Life List:
Wild Alaska by boat
Charter yachts run the gamut from ultra-luxury to converted fishing boats, so you're sure to find something that suits you.
Your Turn: Charter a Yacht
The most intimate way to explore Alaska is on a chartered yacht. Not only will your trip be customized to your desires, you also will be closer to nature in a smaller vessel, from
your interactions with whales to dropping anchor for the night in secluded coves where large cruise ships cannot enter.
Assuming you aren’t lucky enough to own your own yacht or have a friend like Captain Vic to give you a trip of a lifetime, it’s difficult to know which charter experience is right for you. Based on yacht tours, personal meetings and Captain Vic’s insider knowledge, we recommend the following charters, which range from ultra-luxury to converted commercial vessels. All fill up quickly so start planning as soon as possible.
By the way, if you’re a fan of folk musicians, ask your captain to find out Captain Vic’s schedule so you can add a memorable evening to your trip. We’re not kidding when we say he’s a professional musician, and if he’s anchored nearby, he might just be available for a night’s booking of live entertainment. But, first things first, charter a yacht:
Luxury Yachts
If the sky’s the limit when it comes to your Alaskan adventure, and you’re into the five-star experience with every possible amenity known to mankind, you’ll be happy to know that you can find a luxury yacht for hire:
“Kaleen”
Captain Stephen Quentel and Chief Engineer Dan Cole
Phone/E-mail/Internet: You must use a charter yacht broker. If you don’t already have one you prefer using, try the following: www.oceanvoyages.com, www.sevenseascharters.com, www.bnycharters.com.
You should know: A trip on the “Kaleen” is not for people counting their pennies, or nickels or hundred dollar bills (if there was such a thing as thousand dollar bills, you wouldn’t be counting those either). While we were docked in Juneau, Dan gave us a tour of this 130-foot charter yacht, a three-story behemoth with a home port in the Marshall Islands that was built in 2006. The ship oozes with luxury, from handcrafted woodwork to marble floors and flat-screen TVs, private bar, two living rooms, hot tub on the deck, five bedrooms and a master bath with a jetted tub and glassed rainshower. She also has a skiff, kayaks and fishing gear. All this can be yours for $10,000 a day (plus expenses), with a preference for eight-day bookings. We encountered the “Kaleen” again while we were in Warm Springs and had the opportunity to visit with the family who had chartered it. They were delighted with their vacation and, in fact, it turned out this was not their first time aboard the “Kaleen,” which speaks volumes about the level of service (we also observed crew-and-guest interaction and the five-person crew is impressively skilled). If you visit our photo galleries, you can see pictures of the yacht tour we were given.
Small Planet Adventures
Expedition Leader: Robert Dippold
1903 114th Avenue NE
Suite 200
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
Phone: (425) 397-7331
Email: info@smallplanetadventures.com
Internet: www.smallplanetadventures.com
You should know: Small Planet Adventures partners with high-end charter yachts to provide customized trips to Alaska. Two terrific benefits of planning a trip with them are they will find the perfect charter vessel to match your expectations and they can accommodate groups of all sizes, big or small. We met Robert several times during our trip, in No Name Cove near Tracy Arm and in Red Bluff Bay, and he is a most engaging guide. He has a special love of history and wildlife, wonderful qualities for an Alaskan adventure. Conversations with the folks who chartered this particular trip left no doubt that it is a class act. They had hiked, kayaked, fished for salmon and halibut, and even planned a glacier tour by floatplane. Most trips are on “Legacy,” a crewed luxury yacht that sleeps eight but we’re told sleeps six most comfortably. Like the “Kaleen,” this 108-foot yacht looks more like a penthouse than a ship, with marble, Oriental rugs and handcrafted wood, but it’s smaller and about half the price. On board, you’ll have access to two kayaks and a fishing boat, as well as fishing gear. We can vouch for the wonderful food, since Robert and his guests shared several meals with us.
