UnCruise Adventures
UnCruise Adventures is an American small-ship line that runs active, nature-focused cruises for 22 to 88 guests in Alaska, Hawaii, Costa Rica and Panama, Mexico's Sea of Cortez and the Galápagos Islands. Its nine ships are small enough to slip into coves, fjords and anchorages that big ships pass by, and days are built around kayaking, hiking, skiff tours and snorkeling rather than shopping in port.
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About UnCruise Adventures
The company was founded in Alaska in 1996 as American Safari Cruises and began sailing in 1997 with a single chartered yacht. Captain Dan Blanchard bought it in 2008 in partnership with Tim Jacox, it announced voyages in the Galápagos and in Costa Rica and Panama in 2011, and it renamed itself Un-Cruise Adventures in the early 2010s before settling on the UnCruise spelling in 2016. It works from offices at Fishermen's Terminal in Seattle and in Juneau, and it marks its 30th anniversary in 2026.
Life aboard is casual. Meals are served at open seating with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices, drinks are included in the fare, and the ships carry kayaks, paddleboards and inflatable skiffs, with hot tubs and underwater cameras on most. Wi-Fi is limited and often unavailable in parks and protected areas. Most cruises last seven nights, with longer voyages through the Inside Passage, to the Aleutian Islands and along the Central American coast, plus family, photography and other themed departures.
What UnCruise Adventures is known for
UnCruise has a strong following among travelers who want to get off the ship and into the wilderness. Reviewers often praise the range of daily activities, the friendly crews and guides, and the access the small ships provide, and the line appeared in Condé Nast Traveler's 2021 ranking of the world's top cruise ships and placed eighth on USA Today's 2021 list of the best adventure cruise lines. The trade-offs come mostly from the ships themselves: most were built between the 1970s and the 1990s and have small, simple cabins, connectivity is limited, and fares, from about $4,900 per person for a week in Alaska, are high for such modest ships. Weather in Alaska can also change plans from day to day.
Who it's for
Expedition · small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings
- Adventure seekers
- Couples
- Families
UnCruise is for active travelers who would rather paddle past a glacier than browse port shops: couples, friends, solo travelers and families, with Families in Nature departures on which children two and under sail free. It suits guests happy with casual dress and a small group of fellow passengers. Travelers who want spacious cabins, spas, evening entertainment or a busy schedule of port towns should look elsewhere, and guests with limited mobility should check each ship carefully, since only Wilderness Legacy has an elevator.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 2.1/5
- Dining
- 4/5
- Entertainment
- 2/5
- Service
- 5/5
- Pools & decks
- 1.9/5
- Value
- 3/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 9 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where UnCruise Adventures sails
Ships
Best rated
#13.0 ★La Pinta2007 · 1,438 GT · 48 guests · GalápagosLa Pinta is a 48-guest expedition yacht that UnCruise sails in the Galápagos Islands. Registered in Ecuador and crewed by Ecuadorians, she is 64 metres long, with 24 outside…
#23.0 ★Safari Endeavour1983 · 86 guests · Alaska · Pacific CoastSafari Endeavour is the longest ship in the UnCruise fleet, a 70-metre, U.S.-flagged vessel built in 1983 that carries 86 guests in 43 cabins, four of them with balconies. Her…
#33.0 ★Safari Explorer1998 · 36 guests · Hawaii · AlaskaBuilt in 1998, Safari Explorer is a small, U.S.-flagged expedition yacht, 44 metres long, with 18 cabins for 36 guests on three decks. She spends winters in Hawaii, on one-way…Every ship
- La Pinta2007 · 1,438 GT · 48 guests3.0/5
- Safari Endeavour1983 · 86 guests3.0/5
- Safari Explorer1998 · 36 guests3.0/5
- Safari Quest1992 · 22 guests3.0/5
- Safari Voyager1982 · 66 guests3.0/5
- Wilderness Adventurer1984 · 60 guests3.0/5
- Wilderness Discoverer1992 · 76 guests3.0/5
- Wilderness Explorer1976 · 74 guests3.0/5
- Wilderness Legacy1984 · 88 guests3.0/5
Where to fly in
- Juneau International Airport (JNU)5 UnCruise Adventures ships sail from Juneau, Alaska
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)1 UnCruise Adventures ship sails from Seward, Alaska1 lounge on Lounge Frog
- Galapagos Baltra (GPS)1 UnCruise Adventures ship sails from Baltra, Galápagos1 lounge on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is UnCruise Adventures known for?
UnCruise has a strong following among travelers who want to get off the ship and into the wilderness. Reviewers often praise the range of daily activities, the friendly crews and guides, and the access the small ships provide, and the line appeared in Condé Nast Traveler's 2021 ranking of the world's top cruise ships and placed eighth on USA Today's 2021 list of the best adventure cruise lines. The trade-offs come mostly from the ships themselves: most were built between the 1970s and the 1990s and have small, simple cabins, connectivity is limited, and fares, from about $4,900 per person for a week in Alaska, are high for such modest ships. Weather in Alaska can also change plans from day to day.
Who is UnCruise Adventures best for?
UnCruise is for active travelers who would rather paddle past a glacier than browse port shops: couples, friends, solo travelers and families, with Families in Nature departures on which children two and under sail free. It suits guests happy with casual dress and a small group of fellow passengers. Travelers who want spacious cabins, spas, evening entertainment or a busy schedule of port towns should look elsewhere, and guests with limited mobility should check each ship carefully, since only Wilderness Legacy has an elevator.
Where does UnCruise Adventures sail?
UnCruise Adventures's ships in service sail Alaska (7 ships), Pacific Coast (4 ships), Mexican Riviera (1 ship), Hawaii (1 ship) and Galápagos (1 ship).
How is UnCruise Adventures rated?
UnCruise Adventures's fleet averages 3.0 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 9 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is La Pinta at 3.0.
How many ships does UnCruise Adventures have?
UnCruise Adventures has 9 ships in service on Cruise Frog: La Pinta, Safari Endeavour, Safari Explorer, Safari Quest, Safari Voyager, Wilderness Adventurer, Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Explorer, and 1 more.
Where is UnCruise Adventures based?
UnCruise Adventures is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It has operated since 1996.
What is UnCruise Adventures's loyalty program called?
UnCruise Adventures's past-guest loyalty program is UnCruise Loyalty & Rewards.
What is the largest UnCruise Adventures ship?
La Pinta is UnCruise Adventures's largest ship at 1,438 gross tons, carrying 48 guests.
Cruising with children
UnCruise’s family-focused Alaska departures are a useful place to start when children want hands-on outdoor time. Choose a trip for shared exploration rather than large-ship attractions.
Read the UnCruise Adventures family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
House wine is included in UnCruise Adventures' fares, so you may not need a drinks package. If you'd want cocktails or premium wines, enter what they cost.
House wine is included in UnCruise Adventures' fares, so you may not need a drinks package at all. UnCruise Adventures ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A typical drink you'd buy on board.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
6drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 5.8 drinks at $13. Over 7 days that's $525, or 41 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $70 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $455
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about UnCruise Adventures and its ships
- 5 things UnCruise Adventures does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of UnCruise Adventures, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
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