies would not be left out of COVID stimulus funding.
According to UnCruise, its recovery was not hindered by higher operating costs of U.S.-built ships, labor laws, repair yards and taxes. The COVID stimulus provided by the U.S. government to small businesses played a role in supporting the company’s recovery.
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No Cabotage Issues, Another Reason UnCruise Adventures Survived
Because its ships are U.S.-flagged, they also could operate Alaska cruises without calling at a foreign port which foreign-registered vessels must do to satisfy U.S. cabotage regulations.
So while the big international ships had to sit out Alaska cruises because Canada was closed to foreign-flag cruises, this restriction did not impact UnCruise.
UnCruise was able to operate Alaska cruises even when Canada was closed because its U.S.-flag ships satisfy U.S. cabotage regulations. * Photo: UnCruise Adventures
Today, with 53 administrative staff, down from the 86 people shoreside in pre-pandemic 2019, the company is leaner than before.
UnCruise became more agile and cut costs by pivoting to a digital-focused marketing and content strategy, and a digital brochure replaced the print one, saving millions annually and improving the environment at the same time.
The line also tweaked deployment to tap into emerging markets.
All these actions allowed a return to profitability in 2021 and 2022.
“We have a responsibility to do what we can to preserve the natural wonders we showcase to our guests and to provide confidence in the strength and longevity of our brand,” Blanchard said. “I often thank our guests from the USA, when they go aboard our ships in Juneau, for their investment in UnCruise Adventures. This often brings smiles, clapping and shout-outs [for] a job well done. We have been successfully operating for 27 years and I look forward to 27 more.”
A focus on small group and sustainable travel. Here, Safari Voyager passengers kayaking in Alaska. * Photo: UnCruise Adventures
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