Converted Commercial Vessels
An alternative to the ultra-luxury charter yacht is a
converted commercial vessel, which provides what we liken to a wilderness lodge, country inn or B&B. The appeal is traveling on a boat that feels like it “belongs” to the landscape and history of Alaska. The following charters range from $2,000
to $4,500 per person for six nights/seven days:
Explorer Yacht Charters
Captain Richard M. Friedman
Yacht: “Explorer”
P.O. Box 70
Bellingham, WA 98227
Phone: (800) 901-1220; (360) 714-8970
Email: richard@yachtexplorer.com
Internet: www.yachtexplorer.com
You should know: We met Richard in Warm Springs. He’s down-to-earth and affable, instantly creating a comfortableness that sets the tone for your vacation. He’s been chartering “soft adventure” tours in Southeast Alaska since 1996 on his boat “Explorer,” which sleeps up to six guests. The 60-foot “Explorer” is a classic North Sea trawler with a wooden hull built in Norway and an aluminum deck-house with rich teak interior built in Ireland in 1976. She was completely refit in Maine in 1988 and won the silver cup for best power boat at the Newport Wooden Boat Show. Richard is a certified naturalist, which will make all your encounters with wildlife and the rainforest that much more memorable. He is a lover of fine wines and spends part of the off-season traveling and tasting wines to serve on board his yacht. You can expect gourmet meals to complement the wine list. A skiff, four kayaks and fishing gear are on board for various excursions.
Alaska on the Home Shore
Captain Jim Kyle, Captain Ben Kyle
Yacht: “Home Shore”
4102 Linnell Rd.
Deming, WA 98244
Phone: (800) 287-7063; (360) 592-2375
Email: info@homeshore.com
Internet: www.homeshore.com
You should know: We didn’t meet the Kyles, but Captain Vic highly recommends their eco-tour type of experience. “Home Shore” is a classic wooden commercial vessel built in 1944. Jim Kyle purchased “Home Shore” in 1984 and first used her for commercial fishing before converting her for passenger service in 2002. He has operated charter tours since 1998 and has fished commercially in Southeast Alaska since 1962, so he knows the region quite intimately. His son Ben is also a captain, as well as a kayak guide and adventure paddler. They like to think of the 62-foot “Home Shore” as a sea kayak mothership. Each day, you’ll explore the most intriguing inlets and shorelines by kayak, and each evening, you’ll return to “Home Shore” to eat a fine meal, relax and sleep in a comfortable bed.
All Aboard Yacht Charters
Capt. John B. Swanson
Yacht: “Discovery”
P.O. Box 436
Union, WA 98592
Phone: (800) 767-1024; (360) 898-7300
Email: allaborad@alaskacharters.com
Internet: www.alaskacharters.com
You should know: We didn’t meet Captain Swanson, but Captain Vic highly recommends him. He’s been leading charters in Alaska since 1981, longer than just about anyone else. He is a naturalist whose specialty is bears, and he has access to the limited-entry bear observatories of Pack Creek and Anan Creek, certainly a unique experience to add to your vacation. Built in 1931, the 87-foot “Discovery” is a classic fantail ship, with teak decks and a mahogany-paneled interior that transport you back in time to the elegant days of boating. She sleeps up to 10 guests. Two Boston Whalers, two kayaks and a rowing skiff are on board.
Ursa Major Charters
Captain Josh Haury
Yacht: “Ursa Major”
22820 156th SE Avenue
Kent, WA 98042
Phone: (206) 310-2309
Email: info@myursamajor.com
Internet: www.myursamajor.com
You should know: We saw the 65-foot “Ursa Major” from afar, but did not have the opportunity to board her or meet the captain. Again, Captain Vic gives them a big thumbs up. For the 2007 season, Josh Haury, crew member since 2000 and currently first mate/engineer, takes command as captain. “Ursa Major” is a North Sea trawler with a wooden hull and aluminum housing built in Norway and a mahogany interior crafted in Ireland in 1972. Several refits have been done over the years. She sleeps up to six guests. She has five kayaks, a skiff and fishing equipment.
First Day | Fiords, Glaciers and Icebergs | Secluded Coves
Steller Sea Lions | Bears, Bears and More Bears
Fishing Villages and Hot Springs | Harbor Seals
Rainforests, High-Alpine Lakes and Beaches
A Whale of a Tale | Epilogue | Your Turn: Charter a Yacht
Alaska Photo Galleries