Kayak off the back of the ship, whales for company, 22 to 86 guests.
UnCruise Adventures is the Seattle-based small-ship line that treats the ship as a base camp: 22 to 86 guests, a fleet of kayaks and paddleboards launched from the stern, skiffs for whale watching, guides who lead bushwhacks through the muskeg, and no ports of call that involve a T-shirt shop. It suits active travelers of any age, families in summer, and anyone who has done big-ship Alaska and wants the version with bears on the beach: Alaska from Juneau and Sitka April to September, the Sea of Cortez from La Paz and Loreto in winter, Hawaii between the islands, the Columbia and Snake rivers in spring and fall, and Costa Rica, Panama and the Galápagos. SmartCruiser shows every UnCruise sailing with taxes and fees included, puts SmartCruiser picks first, and adds SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit per stateroom on sailings where the line allows it.
Three ways to sail with UnCruise
Pick one and the list below filters to it; Alaska is the flagship season, the Sea of Cortez is the winter secret, Hawaii is the one nobody expects.
Alaska from Juneau and Sitka
- 7 nights in Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm, the Inian Islands and Frederick Sound, April to September
- Kayak among icebergs, hike where there is no trail, watch humpbacks from a skiff at eye level
- Family departures in summer with kids’ guides; whisky and wine themed trips in spring and fall
Best for: second Alaska trips, families, anyone who wants to get off the ship
The Sea of Cortez from La Paz and Loreto
- 7 nights, November to April, in the water Jacques Cousteau called the world’s aquarium
- Snorkel with whale sharks and sea lions, paddle to deserted islands, burro ride in the Sierra de la Giganta
- Gray whales in Magdalena Bay on select winter departures
Best for: snorkelers, desert and sea lovers, a warm week in February
Hawaii between the islands
- Safari Explorer, 36 guests, between Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui and the Big Island, November to April
- Snorkel with manta rays at night, paddle sea caves, a cultural evening hosted by a Molokaʻi family
- The only cruise that stays within the islands rather than crossing from the mainland
Best for: repeat Hawaii visitors, snorkelers, couples
UnCruise deals: SmartCruiser picks first
Every UnCruise Adventures departure in every region, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. The picks at the top are sailings where booking with SmartCruiser gets you something extra: instant savings, SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit or a Special SmartCruiser rate. Below them, every other sailing with full sorting by date, length and price.
SmartCruiser picks
Sorted by what you save, biggest firstEvery UnCruise sailing
Stack any filters, then pick a sortPrices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. SmartCruiser instant savings and bonus onboard credit are provided by SmartCruiser on top of the cruise line’s price and are not available when booking direct; amounts are per stateroom, vary by stateroom category and are shown for the lowest category offered. Special SmartCruiser rates are pricing SmartCruiser holds on that sailing for its clients, with extra onboard credit; you book your own stateroom and travel on your own. Senior fares apply to guests 55 and over; resident fares need proof of residency in a listed state or province at check-in; police and fire fares apply to active or retired police, fire and EMT personnel with ID. Qualifier-fare savings are measured against the best fare the cruise line offers the general public for the same stateroom category on the day the list was pulled, updated weekly.
Where UnCruise sails
Pick a region and the list above filters to it.
Lines you may also like
UnCruise is the most casual of the small-ship lines; these are its neighbors in Alaska, Baja and beyond.
When to go
The fleet moves with the seasons: north in summer, south in winter, with the rivers and Hawaii in between.
UnCruise questions we answer every day
What is included on UnCruise?
All meals, premium spirits, wine and beer, every guided activity (kayaks, paddleboards, skiff tours, hikes, snorkeling with wetsuits), transfers on arrival and departure day, and the use of the ship’s gear. There is no parka or Zodiac program because this is not a polar line; rain gear and boots are yours to bring, and we send a packing list. Gratuities are at your discretion and flights are extra.
How fit do I need to be, and will I get seasick?
Activities range from a flat beach walk to a four-hour bushwhack, and there is always a gentle option or the hot tub. The Inside Passage, the Sea of Cortez and the rivers are protected water, so motion is rare; the Hawaii channel crossings and a few Alaska open stretches can roll for an hour or two, and the crew will tell you the night before.
How big are the ships and the cabins?
The ships carry 22 to 86 guests, so dinner is one seating at shared tables and the guides know your name by the first evening. Cabins are compact with windows rather than balconies, a few have French doors or step-out decks, and the lounge, bow and top deck are where everyone lives. There is no elevator on most ships.
How do I get to the ship?
Alaska trips begin in Juneau, Sitka or Ketchikan, all easy connections from Seattle; Baja trips in La Paz or Loreto via Los Cabos or direct flights; Hawaii in Molokaʻi or Kona; Costa Rica in San José; the rivers in Portland. UnCruise includes the transfers on the first and last day and offers pre-trip hotel nights, and we compare the line’s air against booking your own.
Do I need a passport?
Alaska itineraries that stay in US waters, Hawaii and the Columbia and Snake rivers need only government ID, though we recommend carrying a passport in case of a medical diversion to Canada. Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and the Galápagos require a passport valid six months beyond your trip; no visas for US citizens.
Are taxes and fees included in the prices here?
Yes. Every price on this page includes the cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses. Flights, hotels and gratuities are extra unless the fare you choose says otherwise.
Talk to an UnCruise specialist
Tell us how active you want to be and who is coming, and we match the ship, the region and the week, with the flights sorted out before you pay. Monday to Thursday 9 to 6, Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 6 ET.