Archive for the ‘American Safari’ Category

Yachting in Alaska

Alaska Cruises, American Safari, Hawii, News | Posted by cruisepeople
Feb 23 2008

With all the cruise ships plying Alaska waters this summer, the newest one may well be the smallest. American Safari Cruises’ new luxury yacht, the 36-passenger, 145-foot Safari Explorer, will make her first Alaska port call May 30 in Juneau for the start of her eight-day, seven-night roundtrip cruises from the Alaska capital.

Now undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation in Seattle,
Safari Explorer is the cruise line’s fourth luxury yacht and offers an
active spa environment with a licensed masseuse for complimentary
massages, yoga classes, a dedicated fitness area, on-deck hot tub and
sauna. “The ‘real’ spa is the natural one, of course, the great Alaska
narrow waterways and islands for kayaking and guided hiking,” says Tim
Jacox, vice president of sales and marketing.

Other  features include two large suites with Jacuzzi tubs
and balconies, some triple accommodations and all outside or
above-deck cabins. Like other American Safari Cruises vessels, the
new yacht carries double sea kayaks and motorized shore boats for
close-up exploration of the Alaska wilderness.

Safari Explorer will cruise from Juneau May 30 through Sept. 5.
The itinerary focuses on wildlife – whales, sea lions, bears – and
glaciers, including up to two days in Glacier Bay National Park and a
full day hugging the fjord walls of Endicott Arm to view the rarely
visited Dawes Glacier. Following the Alaska season, the yacht will
debut in Hawaii with inter-island itineraries in the waters less
travelled.

“Our cruises are built on spontaneity,” Mr,Jacox says, “and because our
itineraries are flexible, we can always follow the wildlife without
worrying about sticking to a rigid schedule to the next port.”

In addition to kayaking, Alaska passengers hike in the Tongass National
Forest and visit the tiny picturesque village of Elfin Cove and the
small Norwegian fishing port of Petersburg. The yacht travels only
during the day, spending the nights at anchor in small coves and bays
or quaint harbours.

The crew includes two professional naturalists, plus a park ranger in
Glacier Bay, and has a guest-crew ratio of two to one. The inclusive
cruises feature complimentary fine wines, premium spirits and
exceptional cuisine served at a single seating.

For information, please contact Diana Lang at The Cruise People on 1-800-268-6523.

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American Safari Cruises Offers Opportunities for Kid In Nature 2008 Family Holidays

Alaska Cruises, American Safari, Mexico, Theme Cruises | Posted by JimBarb Thomas
Jul 06 2007

American Safari Cruises’ Kids In Nature (KIN) cruises have become so popular that the Seattle-based mega-yacht cruise company will make all 10 of its 2008 Alaska peak season departures on the 12-passenger Safari Escape available as Kids In Nature charters, at an 8 percent discount.

In addition, the 22-passenger Safari Quest will offer two KIN dates in Alaska and one in Mexico’s Sea of Cortés for multi-family cruises or as private charters for families requiring the additional berths.

The programme, which began in 2003, originally offered parents a few selected dates to bring their younger children with them for a family vacation/adventure and learning experience for the children, with the yacht as the schoolroom, a professional Naturalist as the teacher, and the shore excursions as field trips.

“At first, we had couples bringing one or two of their children with them on these dates, but then we started to see two or even three sets of grandparents and/or parents coming as a group with their children,” says Tim Jacox, American Safari Cruises vice president of sales and marketing.

Typical of parents chartering the yacht with friends and their children are Jay and Lisa Pierrepont of San Francisco, who travelled in Alaska in 2006 with their two children, ages 6 and 8, and another couple and their four children, in the 12-passenger Safari Spirit, a trip arranged through her aunt, Florence Weicker, of Linden Travel Agency in New York City.American Safari Cruises three luxury yachts

“The kids loved it,” Lisa Pierrepont said, “especially the constant sighting of whales, eagles, dolphins and bears. The Naturalist and other crew members took them on scavenger hunts, exploring by kayak, hiking, all the while pointing out things in nature without making it seem as though they were teaching”.

“The kids soon got the idea of the vastness of Alaska, the abundance, closeness and variety of the wildlife, and how they all interact, and the sheer wonder of the wilderness. They also thought being able to go on the bridge and into the engine room was really cool. The trip definitely exceeded our expectations for a two-family vacation.”

Mr. Jacox says the KIN cruise charter concept started to expand even more with grandparents bringing their grown children and grandchildren for a multigenerational family holiday.
A recent example is Jeanie Mason of Minnesota, who signed up her entire family of five children, their spouses, 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild for an April cruise this spring on a new northern itinerary in Mexico’s Sea of Cortés.

They planned a family vacation for a year with their travel agent, who brought American Safari Cruises to their attention.

Families with children under 12 in the Safari Escape 2008 KIN full-yacht charter tours save 8% off the usual charter fare, US$74,495 instead of US$80,995. Adults booking a KIN cruise on an FIT basis in  Safari Quest will receive a 25% discount for their under-12 children in Mariner cabins on the June 28 and July 19, 2008, Alaska cruise and the March 16, 2008 or March 22, 2009, Sea of Cortés cruise.

American Safari Cruises is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The company pioneered upscale scheduled yacht cruising in Alaska in 1997, expanding later to Mexico’s Sea of Cortés. The company also operates cruises on the Columbia and Snake rivers, and the Pacific Northwest’s San Juan Islands and British Columbia Gulf Islands.

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