Un-Cruise Adventures officially christens its newest vessel

On Thursday, August 8, 2013 Un-Cruise Adventures officially christened its newest vessel, the 88-guest S.S. Legacy, in a dockside celebration near company headquarters in Seattle, Washington.  The replica coastal steamer is the eighth vessel in the adventure cruise line’s fleet.

The S.S. Legacy sails Heritage Adventures taking guests back in time to the 1890s and early 1900s to explore history of the Klondike Gold Rush in Alaska and early explorers along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The all-American crew–in 1890’s attire–brings history to life through short vignettes during the course of the day and staged dramas at night. 

With a nod to the vessel’s historical style of cruising, the adventure cruise line’s CEO and Principal Dan Blanchard channeled his great grandfather Michael J. Willet, a turn of the century shingle mill tycoon to tie in history of the 1890s in Seattle.  H.G. Wells and Jules Verne joined in the inaugural celebration along with blessings from Ray Gardner of the Chinook Nation and Joe Williams, a Tlingit from Saxman, Alaska. 

Blanchard and Tim Jacox, executive vice president of sales and marketing, together handed over command of the vessel to Captain Dano Quinn. JeeSook Kutz, company controller and godmother of the S.S. Legacy, smashed the bottle of champagne against the bow followed by blowing of the vessel’s whistles and horns.

“This fine vessel has been refurbished into a coastal steamer from the 1900s, and crew in period costume brings characters from the past alive along the way,” said Dan Blanchard, CEO and principal for Un-Cruise Adventures. “It’s not a ship; it’s a time machine.”  Blanchard dedicated the christening to Captain Kris Strinsky, a recently departed captain and longtime friend.

In September 2013, the S.S. Legacy will begin cruising weeklong Legacy of Discovery cruises on the Columbia and Snake Rivers roundtrip Portland with 12 departures scheduled through November.  Rates begin at $3,195 per person, double occupancy. It returns to the Rivers in April 2013 for nine more departures through May.  From June through August 2014, the vessel sails 10 weeklong Alaska’s Golden History cruises between Ketchikan and Juneau, Alaska (and reverse). Rates begin at $5,195 per person, double occupancy.  On Heritage Adventures, guests enjoy port calls and included shoreside excursions to points of historical interest.  A gold rush highlight is the included trip aboard Skagway’s White Pass & Yukon narrow-gauge railway.    

Heritage Adventures include all meals; fine wine, microbrews and spirits; shore excursions; a massage; yoga on deck; all meals; transfers; taxes, port charges and fees. Charters and group bookings are available. To book or to request additional information, contact your travel agent or Un-Cruise Adventures at 888-862-8881 or sales@un-cruise.com.