Small-Ship Luxury Cruise in Southeastern Alaska aboard the Newly Refurbished Safari Endeavour
August 5-12, 2012
Cruise Highlights
- 2 days in magnificent Glacier Bay National Park with a Park Ranger onboard
- Expert naturalists and guides lead excursions on land and sea
- Unhurried time for whale watching and wildlife viewing
- Skiff rides explore shoreline, wildlife and glaciers truly up close
- Program of educational presentations
- Quiet overnights at anchor in remote bays and coves — no cruising through the night
- Included goodies: massage, yoga classes, hot tubs, sauna, exercise equipment
- Guided kayaking, hiking and beachcombing activities also included
- Gourmet meals with wine, beer and spirits included
- Download Detailed Itinerary & Pricing
INTRODUCTION
Join us for an all-inclusive 8-day/7-night luxury yacht-style adventure aboard the newly renovated 86-guest Safari Endeavour beginning and ending in Juneau, Alaska and featuring two days in magnificent Glacier Bay! Our Venture Out group will join other guests on American Safari Cruises’ newest luxury vessel plying the serene waters in Southeastern Alaska. 2012 will see the re-launching of the Safari Endeavour after its through refurbishment during 2011. (As soon as photos of the newly renovated ship are ready, we will make them available on this site.)
The Safari Endeavour enables its privileged guests to see the awe-inspiring sights in Alaska — as a close-up adventure on a small yacht-style ship and off the beaten path. Soak in the stunning Alaska wilderness from the comfort of a luxury floating hotel. The newly refurbished ambiance on board is casual yet with a full menu of upscale amenities. The highlight of the cruise is the wilderness around us which we explore daily in a variety of ways. Great wildlife, nature, and truly awesome scenery come together to provide us a wonderful treat day in and day out. We enter some of the world’s deepest fjords where we have the opportunity to hike and kayak while other vessels’ guests stay shipside. In the still of the evening, watch bears ambling along wild shorelines. Everywhere in the swirling currents below, the world’s largest mammals, the great whales, forage in bountiful waters along the sheltered coastline. We meet Alaska and its wildlife at eye level for a vacation of a lifetime!
American Safari Cruises’ programs allow the freedom to engage in off-ship activities every day so you may be as active as you like — or perhaps just sit back and soak in the beautiful environment that envelops you everywhere we go. It’s your choice. Kayaks and stand-up paddle boards are available for excursions. Skiff rides (small inflatable boats) will explore shoreline, wildlife and glaciers truly up close — something that the big cruise liners simply can’t do. Expert naturalists and guides cruising with us lead excursions on land and sea. An enhanced program of educational presentations will be presented in the ship’s salon. In Glacier Bay, a National Park Ranger boards the ship for two days to lead hiking and kayaking excursions and provide interpretation of the area’s history, culture and geography.
OUR SHIP & ACTIVITIES
The guest capacity of our luxury yacht-style ship, the Safari Endeavour, is up to 86 guests (43 staterooms). The number of staterooms in each category are:
Master — 3
Commander — 21
Captain — 12
Admiral — 3
Commodore Suites — 4
The Commodore Suites merge two former staterooms and have a step-out balcony and jacuzzi tub.
Master and Commander staterooms are furnished with twin beds. Captain and Admiral staterooms are furnished with King beds, convertible to twins. Commodore Suites are furnished with a King bed, convertible to twins, plus a sofa sleeper.
All staterooms have one or two outside view windows, Tempur-Pedic® memory-foam mattresses, ensuite shower, bathroom with heated tile floor, flat screen TV with DVD player, iPod docking station, terry bathrobes, slippers, alarm clock, and hair dryer.
Other amenities/facilities include two massage rooms, two on-deck hot tubs, sauna, exercise equipment (elliptical trainers and stationary bikes), wine bar, educational and entertainment DVD library, book library, hydrophones to listen to whales and other below-surface sounds, underwater bow camera, board games, binoculars, hiking poles, rubber boots, rain gear. A crew of 34 will ensure attentive service with a guest-crew ratio of 2.5 to 1.
Click here to download the Safari Endeavour deck plan (PDF document).
Activities — all included in the cruise fare — include guided hiking, walks, kayaking, beachcombing, small-boat excursions (skiff explorations), stand-up paddle boarding, yoga classes (with mats), and massage.
AMERICAN SAFARI CRUISES
Operating now for 14 years, ASC’s tag line is “Luxury in the Pursuit of Adventure.” They specialize in nature-oriented, small-ship, inclusive luxury cruises. While active travelers should be quite pleased with the availability of activities during an ASC “yachtscape,” the less-active traveler will be equally impressed simply by the scenery, wildlife sightings from the ship, onboard amenities, fine dining, and educational presentations. ASC’s itineraries are designed for those who want to escape to remote places, leaving the big ships and their crowds behind, but without sacrificing comfort. Many of these locations on the itinerary remain “below the radar” because larger vessels can’t get to them. Their goal is that you be their pampered guest — one of the very few — who will cruise at “fingertip closeness” through some of the most magnificent destinations in Alaska.
The itinerary is flexible enough that our Captain can change course when word of whale sightings comes over the radio, or slow the engines and linger in a tidal inlet if bears are out foraging on the beach. You also become familiar with your crew and staff, whose goal is to make every aspect of your journey a pleasure and to facilitate your adventures ashore. You’re always welcome to visit the bridge and discuss navigation with the Captain. Throughout our voyage, we’re accompanied by a knowledgeable Expedition Leader who offers timely narratives about the local history and wildlife and keeps a lookout for wildlife. Humpback whales abeam while you’re in the lounge? Our guide will sound the alert!
Dining is a true delight — a cornucopia of fresh local seafood, just-baked breads, hearty soups, exquisite entrees, sinfully delicious desserts. Everyone is served at one seating, family-style; dress is always casual. Dietary restrictions are taken into account to the extent possible; please alert us in advance of the nature of any dietary restrictions.
GLACIER BAY
Accessible only by air or sea, Glacier Bay is recognized as a biosphere reserve. The 3.3-million-acre park (about the size of Connecticut) is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, 15,000-foot mountains rise straight out of the ocean and massive glaciers flow across the landscape, covering thousands of square miles. Grizzly bears raise their young, moose browse among the alders and mountain goats scale the cliffs above. Seabirds roost on rocky ledges, and whales and porpoise forage in the nutrient-rich waters of the bay.
On our cruise we’ll spend two days deep into Glacier National Park, not merely cruising past the astounding scenery, but stopping to go ashore or kayak with our Expedition Leader or Park Ranger — activities which the big cruise ships can’t do. We’ll explore this unforgettable “natural laboratory” where receding glaciers reveal a landscape that has been covered with ice for tens of thousands of years. To experience Glacier Bay is to experience nature in its primary stages, a rare opportunity indeed.
As guests, the exclusive National Park Service arrangement with American Safari Cruises and our small-size ship permit us to walk, hike and kayak while inside Glacier Bay, a special and not-to-be-missed experience. This is truly an in-depth exploration of this most remarkable National Park.