American Safari Cruises Inaugural Season Adventure Cruises Among Hawaiian Islands

Adventure cruise tour operator American Safari Cruises celebrated its inaugural season in Hawaii on October 26, 2011 when the 36-guest Safari Explorer began its first inter-island voyage. The upscale yacht will sail 24 voyages between Maui/Lana’i and the Big Island through May 2012.

Seven- or 10-night active, adventure un-cruises explore Lana’i, Moloka’i, Maui, Molokini and the Big Island. Itineraries sail between Maui/Lana’i and the Big Island and reverse; a scenic ferry ride connects guests between Maui and the yacht on Lana’i.

A Hawaiian blessing for the yacht and crew took place on October 25 on Moloka’i. Hawaiian cultural advisors from Maui, Lana’i, Moloka’i and the Big Island were invited to attend. The blessing celebrated the beginning of operations in Hawaii. Traditional Hawaiian protocols are also being arranged at each island to ask permission for entry.

Others may choose to walk through ancient taro terraces. Guests will have a chance to help restore the terraces and make poi, a paste made from the root of the taro plant. After a visit to the Moloka’i Museum and Cultural Center, a Hawaiian pa’ina celebration feast features locally sourced cuisine including fresh fish and poi, seaweed, Moloka’i sweet potatoes and pork from the imu (underground oven), all staples of the Hawaiian diet. Local musicians join in the celebration along with a kumu hula dancer.

On Maui, an early morning tour to catch the sunrise at Haleakala National Park takes guests up 10,000 feet for a spiritual sunrise ceremony and stunning views of land, sea and sky. In the afternoon, guests enjoy drift snorkeling at the nearly submerged crater of Molokini.

Off the coast of Hawaii, the Big Island, the yacht spends time searching for dolphins, whales and whale sharks before anchoring offshore for water sports activities. On the second day, a skiff excursion takes guests snorkeling near Kealakekua Bay before going ashore for a bit of history at the place where Captain Cook died. In the afternoon, a local guide escorts guests on a historical walking tour of Kailua and Holualoa, a village filled with art galleries.

Fares start at $4,995 for the seven-night cruise and $6,495 for the 10-night cruise, both per person, double occupancy. Itineraries feature exclusive excursions and include all from-the-yacht activities and equipment; transfers; exquisite meals; fine wine, premium spirits and microbrews; and all port charges, taxes and fees. An all-American crew has a guest-crew ratio of 2 to 1 and includes Hawaii residents who have personal knowledge of the islands. Pre- and post-cruise packages are available on Maui at Hotel Wailea and the Big Island at Mauna Lani. 

For more information visit www.americansafaricruises.com.

Columbia and Snake Rivers on a Luxury Yacht Cruise

Intermingling history of the west, the fall crush in Washington wine country, spectacular autumn scenery and exhilarating river explorations, American Safari Cruises offers six departures along the Columbia and Snake Rivers in October and November 2011.

The weeklong Rivers of the West itinerary sails one-way between Portland, Oregon and Lewiston, Idaho (and reverse) aboard the exclusive 12-guest Safari Spirit. Available for individual travel or charter, departure dates include October 8; November 12, 19 and 26; and special Culinary and Wine Discovery theme cruises on October 29 and November 5. 

The itinerary transits eight locks, three states and cuts through the dramatic Columbia River Gorge on its route between Portland, Oregon and Lewiston, Idaho. In Oregon, guests will explore the Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Dam and dock for the evening in the picturesque town of Hood River—the wind surfing capital of the world. A guest speaker joins guests after dinner in Hood River to discuss the area’s history. Cruising the Columbia, the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region, offers a close-up look at the workings of the rivers’ locks and dams.

On the Washington side, highlights include private tours to two local wineries for wine tastings, a guest speaker in Richland knowledgeable about the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, cruising through a wildlife region rich with migratory birds, entering the Snake River and kayaking or skiff explorations up the Palouse River. An exhilarating jet boat ride into Hells Canyon in Idaho takes guests into North America’s deepest canyon for incredible scenery and opportunities to view 7,000-year-old petroglyphs and bighorn sheep.

On board the Safari Spirit, elegant décor and a casual atmosphere combine into a welcome sense of luxury. The inclusive cruises include all from-the-yacht activities and equipment; transfers; exquisite meals; fine wine, premium spirits and microbrews; and all port charges, taxes and fees. The Safari Spirit features a hot tub, sauna, library, open bridge, Tempur-pedic mattresses, Jacuzzi tub and shower and heated tile floors in all bathrooms, and upper category balconies. An all-American crew has a guest-crew ratio of 2 to 1. Yachts can be booked as a private charter or by individual stateroom.

To book a yachting adventure or to request additional information, contact www.americansafaricruises.com or The Cruise Line.

Weeklong Alaskan Cruises in 2012 for Amercian Safari

Well-known in yachting circles as a favorite for gunkhole cruising— a yachter’s paradise of quiet, scenic anchorages—the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands star in American Safari Cruises’ Pacific Northwest Passage itinerary returning in 2012. The cruise features Washington and British Columbia with a new homeport—Seattle, Washington. 

Beginning September 14, 2012, the 22-guest Safari Quest sails 10 weeklong cruises roundtrip from Seattle. The yacht returns in the spring for six more weeklong cruises beginning March 29, 2013. The Pacific Northwest Passage itinerary explores the inlets and islands of the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands including visits to Victoria, Jervis Inlet, the Harmony Islands, Princess Louisa Inlet, Nanaimo and the Gulf Islands, British Columbia; Friday Harbor, San Juan Island and Stuart Island, WA.

Sailing from Seattle, the yacht passes through the historic Hiram M. Chittenden Locks to Puget Sound.

In Victoria, guests enjoy a tour of Butchart Gardens with a traditional British high tea, a visit to the Royal British Columbia Museum and the historic Empress Hotel. A flexible itinerary allows time to search out and view wildlife such as orca whales, eagles, seals, sea lions, porpoise, black bears and deer. Expedition—or gunkhole—cruising means the yacht freely explores among the inlets and islands of the Pacific Northwest. An onboard expedition leader provides expert narration while leading waterborne or land-based adventures including kayaking, hiking, beachcombing and skiff rides.

Paddle boards are also available for solo adventures in scenic waters. Other highlights of the cruise include exploration by foot or by kayak in Princess Louisa Inlet, only half a mile wide and culminating at the spectacular Chatterbox Falls; scenery and solitude while relaxing in the upper deck hot tub; stroll along Nanaimo’s picturesque waterfront promenade; a visit to the town of Friday Harbor with boutiques, galleries and a Whale Museum; hiking along a bluff to Turning Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island and kayaking among the sheltered Harmony Islands.

Cruise fares start at $3,995 per person based on double occupancy. The inclusive cruise includes all from-the-yacht activities and equipment; transfers; exquisite meals; fine wine, premium spirits and microbrews; and all port charges, taxes and fees. The 22-guest Safari Quest features a hot tub, Tempur-pedic mattresses, heated tile floors in all bathrooms and upper category balconies. An all-American crew has a guest-crew ratio of 2 to 1. Yachts can be booked as a private charter or by individual stateroom.

For more information visit www.americansafaraicruises.com or The Cruise Line