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north america: alaska

Famed Passages of Discovery - Southbound

Wildlife, ice, Tlingit culture, and deep fjords are highlights along the 900 nautical miles between Juneau and Seattle on this 15-day Un-Cruise Adventure that invites you to rethink the cruising concept with its more personal, up-close touch on small ship Alaska cruising. View glaciers, kayak through the narrows, and hike into the rainforest. The fall season is an optimal time for vivid foliage, fewer crowds, and wildlife foraging along the shoreline.

The Famed Passages of Discovery cruise prides itself on the people aboard - the finest chefs, knowledgeable, friendly and personable crew members, experienced expedition leaders and leading naturalists. One of the primary features of these Un-Cruise Adventures is the ability to cater to individual guest needs. Built on a unique reputation for luxury, these boats pamper up to 86 guests with a three-to-one guest/crew ratio, fresh, healthy meals, creature comforts like DVDs and iPod docks, experienced expedition leaders/naturalists who know Alaskan culture and topography, high-end expedition gear plus a wide variety of excursions to suite any activity level.

Six boats make this southbound Inside Passage journey. Choose from:
M/V Wilderness Adventurer - 60-guest small ship
M/V Wilderness Discoverer - 76-guest small ship
M/V Wilderness Explorer - 76-guest small ship
Safari Endeavour - 86-guest luxury small ship
Safari Explorer - 36-guest luxury yacht
Safari Quest - 22-guest luxury yacht

Day 1 - Embark Juneau, Alaska

Welcome aboard! Meet your crew and get acquainted as we set sail for the Tracy Arm Wilderness.

Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - Tracy Arm Wilderness & Frederick Sound

At the end of Tracy Arm, a winding fjord with sheer granite walls and large floating icebergs, sits the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Explore Frederick Sound — summer feeding ground for humpback whales. Keep watch for humpbacks, orca, and Steller sea lions.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 - Thomas Bay & Cascade Creek

Choose kayaking and a forest trek on a Cascade Creek trail or go big on a 5-mile hike to the glacially fed and rarely visited Patterson Lake for spectacular kayaking. Discover the origin of its "Devil's Country" nickname and hear legends about the area’s mythical shape-shifting creatures called Kushtaka.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Thomas Bay, Baird Glacier & Wrangell Narrows

In an area known for glaciers and rich in gold and quartz, natural beauty is today's setting for kayaking, paddleboarding, skiffing, or trekking. Bright red and green navigation lights guide you along “Christmas Tree Lane” as you cruise the winding Wrangell Narrows this evening.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Wrangell, Alaska

Home to native culture, wildlife, and wonder—Wrangell is one of the oldest towns in Alaska and the only one ever governed by four nations. Brush up on your Tlingit culture and view recently carved totem poles at Kiksetti Totem Park.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Yes Bay

Wildlife abounds in Yes Bay and the surrounding Tongass National Forest: humpback whales, orca, porpoise, seals, sea lions, brown and black bears, mink, marten, eagles, and otters. Say yes to a kayak paddle up the bay or a wildlife-seeking hike along a scenic trail.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Misty Fjords National Monument

Misty Fjords is home to nearly every ecosystem in Southeast Alaska — stunning glacial valleys filled with sea water, untouched wetlands and estuaries, and 3,000-foot vertical cliffs that are a haven for wildlife. Glide through Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay soaking in the splendor of this largely unknown corner of the world. Get an up-close look at this majestic 2.3-million-acre wilderness.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Ketchikan, Alaska

Alaska’s southernmost city and “salmon capital of the world” also claims fame to having the world’s largest collection of standing totem poles. Explore the Saxman Totem Village, Tlingit culture, and the notorious Creek Street, once a red-light district in downtown Ketchikan.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 - Canada's Inside Passage

Take in the pure, wilderness air and see how many bald eagles you can spot from the deck. Intricate waterways and fjords alongside temperate rainforests and mountains are ideal for sightings of orca and other wildlife as you sail through Canada's Inside Passage.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Canada's Inside Passage

Native influences have shaped these sparsely populated islands and communities. Enjoy onboard presentations and narration by your Expedition Leaders who will unlock the natural history of the area.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11 - Canada's Inside Passage & Washington State

