The concept of Un-Cruise Adventures began in 1996 when American Safari Cruises was established and pioneered yacht cruising in Alaska, offering upscale, active cruises aboard small yachts. In 2008, American Safari Cruises gained a new parent company when its former CEO Dan Blanchard – who headed American Safari Cruises from 2001 through 2008 – formed InnerSea Discoveries, LLC with partner Tim Jacox and purchased American Safari Cruises. In January 2013, the company changed its name to Un-Cruise Adventures.
The executive team currently includes Principal and CEO Dan Blanchard and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Tim Jacox. Together they have 60 years of combined experience in yacht and small-ship cruising. Blanchard formerly was vice president of operations at Cruise West and a captain for Glacier Bay Lodge cruises; he has been a licensed captain since 1981. Jacox spent 20 years at Cruise West including 12 years as vice president of marine and land operations and about 8 years managing sales and marketing.
Luxury Adventures are offered aboard four yachts: the 86-guest Safari Endeavour, 64-guest Safari Voyager, 36-guest Safari Explorer and 22-guest Safari Quest. It doesn’t quite end with those four, Active Adventures are offered on three expedition vessels—60-guest Wilderness Adventurer, 76-guest Wilderness Explorer and 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer. Heritage Adventures are offered on the 88-guest S.S. Legacy, a replica, turn-of-the-century coastal steamer.
Un-Cruise Adventures fill a distinct niche in water-borne travel: guests explore remote areas by luxury yachts, small expedition vessels or a replica turn-of-the-century coastal steamer with just 22 to 88 like-minded adventurers. They have up-close encounters with nature while discovering wildlife-rich seas and shores. They encounter spectacular wilderness: towering glaciers, scenic rivers, remote islands, history and culture. In sum, they have unrushed, uncrowded, truly uncommon experiences.
A key element of Un-Cruise Adventures is unraveling the tradition of rigid cruise ship schedules. Flexible itineraries and few scheduled port times allow the Active and Luxury Adventure vessels to seek out wildlife and maximize adventure activities in the wilderness. Yet guests also enjoy the more traditional meaning of cruising – creature comforts, gourmet cuisine, fine wines and specialty microbrews. On Heritage Adventures, guests visit ports and enjoy included tours to points of historical interest.
Un-Cruise Adventures offers explorations of exceptional quality, based on many years of experience. Destinations include the remote reaches of Alaska’s Inside Passage, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, the Hawaiian Islands, the coastal shores of Washington and British Columbia, and the Columbia & Snake Rivers.
Heritage Adventures began in August 2013 with new itineraries highlighting Living History programs on board and ashore. The 88-guest S.S. Legacy is a replica coastal steamer sailing inclusive voyages in the wake of early explorers, gold rush prospectors and pioneers – summers in Alaska and fall and spring on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
All three – Active Adventures, Luxury Adventures, Heritage Adventures – offer an alternative to traditional cruising. They focus on activities and excursions that provide close-up experiences with wilderness, wildlife, culture and history in each destination. Itineraries are flexible and change to maximize wildlife and scenic viewing opportunities.
Travel agents may become certified Adventurists with Un-Cruise Adventures. A series of webinars is available on the Travel Agent Portal. Adventurists earn bonus commissions and are listed on the line’s website for referral. Other benefits include reduced rate travel, advance notice on special offers, entry into a drawing for a free cruise each year and a framed Adventurist certificate.
