For those of you who love to cruise and are not content floating from island to island or from country to country, Un-Cruise Adventures CEO and captain Dan Blanchard and executive vice-president Tim Jaycox have something completely different to offer.
The two partners have a history in small-line cruising, and the word 鈥淐aptain鈥� in Dan Blanchard鈥檚 title is not honourary 鈥� he has sailed around the world and captained small boats in Alaska for the Glacier Bay Lodge cruises.
How do you describe this niche company in the context of the cruising world at large?
Here鈥檚 how Tom Jaycox does it: 鈥淯n-rushed, un-crowded and unbelievable.鈥�
Their fleet of eight boats, and yachts that range in size from 20 to 88 passengers, can be found in Alaska, the Sea of Cortez, the Columbia and Snake rivers and Hawaii.
I asked Dan about his newest market, the Sea of Cortez.
鈥淲e are up a whopping 230 per cent over last year and see this destination growing for some time,鈥� he replied. 鈥淗ere we can offer not only adventures but soft ones as well.鈥�
What鈥檚 the difference?
鈥淭hink of soft adventure as putting your toe in the water 鈥� snorkelling, kayaking and hiking with some elevation. The adventure part of the cruise is tailored to the passenger鈥檚 ability. A kayak allows you to paddle among wildlife or to get up close in short order.鈥�
Rigidity is a forbidden word.
鈥淲hile we have a schedule,鈥� he explained, 鈥渋t鈥檚 flexible. Spot some whales and the boat hangs around. It鈥檚 all about the wildlife, the natural surroundings and the local culture. Wild trumps all, and the destination is the focus. And don鈥檛 pack your tie. No need to dress up. It鈥檚 casual and comfortable on all our boats.鈥�
Fran Golden, chief blogger and contributing editor of Porthole magazine, is a friend of mine. Here鈥檚 what she has to say about Un-Cruise Adventures:
鈥淵ou spend your time watching wildlife, kayaking, embracing Mother Nature, and hanging out with your fellow passengers and crew 鈥� rather than the typical cruise-ship activities. It鈥檚 soft-adventure travel on water, but in comfortable surroundings.
鈥淥n our recent 鈥榣uxury鈥� cruise in British Columbia, we had only 19 people on board. We felt like we were on a yacht with a bunch of friends. Beware the pastry chef: Amazing creations from the kitchen may lead to weight gain.鈥�
Both Tim and Dan originally worked for Cruise West, the Seattle-based small-ship operator that closed in 2010. Dan left long before that, in 1999 joining American Safari Cruises, the line that pioneered yacht cruising in Alaska. The two of them bought American Safari in 2008 and created InnerSea Discoveries before settling on the brand name Un-Cruise Adventures.
Under Un-Cruise Adventures are three distinct brands: the four-yacht American Safari, the luxury adventure brand, the more-affordable Wilderness brand with three vessels and the newest brand, called Heritage, one vessel that鈥檚 a replica of a turn-of-the-century coastal steamer that was the norm for gold-rush prospectors and pioneers.
New schedules for these lines are now in place for this winter in Hawaii and the Sea of Cortez.
I asked Bob what was next.
鈥淲e are heading south, probably in 2015, to Central America 鈥� especially Costa Rica. Later in this decade, we will continue south to find adventures in South America.鈥�
Un-Cruise Adventures is the perfect name for this unusual and adventurous line.
Even an invitation for coffee is unexpected.
鈥淚f you are ever in Juneau, just knock on our door and come on in,鈥� says Dan. 鈥淲e always have a pot of coffee on.鈥�
