A New Frontier for UnCruise Adventures in Alaska: Playing Around in Prince William Sound

Prince William Sound was packed with more glaciers than I had ever seen before. (Photo by John Roberts)

I was up early and stepped outside my cabin door to take in the fresh air and views on a misty morning in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

This had been my routine for a few days.

Then, when I noticed a small boat on the opposite side of the sound, I realized that its appearance was the first sign of any other humans in this remote stretch of water for quite a long time. 

It was little jarring to be honest, like being stirred from an extremely pleasant dream.  

Colleen and I were cruising with UnCruise Adventures in Prince William Sound as our ship Safari Explorer made its way from Smith Island and toward the remote fishing town of Cordova when other vessels finally appeared for the first time since we got under way three days prior. 

Our little group of adventurers had been on our own in the wilds since embarking in Whittier and setting off for our weeklong voyage, a brand-new itinerary for UnCruise in South Central Alaska. 

We had several chances to kayak right from the back of our ship, Safari Explorer. (Photo by John Roberts)

This was the fifth trip for UnCruise on this brand-new itinerary, and Colleen and I, along with 19 other passengers, were having a blast.  

There was kayaking, forest hikes and glaciers at every new turn in the waterway — with sea otters, whales, bald eagles and porpoises following along at times. On top of this, we had already made some great new friends and been enjoying delicious meals, drinks and conversations.  

In short, this was UnCruise being UnCruise and Alaska simply doing its natural Alaska things. 

Cordova is a small fishing town of about 2,500 people that sits at the mouth of the Copper River, which is a vibrant source for sockeye salmon, world famous for its taste and health benefits. 

Our midweek stop at Cordova gave us the chance for a hiking adventure on the town’s Ski Hill Trail and to visit to some shops, the museum and even a craft brewery. This was a nice reset before we ventured back into the remote wilderness of Prince William Sound and the surrounding Chugach National Forest. 

This expedition marked my eighth trip with UnCruise, and each time the cruises offered an incredibly diverse range of adventures that connected me with nature and culture.  

We have been on Safari Explorer for its Hawaii season, too.

Plus, I have traveled with UnCruise in the Pacific Northwest on the Columbia and Snake Rivers; off coastal Washington for the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea; in the Sea of Cortez and Baja Mexico; and through the Panama Canal to see Panama and Costa Rica. 

But this was my third time with UnCruise in Alaska, and this destination has become my favorite spot in the world.  

My prior two trips were fascinating itineraries in Southeast Alaska, but this new route in Prince William Sound offers a chance to get even farther off the grid and to see more glaciers.  

We took daily skiff tours to get out to see glaciers. This is Columbia Glacier in Prince William Sound. (Photo by John Roberts)

Safari Explorer carries up to 36 passengers and offers three passenger decks. We had 21 people onboard for our trip, and they came from places like California, Philadelphia, Chicago, Ohio and Houston.  

Plus, Colleen and myself joined from our home in Colorado.  

Here is a day-by-day breakdown of everything that we were able to do and see during our Prince William Sound Alaska cruise with UnCruise Adventures. This will give you an idea of just how action-packed these expeditions are. 

Anchorage (Whittier) 

As soon as we entered the channel from Whittier, we saw hundreds of kittiwakes at the falls. (Photo by John Roberts)

Flights are to Anchorage, and this is where you will be met by an UnCruise rep at the airport and transferred to the hospitality area at the Hilton Downtown Anchorage Hotel. Here, travelers check in for their trip and drop off luggage that will be sent to the ship and awaiting you in your room when you get onboard. 

Depending on your arrival time in Anchorage (if you fly in the same day), you might have a few hours available to enjoy a lunch and some shopping in the city. Colleen and I grabbed some sandwiches and craft beer at a pizzeria and walked along the waterfront for a little bit to stretch our legs on a sunny afternoon.  

The bus ride to Whittier takes just over an hour. In 2025, UnCruise will launch its trips from Seward, which will extend the transfer to the ship by another hour. 

When we got to the port, we hopped onboard and were greeted by the crew. We went through a safety drill and shoved off into Passage Canal, making way for Prince William Sound. Wilderness and wildlife were on display almost immediately as we passed our first waterfalls and saw a kittiwake colony feverishly feeding in the waters stirred by the crashing falls. 

Thousands of these seabirds were joined by three bald eagles in their midst. The eagles also gave us a nice treat by soaring over the top of our ship while riding the winds. It was a perfect start to our trip. 

Icy Bay 

Safari Explorer carries up to 36 passengers for adventure cruises in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. (Photo by John Roberts)

During our first full day, we visited Icy Bay and Chenega Glacier. We went out with expedition leader Jeremy Saenz for a skiff tour to get our first up-close look at the steep cliffs that shape the sound and surrounding national forest. 

