Alaska Small Ship Cruise - Why choose us?

Why Choose us for your Alaska small ship Cruise?

We hope, if you are reviewing web sites in search of an Alaska Cruise by Small Ship, Yacht Charter or an Alaska Cruise Tour we hope you'll consider the following: We see the fancy web sites and brochures from both the Alaska Large and Small Cruise Ships promising whales, bears, glaciers and more. We see the four hour day charters from Juneau, that say you'll see whales, bears , sea otters, eagles, sea lions, glaciers and more. We also see our competitors web sites saying they'll deliver "Alaska up close and personal". So how do we convince you to travel with us ?

Please don't take me wrong but I am familiar with almost every trip available in Southeast, Alaska. I really know that we provide the best possible way to experience all the area has to offer. I see new arrivals touting their 45 years of experience etc etc. I see all the brochures from both the small and large cruise ship companies with whales, bears and eagles adorning their front covers - it's just simply not a true representation of what you'll see on those trips. In all the years we've offered these trips I've never tried to overstate the experience we try to provide our passengers. I just simply tell the truth.

For those select few people who really want to see and experience the best of Alaska, the grandeur of Alaska we do have the Alaska Small Ship Cruise for you. We were one of the very first eco tour operators in Southeast Alaska. Many things have changed since then, however, one thing remains constant and that is our desire to do the best possible Alaska Cruise we can. We know the area better than any other tour operator and will endeavor to make this the most memorable vacation experience of your lives.

We love Alaska, it's beauty, it's wildlife, it's raw nature. We care deeply about the impact we have as tour operators on the fragile Eco system. The animals we observe we consider friends rather than objects, we are the uninvited guests, after all.

Imagine going into an area to observe bears carrying a high powered rifle, most tour operators do. If I was a bear I would avoid them. Our attitude has allowed us many close encounters with these magnificent creatures. Or imagine offering "bear viewing" in the summer and "bear hunting" in the fall. Some of our competitors do.

Most Alaska Small Ship Cruise ships and charter boats are in constant pursuit of the whales, who are constantly trying to take evasive action. We sit patiently in an area and allow the whales to pursue us. We try to avoid other boats and people whenever possible so that we can observe these animals without affecting or modifying their behavior.

We have a strict leave no trace policy that we feel is a fundamental part of our philosophy. This is after all one of the most incredible wilderness areas in the world.

I also see several of our competitors talking about their combined years of experience, their philosophies, even their classic boats. Some of them go so far as to almost quote us verbatim. What they fail to tell you is that several of the most select areas in Alaska are limited entry, something our competitors don't seem to mention, and have been since the mid 80s. Where were they when these permits were issued? In many cases I believe we were the original permit holders. Pack Creek and Anan Creek the two designated bear observatories in S. E. Alaska are among these areas and offer a unique unparalleled bear viewing experience. There are only a couple of boat based guides legally permitted in these special areas during the peak season.

Further we really enjoy leading shore excursions and showing people sights you won't be able to see with any of our competitors and enhancing your knowledge and appreciation of this magnificent wilderness area.

One thing the Alaska Small and Large Cruise Ships, ( with their wildlife brochures ) and many of our competitors neglect to tell their prospective clients. Most of scenic Southeast, Alaska is the Tongass National Forest. As much as 90% of it is managed to remain undeveloped including congressionally designated Wilderness areas. Large groups are prohibited from these areas and our company is one of the select few that is permitted to access these beautiful and unique areas with our small group sizes that minimize human impacts. All of us that operate in the area are required to have a Special Use permits issued by the US Forest Service that stipulates specific areas where we can go ashore. Many of these areas are limited in access. As one of the first eco - tour operators in Southeast, Alaska we have one the most comprehensive permits in the area that allow us to access many areas our competitors just simply can't go.

Our itinerary is kept purposely flexible in order to allow for the unexpected events that are often the highlights of traveling. Our days are spent watching whales, hiking , fishing, bear watching, exploring , cruising and sightseeing this incredible area. We've found these trips to be full of a wide variety of opportunities and try to tailor them to the individual desires of our passengers. There is also ample time for you to kayak, relax, read, write, sketch or whatever.

I've also read their menus. We have a fully provisioned galley and our Gourmet will serve anything you want from Prime Rib or New York Steaks to fresh Salmon and Halibut upon your request and desires in a setting not to be duplicated by any other vessel in Alaska. Please see our sample menu.

While there are many new arrivals in Alaska trying to duplicate our tours please keep in mind it's taken us many years to perfect our trips. When we first starting doing these Alaska wildlife cruises we had the entire area to ourselves. Long before people stopped to watch Humpback whales group feeding or Brown Bears on Admiralty Island we were there. We know a lot about these animals, their feeding habits and their hiding places.

Also keep in mind this is "what" we do. We started before it was the "thing to do" And it's something we believe we do better than anyone else.

