Alaska’s Fjords & Glaciers with Ketchikan - Adventure Cruise

After a day of exploring Alaska’s Capital City of Juneau, board your small adventure ship, and enjoy a proper glass of Champagne and time to meet the UnCruise team. You have time to take in a bit of the city once you check in. But after boarding, grab a glass of bubbly as you push off the dock enjoying great views. (D)

Take an early peek out your window. Fjord cliffs reach skyward. Floating ice. And deep u-shaped valleys. Cruise past harbor seals and their pups lounging on chunks of ice. At the end of Endicott, the blue face of Dawes Glacier is storeys high. And in classic fjord form. Tides permitting, your skiff driver knows the ropes and guides you along. It’s a mashup of towering walls, temperamental currents, and the Coastal Mountains. So many waterfalls. Mountain goats show off fancy foot work on the cliffs. Look for them. (BLD) 

Humpbacks beeline it here each season to feed on krill, zooplankton, and herring. Watch for whales feasting in these abundant glacial waters. Hang out and enjoy the show. Based on wind and weather, your expedition team has the lineup of adventures all mapped out. Cruise past Five Fingers Lighthouse, Alaska’s oldest light station and The Brothers Islands, where sea lions nap on rocky nobs. Paddle into the deeps of Port Houghton or Windham Bay or head ashore for a hike. Tonight, toast another big day in Alaska. (BLD)

When you come this far, you might as well go all in. This is way back backcountry of Alaska’s wilderness. Glacial landscapes marked by moraines, muskegs, and mud. In this playground, it’s all an option today. Kayak and skiff in water almost clear as glass. Later, wind into the Wrangell Narrows. Abundant bright red and green navigation lights guide the way. It’s nicknamed “Christmas Tree Lane,” of course. Thomas Bay is one of the few areas where the fit can hike to elevation along the famed Cascade Creek Trail to lake above…but you will need to be in top condition for this or choose a long relaxing kayak journey.   (BLD)

The Blashkee Islands are your playground today. A full day of choose-your-own-adventure fun. Hiking, Kayaking, skiff tours, snorkeling, and full day yak-n-whack excursions. But let's remember this area is unknown to most, with a chain of islands perfect for off vessel activities. But watch out for whales that frequent this area…the can surprise you! Get ready for a full day! (BLD)

Activities begin this morning in Yes Bay, and how can you say no to that! Wildlife abounds. Black bears, mink, eagles. In Behm Canal, it’s all remote waterways and the isolated Tongass National Forest. On Cleveland Peninsula, your expedition team leads a low-elevation hike near clear, rushing streams. Good opportunities for enticing forested shots of Southeast. In the water orca, porpoises, seals, and otters go about their business. Go about yours on a guided paddle in tiny, deserted waterways that feed into Behm Canal. (BLD)

There are places on the planet that completely overcome you. This is one of them. The beauty. The peace. The sense of place you feel. Misty Fjords National Monument represents nearly every ecosystem found in Southeast Alaska. And that alone is a lot to consider. Glacial valleys filled with sea water. Sheer 3,000 foot cliffs. Sea birds, brown and black bears, mountain goats, Sitka black-tailed deer, all find safe haven here. Kayak in Walker Cove or Rudyerd Bay and you find it’s just as easy to paddle and go, as it is to sit and float and take it all in. The area’s affectionate nickname, “The Yosemite of the North,” is deserved. And it’s an amazing wrap to your week. Your captain joins you tonight for a Farewell Dinner. Celebrate and reminisce about your Alaskan journey with a “photo journal” by your crew. (BLD)

After breakfast this morning, bid adieu to your new pals before you disembark and transfer to the Ketchikan airport or begin your extended UnCruise hotel stay or land tour. Going to the airport is different in Ketchikan, prepare for a ferry boat ride across the channel to an island that is home to the airport. (B)

Passport required (non USA citizens). Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary and the order of days may occur to maximize your experience.

Vessel Type: Expedition

Length: 160 feet

Pasenger Capacity: 60 guests

Built: 1984, renovated in 2011/2024

Wilderness Adventurer is a capable expedition vessel built to balance hands-on adventure with onboard comfort. Carrying up to 60 guests, she is designed for active exploration, with generous deck space for wildlife viewing, photography, and time outdoors. Her character is practical and unfussy, with an easy-going atmosphere that supports everything from cold-water plunges to quiet moments observing the landscape. The onboard culture reflects a strong sense of camaraderie, driven by an experienced crew and a shared focus on exploration.

Guest areas are arranged across accessible decks to support both activity and relaxation. Observation spaces include a forward viewing bow, a sun deck with hot tub and fitness equipment, and a lounge equipped with a GPS display and underwater bow camera for real-time wildlife viewing. The dining room offers open seating with a mix of buffet-style and plated meals, and all cabins are outside-facing. Expedition equipment such as kayaks, skiffs, snorkelling gear, and an EZ Dock launch platform enables frequent shore and water access, while unlimited beverages and flexible dietary accommodations are included when advised in advance.

Vessel type: Expedition

Length: 176 feet

Passenger Capacity: 76 guests

Built: 1992, renovated 2012

Wilderness Discoverer combines rugged exploration with attentive service, carrying 76 guests across three decks designed for comfort and adventure. Her shallow draft allows access to remote Alaskan waterways that larger vessels cannot reach, while onboard features such as two hot tubs, spacious lounges, and panoramic viewing areas provide ample relaxation. The bar, crafted from a yellow cedar log from Peril Strait, adds a distinctive Alaskan touch, and the lounge includes wildlife guides, binoculars, and a library for enrichment between excursions.

Dining aboard the Discoverer is flexible and social, with open-seating meals served at set times and unlimited beverages—including alcoholic and non-alcoholic options—provided. Dietary needs are accommodated with advance notice. Onboard amenities include the EZ Dock kayak launch platform, bow-mounted underwater camera, kayaks, paddleboards, inflatable skiffs, hiking poles, snorkel gear, fitness equipment, yoga mats, and a movie and book library. Wi-Fi is available outside protected areas, allowing guests to remain connected while fully immersed in Alaska’s fjords and glaciers.