I like travelling to colder regions and this trip gave the opportunity for a longer voyage from Alaska all the way to Seattle.

The crew and the team of naturalists provided excellent service and the kitchen team supplied an amazing range of delicious food. It is difficult to pick out particular moments of the trip as being the most memorable, but being surrounded for almost half an hour by a very large school of Pacific white-sided porpoises leaping and diving was very special as was watching humpbacked whales’ circular feeding and getting close to orcas.

The trip met all of our expectations. We really wanted to see remote Alaska and this was the best way we could find. The crew was absolutely excellent. I really liked the way the crew and staff remembered and called us by our names - that really made us feel welcome. Also, we really were treated as if we were at home. The only improvement would be to offer adult-only cruises sometime in the season. Although there were very few children we would have preferred none.

ALL of the staff onboard was professional, friendly and the service excellent. They made sure they knew all the guests by name (the biggest advantage of small ship cruising, not to mention the ability to go to places the "big boys" can't go) and seemed to appear out of nowhere to anticipate your needs. We very much enjoyed getting to know them personally. They all had such fascinating stories to share about their lives outside of the cruise world. A couple of the naturalists stand out as having been particularly attentive to all the guests. I learned so much under the photographer’s patient tutelage. It was definitely an added bonus for me to have worked with her. Our trip leader was delightful and really kept us entertained, informed and made us feel at home from the very first day. His vast knowledge of the area offered new tidbits to learn every day.

We had always wanted to visit the inside passage of Alaska, see the beauty of the vast coastline, the glaciers and meet the people and see the towns of this part of coastal Alaska.  The staff aboard the Sea Bird does the best job in educating as well as stimulating you to explore more on your own when you have the opportunity. 

We had always wanted to take a trip to Alaska and looking into options, we wanted to do something that would be more active and up close to nature than just cruising by. The most memorable part was the up close whale and brown bear viewings and beautiful kayak trips. The meals were all gourmet prepared, healthy, and delicious. The naturalists were very knowledgeable and were happy to answer all of our questions. We learned so much. I'm not sure how to improve the experience. It was awesome.

Our experience on the Sea Lion exceeded our greatest expectations: great naturalists, great small ship with all of the amenities, great food, great staff, great choice of stops and adventures and of course great Alaska!

Always wanted to go to Alaska, but did not want to go on a large cruise. When I saw the small adventure cruise on the internet that was what inspired me to look into it and take the trip. The staff and crew on the Wilderness Discoverer were wonderful. They were very friendly, had time to chat with you, answered all questions and knew us on a first name basis. The most memorable part of the trip was the pristine beauty of Alaska and the quiet in this vast state with only 60 people on board the ship. The pod of 30 plus orcas was also awesome.

The staff, guides, and crew on the Sea Bird were outstanding. They were very friendly and helpful at all times. I am somewhat physically challenged and was not able to do all of the hikes. They scheduled zodiac cruises for me and some other somewhat challenged people when the hikes were not feasible. I got help any time I needed it from everyone.

The staff, guides and crew did everything possible to make sure that this was a positive experience - all the way from meeting us at the Los Angeles airport during our departure to staying with us until we departed La Paz. They were all completely customer focused during the entire trip.

We had two very memorable parts of the expedition, one was being able to follow and observe a mother and her baby humpback whale breech and flop their flukes out of the water for over an hour, and the second one was being able to observe and touch mother and baby gray whales.

Everyone onboard the Safari Explorer was GREAT! As I told Captain Scotty, we could tell that the entire crew was much more like a family and not so much like co-workers. They truly enjoy what they do and enjoy passing it on to the guests. On this size ship, if the crew was unhappy, the guests would also be unhappy. Again, they were wonderful and I want to thank every one of them!

We were particularly impressed with the expertise and ease of communication with the naturalists. We always wanted to go on a cruise to Alaska and the whole experience of traveling to a different part of the world to see its landscapes and animals was memorable.

I've always wanted to go to Alaska and we especially loved being up close and personal with the whales, the glaciers and the icebergs! The hikes in the magical forests were great, too!

We really enjoyed the staff onboard. Our cook, Christine, made homemade bread for every meal! Our guide, Shannon, was so great at not just teaching us but also taking care of us. (She knew I was nervous about kayaking but I did it with no problems!) Our Captain, Bill, was so patient with the kids; they really enjoyed spending time with him. His good nature was infectious! And our Engineer, Eric, was so knowledgeable and interesting! (He's had so many adventures and knows so much about so many things!)

The naturalists offered a perspective of sea life, geography, Native Culture and wildlife that was very valuable, and entertaining. The naturalists made this a very special trip! I could have done without the couple days at the end of the journey sailing back to Seattle, although the stop at Friday Harbor added alittle. Now that we are back I can reflect on the majesty of the wilderness that is SE Alaska. Nothing can adequately describe it ...I had to experience it!

I wanted to take this trip because I've always had a desire to travel to Alaska. Since I had previously traveled with Lindblad, and I was too busy to plan my own trip, I chose this expedition!