I really get upset when I read most of these web sites. Discovery is not the fanciest boat plying the waters of Southeast Alaska. It's as nice as most of them, clean, comfortable, very elegant and a sea kindly vessel built to transit these waters. Don't let her age fool you, she's virtually in Bristol condition with all the modern conveniences. What upsets me is I love Alaska and want people to see and experience everything Alaska has to offer. It is impossible to do so by the large or even the so-called Alaska Small Cruise Ships. All I can say in all sincerity is that we do the best trip in Southeast Alaska and have been doing these trips longer than any of them.

Ask yourself why you want to go to Alaska? I really think we offer what most people think of when they ponder that question because we really do show you "Alaska up close and personal". Rather than passing by the beautiful rain forests of Alaska by both large and Alaska Small Cruise ships we can actually walk through the magical rain forests and watch wildlife "up close and personal".

We can give testimonial after testimonial we have hundreds of them. The truth is we have had passengers who have done 8 and 9 trips with us over the years. Many of our passengers have done multiple trips. We've even had passengers do multiple trips in the same year. Here is what a few passengers have said:

"Hi Folks,
We just returned from our 50th anniversary Cruise to southeast Alaska.
It was the trip of a lifetime, absolutely no doubt, and we want to share it with you
You will find a photo and video website at http://www.seiberspace.com/Alaska/ - that violates all the prudent rules of conservative web design. But, we feel the content is worth it.
Enjoy!
Bill & Sue Seibert"

"This Cruise far exceeded my expectations. The crew was excellent. The other passengers compatible and the food superb. The bears and whales far exceeded what I expected. To sum it up I would go again tomorrow if it were possible. A great Trip. John Harvey "

"Dear Crew, Thanks for an absolutely wonderful trip. The whales were awesome, the porpoise, sea lions & eagles were great; The bears were unbelievable. The food was awesome and so were the accommodations. The boat is beautiful. Happy Cruising. Corina"

"Dear John, What a great experience the trip was for us!! Aside from the wonderful lessons of bears, whales, land sea, northern lights, great people with great humor, we return again to discover how well we can get along without the news, TV et al. We've had some great experiences in Alaska and the wilderness but this tops them all. Lew & Pat"

"John, You are a kindred soul. Your sharing of feelings and knowledge of the world you love allow others to truly see Alaska for what she is. A place that puts a persons world and life into perspective. I know this to be true because it happened to me. Jeanne and I both agreed that this was the vacation we enjoyed the most and hopefully we will do it again, we just want to continue receiving the rewards that the "Discovery has to offer. Thanks and the best always, Glenn"

"To the Crew, Yes I can name you all, but to do so would seem to put you in order of importance. Each & everyone of you have made this trip a great experience. You all have your part that you handled. Thanks forever for an experience that I will not forget. The wildlife, the fishing, the food, the camaraderie will not be lost or forgotten. God Bless this boat and all of you. Peggy Sue & Will "

We hope that our passengers leave as long term friends rather than customers. We'll be glad to provide any references you request I'd really rather you heard it from them, than from us. I'm sure we have had someone in your area who has done an Alaska small ship Cruise with us in the past. Please call or write and we'll be more than happy to provide names and phone numbers. I'd rather you call them and ask their true opinions.

We've also had numerous articles written about our trips in Alaska. In Yachting Magazine, Anima , Chartering, the Sidney Morning Herald and by The Seattle Times syndicated author Jim Molnar who said, "In all the traveling I've done in all the trips I've taken, I don't think any has affected me the way my trip down the 1000 miles of the inside passage did. I felt truly alive in the embrace of nature, felt that I was a part of it - that it wasn't something outside of me, something for me to use, even something for me to protect the way I'd protect a valued possession. It's never been harder, or seemed more wrong to come home." Jim's been with us 3 times and like all the authors paid for his trip with us so he could write an unbiased article. I see "simply the best", "the Best charter in Alaska"; best Alaska Cruise" written about our competitors. I don't do "fam trips" free to writers or travel agents who promote or do articles and never have. Every article ever written about our Alaska Small Ship Cruises was by a fully paid passenger who was free to write an unbiased article. All I can say is they haven't done our small ship cruise as there would be no question about who does the best trip in Alaska.

Our wish is that everyone that comes to Alaska has the opportunity to see it up close and personal. We will do everything we can if you take an Alaska small ship Cruise with us to make sure your Vacation experience will be the trip of a lifetime.

Captain John Swanson

For More Information please contact Us:

All Aboard Yacht Charters

P.O. Box 436

Union, WA. 98592

U.S. Toll Free # : 1-800-767-1024

Phone: 360-898-7300

Fax #: 360-898-7301

For more Information:

Email us at : allaboard@alaskacharters.com

If you would like more information on Alaska's whales: http://www.alaskacharters.com/whales

If you would like more information on Alaska's bears: http://www.alaskacharters.com/bears

If you would like more information on Fishing in Alaska: http://www.alaskacharters.com/fishing

Affiliations and memberships:

The www.lnt.org the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics promoting responsible wilderness ethics.

The Southeast Alaska Wilderness Tours Association www.sawta.org - president and founding member.

www.seacc.org - Southeast Alaska Conservation Council

www.ilovethetongass.org - protecting and preserving the Tongass National Forest our nations premier Temperate Rain Forest