What is an UnCruise, and is UnCruise Adventures the Right Vacation for You?

You might be a cruise fanatic, but have you ever tried an UnCruise? I review UnCruise Adventures’ small-ship adventure voyages so you can decide if it’s the right vacation for you.

Mr. SBC and I recently took a seven-day UnCruise through Alaska’s Inside Passage, and loved our adventurous vacation. We hiked on top of a glacier, kayaked around Glacier Bay, and bushwhacked through dense temperate rainforest. We had a blast, but is an UnCruise a good choice for you?

UnCruise Adventures has a fleet of nine small ships that go where the larger cruise ships just can’t fit. With itineraries in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, South and Central America (including the Galápagos Islands), Hawaii, and Mexico, UnCruise focuses on adventures in off-the-beaten-path locations.

Who should go on an UnCruise?

UnCruise Adventures attracts guests from around the world, of various ages and abilities. We met passengers from all over the US, Europe, and Australia on our cruise. Not everyone was a hiking fanatic or experienced outdoors person, but the one thing that everyone had in common was an adventurous spirit.

Do you think you might enjoy an UnCruise? Here’s how you’ll know if it’s the right vacation for you.

1. You enjoy outdoor adventures and spotting wildlife

What really sets UnCruise apart from other cruise lines is its focus on getting passengers outdoors in remote areas where most tourists never go. Away from it all, it’s a chance to get up close with various wildlife species each day.

Have your camera ready, because you never know what you’ll see when you’re out in the wilderness!

UnCruise offers a choice of outdoor excursions, from touring on the water in small skiffs, to hiking off-trail, to guided or solo kayaking.

Guides are experienced and knowledgeable, and love to share what they know about the local flora and fauna! Best of all, you’ll have time to stop and really experience the things you’re seeing.

Whether on the ship or off, the crew and guides went out of their way to make sure we got the most out of the wild locations we visited.

From turning the entire ship around to get a better look at a pod of dolphins or stopping to take a break on top of a glacier to just appreciate the view, we always felt that we had plenty of time to enjoy our surroundings.

2. You want to put your wallet away on vacation, for real

One of my favorite parts of cruising is paying once, then never taking my wallet out of my purse again. But on most cruises, you’ll still pay for extras like drinks, shore excursions, and specialty dining—it’s just charged to your credit card on file.

UnCruise is completely all-inclusive once you’re on the ship. All meals are included, along with premium wine, beer, and cocktails. They also include daily adventures off-ship with your cruise fare.

The only things that aren’t included are airfare and hotel accommodations before and after your trip, and gratuities for the staff and crew (the hotel manager is available on the last night of the cruise to collect gratuities. No need to bring cash; you can put the tips on a card and it will be divided amongst the staff).

3. You love to go behind the scenes

Some of the large cruise lines offer limited “behind-the-scenes” tours, usually at an inflated price. On a large-ship cruise we took recently, the tour cost $150 per person.

UnCruise doesn’t charge for any of this. In fact, they have an open bridge policy! You can go up to the bridge and chat with the captain at any time.

We also took advantage of free guided tours of the galley as well as the engine room, with only six passengers at a time. You’ll have plenty of time to poke around and ask questions!

4. You love to eat amazing food

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous before our UnCruise that I wouldn’t like the food. I’m not a picky eater, but I wasn’t sure how many options there would be at each meal on such a small ship.

I was also worried that with all of our outdoor activities, we’d be constantly starving!

After the first day, I realized I had nothing to worry about. The food was amazing, and there was plenty of it!

Each day, there was an early-bird breakfast in the lounge at 6:30 (I’d usually grab a coffee and some fruit salad before 7 AM stretch class). Regular breakfast was a hot and cold buffet in the dining room, with new options each day like eggs Benedict, banana-nut pancakes, or maple bacon.

Lunch and dinner had three options (meat, fish, or veggie) and were sometimes served buffet-style and sometimes traditionally. Lunch and dinner were always three courses including dessert. Our favorite meals were the Alaskan King Crab and the Tomahawk Ribeye Steak.

I’m not much of a dessert-eater, but Mr. SBC and the other guests loved the sweet treats at the end of each meal.

Outside of regular meals, there was always something to snack on, including 3 PM cookies, canapés during happy hour, and the fresh fruit and snack bars that were always available.

Of the 30 passengers on our sailing, we had several vegans, as well as a few people with food allergies or intolerances. One of the guests was both gluten- and dairy-free.

All of the guests with special dietary needs were raving about how inventive the chef was in making their meals, and how attentive all the serving staff was, ensuring they were never served ingredients they couldn’t eat.

5. You enjoy making new friends

One of my very favorite parts of cruising is making new friends. I love meeting people from around the world, and I’m constantly amazed that I always seem to find some sort of mutual connection with other passengers I’m cruising with.

