Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises’ Trips
Frequently Asked Questions - About Booking a Reservation
Before reserving your Alaska Exploration Cruise, please review these important answers to frequently asked questions about deposits and payments, our cancellation policy, travel insurance, passports and guest responsibilities.
I booked my trip with Alaska Exploration Cruises- now what?
Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises' Trips
How can I reach Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises?
E-mail: info@alaskaexplorationcruises.com
Write: Alaska Exploration Cruises 1890 Pinecrest Ave., Coupeville, WA 98239
Phone: 888-678-1892 or 360-678-0212
What's included in the trip price?
- Flexible handcrafted itineraries
- All meals, snacks and beverages between meals. Dietary concerns are taken into consideration – i.e. vegetarians, food allergies
- Expertise and services of longtime Alaskans and crew
- Equipment – saltwater fishing gear, sea kayaks – 3 doubles 2 singles with life jackets, paddles, skirts and dry bags, 17’ Lund shore boat
- When appropriate a complimentary night, sometimes 2 on Sundance depending on arrival and departure times of your flight.
- All linens, bedding, towels, shampoo, conditioner and soap.
- Moorage fees
What is not included in the trip price?
- Travel to and from Sundance
- Extra shore activities provided by another tour operator - for instance our guests may choose to have a float plane come and meet Sundance and take a private flightseeing tour, or partake in a tour with a native guide of a local native village
- Personal items
- Fishing licenses
- Alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities
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What kind of kayaks do you have?
We have wide and stable kayaks perfect for all levels – 3 doubles and 3 singles. We have plenty of life jackets for all sizes along with skirts and dry bags.
What kind of fishing gear do you have and do I need a license?
We have saltwater gear for both bottom fish and salmon. Although our adventure tours are not focused on fishing, many guests seem to find time to catch that sometimes elusive halibut or salmon from time to time! You can purchase a fishing license in your arrival port or we can sell you one onboard Sundance.
What kind of shape do I need to be in to enjoy my trip?
Sundance vacation cruises are designed for all abilities and activity levels! Do as little or as much as you like. The stairs to the staterooms are narrow and steep so you do need to be able to navigate them. Our oldest guest however was 91 years old and she was able to navigate the stairs just fine and was even able to get in and out of the shore boat.
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How do you accommodate guests of varying abilities?
Each cruise has participants of varying abilities so there's usually someone else traveling at your speed. This makes for an optimal arrangement for friends and couples as they can spend the day with similarly fit travelers. Whatever the activity, you're free to go at your own pace, and there is always time to stop and smell the wildflowers!
What will our itinerary be for our trip?
We have several itineraries available for your review that touch on a little of everything that Southeast Alaska has to offer. Because you are chartering your own adventure vessel, you will be able to have some flexibility during your charter. You simply need to confer with your captain. There are some time constraints to consider but we will accommodate your wishes the best we can. In order to determine the best itinerary for your family or group, we recommend that you counsel with us at 888-678-1892 or email us.
Depending on our schedule availability you may be able to exclusively reserve a departure of longer than our regularly scheduled tours. We feel 7 days is the least amount of time that is needed to enjoy and see what SE Alaska has to offer.
Highlights of our tours
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Kayak along the shorelines to get a closer view of bears, with the gentle giants -humpback whales, among icebergs
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Listen to the humpbacks song with our hydro phone
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Hiking in Alaska’s beautiful and very remote wilderness
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Soaking in natural hot springs situated along a rushing waterfall
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Exploring the bays in our speedboat
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Discover abandoned canneries and hidden treasures in the forest
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Feasting on freshly caught crab and prawns
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Catching that elusive halibut
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Relax at the end of the day in our onboard sauna then enjoy one of the most restful nights sleep you have ever had on our custom made mattresses
How long will we be active each day?
It's up to you to decide how active you want be each day on your cruise. Our itineraries are customized to your group. Each day you can choose to kayak, hike (depending on bear activity), fish, and explore either using the shore boat or walking along the beach. You can also simply enjoy yourself relaxing on Sundance with your favorite book and taking in the serenity of your surroundings.
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Who travels with Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises?
Guests that travel with us are usually active and interesting people who come from vastly different walks of life. They live in all corners of the world, work in a variety of occupations and have many different hobbies and interests. More than 80% are between the ages of 30 and 60 but many guests are older (90) and younger travelers (7months) as well. Some have been on small vessel cruises before and some have never been on a cruise. Some are even from Alaska!
