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Baja California Cruises
By Heidi Sarna
UnCruise is active, experiential travel at its finest; inviting you to get your feet wet (and muddy)! From the wilds of Alaska to the spectacular natural bounty of Mexico’s Sea of Cortes, on their Baja California cruises, UnCruise gets up-close and personal.
The stunning coastline of Baja California. * Photo: UnCruise
Their popular 7-night Baja California’s Whales & Sealife eco-cruises run from January 20th to April 20th, 2024 — in fact, it’s the line’s 28th season cruising in the “aquarium of the world” with stunning sights on land and sea.
Baja California is known for its friendly grey whales, here in Magdelena Bay. * Photo: UnCruise
The Jan 20th inaugural season cruise is a special sailing hosted by UnCruise’s charismatic CEO Dan Blanchard (more info on this cruise HERE), round-trip from La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico, with excursions in La Paz through Bahia Agua Verde, Isla San Francisco to Evaristo and Nopolo and more. Cabins are being snapped up fast, don’t delay on this one.
And UnCruise’s newest Baja California cruise offering is a 10-night Northern Baja, Whales, Birds & Sealife expedition slated for November 2024 .
In case you weren’t sure, the Sea of Cortes is also known as the Gulf of California; it’s the sliver of sea (technically part of the Pacific Ocean) that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland. * Map: UnCruise
There are a lot of reasons to love UnCruise. Namely, their awesome itineraries to the world’s most beautiful and unspoiled natural places. I should know, I recently spent a week in Alaska with UnCruise aboard the 74-passenger Wilderness Explorer cruising from Juneau south to Ketchikan, spending each day in between in the middle of glorious nowhere.
The other main reason to UnCruise is their guides.
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UnCruise Crew — Their Passion Is Contagious
The UnCruise glue is the crew — the guides are your ticket to close encounters with the wilds of Baja California, Alaska and all of UnCruise’s itineraries.
They’re a passionate bunch who are there for the same reason you are — they love the outdoors and are enthused about wildlife and nature. They lead the excursions, help folks navigate the trails and assist them getting in and out of kayaks and skiffs. They’re on hand to answers questions, share tidbits about the local flora and fauna, and keep everyone safe while out exploring.
On my recent Alaska UnCruise, I loved the hearty hikes in temperate mossy forests each day, the exploratory kayaking around quite coves (we saw seals and bears!), and the skiff rides along the scenic shoreline looking for wildlife (we saw more seals and bears, and otters!). We could get up close to glaciers too, via foot, kayak and skiffs.
SAVE: Mention QUIRKY500 when booking to take $500 per person off your next UnCruise.
Crew at UnCruise Adventures tend to stay, and many have been with the company at least three or four years, and some guides have worked for UnCruise for a decade.
The appeal of staying with the company is the ability to travel, get outdoors and share their skills and interests with guests. There is a sense of camaraderie among the crew as they enjoy sharing time with like-minded individuals.
Depending on the ship, itinerary and time of the year, there can sometimes be even more crew than passengers!
I asked a company spokeswoman what UnCruise looks for in the crew they hire. She told me:
“CEO Dan Blanchard would say that what we’re looking for in crew is a special sauce of knowledge, childlike playfulness and professionalism that all come together to provide a great environment for our guests.”
Most guides and naturalists have college degree in fields like marine biology, environmental science, or related disciplines, plus basic medical and CPR training. Other crew, working in navigation have maritime certifications such as Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers or STCW.
All crew drawn to UnCruise have a passion for adventure travel and the outdoors, and a respect for travel that leaves a small footprint.
On my recent cruise, all four of our guides were super enthusiastic, friendly and eager to show us the wild side of Alaska that they so love.
In the off-season, knowledgeable guide Peter is a substitute teacher with a master’s degree in education. He grew up on a farm, and still helps his dad sometimes at harvest time. When he was younger, Peter worked in zoo. He grew up in Idaho and had a great grasp of Alaska’s flora and fauna and could answer all of our questions about bears and glaciers. We enjoyed a skiff ride with him along the foot of the calving South Sawyer Glacier — what a thrill! And he also guided us on kayaking expeditions, leading us to a bear sighting.
Our super knowledgeable guide Peter. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
Guide Kelsie comes from Wisconsin and had a ton of energy. She graduated from college just a few years back with a science degree, and for UnCruise she harnesses her bubbly personality to lead hearty treks on shore. I greatly enjoyed one along a lumpy uphill path through thick mossy forest to check out some waterfalls.
Guide Kelsie’s enthusiasm was contagious! * Photo: Heidi Sarna
Shamus was the newest guide; hailing from Minnesota, he was a lover of the outdoors and he lead our hike along a ridge next to Lamplugh Glacier. He had us gaining about 800 feet as we hiked a total of about two miles over rocky terrain with low brush, awarding us with amazing views of the glacier’s moraine.
Shamus (in orange gaiter) guides us to great views of Lamplugh Glacier. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
Erin’s been with the UnCruise for five years, and has lived in Alaska for more than 10, calling Sitka home.
“I came for three months and stayed for 11 years!” she told us with her infectious smile.
On our cruise, Erin was the head guide and also cruise director for our trip, instilling great confidence in the whole operation with her confident demeanor and knowledge about plants (especially mushrooms and lichens) and wildlife.
Lead guide Erin made us feel safe and secure while on our hearty adventures. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
Most evenings one of the guides would do a slideshow and talk about glaciers, whales or the economics of the timber industry in Alaska.
No-nonsense CeCe the Boatswain had a twinkle in her eye, and did a great job as deck crew manager, having worked in higher education in a previous life. She hosted a cool evening of Sea Shanty singing, teaching us old songs that helped mariners get into a rhythm when doing their work heaving the sails, loading cargo, and building ships. She also drove the skiff boats sometimes and shared her experience with the area as well.
CeCe the Boatswain drove us to the foot of South Sawyer Glacier. * Photo: Heidi Sarna
It was clear these guides and crew were working for UnCruise because of their deep passion for their jobs and it showed.
When they shared facts, anecdotes and stories with us, there was no question they were just as excited about being in Alaska as the passengers. And it was contagious. Same deal for UnCruise’s Baja California cruises, the guides and crew are integral parts of the adventure.
UnCruise Is All Inclusive
It’s so convenient to have all excursions and drinks included in the fares, no nickel and diming, no wondering how much of a bill you’re racking up over the course of the week.
On an UnCruise adventure it’s all included, from a selection of house wines to beer (draft and bottles) and cocktails.
UnCruise fares are all-inclusive. I enjoyed my daily sunset Prosecco on deck, what a view! * Photo: Heidi Sarna
Daily hiking, kayaking and skiff excursions typically include multiple choices, with something more challenging (from bushwhacking to uphill hikes on rocky trails) as well as more moderate options (such as a walk along a remote beach or along the foot of a tidewater glacier).
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.
RELATED: 7 reasons to choose UnCruise for your next Alaska adventure.
RELATED: 8 reasons to do Baja California cruises in the Sea of Cortes with UnCruise.
RELATED: Check out UnCruise’s adventurous cruise options HERE.
UnCruise Itineraries in Alaska, Sea of Cortes & More
UnCruise offers a slew of 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.
And here is more info on UnCruise’s exciting Baja California cruises in the Sea of Cortes, including both 7-night and longer 10-night itineraries.
Interested In UnCruise’ing?
Check out the amazing adventures UnCruise has in store HERE, with offers on their Hawaii, Alaska and Baja California cruises.
And don’t forget to mention QUIRKY500 to enjoy a discount of $500 per person!
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HEIDI SARNA
