Un-Cruise Adventures: Exploring Alaska's Wilderness Beyond Traditional Cruises

Un-Cruise: A Different Kind of Alaskan Adventure

• 🚢 The Un-Cruise offers an alternative to traditional cruises, focusing on wildlife and wilderness exploration in Southeastern Alaska rather than onboard entertainment.
• 💡 This expedition-style cruise emphasizes activities like kayaking, bushwhacking, and skiff rides over amenities like pools, casinos, or formal shows.
• 💰 While not inexpensive, the cruise includes all excursions, meals, and alcohol, with gratuity for the crew being the main additional cost.

Southeastern Alaska: Geography and Access

• 🗺️ Southeastern Alaska is a vast area of over 35,000 square miles, largely covered by National Forest and Park land, with no roads connecting its communities.
• ✈️ Juneau, the capital, is accessible by air or ferry and served as the starting and ending point for this particular cruise.
• 🌲 The region is characterized by its numerous islands, inlets, and a high annual rainfall, necessitating rubber boots and rain gear for excursions.

Wildlife Encounters and Activities

• 🐻 The cruise focuses heavily on wildlife viewing, with opportunities to see Alaskan brown bears (grizzlies), bald eagles, mountain goats, black bears, and marine mammals.
• 🛶 Activities include guided and free kayaking, skiff rides for photography, and bushwhacking – forging trails through undeveloped wilderness.
• 🐋 Whale sightings, including humpbacks and orcas, often interrupted scheduled talks, highlighting the spontaneous nature of wildlife encounters.

Glacier Bay National Park Experience

• 🧊 Glacier Bay National Park is a highlight, with Un-Cruise ships allowed more access and overnight stays compared to larger cruise lines.
• 🧑‍🔬 A park ranger joined the ship for two days, providing insights into the glaciers, wildlife, and plant succession in the area.
• 📉 The park showcases the dramatic receding of glaciers, with some areas still in early stages of plant colonization after being covered by ice.

Unique Cruise Features and Crew

• ⚓ The ship utilizes an "easy dock" system with jet skis to facilitate kayak launches and landings, making activities more accessible.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 With only 86 passengers, the small group size fosters a sense of community and allows for a more personalized experience.
• 👍 The American crew is noted for their hard work, enthusiasm, and friendly demeanor, contributing to the overall positive experience and encouraging repeat bookings.

Future Travel and Recommendations

• 🦈 The host has already booked a future Un-Cruise to Baja to swim with whale sharks and see humpback whales during their calving season.
• 🏞️ This type of expedition cruise is recommended for active individuals who prefer wilderness immersion over traditional cruise ship entertainment.