When we were out on Resurrection Sound (orcas, humpbacks, otters, puffins, bald eagles, endless birds,etc) and at Katmai (I have 243 pictures of bears - truly mind blowing) I also flew around Mt McKinley. In Denali, saw bears, caribou, wolves, moose, beavers, ptarmigan etc. Etc!

An extremely professional crew all round. The level of interaction with the guests was greatly appreciated, as was the knowledge regarding the nature, etc. on the trip, not only from the Expedition Leader (who was excellent), but also the other crew members

We are definitely going to concentrate on our own continent, Africa. However, we are a little "traveled out" at the moment, having been on the go for the last 12 years, so we will be doing all our traveling in South Africa, our home country

The one criticism I have is that you need to think on a global scale rather than a national one. In other words, people booking with you from other parts of the world need to know that you are taking that into account when dealing with various aspects of the travel experience. Things are different in other parts of the world from that in the United States and that needs to be taken into account.

His enthusiasm never wavered. The group we were with got along great, which also helped make the trip more enjoyable.

We always enjoy visiting Alaska, so we were already anticipating having a good time. In addition to seeing several new places, we got to experience things we had done before (the train from Denali, Anchorage, Alyeska Resort) in a new light. There was no aspect of the trip that disappointed. It was tiring, in a way, to have to pack up and leave so soon after arriving in Talkeetna and Fox Island, but that was just part of the trip and we knew that would be the situation.

This trip offered both a stay at Kantishna Roadhouse in Denali and a stay at Brooks Falls, both places we had wanted to visit but had not previously. The close-encounters with bears at Brooks were also a highlight.

I wouldn't change a thing. The crew and naturalists did a great job of keeping things organized and giving us some nice options to choose from. It seemed like we were seldom idle, but we didn't really feel rushed either. Nice balance!

We had been talking about going to Alaska for several years now. We knew we didn't want to be on large ship where we would just watch the scenery pass by. We wanted to be able to experience it up close; take in the smells and sense of it. So, after finding out more about the small boat cruises, we knew we were on the right track.

It's hard to say what our most memorable part of the expedition was as there were many memorable parts...watching Humpback whales before breakfast, watching mountain goats hike up almost impossibly steep slopes, kayaking around beautiful icebergs, watching my husband slide his kayak along the shore very close to a bald eagle sitting near the water, hiking in the forest on trails made by brown bears, having a curious mink come over and check us out when we were kayaking, watching some incredible sunsets....

We booked this trip over 6 months in advance and prepared for it with high expectations. We were wondering if we possibly were expecting too much. We weren't; if anything, the trip exceeded our expectations. In the end, we knew we had booked the right trip for us.

Zodiac Drivers, Wait staff, Maids, Hotel Manager were all outstanding!

The food on board was first class. The Hotel Manager (Willy) & his staff worked very hard to present a marvelous selection of fresh, local fare.

The Naturalists were terrific! A team of very bright, well trained, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic young Ecuadorians with great pride in their country and a determination to share this affection.

As well, we feel very fortunate to have had the trip led by Lynn Fowler. She is a remarkable individual with an outstanding depth of knowledge about the archipelago and a commitment to its preservation. She is also a charming woman with immediate, warm rapport with the guests & a great relationship with her guide team and the rest of the crew. It was a very happy ship!

My favorite part of the trip was swimming with sea lions & penguins. I also experienced a chance meeting of an old friend native to the Galapagos while walking on a remote lava field on Isla Genovesa!

My expectations for the trip were exceeded. From the moment we were met by two pleasant women in the Miami Airport (& who shepherded us through that madhouse) to the Ecuadorian travel guides who met us & eased our transition through Guayaquil (both in & out of Equador) & Galapagos airports. All the travel arrangements were perfect. Hilton Hotel in Guayaquil elegant.

The ship was terrific. Our cabin was incredibly quiet compared with cabins I've stayed in on other small ships. Crew was very good. Staff was generally very good also but their levels of expertise were rather uneven. In particular, I appreciated Carlos, the underwater specialist, who was able to provide info to me on where I might be able to see whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez.

The marine life [was the most memorable part of the trip]. We saw 3 or 4 species of whales (2 of which I had not previously seen) and loads of common dolphins. Also a magnificent sail fish which looked like it belonged in a Jules Verne novel.

I always seem to have a pleasant surprise, such as an unexpected upgrade, just before the journey begins. The tour documents and arrangements are always presented in an organized and timely manner.

My interest is wildlife and the draw of the humpback, fin, blue and gray whales lured me to the Baja area where I could observe the mammoth animals up close and personal as they swam under and around our zodiacs. Being able to get so close to the gray whale, mother and calf was a highlight of the experience. The trip, as usual, met and exceeded my expectations. I would have preferred the trip to be at least one day longer in the Bahia Magdelena area for additional close-up time with the gray whales as I hated to leave the whale-rich area.

The Sea Bird had many areas from which to view the landscape and wildlife, both inside and out. The room was comfortable and the ships crew was excellent. They were anticipative, responsive, friendly and seemed to enjoy being onboard with passengers. The Dining Services Director did an excellent job and the food and service were terrific. The Purser made us feel welcome and went the extra mile to ensure we all had every need met. The Captain did a great job repositioning the ship repeatedly to follow whales.