We charter to groups of all kinds, families, friends, women groups, men groups, team building, special interest groups and more. We also have some weeks each season that are for individual stateroom bookings for the couple or solo traveler.
Above all our guests have one common interest –they don’t want to be with the herds of travelers on the large cruise ships being crowed into canned tours of 50 to 100. They are adventuresome and want to see the real Alaska in a way that allows them to fully immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of the experience. They choose private adventure travel to fulfill this interest, and they choose cruising with us because our Alaska ties and local knowledge allows us to create itineraries that assure them a memorable vacation experience. If you share this wanderlust, we're here to deliver!
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How many people will there be onboard during a stateroom booking week?
The average number is 8 although the maximum number of guests is 12. Each stateroom can sleep up to 3 guests but we base the tours on 2 per room. There is a minimum of 6 guests needed to sail.
Are there trips my whole family or group of friends can enjoy privately?
Yes! Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises is all about chartering exclusively for families or your own group of friends. These trips are great for kids and adults alike as available activities are designed to cater to varying ages, interests and abilities. Your own adventure yacht, your own crew!
If I'm traveling alone, will you find me a roommate or can I get a private room?
If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will match you with another trip member. If we cannot find a roommate for you, you will only be charged for a single.
If you are traveling alone and wish private accommodations, because of limited space it will be necessary to charge you for a double.
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What kind of accommodations can I expect onboard? You can also see photos.
Sundance is like home away from home, very nice and quite comfortable. The floors are done in recycled fir, walls of maple with contrasting trim, no glass and brass on Sundance! The main deck sauna is custom tiled with a mosaic whale and the sauna for two, is done in cedar.
Sundance has four staterooms below deck each with a large double berth and a single berth over the top. The berths are 7’ long. Each stateroom has a sink, mirror, blow dryer, linens and storage. There is a shared bathroom on the stateroom deck with a full sized shower.
On the main deck is a nice salon with wonderful viewing windows, built-in settees, dining area, card table area, flat screen TV which you can view your digital photos on at the end of the day or movies from your movie camera. We have a DVD/CD stereo that you are welcome to play your favorite music or movies on. There is a nice toilet room and a separate shower/sauna room, yes sauna, on the main deck. The modern galley is all the way aft (in the back) and emits wonderful smells of delicious pies, homemade bread and wonderful hearty meals. Additionally we have a barbeque on the outside deck for grilled salmon and more.
There is a stateroom topside behind the wheelhouse with two single berths and storage that can also be used for guests in some circumstances.
The wheelhouse is the best place to see all the action and has two settees for guests to watch the spectacular scenery and even learn navigation if they want!
The crew quarters are in the bow (front) of the ship that includes a crew bathroom.
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What type of safety equipment do you have onboard?
Sundance has all USCG safety equipment required by the Coast Guard, certified and inspected annually. This includes a 20 man life raft, the appropriate number of USCG approved life jackets for adults and children and fifteen survival suits. There are fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in each stateroom and throughout Sundance along with carbon monoxide detectors. The Captain has taken all approved safety training classes required to run 400’ passenger ships. Additionally the Captain And crew will thoroughly familiarize you with all safety equipment and demonstrate their use before we depart port on our voyage.
Is smoking allowed onboard Sundance?
No smoking is allowed inside Sundance although guests are allowed to smoke outside in a designated area and are expected to be courteous of non smoking guests.
Do you have guest references for your trips?
Absolutely! Don't just take our word for it that Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises’ trips are a once in a lifetime experience, call or e-mail us and we will be happy to refer you to a guest who's been there with us.
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Frequently Asked Questions - About Booking a Reservation
How do I sign up and reserve a trip? Is a deposit required?
It couldn't be easier to sign up for the trip of a lifetime! Simply pick up your phone and call 888-678-1892. A deposit of 25% of your tour total is necessary to reserve your tour.
To ensure trip availability, we recommend that you make reservations at least six to seven months prior to departure. The balance of the trip cost is due 60 days prior to departure and may be paid by check or money order in U.S. dollars or by credit card. With your authorization, we can automatically bill your credit card when the balance is due. If final payment is not received when due Alaska Exploration Cruises reserves the right to treat the reservation as cancelled.
How far in advance do I need to book?
The farther in advance that you book, the better selection of available departure dates you will find. You'll want to reserve seven to eight months out to get the best selection.
Do you ever have specials?
Yes we do have specials from time to time, please ask when you call.
When is my balance due?
The balance of your trip cost is due 60 days prior to trip departure.
If you register for a trip within 60 days of trip departure, full payment is due at the time of booking. If your payment is not received when due Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises reserves the right to treat the reservation as cancelled.
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Does Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises offer any type of travel protection insurance?
We strongly recommend you buy travel insurance to protect yourself against losses caused by a necessary trip cancellation on your part, loss or damage of baggage, non-refundable airfare or emergency medical expenses.
How do I get to the start of the trip? How will I get to the airport at the trip's end?
Travel to Sundance in Southeast Alaska can be done from Anchorage, Alaska or Seattle, Washington via Alaska Airline, the only jet service in and out of SE Alaska.
You will need to arrange your air travel. We will provide you with information to get to and from Sundance and will also include the information in your Confirmation Packet that is e-mailed or mailed to you upon final payment. In Ketchikan, we may meet you at the airport ourselves with our shore boat, in Sitka and Juneau you will need to take a taxi to and from the harbor where we will meet you and take care of your luggage. If you are interested in spending a day or two in your arrival or departure port before or after your cruise, we are happy to suggest accommodations and things to do.
Please note that Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises is not responsible for the purchase of non-refundable advance purchase airline tickets.
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How can I arrange my travel before and after my Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruise?
You can contact your travel agent or go online to book your air ticket.
What will I need to bring?
Besides your spirit of adventure, all you need to bring is your personal clothing. Don't worry, we'll send you a detailed clothing list in your pre-departure information so you know what you'll need. But generally limit yourself to one collapsible suitcase due to limited space onboard. You will want to be able to dress in layers for Alaska’s quickly changing weather.
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Does Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises offer special youth rates?
Normally cruise rates are based on a weekly rate not per person unless it is a stateroom booking cruise. Due to USCG regulations, Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises is allowed to have 12 guests onboard no matter what the age so normally discounts for children would not apply, although please don’t hesitate to ask.
Will I need a visa?
You will not need a visa unless you are traveling the entire Inside Passage with us going north in the spring leaving from Washington or south in late summer leaving from Alaska. These two tours do travel through Canada’s beautiful British Columbia and we will need to clear customs.
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How can I get more answers?
We are happy to answer any question any time about your tour and can be reached 8am - 5pm (PST) Monday - Friday. Please call us at 888-678-1892 or email us. We are also happy to provide telephone numbers of guests who have already cruised with us.
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I booked my trip with Alaska Exploration Cruises - now what?
When will I receive more detailed information about my trip so I can start planning?
Upon receipt of your reservation deposit, we will send a confirmation and pre-departure packet. This packet will include a daily itinerary, a list of items to bring, information about getting to Sundance.
Can I change my mind and transfer to another trip even after I've already made a reservation?
Yes you can as long as there is space available.
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What if I need to cancel my trip? What is Alaska Exploration Cruises’ cancellation policy?
CANCELLATION FEES
After deposit and up to 60 days prior to departure: 75% of Deposit will be retained by Alaska Exploration Cruises, Inc.
Less than 60 days prior to departure: 100% of Total Tour Cost be retained by AEC, Inc.
Due to the very short season, cancellation refunds may only be made if the dates can be rebooked.
There is no refund for leaving a trip early or arriving late.
Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises reserves the right to cancel any tour due to acts of nature, weather conditions, insufficient number of participant or unforeseen circumstances that mandate change that may arise.
If Alaska Exploration Cruises finds it necessary to cancel a tour due to mechanical failure and is unable to provide you with another trip that is satisfactory, all moneys paid will be prorated and refunded and shall constitute full settlement with you.
Alaska Exploration Adventure Cruises is not responsible for any additional expenses that may be incurred by a guest in relation to a canceled tour including non refundable lodging deposits.
Alaska Exploration Cruises is not responsible for any costs incurred due to travel delays, flight cancellations or sickness.
Alaska Exploration Cruises is not responsible for penalties that may be incurred due to the purchase of non refundable air tickets.
Guests who fail to provide signed "Release of Liability and Assumption of All Risks" and personal information forms prior to trip departure will not be allowed to join the trip and the cancellation policy applies .
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