Some of the Wildlife You'll See on an Expedition Cruise in Alaska

Alaska is a very popular travel destination for families and explorers alike for obvious reasons. The Alaskan landscape is largely untouched and offers epic, fantasy-world vistas nearly unmatched in the world. Big cruise lines sail up to the Alaskan frontier every year when the snow melts and continue through the beginning of fall. One of the most exciting aspects of Alaska is watching the wildlife interact with its natural surroundings. While you may be able to catch glimpses of Alaskan wildlife on big cruise lines, whether from your cabin balcony or a shore excursion at an extra cost, it’s quite rare you’ll actually get an up close look.

There is one company that addresses this shortcoming however. UnCruise Adventures, who we’ve had the pleasure of using on a trip to Hawaii last year, is a small ship expedition cruising company that specializes in Alaskan itineraries. Six of the company’s nine vessels traverse the Alaskan coastal landscape from April through September everywhere. Not exceeding 86 guests, each vessel is uniquely suited and equipped to provide an up close experience for passengers, something large cruise ships are unable to do. With UnCruise, you’ll have ample opportunities to witness the abundant Alaskan wildlife especially if you choose to sail with them in April, just as the wildlife awaken from their winter slumber.

Should you plan to go on an UnCruise adventure, here are some of the Alaskan wildlife you’ll likely see! Do keep note that these are just a slice of what you might actually see. The spectrum of Alaskan wildlife is vast!

Orcas

Orcas, or Killer Whales, migrate northward throughout the Bering Strait in the spring as the pack ice retreats and leave the Beaufort and Chukchi seas in the fall when the ice advances. Because resident Orca of Alaska tend to feed on salmon, you’ll find many pods during the early summer season in the Gulf of Alaska as king salmon follow the currents to feed. You’ll also get to see the more elusive transient Orcas, who feed primarily on the marine mammals such as porpoises and sea lions who in turn feed on the salmon.

Humpback Whales

Ah, the mighty Humpback Whale. These magnificent creatures migrate from winter breeding grounds near Japan, Hawaii or Mexico to summer breeding grounds that extend from Washington State to the Chukchi Sea in Northern Alaska. During the summer, the highest concentration of humpbacks occurs in the Inside Passage.

Dall’s Porpoises

Dall’s porpoises frequent Alaskan waters and rival the killer whales as the fastest marine mammals in the region. Like dolphins, Dall’s porpoises often “bow ride,” so you’ll likely get to catch a glimpse of these compact and muscular marine mammals on your small-ship cruise. Don’t mistake these for killer whales, however! They resemble the markings but are indeed different.

Salmon

Watching fish can be fun, especially when it comes to the behaviors of Alaskan salmon! Time it right and you will see king, coho, sockeye, chum, or pink salmon battling en masse to make their way up Alaskan rivers and streams to spawn - a mesmerizing sight to see.

Stellar Sea Lions

Stellar sea lions inhabit the Gulf of Alaska and southeastern Alaska and can usually be found on remote islands where access by predators is limited. They do not migrate but do mover their center of foraging activity to track seasonal concentrations of prey, which include walleye Pollock, Atka mackerel, arrowtooth flounder and cephalopods. When they become seasonally abundant Stellar sea lions prey on Pacific herring, Pacific salmon, Pacific cod, eulachon and capelin.

Sea Otters

These playful creatures are often spotted on the water surface floating on their backs. Within Alaska, there are 3 stocks of sea otters. The southeast stock can be found in the coastal waters of southeast Alaska. The southcentral population spans from west of Glacier Bay to the eastern edge of Cook Inlet. The Southwest population stretches from the western edge of Cook Inlet out the Aleutian islands.

Bald Eagles

Bald eagles, the national emblem of the United States since 1782, are more abundant in Alaska than anywhere else in the States. The bald eagle population in Alaska is estimated at 30,000 birds, so there is a good chance you will see one on your trip up north. During the spring in April, bald eagles begin building nests, usually in old-growth timber along saltwater shorelines and mainland rivers. Bald eagles in southcentral Alaska next in old cottonwood trees near water.

Black Bears

An estimated 100,000 black bears inhabit Alaska. They are the smallest of the North American bears. During the spring, black bears are usually found on low elevation south-facing slopes, and in riparian forests and wetlands for early green vegetation and moose. They will eat nearly anything they encounter following their long winter hibernation. During the summer and fall, you may find black bears on large rivers where salmon is plentiful.

Brown Bears

Usually larger than its close relative the black bear, brown bears occur throughout Alaska except on islands south of Frederick Sound in southeast Alaska, west of Unimak in the Aleutian Chain, and Bering Sea islands. Just like the black bears, brown bears are usually found on low elevation south-facing slopes during the spring and in large rivers during the summer and fall.

Mountain Goats

You’ll find these beautiful mountain goats in coastal regions in southeastern and south-central Alaska, generally confined to the Chugach and Wrangell mountains. Mountain goats are brilliant climbers, having specifically adapted hooves for climbing in rough, slippery terrain.

Moose

The Alaksa-Yukon race of moose is the largest of all of these creatures. Adult moose can range in size from 800 pounds to 1,600 pounds and can reach heights up to nearly 6 feet tall. While observing moose from an expedition cruise is likely not possible, there are chances to catch a peak at one of these creatures at the Unuk River drainage in southeastern Alaska.

Ptarmigan

During the spring, you’ll find these small grouse, namely the male ones, establishing territories that they defend vigorously with aerial chases and a variety of gargling, croaking, and screaming noises. At times, you’ll even see the three different subspecies of ptarmigan, the willow, rock, and white-tailed, occupying a single mountain.

Loons

Loons are known as “spirits of the wilderness,” and Alaska is home to all five species of loons found in the world. You’ll find these integral species of birds on lakes all over the state of Alaska during the summers, with some congregating in the northern portion of Southeast Alaska. The red-throated loon variation breeds in coastal ponds and marshes around the state. You’ll quickly notice that loons are exceptional divers, with the ability to stay under water for more than a minute.

Red-faced Cormorant

These medium-sized birds can be found on steep, inaccessible cliff faces. They come to land only to breed or roost. The most common locations for cruises to spot red-face cormorants are in the Chiswell Islands and Kenai Fjords.

Wildlife information taken from Alaska Department of Fish and Game*

VIDEO: UnCruise Review | Hawaiian Islands

There are pros and cons when travelling with UnCruise. Mostly pros though! Check out this video to see if UnCruise is right for you as you plan your next vacation. Featuring Chris Barber of Cruises & Beyond:

How to “UnCruise” In Hawaii

We recently had the opportunity to experience what it’s like to travel with UnCruise Adventures, the small-ship expedition cruise line based out of Seattle, Washington. It was truly an all-encompassing way to see Hawaii and unlike any other cruise line we’ve traveled on before.

Traveling with UnCruise is an intriguing experience especially if you’ve never been a part of an “expedition” style cruise. Even so, UnCruise just seems to be so unassuming compared to any other cruise line no matter who you match it up with.

Take this Hawaiian itinerary for example. Molokai - more specifically the town of Kaunakakai - was where we disembarked on this 7-day journey. This isn’t a disembarkation point one would imagine for a cruise line, and probably reflects the intentions of UnCruise to promote a more “Hawaiian” experience.

Whether or not this was the intention, it certainly made me feel this way when we arrived in Molokai. An overlooked island for those traveling to Hawaii, only around 8,000 live on the island. The community, steeped in high unemployment rates and with many residents reliant on food stamps, still felt vibrant and strong nonetheless. It was very clear to us that the Hawaiian spirit was alive and well here despite it’s obvious economic shortcomings.

UnCruise is not a glamorous cruise line. And it’s not supposed to be. The Safari Explorer, which is based in Hawaii year-round, was launched in 1998 so it doesn’t carry that modern sleek feel of all these new-age expedition vessels coming out of shipyards. But all is well when boarding the Safari Explorer, as the frills that come with modern edginess and luxurious accommodations are instead replaced with an adventurous and rustic ambiance that just makes you feel like you’re about to have a true adventure. And did we ever.

UnCruise’s Hawaiian adventure itinerary brings to you four of the Hawaiian islands: Molokai, Lanai, Maui and the Big Island. You get a wonderful mix of activities, cultural enrichment, locally-sourced cuisine and necessary down-time. With that being said, here are what we think are the pros and cons of experiencing Hawaii with UnCruise Adventures.

Pros:

Active, Active, Active!

Right from Day 1, you’ll learn how active an UnCruise trip is. You’ll have at least one activity scheduled for the day, whether that be hiking, skiffing, kayaking, or snorkeling. All of these activities are included with your cost, so think of it as free excursions! And don’t worry, you don’t have to partake. You can simply stay back on the boat and enjoy the views from the comforts of the Safari Explorer.

Caring and Personable Crew

Perhaps the biggest highlight of this trip was the crew. It’s a very young crew, but each one of them are equipped with what you would think are years and years of hospitality experience. From the captain onward, everyone seemed to be involved with ensuring the passenger’s comfort and well-being. We especially enjoyed the personable nature of our two expedition guides, Lauren and Sophie, who were both extremely knowledgeable of Hawaii’s history, geography and environment. Also, we cannot end our praise of the crew without mentioning the exceptional bar tender, Jessica, who served up some of the best cocktails we’ve ever had while providing some super conversational entertainment.