I had expected it to rain nonstop all week based on the forecasts I had checked. However, we ended up getting intermittent rain, drizzle and long stretches with no rains under usually gray skies. It was quite pleasant for our activities, with temps hovering around 50 all week.  

Pack layers and bring a rain jacket and rain pants for your activities in Alaska. We had nice weather in early July, but it still was a little rainy at times. (Photo by Christian Lloyd)

(Packing tips: The key is to dress in comfortable layers that you can add to or subtract from, as needed. Also, UnCruise will loan you rain pants and boots if you haven’t brought your own.) 

On the morning excursion, we gazed upon the pretty Chenega Glacier and saw hummingbirds, marbeled murrelets and glaucous gulls.  

We loved the opportunities to kayak near the massive glaciers. Here, we get a good look at Tiger Tail Glacier in Icy Bay. (Photo by John Roberts)

After lunch, Colleen and I hopped in kayaks to join a guided paddle up to Tiger Tail Glacier on the other side of the bay. During the outing, we were able to spot harbor seals and watch multiple calving events as chunks of ice loosed from the face of the tidewater glacier and crashed into the water creating thunderous sounds and rolling waves. 

We celebrated a delightful day of adventures with a warm-up in the ship’s hot tub, accompanied by a couple refreshing craft beers. 

Bay of Isles 

We’re out for a morning bushwhacking hike, coming ashore after a skiff ride from our ship. (Photo by John Roberts)

Another day and another new activity as we woke up in the Bay of Isles on Day 2 of our trip.  

UnCruise offers options each day for the excursions, with skiff tours always available, so that every cruiser can get out to explore.  

We chose the “bushwhacking” led by our guide Mareth. Bushwhacking is a kind of exploratory hike, meaning there are no trails. Instead, we make our own paths or find some that the native animals — such as Sitka deer, black bear, otters or even porcupines -- might use. Then, we push our way into the forest and muskegs to see what we can find. 

Before we started our hike, Mareth showed us some creatures in the tidal zone. (Photo by John Roberts)

When we came ashore, guides Mareth and Christian had us stop to check out the shore line because it was low ride and dozens of sea stars and other creatures were visible for our closer inspection. There were mussels, purple and orange seas stars, crabs, chitons and limpets. 

Colleen says that bushwhacking is her favorite activity when on an Alaska expedition with UnCruise. (Photo by Mareth Griffith)

Then, we scrambled up the rocky coast line and into the edges of the forest. All week, our UnCruise guides were a bit more excited than usual because they were getting to explore new spots all along the way, as well.  

It was a blast crawling under tree branches, over logs and sloshing through streams and marshy bogs. The wildflowers and grasses were in full bloom. 

Cordova 

The payoff at the Ski Hill Trail hike in Cordova was a beautiful view. (Photo by John Roberts)

On our way to Cordova, we passed by Bligh Reef, which is where the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground just after midnight on March 24, 1989, and caused the horrific oil spill that scarred the region.  

As part of our day in the small fishing town at Orca Inlet in the southeast of Prince William Sound, Colleen and I spent time in Cordova Historical Museum. The museum features all kinds of interesting information and artifacts about the region. Plus, it has a fascinating display discussing the oil spill and aftermath. 

We hiked six miles up and down Ski Hill Trail. (Photo by John Roberts)

Before we hit the museum, though, we spent the morning with a small group of ambitious hikers who also were up for the challenge of scaling the town’s Ski Hill Trail.  

We hit the trail and piled up almost six miles, rising high above the town and marina and into the low-hanging clouds for beautiful panoramic views.  

Colleen and I finished our time in Cordova by joining a few new friends at Copper River Brewing as we refreshed after the busy day with a selection of tasty craft brews. 

Columbia Glacier 

It was a rare treat to walk among the ice garden near the glacier. (Photo by John Roberts)

Our fourth full day on the voyage delivered a superb variety of sights and activities. We visited Columbia Glacier, a massive tidewater glacier that has three arms pushing out from the mountains.  

As we finished breakfast, nearly a dozen buff-colored mountain goats were spotted in the cliffs, so we all assembled on the bow of Safari Explorer. Moms and kids were scrambling along the cracks of the cliff face, and we watching in amazement at how these nimble creatures managed to carefully move along the steep hillside. 

It was amazing to see the mountain goats maneuver in the cliffs of the fjord. (Photo by John Roberts)

Then, we all hopped onto skiffs to get up close to the glacier, dodging the large icebergs floating in the sound as we slipped nearer and nearer. 

