UnCruise Adventures prides itself on its extensive experience as a small ship adventure-cruise specialist offering a truly authentic way to discover the many beauties of Alaska. We speak to CEO Dan Blanchard about what the experience entails and what guests can expect on one of their Alaskan cruises, including activities, wildlife spotting and unique natural phenomena. He also talks about the superior onboard experience, highly qualified expert guides, the company’s commitment to sustainability and its plans for the future.   

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: Alaska is an undiscovered wilderness for most people, and an Alaskan cruise is a wish-list adventure for them. What does UnCruise Adventures do to ensure guests’ expectations are met on this extraordinary voyage?

Dan Blanchard: It isn’t easy to sum up everything we offer on our active adventure cruises. People travel with us for the ability to go places others can’t with a small footprint. Alaska is one of the last remote areas that provides a sense of being a real adventurer, harking back to the past when the likes of John Muir were still discovering them. Our adventures are all-inclusive with sustainable seafood, a high-end culinary offering, all beverages and spirits and comfortable accommodations. But that is the icing on the cake. All guests can choose their own adventure style through the seven to 14-night cruises with our very experienced expedition leaders and like-minded travellers. 

I’m an Alaska boy through and through, and I feel incredibly proud that there is so much history, wildlife, and true outback adventure for our guests to experience. 

LLA: What is unique about the cruising experience on UnCruise Adventures?

DB: We are one of the industry’s most experienced and fun small ship cruise lines. We offer small groups, professional crew, multi-generational family options, solo traveller friendly, all-inclusive, nature and wildlife-focused, and sustainable travel with a small footprint. We have guests who return to Alaska with us several times because they want to see every nook and cranny and live in the Alaska Dream. You see something different each time. Also, we like to say there is no bad weather, just bad gear. So it is essential to review our packing lists.  

LLA: Alaska is becoming more and more popular as a cruising destination. Can you give us an outline of the itineraries that you offer?

DB: We have provided 7-14-night adventures for 25 years and have eight vessels going to seven locations along the West Coast of the Americas, from the Galapagos to Alaska. Alaska is where the company started, and we are the largest provider of itineraries in Alaska for small ship cruising. Each season begins in April in the spring, one of the best times to visit Alaska, and ends in September. We have six vessels with nine itinerary options in Alaska alone.   

LLA: What is the best time of year to visit Alaska?  

DB: Spring in Alaska is an amazing time when Southeast Alaska is awakening. Bears are coming out of hibernation; we see baby bears often, and humpback whales are everywhere and returning to Alaska to feed. And what people don’t often think about is that spring in Alaska is the driest time of the year. There is less tourism, so you have the small towns like Juneau all to yourself, and the Northern Lights are prevalent. Those are just a few of the reasons why spring is my favourite. Our season starts in the first week of April each year. 

LLA: What activities are available for your guests when they disembark and explore?

DB: Our guests are with us in remote areas for the full seven to 14 days. That means our guests live onboard except for a few stops in places like Bartlett Cove in Glacier Bay National Park or the small historic town of Haines. We don’t go to ports; we don’t focus on shopping; we create unique daily activities in nature with kayaking, bushwhacking, hiking, snorkelling, skiffing, wildlife watching, shore walks and more! 

LLA: What sort of wildlife and other natural phenomena can guests anticipate encountering?

DB: Each of our itineraries is unique in the wildlife encountered, and it’s great for people to experience a wide range from bear sightings in Southeast Alaska to bubble net feeding with humpback whales and then swimming with whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez or snorkelling with manta rays in Hawaii. Many guests do two cruises, sometimes back-to-back, to experience all of it. Each one is truly unforgettable and something to experience at least once in your life.  

LLA: How can guests entertain themselves while they are on board?

DB: There is plenty to do while onboard for those who want a more relaxing experience, have less mobility, or take it easy after a hard day of hiking. First and foremost is wildlife watching from the bow with a cocktail or warm toddies. We also have board games, a small library and DVDs to borrow. There is a great lounge on each vessel to mingle near the bar, meet other adventure lovers, or take in the sights from the hot tub on the upper deck. I don’t think we’ve ever had guests say they were bored.  

LLA: The dining experience is always a highlight of cruising. What sort of cuisine do you offer, and what makes it special and something that diners should look forward to?

DB: We have consistently been complimented on the quality and variety of our onboard cuisine. We have a whole program focused on fresh, local, and inspired cuisine with our partners in sustainable seafood sourcing and farmers who provide our local fruits and vegetables. We also look to source speciality items from each location, from locally crafted gin and small batch beers to herbs and spices to provide the local flavour. No one can say they’ve ever gone hungry onboard with menus that include lemon mushroom crostinis, salmon in garlic butter, risotto, seared scallops, and cauliflower steaks, to name a few. I love joining on board to sample the menu; my mouth is watering now! People can also enjoy our video series on food on our YouTube channel or learn more on my podcast, No Ordinary Adventure. We just did a special episode on wines.  