All Drinks Included!

Even if you’re not a drinker, the bartenders on board your UnCruise will get creative and make you something you’ve probably never heard of before but will certainly love! Even better, especially on this Hawaiian itinerary, you will have access to 100% Kona coffee - a truly delectable treat. All of the service staff are trained bartenders and baristas, so there will never be a time you can’t satisfy your thirst. And the best thing yet, all drinks are included with your cruise fare!

Cultural Enrichment

UnCruise is probably the only travel company that has exclusive tours set up with with Anakala Pilipo Solatorio and his family in Halawa Valley, Molokai. One of the best things you can do when you visit Hawaii is to truly learn about Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. This experience on Molokai does exactly that and really gets you to critically think about the importance of Hawaiian culture as it endures today.

A Happy Hour You Should Attend

The best time on board the Safari Explorer is “Happy Hour” in the late afternoon/early evening right before dinner is served. The chef will whip up some delicious hors d'oeuvres and the bartenders will make you their drink of the day. It’s the perfect time to wind down after a day full of sun and activities.

Cons

You Will Feel Motion!

If you are prone to sea sickness, then this cruise is probably not in your best interest. Depending on the strength of the trade winds blowing into the Hawaiian islands, a few feet of swells will even make this sailing feel like a decent roller coaster ride. On the first night, the captain informed us that we would be feeling some rock as we sailed the Lahaina Roads from Molokai to Maui and passed out sea sickness medication as a precaution. The motion was quite surprising to me, but manageable and even helped me have a good night’s sleep. The motion got more intense, however, as we crossed the larger Maui Channel for the Big Island.

Your Quarters Might Feel Cramped

We were prepared for more cramped quarters than we were used to, so coming aboard the Safari Explorer and seeing the size of our “Master Cabin” room came as no surprise. Because this is an expedition ship, the cabins will certainly be smaller than what you may find on a typical cruise ship. This isn’t to say that the room wasn’t comfortable (it actually was pleasant!), but expect a queen size bed if you’re sharing with your roommate, or a twin size if you request a separate setup. There isn’t too much room to work with inside the cabin, so be sure to pack relatively light. My companion and I brought our backpacks and a medium-sized luggage and this was just perfect for UnCruises’ accommodations. We did have one night where the AC decided to stop working, which wasn’t pleasant at all, the the crew quickly fixed it the day after, so two-thumbs up for that.

Is The Price Point Too High?

UnCruise presents an interesting dilemma for cruise goers, and we say this with our clients in mind. For a 7-day adventure like this one, UnCruise fares will start at around $5,000 based on double occupancy for their lowest category cabin. At times, UnCruise will promote $700 per cabin savings in addition to $700 air credit for two (like they are now) when booked by a certain time. Nonetheless, this cost is a premium to luxury cost, a price point you would almost expect on a cruise line like Crystal Cruises.

Like I mentioned before, UnCruise is not glamorous, certainly nowhere near as glamorous as Crystal. But the quality with which they present there product - it’s all there. The food, which we would rate 5-star, the service, the attention, the accountability of staff - it’s all there. There’s simply more with UnCruise than meets the eye. And that’s the reason why we put this as a con, because it will at least get you thinking about the value you’re receiving.

Would We Recommend Traveling With UnCruise? You Should Do It Now More Than Ever!

Overall, traveling with UnCruise Adventures and seeing Hawaii from this perspective was awesome! From the amazing crew and our fun fellow passengers, to all of the activities and the cultural enrichment, we just couldn’t have imagined a more encompassing experience of Hawaii. So would I UnCruise again? You bet! And I encourage anyone reading this to think about UnCruising too.

Announcing UnCruise Adventures

Hi travelers! We have some very exciting news to share and it involves trying out something new. A big part of our job here at Cruises & Beyond is to understand the travel products that we share with you. In about one month’s time, we’ll be joining one of our newest travel partners, UnCruise Adventures, on a 7 day expedition style cruise to the Hawaiian islands of Molokai, Lana’i, Maui and Hawai’i (the Big Island).

I think we can all share the sentiment that the best part of travelling is the feeling that something new, that something exciting is on the horizon. Not only is Uncruise Adventures new for us as a travel product, but it’s concept of travel is new and refreshing - hence the name of their company. Traveling with them is the antithesis of contemporary cruising - it is a company dedicated to small ship exploration never exceeding 90 guests even on their largest vessel. Over the past year or so, we’ve been keeping a close eye on UnCruise because we think it offers a different way to experience destinations you may have already been. Now we finally have the opportunity to experience it and let you know just how good this company is. Stay tuned! And in the meantime, watch what their Hawaiian adventure cruise is all about: