Un-Cruise Adventures’ newly renovated 22-guest yacht Safari Quest returns to the Pacific Northwest in 2013 with 19 Luxury Adventure departures set for spring and fall and a new itinerary sailing roundtrip Seattle. Known as a yachter’s paradise, Washington’s scenic San Juan Islands and British Columbia’s Gulf Islands are a favorite destination for boaters on leisurely explorations.
Weeklong Pacific Northwest Passage cruises depart roundtrip from Seattle, WA from March-May and Sept-Nov 2013. Areas visited include Harmony Islands, Princess Louisa Inlet, Jervis Inlet, Nanaimo, Gulf Islands and Victoria, BC; San Juan Islands and Friday Harbor, WA. Gunkholing is a term widely used in the Northwest to describe a style of boating among the islands—meandering from place to place seeking out isolated anchorages.
A highlight of the journey is extended time in Princess Louisa Inlet, a stunning fjord with mile high cliffs rising up from the water and Chatterbox Falls at the head of the inlet. The yacht anchors overnight with time to hike ashore and explore by kayak and skiff.
In Victoria, guests enjoy free time to explore downtown, visit the elegant Empress Hotel or Royal British Columbia Museum before traveling to the 55 acre Butchart Gardens for High Tea and a tour of its flower and foliage displays. The Harmony Islands and Buccaneer Bay beckon guests outside to explore via kayak and skiff. Though wildlife may be found anywhere, Jervis Inlet is a good place to look for orca whales, porpoise, seals and sea lions. In Friday Harbor, guests visit the Whale Museum and spend time wandering through the quaint town. A flexible itinerary enhances the gunkholing adventure with freedom to seek out wildlife and explore by sea and shore.
The Safari Quest will be fresh from a major refurbishment of interior spaces including the Captain staterooms on Bridge deck and a new hot tub on the Observation deck. A new bow camera streams underwater views of dolphins and other sea life to TVs in the lounge and staterooms. The upscale yacht has 11 staterooms, all with Tempur-pedic memory foam mattresses, iPod docking station and flatscreen TV with DVD player. Unique among yachts, the Safari Quest’s four Captain staterooms feature sliding glass doors and French balconies. Other amenities include fitness equipment and a DVD/book library.
Adventure activities include nature walks, skiff excursions, wildlife searches, kayaking, paddle boarding, beachcombing and shoreside tours.
Source: Un-Cruise Adventures
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