

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


Copyright (c)
1997-2004 John Swanson - Alaska Small Ship Cruises aboard the Classic Yacht
Discovery
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