Although I’ve made some of my very best friends on cruises, I always wonder about the people I’ve enjoyed chatting with and then never bumped into again during a voyage. On a large ship with over 3000 passengers, it can be difficult to keep up with your new buddies!

On an UnCruise, you’ll never run into this problem.

Daily adventure groups are small, so you can get to know your guides as well as the others in your group. The cozy lounge, shared dining tables, and hot tub are also great places to share experiences and get to know your fellow travelers a little better.

6. You’re nostalgic for summer camp

When I was a kid, I was sent to camp every summer. I loved meeting new friends from other towns, and I always ended up with a bunch of pen pals that I’d correspond with during the school year.

Several years ago, I was helping my daughter pack for her own summer adventures when it really hit me. I want to go back to summer camp! But since it would be really strange for a middle-aged mom to head off to camp with a bunch of kids, I dismissed that longing as nostalgia.

After checking in for our UnCruise, we found empty seats at a table with several other passengers to wait for the coach to take us to the pier. They seemed like a lively bunch, laughing and telling stories. They explained that their cruise had just ended, and they were waiting for their airport shuttle.

“How did you like your cruise?” I asked.

With excited grins they all took turns telling us how much they loved their adventures, how great the crew was, and how much they were going to miss the food.

One of the men turned to me and asked, “Did you go to summer camp when you were a kid?”

I nodded.

“Well,” he continued, “This was just like summer camp, but for grownups. You know, we didn’t know each other until this trip.” He motioned to the other couple sitting at the table. “But we already booked our next one, and we’re all going together.”

After a few days, I thought back to this conversation. He was right! I had finally found summer camp again.

Who should make sure they know what they’re getting into before booking an UnCruise?

If you’re used to large-ship cruising, a journey with UnCruise Adventures will feel a lot different than a typical cruise. That’s why it’s an UnCruise!

On our trip, there was one guest who had no idea what UnCruise was all about. He had been on many traditional cruises, so when his wife told him she’d booked an Alaska cruise, he was expecting more of what he was already used to.

He was a little shocked when the first excursion involved bushwhacking through the rainforest instead of sightseeing or shopping!

My new friend ended up enjoying the cruise, but I saw that someone who’s not quite sure what an UnCruise is all about might need to realize just how different the experience is compared to a traditional cruise.

Here are the factors that diehard traditional cruisers should consider:

1. You think the best part of a cruise is the casino, the Broadway-style shows, or the nightclubs

An UnCruise ship doesn’t have a casino, a nightclub, or production shows. Instead, they have nightly presentations by the staff, on topics related to the area you’ll be visiting or the wildlife you might see.

One night, in lieu of a presentation, we watched a fascinating short documentary about a man who left society to live in the wilds of Alaska. Another night, we had a presentation by the National Park Service Ranger who joined us during our exploration of Glacier Bay.

2. You love sleeping in on a cruise

I’ll admit it, I love to sleep in on sea days when I’m cruising. There’s something so luxurious about not setting an alarm, and having nothing planned except for a late breakfast and maybe some relaxing by the pool.

If you want to get the most out of your UnCruise Adventures voyage, sleeping in shouldn’t be part of your plan!

First of all, there are no sea days. None. Each day, activities start early, beginning with yoga or stretch class at 7 AM. Definitely make time for this, even if you’ve never done a formal class before!

This class is geared for all abilities, and I looked forward to warming up my muscles and stretching each morning before our adventures.

None of the activities are mandatory (except the safety drill, of course). But if you don’t want to miss out on anything, you’ll find yourself going to bed early and up at dawn.

3. You need to have a clearly-planned itinerary of each day

When I cruise on large ships, I spend quite a bit of time researching the ports we’ll be visiting. As we’ll usually have only one day in each port, I make sure that I have a carefully-planned itinerary for each day.

On an UnCruise, you don’t need to worry about planning what you’re going to do when you get off the ship—the staff plans all of your adventures, called “ops”.

Ops can include beach walks, bushwhacks, kayaking (guided or on your own), stand-up paddleboarding, and skiff tours. You can choose what you want to do based on your abilities and preferences.

However, nothing is set in stone. The staff could change the available ops based on weather conditions.

During our trip, the guides planned an all-day excursion for those who wanted to try a super-intense experience. When the weather took a turn for the worse, the staff realized part of their planned excursion (a nine-mile kayak journey) would be against strong winds. So they changed the all-day trip to two smaller parts with skiff transportation instead of a grueling journey by kayak.

If you put yourself in go-with-the-flow mode, you’ll enjoy not having to plan your daily adventures! And if you decide to skip any of the ops, just let a guide know. This is your vacation!

4. You’re not a huge fan of talking to people

On large cruise ships, it’s relatively easy to slip under the radar and not have to be drawn into conversations with strangers. If you’re more introverted, you can put headphones on and lounge by the pool, read a book in the library, or make sure that your dining arrangements don’t include people you don’t know.

On a very small ship, you’re with the same small group of people for the journey. The largest UnCruise Adventures ship can carry only 88 guests (most range from a 60- to 80-guest capacity).

