Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Air
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Brian Israel
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Dori Saltzman
    • Kelly Fontenelle

UnCruise Adventures’ Captain Dan Blanchard Talks the “Right” Client, Ship Renovations & What’s New

by Dori Saltzman / February 25, 2022
UnCruise Adventures’ Captain Dan Blanchard Talks the “Right” Client, Ship Renovations & What’s New

Photo: Uncruise


One of the first cruise lines to return to service after the COVID-19 shutdown – and the only line with permission to sail in Hawaii this past summer – UnCruise Adventures has a lot to brag about. But, while known among travel advisors who regularly sell expedition cruises, not all advisors are familiar with the brand.

Travel Market Report caught up with CEO Captain Dan Blanchard to talk about what’s new with the cruise line, who the “right” client is, and what they should understand about UnCruise.

Understanding the Fleet & the UnCruise Client
UnCruise Adventures comprises two former expedition cruise brands, InnerSea Discoveries and American Safari Cruises. A vestige of the previous brands lives on in the names of the ships. Those with “Safari” names are from the latter brand. Those with “Wilderness” names are from the former (with the exception of Wilderness Legacy, the former S.S. Legacy).

(One vestige that’s going away are the blue hulls of the “Safari” ships. They’re all being painted green to match the “Wilderness” ships.”)

While the line’s eight-ship fleet is geared towards adventure, the Safari ships are less bare-bones.

“Our Safari vessels have more space, a few more updated improvements, and have small differences such as all plated meals versus some wedding-style buffet options,” Blanchard explained. “Cabins are larger with higher-level public spaces and finishes, including cabins that offer two-room suites with step-out balconies and king-size bedding.”

The Wilderness ships, on the other hand, tend to have smaller cabins, more basic public spaces, and a lower entry price point, he added.

All offer the same level of adventure activities, as well as an all-inclusive onboard experience including shore excursions, drinks (alcoholic and not), meals, and shoreside transfers.

As for who the right client is, Blanchard told TMR that travel advisors need to look no farther than its long-term partnership with the REI Co-op.

“The REI client is so much the UnCruise client… If travel advisors can envision who the REI client is, that helps them choose the client for us too.”

But Blanchard added that since they returned to sailing last year, they’ve seen a new kind of UnCruise client.

“The hangover of COVID is this desire to be more experiential. And that doesn’t necessarily mean adventure travel but experiential travel overall where they’re really touching, feeling, and experiencing the culture.  Experiencing the wildlife and gaining knowledge… Many of the people who didn’t travel with us in the past are booking now because they really want to touch nature and be more involved.”

It’s something Blanchard said he thinks will be around for a while.

Renovations
It’s hard to find time to refurbish your ships when they’re sailing. But during the COVID-19 cruise pause, several of UnCruise Adventures’ ships weren’t in the water during their normal sailing season. Which made it a perfect time for the cruise line to spruce up some of its vessels, including Safari Endeavor, Safari Voyager, and Safari Explorer. (Wilderness Legacy is going through a similar renovation this winter.)

“We did take the opportunity to start working on some of the boats last year,” Blanchard told TMR.

The bulk of the changes to the three vessels had to do with extending the life of the ships and making them more environmentally friendly.

The 66-passenger Safari Voyager, for instance, went through a modernization of the generator and propulsion systems.

But that doesn’t mean guests won’t notice any changes. One of the main guest-facing changes on Safari Voyager is a modernization of the onboard communications system. Cabins and select public rooms have monitors that feature need-to-know information including the latest weather and which activities are up next.

The ships also got minor indoor renewals, with all-new carpeting, window dressings, and other soft goods in public spaces. The 36-passenger Safari Explorer also received all new wood flooring in public rooms, as well as an exterior paint job to bring it in line with the rest of the fleet.

Amping Up the Adventure
UnCruise is best known for its adventurous signature itineraries in Alaska and Hawaii. This year the line is taking adventure to an entirely new level with an all-new REI-inspired Alaska itinerary. Open to all, the itinerary was custom created for REI Co-op members in partnership with REI.

Highlights include visiting the “outback” of Glacier Bay National Park, hiking and biking on Chichagof Island (UnCruise is the only cruise line with a permit to do so), all-day kayaking opportunities, evening campfires ashore, and stops at lesser-visited glaciers including LeConte and Baird glaciers.

The seven-night Wild, Woolly, and WOW adventures sail roundtrip from Juneau on the 86-passenger Wilderness Legacy. They make up the majority of Wilderness Legacy’s 2022 and 2023 summer sailings. REI Co-op members can receive a savings of $250 per person.