The Copper Canyon extension trip was also quite good. I especially enjoyed the train ride and the time spent in San Luis, learning about the Tarahumara Indians.

But of course the ships staff cant control the whales. We did see great schools of dolphins and interesting geology. I dont know how any human activity could have improved the trip, although a little more help from the Deity would have been useful. Walking on the different islands with their different geology and wildlife was one of our favorite aspects of the trip.

The ship did meet our expectations, although we would have preferred more comfortable beds and a bit more space. If we take her again we will want Category 4 cabins. The food, by our standards, was mediocre. The staff and crew were excellent, particularly the extremely knowledgeable naturalists. There were about 12 children aboard, and they made friends with one another immediately and were fun for the rest of us to watch.

The trip was wonderful. We sailed at the start of the whale migration season the later half of January -- and were the 2nd sailing of the year. It is always a gamble with migrations, but getting there too early or too late could be a disappointment. We were still too early to have gray whale calves approach our Zodiacs for a 'brochure photo' moment. But, the staff does everything possible to maximize every sighting without impinging on the whales.

The staff and crew of the ship were excellent. The ship is smaller than the Polaris and can easily feel cramped for space. It is a shallow draft vessel so tends to be a lot more susceptible to rocking in swells; and, there will likely be swells in the Pacific heading while in transit. There is a lot more travel involved in this trip than in the Galapagos, and sightings are not a sure thing. There were some scheduled beach walks to break up the travel times, but I would have gladly traded them for more time looking for whales. The Sea Bird and Sea Lion do not have laundry facilities onboard so pack lots of nylon travel clothes that dries overnight in your cabin.

If you are prone to seasickness, try the electronic Relief Band. It was first developed to help Chemotherapy patients deal with the nausea of treatment. It works wonderfully for seasickness and has made cruising possible for me. I easily slept through those overnight open water crossings. This is a lot better than drugs, which leave you tired and dry mouthed. The Sea Bird moves a lot more than the Polaris does.

Also, we loved the snorkeling. Although, I must admit I wasn't thrilled about the temperature of the water -- I'd never used a wet suit before and it's hardly comfortable. I especially liked snorkeling with the seals, however.

The trip, in general, turned out very well. The ship was fine, not as nice as the Endeavour, but quite suitable. The service and crew was great, as always. The staff was good, too; some were better than others, but, in general, very good. The ship did a great job with respect to lectures and meals.

My favorite part of the trip was watching the humpback whales breaching and breaching -- must have been at least 2 dozen times! If I can mention another great moment: snorkeling with the baby seals.

We also had an unexpected adventure or two - weather was not ideal and we spent one entire night battling gale force winds as we made our way up the Sea of Cortez. The ship corkscrewed wildly all night. Here's good news: neither my mom nor I felt the slightest touch of seasickness, though many of our fellow passengers and even crew were suffering. We took no medicines because we never felt the least need. We're evidently among those lucky ones who aren't easily affected.

In any case, the trip was memorable and wonderful and I'm sure we'll make future trips!

The crew and naturalists on the Sea Bird were great. They tried to accommodate everyone's needs.

I'm glad we chose to sail from Sitka to Juneau instead of the other way around. The scenery just kept getting better and better as the trip progressed.

Orcas and humpbacks, sea lions and otters, harbor seals and bears -- we saw them all! Can't decide if the whales or sea lions were my favorite. The Orcas swam right next to our ship several times.

The most spectacular view was South Sawyer glacier and our zodiac ride to get closer. It calved several times for our own enjoyment. The brilliant blue of the glacier was spectacular - indescribable!!

Thank you, again, for recommending and arranging our tour!

I primarily worked with Lori Gifford who was terrific yet even in her absence, the person who I talked to never skipped a beat. I honestly don't have any areas for improvement based on my experience. This trip was by far the BEST we have experienced!

This was a 50th Birthday celebration for me - we wanted to see Alaska but did not want a large cruise. Since this was a first time cruise for me I did not know what to expect. My husband had been on a big cruise before. Since 'Safari' our travel expectations have risen exponentially. Improvement is minor in terms of some of the 'kinks' that you are still working out from a boat that just took it's 2nd jouney - the one thing we neglected to put in the written feedback form on board was to utilize the flat screen's in the rooms - post daily activities, where we are, where we are headed, temperature, even photos recapped from the day.

The most memorable part of this was the intimacy of the ship, the crew and the passengers. It was unbelievable to us that the ratio actually did translate to a crew member to each couple. Each in their unique way had a special contribution and level of knowledge to make it all seamless. You could tell they all loved what they do and really jelled as a team and it was very impressive that the crew shared in virtually all activities - Scott the captain would be on deck helping folks in and out of kayaks! The Activities Coordinator (Beth) was outstanding in her consistent enthusiasm and insight; as well the leadership of Richard, Hadley (always smiling!) and Shandra, and awesome food plus top notch wine and service from the three chefs, Elaine at the bar and Nicole, Lisa and Gab doing everything and anything that was needed. Also it was really interesting and fun to have Ellen Barone on board with us.