Finally, we went ashore on the coastline at low tide to wander around a beautiful “ice garden” — huge chunks of ice left on shore as the tide was out. This was a new experience for all of us and offered a chance to take some fun photos next to the ice giants. 

We saw all kinds of huge icebergs stranded ashore during low tide. (Photo by John Roberts)

Then, we headed back onboard to fuel up for the afternoon’s activities. (I have much more in a section below on the variety of delicious food that also was a highlight of the trip.)  

Our afternoon kayaking outing took us along scenic coastline in fairly calm waters. (Photo by John Roberts)

Jeremy took a group out for a long kayak session. Colleen and I joined six others to paddle along a scenic coast for more than four miles, and along the way, we saw some Steller sea lions, including one that whooshed under our kayak and came up with a salmon in its mouth.  

It was an awesome display of hunting prowess and you could hear the gasps from our group as we witnessed this up close. 

College Fjord, Harriman Fjord and Barry Arm 

Cruisers loved being out on the bow to view glaciers and spot wildlife during our trip. (Photo by John Roberts)

The week was racing by, and our fifth full day in Prince William Sound began with a morning of scenic cruising to witness the beautiful glaciers on display in College Fjord.  

Safari Explorer spent the entire morning cruising into position and eventually anchoring in the Barry Arm fjord to offer us a picturesque view of the glaciers and cliffs. 

Esther Salmon Hatchery 

The number of salmon in the waters at Esther Island attracts black bears, birds and sea lions. (Photo by John Roberts)

From College Fjord, we sailed to Esther Island for a chance to see a salmon hatchery and learn a bit about the management of this fish that’s so vital to the economy and ecosystem in South Central Alaska. 

As Safari Explorer puttered closer to the island and surrounding hatchery waters, we could see more and more leaping salmon. The hatchery has a big saltwater holding pen filled with salmon fry waiting to be released to the open waters. Just outside the pen, the waters were brimming with active salmon. 

A raft of sea lions had made their way inside the pen and were feeding, and we saw multiple black bears coming down to the shoreline to get in on the salmon buffet, too.  

Our bushwhack group made a stop by the waterfalls to take in the beautiful scenery. (Photo by John Roberts)

After a quick look around the hatchery and learning how the operation works from a staffer there, some of us went on a short bushwhack, crossing waterfalls, stopping at a pretty lake and traversing a picturesque muskeg — constantly on the lookout for bears.  

Meares Glacier and Granite Bay 

We could hike close to Meares Glacier, one of the few advancing glaciers in North America. (Photo by John Roberts)

We had reached our final day of the cruise. We spent the morning at Meares Glacier, and Colleen and I were excited for the chance to see a different kind of glacier. Meares is advancing instead of retreating, a rarity for glaciers in North America. The ice is slowly pushing into the adjacent old-growth forest and pushing down trees. It’s such a fascinating phenomenon that several crew also were excited to join the hike with Jeremy, Christian and the rest of us. 

We went ashore, crossed a stream and walked into the serene forest with the massive glacier always in sight just to our right, growing bigger and bigger as we crept along the tree line and closer to the lateral moraine field.  

We were able to walk right up to the edge of the glacier and have a good look at the ice, rock, small caverns and trickling water that races down its crevices. We all posed for a bunch of memorable pics before setting up nearby and sitting in silence for quite a while to simply enjoy the sounds of nature – the cracking ice, crash of newly formed icebergs falling into the water and chirps of birds. 

We were able to take some fun pictures while nestled up close to the glacier. (Photo by Jeremy Saenz)

We took a break to enjoy the sights and sounds of the glacier. (Photo by John Roberts)

After we went back to the ship, it was announced that it was time for the polar plunge, a traditional UnCruise celebration in Alaska. A handful of us scrambled to change into our swimsuits and jumped at the chance to plunge into the frigid waters. 

Some went from the marina area, while others took off from the side of the ship one deck higher.  

My first plunge off the back of Safari Explorer. (Photo by Jeremy Saenz)

I decided to do both, splashing into the invigorating bay twice before retreating with my fellow plungers to the warmth of the hot tub. 

Let’s do it again! (Photo by Mareth Griffith)

Safari Explorer cruised over to Granite Bay for our final set of activities. Colleen and I went out with our friends Peggy and Jared and guide Christian for a nice small-group bushwhack on Granite Island. We all pushed ourselves pretty hard on this last hike, so it was nice to get back onboard for some well-earned drinks at happy hour and our final big dinner. 

Mareth shared a delightful photo montage she created to commemorate the voyage, with the variety of images encapsulating just how epic the trip had been and showing how much we were able to squeeze out of one week in Prince William Sound. 

