American Safari Cruises – The Famed Inside Passage – Fall 2010
The Famed Inside Passage – Fall 2010
Overview
15 Days/14 Nights — Juneau, Alaska to Seattle, Washington
Experience the full length of the West Coast of North America’s Inside Passage without the open ocean, but with shores ever-so-tight to the sides of your yacht for most of the 900 nautical miles between Seattle and Juneau. Embrace exhilarating closeness to snow-capped mountains, wildlife and birds far too numerous to keep count, waterfalls, tree-lined narrow passageways and surprises at just about every “gunkholing” turn.
Choose May or September — either is an excellent time for cruising along British Columbia’s coast and Alaska’s Inside Passage. At these times of the year the foliage is vivid, there are fewer boats and people, and bears and other animals are likely foraging along the shoreline. Then make a second choice of the yacht that best fits you among the Safari Explorer, Safari Quest or Safari Spirit. The value is extraordinary and the daily encounters with nature are astounding!
Daily Itinerary – Safari Quest
| Day 1 : Sail from Juneau, Alaska You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to the Safari Spirit where your crew greets you with champagne and hors d’oeuvres. We’ll cruise north toward our serene anchorage this evening. |
| Day 2 – 3 : Glacier Bay National Park One of America’s crown-jewel national parks will be ours to explore and marvel at for the next two days. Tidewater glaciers sweep like rivers of ice down massive mountain valleys, terminating before us in the waters of Glacier Bay. If conditions permit, we’ll lower the inflatable and weave among the icebergs that have fallen from the face of the glaciers. We’ll enjoy evenings at anchor in hidden coves, and mornings paddling our kayaks in the quiet of this majestic wilderness. And what will we find? Quite possibly we’ll see puffins, sea lions, mountain goats, bears, moose, eagles, and scenery more spectacular than any place on earth. |
| Days 4 – 5 : Fjords and Hot Springs We’ll spend these two days in the wildest, most pristine corners of Alaska. We’ll paddle our kayaks in remote fjords, hike to natural hotsprings, wander through the temperate rainforest of Southeast Alaska, and explore some of the most scenic, hidden gems one can find in the inside passage. |
| Day 6 : Petersburg – “Little Norway” Today we make a port stop to the quaint Norwegian-style fishing village of Petersburg. Once back onboard, our journey leads us through the ever-so-narrow Wrangell Narrows, a passage that’s been dubbed “Christmas Tree Lane” for the red and green navigational markers that mark the route. Home to rich salmon runs |
| Days 7 – 8 : Alaskan Waterways Remote waterways, hidden villages, and wilderness cruising will be our focus today. We’ll tour Chief Shakes Island’s Tlingit tribal house as we call at the true Alaskan town of Wrangell. Continuing on our cruise, keep an eye out for seals and porpoise on our way to a silent, hidden cut between two islands called Canoe Pass. We’ll drop the kayaks for those wanting to use their own power to take advantage of the extremely close-in shores.Later, we’ll poke into Meyer’s Chuck. Tucked behind a fortress of broken islands, Meyer’s Chuck lies undetected by most that pass this way.We will pull in for a look at this surprising community made up of a handful of fishermen, artists and bush pilots.Ê Saunter up the cedar-planked boardwalks that are the “streets” of the village, and meet the locals. We will spend the night at anchor in a remote cove. There, we will have time for investigating our surroundings by kayak or inflatable with your Expedition Leaders/Naturalists. |
| Day 9 : Ketchikan, Alaska Discover the rich, cultural heritage of Alaska’s Tlingit Indians on a guided tour or Saxman Totem Village with local village resident Joe Williams. Before we depart, take time to browse shops or stroll along Creek Street where there’s often a good dose of local color to be found. |
| Day 10 : Prince Rupert, British Columbia Prince Rupert is British Columbia’s northernmost port along our route. Here, a historic sightseeing and museum tour introduces us to this scenic community. After our visit we’ll begin our exploration of the fjords along the northern B.C. coast, anchoring in a quiet cove this evening. |
| Day 11 – 13 : Exploring the Canadian Inside Passage Search for orca whales, seals, sea lions and bears. Our Expedition Leader will lead nature hikes and kayaking excursions, and we’ll enjoy a First Nations dance performance in a cedar-planked big house. We’ll also step ashore with Naturalists from Raincoast Conservation Society who will tell us about local wildlife and fisheries studies, including little known details on rainforest wolves and the mysterious Spirit bear. |
| Day 14 : The Sun Juan Islands and Friday Harbour We’ll arrive in US waters today; all eyes open for orca whales! The misty San Juan Islands greet us this morning. Settle into the rhythm of the sea as we leave our busy lives behind. Beautiful forested islands dot the seascape where we wind through the untouched islands in the San Juan’s. Today we’ll visit the port of Friday Harbor. Here you’ll enjoy time at leisure to stroll through the town’s many intriguing boutiques and shops, or perhaps the Whale Museum. To top off our trip, we’ll celebrate and reminisce together during our festive Farewell dinner. |
| Day 15 : Disembark in Seattle, Washington During breakfast we’ll pass through the Hiram-Chittenden Locks and dock at Seattle’s Historic Fishermen’s Terminal for a 9:00 am disembarkation. A transfer to the Seattle airport or local hotel is included. Safe travels to all! |
Rates and Dates
| Safari Explorer | Single Stateroom | Master Stateroom | Commander Stateroom | Captain Stateroom | Admiral Stateroom | Commodore Suite | Commodore Triple | Admiral Triple | Full Charter |
| Sep 10, 2010 | $9,195 | $8,095 | $8,595 | $9,195 | $10,395 | $12,095 | $10,295 | $8,795 | $318,495 |
Southbound
| Safari Quest | Single Stateroom |
Master Stateroom |
Commander Stateroom | Captain Stateroom | Full Charter |
| Sep 10, 2010 | $9,195 | $8,295 | $9,595 | $10,195 | $192,995 |
Southbound
| Safari Spirit | Commander Stateroom | Captain Stateroom | Admiral Stateroom | Full Charter |
| Sep 3, 2010 | $9,995 | $10,595 | $11,995 | $129,995 |
All rates are shown in US dollars, per person, double occupancy. Any stateroom (except Single stateroom) may be sold as a single for 175% of double occupancy rate.
About the American Safari Cruises Experience