Alaska’s Coastal Treasures Cruise

The motor yacht Safari Explorer embodies an ambiance of refinement and relaxation, with just 36 guests. Her crew of 14-15 takes care of passengers’ every need. The performance-built Safari Explorer primarily cruises the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska's Inside Passage and is notably one of the few vessels in her well-loved fleet that operates trans-Pacific voyages twice each year, spending the North American summer/fall in Alaska, and the winter/spring in Hawaii.

Why Sail Aboard Safari Explorer

Choose the Safari Explorer if you are seeking a small ship that feels like a yacht. She has upscale appointments and a yacht-like atmosphere but still feels spacious, comfortable and welcoming. Expect as much activity as you wish, with the amenities you would expect from a much larger ship, including windows in every cabin (no portholes). AdventureSmith's founder, Todd Smith, has always called this ship the quintessential expedition ship: "I always say that once you cruise aboard the Safari Explorer, you will be hooked on small ships forever."

She is applauded by our team as being the Goldilocks of small ships; not too big, not too small, but just the right size. She continually receives rave reviews from AdventureSmith Explorations' staff and clients. While the cabins and common areas make for an incredibly comfortable basecamp, it is her service, active itineraries and cuisine that stand out the most.

AdventureSmith Explorations has been aboard the Safari Explorer firsthand, and can help you compare this with other ships offering Alaska small ship cruises, Hawaiian Island cruises, U.S. cruises, Canada cruises and Pacific Northwest cruises. Read our dedicated Safari Explorer Ship Review written by one of our specialists, or consult this page further for a detailed description of the vessel, including ship specs, deck plan, cabin images, photo gallery and current links to all Safari Explorer cruise itineraries, dates and rates.

Common Areas Aboard Safari Explorer

Aboard the yacht, three public decks provide plenty of room for mingling, relaxing and enjoying the fresh air. The salon and lounge provide an inviting space with warm wood accents to be educated by lectures on the environment, wildlife, history and culture of the region. A TV screen drops down from the ceiling to provide visual accompaniment. Local experts are often invited along as special guests to "talk story" and provide insights unavailable to most other visitors. On select departures, onboard expert naturalists and guides are complemented by guest hosts in the fields of ornithology, photography, marine biology, wine and wellness, among others.

Musical instruments, guidebooks and games like mancala further encourage interaction. Large couches and a piano adorn the lounge, adjacent to a full-service bar staffed by a few rotating bartenders. A modest gear and merchandise store is available, as well as a public wash closet on the the aft of the Main Deck interior.

The Bridge Deck features five lounge chairs, four sets of tables and chairs, and abundant space to spread out to embrace the Hawaiian sun or brisk air in Alaska. A separate shaded seating area with table and patio furniture has additional seating for six. This is also where guests can take advantage of the ship's open bridge policy, offering opportunities to chat with the officers and crew and spot marine life from their perch. Please note: Safari Explorer is equipped with limited internet connectivity, to encourage the opportunity to disconnect. Cell phone reception may be available when the ship is in more populated areas; a satellite phone is available (added cost) for emergencies.

Dining Aboard Safari Explorer

The Dining Room, located on the Main Deck, provides a casual atmosphere with open seating that accommodates all guests in one sitting. Meals aboard the Safari Explorer are served over several courses, with particular attention to the personal preferences of diners. Vegetarian dishes are available, as are reduced portions. Other special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Executive chefs create exquisite meals, using locally sourced fresh ingredients to reflect the flavors of each destination. Each day includes an early-riser breakfast starting at 6:30am of fresh fruit and squeezed juices, onboard-baked pastries and breads, followed by a full made-to-order breakfast complete with specialty items. Lunches range from pasta salads and sandwiches to homemade soups and ethnic dishes. Elegant plated dinners offer a choice of entrées, including fresh seafood and meats; a split plate is even available for indecisive eaters. Desserts are plentiful, imaginative combinations of tarts, pies, cakes and mousses.

