The last time we explored Southeast Alaska via cruise, we hopped aboard Uncruise‘s small cruise ship that could hold up to approximately 80 people. Our ship, the Safari Endeavor, boasted ocean facing rooms, a lounge, hot tubs, a spa, bar, dining area, library and an open seating area on the top deck. A slice of paradise upon a single ship.
What we loved most about our experience with Uncruise was the impeccable service. Every staff member wore more than one hat and had a natural curiosity for the great state of Alaska. Over the course of our cruising week, we got to know most of the staff members and we all learned something from them (e.g. bird calls, facts about the forest trees). Each staff member made it a point to learn our name the first day we were aboard.
Uncruise did an incredible job at making our stay aboard their ship become a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here are a few areas that we want to call out as being the most memorable for us (in no particular order):
1. Cuisine: The food was delicious. Each day, we were served 3 meals, a light breakfast (optional), and a happy hour with hors d’oeuvres. The staff was aware of different food allergies and there were 3 options offered at every meal: a vegetarian option, (which was incredible), and two other options such as fish or beef.
Breakfast ranged from pancakes to eggs to oatmeal with bacon and sausage. Lunches were hearty and included a protein and grain or starch. Chicken salads were always available in case you did not fancy one of the 3 options. Dinner was spectacular. You started with homemade bread and different types of butter and a salad (or soup depending on the day). After your first course, your main course would arrive followed by a delightful dessert (there was a pastry chef on board). The dinner that was the biggest hit was the ‘all you can eat crab’.
2. Activities: There were several ‘off the ship’ activities that we had the opportunity to participate in. Everything from cruising closer to a glacier in a skiff to bushwhacking (essentially blazing a trail), kayaking, or skiff tours (taking a small boat closer to shore and exploring different wildlife and areas around the shore).
3. Cabin Comfort: The cabin we were in had 2 single beds, a desk, closet and private bathroom. We had 2 windows that looked out into the wilderness of Alaska which was fantastic. For the amount of time we were actually in our cabin (which wasn’t much), we enjoyed the space. It was fairly quiet and felt like our own private place to take everything in.
- Our Rose: We truly enjoyed getting to know the other passengers on the ship and sharing our outdoor experience with other people who shared the same love for nature.
- Our Thorn: Not enough time! If you’re reading this article, you probably already understand that truly experiencing wildlife, nature, glaciers, etc. is all about exposure and being in the right place at the right time. We could have spent another year on the cruise ship and only touched the surface of what Alaska has to offer.
Interested in learning about other small cruise lines that sail in Alaska? Check out our article here or send us a note to discuss private charters.