LLA: Do your ships have the capability to cater to customers with dietary restrictions? What can people with intolerances or particular nutritional needs expect?

DB: Yes, of course. Our chefs are masters at creating options for dietary restrictions, vegetarians, gluten allergies, nut allergies and vegans. And it doesn’t taste bland, either. This is high-end cuisine on a comfortable adventure vessel that we consistently receive compliments on. 

LLA: A cruise offers the chance to celebrate and make new friends. What can guests look forward to when it comes to enjoying the perfect coffee or sharing a glass of wine or cocktail?

DB: Our onboard lounges are perfect for catching up on the day’s adventures or enjoying happy hour and delicious appetisers such as baked brie and Salmon Florentine bites with a wine pairing. Our bartenders are fun, friendly, and great at creating signature cocktails, mocktails, speciality coffees and more to ensure everyone is taken care of. Our lounge is also our hub for our naturalist, historical and wildlife presentations almost nightly, and not to forget the location for our farewell evening with our weekly slideshow! 

LLA: UnCruise prides itself on providing expert guides on its cruises to Alaska. What expertise do they offer, and what can guests expect to learn from their interaction? 

DB: We have a fun and enthusiastic crew on every vessel. Part of what we look for in a crew member is if they can make me laugh, as it is more than just a resume, it is what is in their character and personality too. I’m proud to say we have members of our expedition team with extensive outdoor experience and the certifications to back it up. They know the areas we sail in and have backgrounds in everything from PhDs to degrees in Marine Biology and Environmental Studies to being Wilderness First Responders, PADI Divemasters, skilled in Swiftwater Rescue, and being glacier guides, canoeists, horseback guides, yacht deckhands and wildlife whisperers.  

LLA: Expectations are always high on cruises when it comes to service on board. How do you ensure the highest standards are consistently achieved by providing excellent personal service at all times?

DB: Our personalisation starts with the first touch in speaking with our adventure specialists at booking, to myself welcoming people onboard in Alaska and taking them on local historical walks through Juneau to each crew member paying attention to the requests, needs, and diets of each guest. Our crew knows each guest’s name, and you will feel at home onboard.  

LLA: What sort of guests do you have on board? Where in the world do they come from?

DB: Our guests are typically frequent travellers who are into health, wellness, the outdoors and conservation, to name a few. Many of our guests (and repeat guests) come from North America, the United States and Canada. We also have a big following of people from Australia, and now that international travel and the Australia travel ban has been removed, we are seeing a surge in the return of that international travel. 

LLA: Hidden costs can sometimes be an issue on cruises. What is included in the price of an UnCruise Adventure cruise? What extras should guests expect to pay?

DB: Once onboard, everything is included. Yes, really. That means you can keep your wallet in your pocket. All gear, meals, premium wine and spirits, tours, park fees, and excursions are all included. People can expect to pay port fees and taxes, and we encourage them to tip their enthusiastic crew.  

LLA: Cruise ships sometimes have a bad reputation for having a negative environmental impact. What does UnCruise Adventures do to protect the unique Alaskan ecosystem and promote sustainability on its cruises?

DB: We keep our ships in good repair with efficient generators and regular updates. We also partner with sustainable fisheries, local farmers and good partners to eliminate long supply chains. We are advocates for respecting the wild areas we visit, which is embedded in our company values and future growth. Here is a short list of some of our sustainable performance efforts. 

Buy in bulk to reduce packaging waste at the purchase point. 

• Take meal orders in advance to reduce food waste 
• Support communities by buying local 
• Eliminate single-use plastics onboard 
• Provide sustainable and refillable shampoos and onboard amenities 
• Switched to digital brochures instead of printed ones 
• Itinerary planning means we do not have to travel far, which increases fuel efficiency 
• Replace engines with more fuel-efficient versions 
• Aim for low CO2 emissions 
• Burn ultra-low sulphur diesel, which is not ‘heavy fuel’ – what we burn is comparable to what is sold for cars 

We utilise Type II MSDs. These are flow-through discharge devices approved by the USCG to meet the minimum effluent standard. This type of device is typically a biological or aerobic digestion-based system. The specific units we have onboard vary from ship to ship.  

We produce around half a million pounds of CO2 each week of the Alaska operations. We estimate 10 million pounds for the AK season and five million pounds for the rest of the season.  

LLA: UnCruise Adventures started cruising in Alaska with one yacht over 20 years ago and now offers a wide range of cruises and destinations. What are the company’s plans looking forward?

DB: After a strong comeback through COVID, I can now look more towards the future with consideration for expanding Alaska options and possible winter sports itineraries early in the year, returning to the Amazon area as an itinerary inclusion and looking at additional opportunities for Antarctica, which we were doing recon on before the start of COVID.