On a drizzly overcast day, the boardwalk of Juneau was equally gray, and the usually bustling cruise ship pier was free of the towering vessels that usually dot the lengthy berth. Only the occasional passing pedestrian and the recently reopened Tracy’s King Crab Shack — still serving the best shellfish in town — brought the seasonal space to life as a reminder of what once was and will be again soon.
Despite the temporarily abandoned main dock, Alaska travel has already returned, and UnCruise Adventures is one of the first to operate in the state. At the start of our sailing aboard S.S. Legacy (soon to be renamed Wilderness Legacy for adventure brand consistency), the company’s CEO, Dan Blanchard, who came along for the ride, exclaimed, “We’re making history!”
And indeed, we were. As one of the only passenger boats in service along the Inside Passage, our ship’s group of 60 or so guests (the vessel has a max capacity of 86) was one of very few traversing the region. Anchored in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, for instance, no Celebrity Cruises nor Princess Cruises mega ship sailed past in the distance. We were it.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it had been almost two years since I was in Alaska, and, boy, was it great to be back. UnCruise’s current policy is for everyone — guests and crew — to be fully vaccinated and PCR tested before boarding, and as a result, we were in our own protected bubble sans onboard mask policy. And without incident, not a single guest elected to wear a face covering all week.
My father, who joined me on the trip, remarked, “it was a vacation from masks and a vacation from COVID-19,” and both were quite literally a breath of fresh air.
By name, UnCruise is the antithesis of the traditional cruise experience, but it is still an expedition cruise of sorts. It mainly differs from the host of upcoming expedition newbuilds thanks to a much-reduced passenger count that easily facilitates frequent exploration. Guest can load into a kayak straight off the Legacy for a full-day adventure of hiking onshore, or split their time by enjoying a leisurely morning walk exploring tide pools, followed by lunch back onboard and an adventurous bushwhack and polar plunge in the afternoon. The range and intensity of activity — all of which are included in the fare — is chosen completely by the client.
Clients on an UnCruise sailing can choose their own adventure levels with optional activities like kayaking, hiking and more.
Credit: 2021 Jason Leppert“The thing for an agent to understand, with very few exceptions, is you don't have to be an athlete to do this,” Blanchard said. “You can hop in a skiff and go for a ride. You can sit in the hot tub. You can enjoy a book. You can take an [educational class].”
In short, the perfect UnCruise customer is not the typical luxury cruiser, but the adventure traveler of most ages (eight and above as stipulated by the line). As such, multigenerational groups join from time to time. With cabins being utilitarian in nature, this is luxury of experience more than luxury of amenities. However, there is still plenty of personal storage and beds are very comfortable. The vibe onboard is social, friendly and homey, and the attentive service staff feel more like family. All the while, every delicious gourmet meal and beverage — alcoholic cocktails, Alaskan Brewing Company beers on tap, sodas and more — are fully included.
Even as large cruise ships are set to return this year (in relatively small numbers), 2021 is the season to see the untouched heart of Alaska in its rawest form. However, if your clients decide to wait until 2022, UnCruise will be offering its new “Wild, Woolly, and Wow!” trip.
“Next year, Legacy will be priced as one of our wilderness boats and go to some of the most remote areas of Southeast Alaska that are rarely visited,” Blanchard said. “Places like Fern Harbor in Glacier Bay, Corner Bay on Chichago Island, Deep Bay, Patterson Bay and LeConte Glacier. These places aren’t even visited by small vessels.”
There are also bigger things in the works for UnCruise. Just prior to the pandemic, the company was preparing to add new destinations to its roster, including Patagonia and Antarctica, as well as researching mainland Ecuador and the far reaches of the Amazon. UnCruise was even considering up to 14 newbuilds to replace existing vessels and expand the brand. Blanchard said such endeavors could return to the drawing board by 2024.
In any case, UnCruise is definitely ready to welcome guests now, as it keeps an eye on the future.
The Details
UnCruise Adventures