Pass the ghost town of Butedale, on British Columbia's Princess Royal Island, before passing Prince Rupert, BC, and crossing the US/Canadian border into Washington State.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12 - San Juan Islands, Washington

Cruise into US waters and weave through Washington State's serene San Juan Islands — an archipelago of islands first charted by the Spanish in 1791. Exploring its bays, inlets, and beaches, you'll gunkhole close to shore by skiff or kayak and on land by foot.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 13 - Friday Harbor

Discover quaint Friday Harbor, its maritime history, and a fascinating Whale Museum. Keep watch while on board today for the resident orca pods.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 14 - Salish Sea

Explore the intricate coastal waterways of the Salish Sea. Shaped and molded by the last ice age, forested islands dot the seascape of this yachter's paradise. The name was recently coined to recognize the indigenous peoples of this culturally rich area.

Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 15 - Disembark Seattle, Washington

Transit through Hiram M. Chittenden Locks into Fishermen's Terminal and disembark the ship after breakfast. Transfer directly to the Seattle airport.

Included Meals: breakfast



Itinerary Notes: We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. The ability to be flexible makes this style of small ship cruising unique.

Included: Your accommodations aboard the specific vessel, all meals aboard the ship, round-trip transfers and baggage handling between airport/boat, most from-the-boat adventure activities and equipment, national park/preserve entrance fees and hot tub, sauna and yoga. Additional inclusions aboard Safari Endeavour, Quest & Explorer: Premium spirits, wine and beer; taxes and port fees; and a complimentary massage (except Safari Quest).

Exclusions: Airfare to and from your home city; discretionary gratuities to vessel’s crew, typically 5-10% of fare; travel insurance and insurance of any kind; optional excursions and land tours; wine, beer and liquor; massage; excess baggage charges; items of a personal nature. Also excluded on Wilderness boats: Taxes and port fees of $350 per person and alcoholic beverages.

Room Configurations: For Wilderness Explorer, Discoverer & Adventurer, single rates are available in select cabins at 150% supplement (Wilderness Explorer - Trailblazer cabins 103, 104, 105 and 106). All other cabins are available at 175% of the double rate. For Safari Endeavour, Quest & Explorer, see designated Single cabin pricing. All other staterooms may be booked as a single at 175% of the double occupancy rate. Triple rates are available in designated cabins (refer to deck plans), with a third person savings of 25% off the double rate on Wilderness Explorer & Discoverer. Inquire for triple pricing details on Safari Endeavour, Quest & Explorer.

Arrival & Departure: The Famed Passages of Discovery cruise begins in Juneau, Alaska, and ends in Seattle, Washington. Please plan Juneau flights to arrive no later than 2:30pm on day 1 of the cruise. On day 15, the final day of the cruise, Seattle departure flights should be planned to depart no earlier than 12:00 noon.

Payment & Cancellation: A deposit of $1200 per person (Wilderness boats) or $1500 per person (Safari boats) is required to secure a 2013 reservation. For 2014 and beyond, the deposit is $1500 per person for all boats. A Reservation Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
91 days or more - 50% of initial deposit
90 to 61 days - Forfeiture of full deposit
60 to 46 days - 50% of gross fare
45 to 31 days - 75% of gross fare
30 to 0 days - 100% of gross fare

Terms & Conditions: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with travel insurance. Please note that you must purchase your travel insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Click the link below for a selection of policies from our partners at Travelex.



Activities: Whether you are looking for moderate activity or vigorous, extended and challenging outdoor pursuits, the crew can tailor most any expedition to suit your skill level. Adventure activities may include: whale watching, kayaking and standup paddleboarding, inflatable boat/skiff excursions, morning yoga and stretching, land treks, glacier viewing, wildlife observation, and "polar bear plunges." Snorkeling gear and wetsuits are available for rent, and limited quantities of hiking poles, binoculars, mud boots, and rain gear are available on board. To ensure availability and fit, we encourage you to bring your own gear.

Qualifications: This trip is available to any traveler with a love of nature and sense of adventure.

For additional information and reservations, please contact us:

800-728-2875 | 530-583-1775 | fax 530-583-1711 | travel@AdventureSmithExplorations.com