There’s one lounge and one dining room, so you’ll all socialize and eat in the same places at the same time.

The lounge is the social hub of the ship, but before and after our ops many people chose that location to read a book or work on their laptops. The lounge has a small library of books and DVDs to borrow. If you need to completely escape, you can always take a book or movie back to your cabin.

5. You’re prone to severe seasickness or motion sickness

Large modern cruise ships have stabilizers that minimize the effect of rough seas. That’s why big ships feel more like a floating resort. Unless there’s a storm, I usually don’t feel the motion on a large ship at all.

On a smaller ship, you’ll feel motion much more than you would on a mega-ship.

During most of our journey through the Inside Passage, the waters were calm. I didn’t feel much rocking or pitching at all. However, one evening after dinner we encountered some rough weather and several of the passengers felt a bit queasy.

If you tend to get seasick or motion sick, visit your doctor to discuss medication options before taking a small-ship cruise. Remember that it’s best to take seasickness medication before symptoms begin.

An option that doesn’t involve medicine is Sea-Bands. They stimulate pressure points on your wrists, and many cruisers swear by them. Plus, they begin to work much faster than medication to alleviate symptoms.

Learn more: How to Avoid Getting Seasick on a Cruise

6. You need to always be connected

One of my favorite things about cruising is that I can disconnect from everything—no texts, no emails, no social media, no phone calls. I give the ship’s emergency number to family back home and off I go, knowing that no one will bother me unless they really have to.

Of course on most large cruise ships you can purchase an (expensive) internet package, or you may receive some minutes for free as part of your loyalty benefits.

On an UnCruise, there’s no Wi-Fi. You can’t buy minutes at any price! Even if your phone plan includes data in the country you’ll be visiting on your sailing, the ship might not be within range of a cell tower.

On our Alaska cruise, we got a weak signal a few times. But usually we were so far from civilization that our phones just read “No Service”.

Of course, UnCruise does provide guests with an emergency number that you can provide to friends and family back home, in case someone urgently needs to contact you.

7. You’re used to a balcony stateroom or suite

UnCruise’s staterooms are on the smaller side, and most ships don’t have a suite option. Private balconies are also non-existent. Our room was one of the larger ones on our ship, and it was just slightly larger than the average inside or oceanview cabin on a large ship.

If you love having access to fresh air right outside your door, be sure to book a stateroom that opens to the outside. Your “balcony” won’t be private, but you’ll be able to step right outside from your room.

If you can’t function without more space in your cabin, look for a room that features a fold-down bed. One of our new friends gave me a tour of her stateroom, and with the queen bed folded up she had lots of room. Plus, the bed functioned as a sofa during the day.

Who shouldn’t go on an UnCruise?

Although I think most people would enjoy taking an UnCruise, there are a couple of situations where another type of cruise would be a better option.

If either of the following two descriptions describe your situation, I’d advise against booking with UnCruise Adventures.

1. You have significant mobility challenges

Whenever possible, I like to add information in my posts about accessibility options for people who have mobility challenges.

With that said, an UnCruise is probably not the best kind of vacation for a person who requires a wheelchair or a mobility scooter.

With the exception of the S.S. Legacy, these small ships don’t have elevators. Stairs are the only option to move between the decks.

Getting on and off the small skiffs they use to transport guests ashore is via a portable step, and the skiffs aren’t large enough to accommodate wheelchairs or scooters.

If you or a member of your traveling party uses a wheelchair or scooter, I’d recommend cruising on a larger ship.

2. You’re traveling with very young children

UnCruise Adventures welcomes kids ages 8 and up on all sailings except on Safari Quest, which requires children to be 13 or older. They even have special “Kids and Families” departures that have activities geared towards younger adventurers.

Whole-ship charters are also available, with no age restrictions for guests.

There were no kids on our sailing (guests’ ages ranged from 20s to 70s), but I could imagine active teens enjoying many of the adventures that we experienced. For some eight-to-twelve year olds, some of the ops might be challenging.

As a mom, I could see some children in this age group loving this kind of vacation, especially if they enjoy outdoor activities and have an interest in nature.

But if you have younger kids or older children who aren’t outdoorsy, a traditional cruise is probably a better option for you. Many have kids’ clubs and a range of age-appropriate activities, and you’ll have the option to choose shore excursions that are geared towards younger guests.

You may also like: Cruising with Kids: 19 Essential Tips for Family Cruises

I’d like to thank UnCruise Adventures for hosting Mr. SBC and me on a seven-night Alaskan cruise aboard the Wilderness Explorer. As always, my opinions are my own.

Want to find out more about my UnCruise aboard Wilderness Explorer? Read my UnCruise Alaska Review – Northern Passages and Glacier Bay

Have you ever been on an UnCruise? Or are you considering one of their small-ship voyages? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

---

Liked this post? Pin it for later!