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Cruise Alaska in Winter with UnCruise
By Heidi Sarna
We asked Captain and UnCruise CEO Dan Blanchard about the genesis of their recently announced winter cruises starting in February and March, 2024.
We’re very intrigued to learn more about what seems like a very good idea — wonderfully quirky and out-of-the-box, just what we appreciate most!
Winter cruises in Alaska. A great idea, yay! * Photo: UnCruise
QuirkyCruise: Tell us how and why you came up with the idea to cruise Alaska in winter?
Captain Dan Blanchard: This has been in my plans for years, but was put on hold during the halting of travel with COVID.
It’s an exciting moment when I can finally launch something that has been in the works and that comes right from my heart.
Alaska is where I started my maritime career, and I will forever be an Alaska boy because of it. Showing people the majestic experiential adventures here is where the idea of pairing our sea adventures with an early season on land came from.
READ MORE: Here are more details about UnCruise’s “Winter Sports & Northern Lights” cruises.
Captain Dan Blanchard is an Alaska boy at heart. * Photo: UnCruise Adventures
I’ve always dreamed of starting my own adventure cruise line that would allow travelers to fully experience the beauty and adventure of Alaska and the surrounding areas, and here I am living my dream in this beautiful place.
I believe that travel should be about more than just ticking off a list of sights to see or activities to do. It should be about fully immersing yourself in a new place and truly experiencing all it has to offer.
Plus, we are the first to do a winter sports cruise, and there is a big spark of excitement around it.
RELATED: UnCruise announces winter cruises … in Alaska!
QuirkyCruise: Have you personally done all the activities that will be offered on the winter cruises?
Captain Dan Blanchard: Absolutely. I have personally done all of the excursions and activities that will be offered on our winter cruises.
As an avid skier, I can say that I am particularly excited to offer a variety of winter sports land options that we will pair with our Glacier Bay sea days. This pairing is for people who are looking for something unique.
And it’s not just for those who are big outdoor-ists. Like all of our adventures, we provide options for all activity levels.
Skiing in Alaska. On a cruise of course! * Photo: UnCruise
QuirkyCruise: Tell us a bit about your love of skiing.
Captain Dan Blanchard: Skiing is one of my go-to sports. Growing up in Mukilteo, Washington, I skied.
And then now living in Juneau, Alaska, our spot is Eagle Crest Resort with its impressive backcountry access.
I can’t wait to share with our guests, the opportunity to ski in Alaska along with other winter sports like snowshoeing, ice skating, and glacier hiking in Juneau.
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Captain Dan Blanchard: It’s hard to choose. If you’re an outdoorsman (or woman), Alaska is the place to be.
Along with skiing, snowshoeing is another one of my favorite winter activities in Alaska, and there are so many beautiful trails around Juneau to choose from.
Our guides will always do recon for our weekly trips to ensure we’re offering the very best options, like Mount Roberts Trail with its stunning views of downtown Juneau and Gastineau Channel.
And depending on permitting, we will have options for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in Glacier Bay, where few people have the chance to do this.
Endicott Arm is also a favorite, as we position ourselves in front of Dawes and Sawyer glaciers for the morning.
We also include Icy Straits in our winter cruises, where we will look for feeding whales — something that can’t be missed.
Icy Strait features an up-welling of krill and other feed for whales all year round. * Photo: UnCruise
And besides being on shore doing winter activities, another one of my favorite spots is on the bow of our ships just looking for the colors of the Northern Lights at that time of year.
So, thanks for asking me about our winter cruise activities.
I hope I’ve given you a sense of both my love of Alaska and the detail that is put into our new itineraries to create that UnCruise WOW factor.
SPECIAL OFFERS: Check out all of UnCruise Adventures cruise deals HERE.
Alaska is stunning in the winter. * Photo: UnCruise
Interested to cruise Alaska in winter?
Here are more details about UnCruises’s “Winter Sports & Northern Lights” cruises.
And here’s an overview of the 7-night itinerary, with all-inclusive fares starting at $5,600 per person aboard the 84-pax Safari Endeavour.
Day 1 — Juneau, start of cruise
Day 2 — Icy Strait & Lynn Canal
Day 3 — Glacier Bay National Park
Day 4 — Glacier Bay National Park & Bartlett Cove
Day 5 — Eagle Crest Ski Area (bring your own gear or rent on site)
Day 6 — Winter Sports & Tours
Day 7 — Tracy & Endicott Arms
Day 8 — End of cruise in Juneau
The “Winter Sports & Northern Lights” route. * Map: UnCruise
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HEIDI SARNA