Adults-Only Sailings
UnCruise is also experimenting with adults-only sailings, which might seem odd to some travel advisors. In the past, the line offered specific family sailings, so that people could bring their kids or grandkids onboard. But according to Blanchard, the past several years have seen a significant increase in demand for multigenerational families traveling together. Nowadays, there’s as much of a chance there will be children (ages 8 and older) onboard any individual sailing as not.

“But what we find is that there’s a certain sector of society that really don’t want children onboard. We’ve picked some itineraries that we’re laying out as no children. You’re going to have to be 18 or older to be on these sailings.”

Blanchard admitted it’s a bit of an experiment to see if such sailings are needed or not. Adults-only sailings in 2022 include the March 23, April 23, and May 28 sailings of Whale Sharks, Whales, and Mobulas Sea of Cortez voyages, as well as the October 1 and December 3 sailings of the seven-night Unveiled Wonders cruises to Panama and Costa Rica. Additional dates will be available in 2023.

Health & Safety Protocols
UnCruise Adventures operates fully vaccinated sailings. And, as of February 5, became one of a handful of cruise lines that defines “fully vaccinated” as having received a booster shot.

Passengers must also provide proof of a negative molecular COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of sailing.

  3
  0
Related Articles
MSC Reveals Wellness Experiences Onboard MSC Seascape
Disney Cruise Line's Newest Ship Disney Wish Floated Out
Carnival Celebration Floated Out
Seabourn Pushes Back Debut of Seabourn Venture
Two Carnival Cruise Ships to Leave Fleet
Two New Cruise Ships Highlight MSC Cruises’ 2022/23 Winter Lineup
Princess Expands MedallionPay to Land-Based Merchants, Rewards Users With 7% Cashback
Why Assumptions Can Undermine Your Bottom Line & How You Can Change Them
Disney Cruise Line Introduces Pixar Day at Sea on Select Disney Fantasy Sailings in 2023
HAL Master Chef Rudi Sodamin Joins Princess Cruises as Head of Culinary Arts

MOST VIEWED

  1. U.S. State Department Updates Jamaica Travel Warning to Level 3
  2. First Hand Look at the Soon-to-Open Sam Lord's Castle Barbados, A Wyndham Grand Resort
  3. TSA Will Now Allow Teens to Access PreCheck with Parents or Guardians
  4. 25 Qualifying Questions to Help You Nail Your Clients' Vacation Plans
  5. Tips for Delivering Bad News to Your Clients
  6. Report: Margaritaville Times Square Faces Foreclosure

MOST EMAILED

  1. First Hand Look at the Soon-to-Open Sam Lord's Castle Barbados, A Wyndham Grand Resort
  2. 5 Reasons You Need to Use a Travel Advisor Now More Than Ever
  3. U.S. State Department Updates Jamaica Travel Warning to Level 3
  4. 25 Qualifying Questions to Help You Nail Your Clients' Vacation Plans
  5. TSA Will Now Allow Teens to Access PreCheck with Parents or Guardians
  6. Tips for Delivering Bad News to Your Clients
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Carnival Cruise Line Names Jay Leno as Godfather of Carnival Venezia
Carnival Cruise Line Names Jay Leno as Godfather of Carnival Venezia

Leno will serve as the first-ever godfather to a Carnival Cruise Line ship.

Read...
Citing High Demand, Viking Cruises Adds More Sailings on Nile River
Citing High Demand, Viking Cruises Adds More Sailings on Nile River

By 2026, Viking will have six ships sailing the Nile. 

Read...
Variety Cruises Announces Up to 75% Discounted FAM Rates for Advisors
Variety Cruises Announces Up to 75% Discounted FAM Rates for Advisors

Small-ship cruise line and Greek specialist Variety Cruises is offering active travel advisors heavy discounts. 

Read...
Carnival Cruise Line Unveils "Your Winning Plan" Roadshow and Competition
Carnival Cruise Line Unveils "Your Winning Plan" Roadshow and Competition

Carnival is giving advisors the opportunity to learn from SBA business experts, while at the same time competing for $20K worth of prizes. 

Read...
Silversea Cruises Unveils 140-Day World Cruise for 2026
Silversea Cruises Unveils 140-Day World Cruise for 2026

The 140-day journey will call at the highest number of destinations in the line's history.

Read...
Here Are the New Cruise Ships Debuting in 2024
Here Are the New Cruise Ships Debuting in 2024

All the new ocean cruise ships coming out in 2024. 

Read...
TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
Cruise Trend Outlook 2023
river cruise 2022
group outlook 2022
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/TIZwKLcPwbg/0.jpg
We Appreciate our Travel Advisors
About Travel Market Report Mission Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
News |Tours & Packages |Cruise |Hotels & Resorts |Destinations |Retail Strategies |Niche & Luxury |Air |Training & Events |Who We Are
© 2005 - 2023 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy