Considering an intimate small ship Southeast Alaska wilderness experience? If so, Alaska Sea…read moreAdventures, yachtalaska.com comes highly recommended. Veterans of 13 voyages with Alaska Sea Adventures (ASA), if my husband and I could live on the boat we would!
Immerse yourself in the vast Southeast Alaskan wilderness with anchorages in tranquil bays, the silence of the great outdoors broken only by sweet bird calls; observe humpback whales for hours without elbowing for position through crowds of tourists at the railing; enjoy an entire day exploring a glacier-carved fjord, finally arriving at the face of a magnificent tidewater glacier to view it for hours while the glacier rumbles and thunderously calves. Alaska Sea Adventures is tailor made for those who seek the soul of Southeast Alaska.
Captain Dennis Rogers, owner and captain of ASA's beautiful yacht, Northern Song and his business partner & wife, Toni are terrific. Friendly and efficient, from the moment Toni greets arriving ASA passengers with a warm Alaska-sized hello, one feels part of the extended ASA family. Captain Rogers displays a deep respect for his home state as well as the wildlife he so proudly introduces to his guests. On all of our voyages Captain Rogers has exhibited the utmost in friendly courtesy toward his guests, doing all he can to grant passenger requests to assure them of a wonderful voyage. A great many of the people we have met on board Northern Song are frequent repeat guests, people with whom we have remained in touch with and sailed with often over the years. Cornerstones of a successful, well run business, repeat happy clients speak volumes about the excellent service, friendliness and hospitality exhibited by Captain Rogers and his crew.
A beautiful yacht, the Northern Song offers four cabins that house a maximum of eight guests on board the boat. Three cabins offer comfortable bunk beds while the Master Suite has one bed. A huge plus is that each cabin is en suite (has a private bathroom and shower). One can charter the Northern Song for a family or group or participate in various other specialty voyages. Examples of these include weeklong pro-photographer-led photography workshops, fascinating whale research expeditions led by humpback whale biologists, Summer Focus on Whales voyages with humpback whale naturalists/biologists, late Fall pre-migration humpback whale-focused trips, and my personal favorite, fascinating Spring herring spawn trips. My husband and I have participated in each one of these specialty voyages multiple times. Each voyage offers unforgettable experiences that keep us wanting more.
I appreciate a spotlessly clean ship. Captain Rogers carefully---no, make that lovingly---tends to his beautifully maintained ship. Throughout the state it is the custom in Alaska for one to remove their shoes when entering a home, B&B and often a lodge. This is also the custom on board the Northern Song. Tracking in salt from the deck or sand, pebbles and rain forest detritus ruins carpets. If one does not bring along suggested footwear, Captain Rogers thoughtfully provides comfortable shoes (ala Croc-type footgear) for use on deck and indoor spaces plus he also has a handy supply of knee high waterproof boots for guest use on skiff and shore excursions.
Alaska Sea Adventures offers a quality wildlife adventure, spending long leisurely hours observing humpback whales, orcas, eagles, bears and other SE Alaskan animals. Captain Rogers always is considerate toward photographers on board, expertly positioning the Northern Song for best light and photographic angles. The Northern Song offers excellent diverse platforms from which to nab superb wildlife images of a lifetime. Guests can easily spread out; there is always plenty of room. On most voyages shore visits are arranged for beach combing or short nature walks. During summertime Focus on Whale trips a visit is scheduled to a salmon hatchery stream in a Native village to observe bald eagles and black bears fishing for salmon returning to spawn. It's just you, the salmon, the lush rain forest and the bears. Other activities may include viewing wildlife from the Northern Song's two skiffs or kayaking the waters of a quiet cove.
Nights are spent anchored in the solitude of a quiet bay, often with towering snowcapped mountains visible nearby. Your only company will be bald eagles, Steller sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters. One is so close to the rainforest that one can smell the invigorating scent of spruce on shore mingling with the fresh clean salty tang of the sea.
Meals on board the Northern Song are excellent with heavy emphasis on Alaskan fish and shellfish. It's a treat to dine on expertly grilled flavorful wild salmon, freshly harvested spot prawns and luscious buttery black cod.
If you are searching for a memorable Southeast Alaska voyage, look no further than Alaska Sea Adventures for the experience of a lifetime.