The Ship 

Safari Explorer is a perfect home base for our adventures in Alaska, with skiffs, kayaks and cozy amenities. (Photo by John Roberts)

Safari Explorer is a nice little home base for adventure. It features a dining room/lounge/bar space where everyone hangs out to socialize and eat meals when not out on deck looking for wildlife or off the ship enjoying the day’s excursions. 

The ship has a hot tub on the top deck, and this is where you’ll find lounge chairs and a small seating area. Also, there is a gym set up with a spin bike, dumbbells, rowing machine and yoga mats. Colleen and I would start our days with a good stretch and workout before breakfast. 

The hot tub was a favorite spot to unwind after a fun day of adventures. (Photo by Colleen McDaniel)

A space called the Wine Library is just behind the bar. It features cabinets with the wine bottle inventory and a small boutique shop selling gear and UnCruise-branded hats and shirts. This space also serves as the library with novels, reference books, puzzles and games. There also is a piano and guitar available to play. 

A shelving unit next to the bar features a big library of DVDs that you can play in your cabin. Next to the lounge is the hotel directors desk and sign-up sheet for shore excursions.

The ship also has paddleboards in addition to the kayaks we used all week. You might even get a chance to do some stand-up paddleboarding if you visit a bay that is calm enough. 

Photo Gallery: Have a Look Around Safari Explorer

Most cabins are on B Deck, and they all have doors that open right up to the promenade and beautiful views of your destinations. There are two more cabins C Deck off the dining room and the two largest staterooms (Commodore Suites) behind the bridge on A Deck. 

Passengers are encouraged to stop by the bridge to see the captain and crew and chat about how the ship works and to help spot wildlife from the best seat onboard.

Check out what our stateroom looks like and see all of the features of the ship in my trip vlog here ... 

The Food 

We had rack of lamb for dinner one night during our trip. (Photo by John Roberts)

We had a great variety of tasty dishes, prepared by chef Brendan and pastry chef Victoria.  

The UnCruise trips always feature a mix of regional dishes and classic global favorites, always made fresh and with an eye toward sustainability.  

The program offers an early-riser breakfast selection with overnight oats, pastries and fruit and yogurt cups. Because I was so exhausted from our daily activities, I was asleep early and would then wake just after the sun came up around 4:30 each morning. I took advantage of my appetite and the chance to have an early breakfast in addition to the regular breakfast. 

I have no regrets!  

This was one of our delicious early-risers breakfast spreads. (Photo by John Roberts)

There were flavors like pina colada, carrot cake and PB&J for overnight oats, as well as items like chocolate chip scones and cinnamon maple muffins. The menu included a daily breakfast special like corned beef hash, eggs benedict, biscuits and gravy, huevos rancheros and pancakes with blueberry compote. 

That was just the start. Lunches and dinners were incredible, too. 

The chef revealed the selections for lunch and dinner during breakfast each day, and we could pick from a meat, fish and vegetarian option. They usually were all very appealing, so the trick is to order a half and half to get a smaller portion of two selections that sound good to you. This also cuts down on food waste. 

We had things like guava pulled pork arepas, cod po’ boys, chicken shawarma, falafel and poke bowls for lunch. There also was Taco Tuesday and a Burger Day.  

At dinner, we were treated to king crab legs, roasted chicken with 16 Moroccan spices, rock fish, short ribs, pink Alaska chowder, Russian dumplings, pan-seared duck with pine cone jam, rack of lamb with apricot sauce and pistachios and ratatouille tart. 

That’s quite the variety, huh? 

This is quite the spread for afternoon snacks. (Photo by John Roberts)

But there’s even more. There were scrumptious tapas snacks placed out in late afternoon for cocktail hour and daily fresh cookies in the lounge each day. 

The bar also featured three Alaskan craft brews on tap, an IPA, red ale and stout. Additionally, we loved pulling up a seat at the bar each afternoon and chatting with bartender Dorian, who would showcase a creative drink of the day cocktail. 

Photo Gallery: More Delicious Bites from Our Trip with UnCruise

Our time in Prince William Sound with UnCruise was another super-fun trip, just as I expected. I knew I was going to see new things in an immersive, informative and active way while hanging out with people who love it all as much as I do. 

That’s precisely why this was my eighth trip with the company. 

Colleen and I can’t wait until our next expedition with UnCruise Adventures. (Photo by Mareth Griffith)

I’m also excited for UnCruise’s brand-new Aleutian Islands Adventure with Dutch Harbor and Kodiak itinerary. So is everyone else, it seems, as all current departure dates already are sold out for 2025. (A waitlist is available.) 

Photo Gallery: More from Our Prince William Sound Cruise