Fine spirits, wines and microbrews are included, as are highly imaginative cocktails of the day, mocktails, rotating drafts and espressos. Hors d'oeuvres for a daily cocktail hour feature a variety of appetizers. Plus filtered water, coffee and hot tea are available for self-serve any time.

Activities Aboard Safari Explorer

Active adventure cruises aboard the Safari Explorer allow freedom to engage in many activities. Two rigid-frame inflatable skiffs operate excursions from this vessel, with each able to hold half the guests aboard along with a few members of the crew. In Alaska, skiffs are primarily used for remote shore landings, and for scenic wildlife cruising. In Hawaii, skiffs are used for accessing marinas throughout the itinerary, and for snorkeling. 

A full-beam swim step makes for easy access to the water or kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) from the stern of the vessel. The vessel carries a quiver of kayaks and SUPS, which can be used for guided outings (kayaks only) or open paddle/swim events. Important to note that different kayaks are used depending on where you cruise. In Alaska, sit-inside double kayaks are used, and in Hawaii sit-on-top kayaks are used. Also in Hawaii, the vessel will provide a dedicated snorkel set (mask, snorkel, fins) for use throughout your voyage. You can conveniently store this equipment in the cabin-assigned lockers on the back deck.

There is no guided wellness program offered onboard, but guests can find fitness equipment on the Bridge Deck in the form of weights, benches, elliptical, spin bike, yoga mats and blocks for self-use. A hot tub on the Bridge Deck is filled for cooler-weather Alaska itineraries, and the ship features a mechanized swimsuit dryer for frequent use in Hawaii and hot tub and polar plunge enthusiasts in Alaska. Other features are hiking poles for use and hydrophones for listening to below-surface sounds.

Crew & Guides Aboard Safari Explorer

Aboard Safari Explorer each crew member wears many hats and has the opportunity to hone a variety of skills. This level of variety keeps the crew connected and happy, and provides a cohesive environment. Aboard you'll find a dedicated Expedition Leader as well as multiple guides, bosuns, chefs, a hotel manager and servers who all work together. There is 1 crew member for every 2.5 guests aboard, so there is always someone available to help make your voyage more informative, comfortable and unforgettable. "Well prepared" and "proactive" are common compliments we receive of the staff aboard this ship.

Cabins & Safari Explorer Deck Plan

Safari Explorer features 18 well-appointed cabins. All but 4 cabins are located on the Cabin Deck, featuring an exterior wraparound deck with a sturdy railing to let you soak up the views from any direction. There are 5 stateroom categories aboard the Safari Explorer: 10 Navigator, 2 Trailblazer, 1 Jr. Commodore, 3 Admiral and 2 Commodore Suites. All staterooms feature view windows; king, queen or twin beds (each has a Tempur-Pedic® memory foam mattress); a spacious private ensuite bath with heated tile floor and separated shower and toilet; at least one sitting chair; ample storage space; binoculars for use; flat-screen TV/DVD; iPod docking station; reusable water bottles; hair dryer, bathrobes, conditioning shampoo and body wash; and unique art pieces. View the Safari Explorer deck plan below or contact our crew to find the best cabin for you.

The original M/V Wilderness Explorer (under the direction of AdventureSmith founder Todd Smith) pioneered adventure cruising in Southeast Alaska in the 1990s. The former Spirit of Discovery was relaunched in 2012 as the new-generation Wilderness Explorer offering a level of service and comfort far superior to the original. Affectionately and appropriately called a “floating base camp,” the 74-guest Wilderness Explorer is perfectly designed for remote exploration of wild places.

Wilderness Explorer Review

AdventureSmith Explorations' Wilderness Explorer review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our founder, Todd Smith, directed activities and itineraries aboard the Wilderness Explorer for years. Please read our Wilderness Explorer review below then contact our experts to compare the Wilderness Explorer with other small cruise ships and yachts offering small ship Alaska cruises.

True to her name, the Wilderness Explorer is an adventure cruise ship designed to explore the wilderness up close and in style. She has been a strong sea boat since splashing the waters in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. The ship's heartiness shows in her winters spent in Southeast Alaska. Choose the Wilderness Explorer if you are seeking an affordable and active adventure cruise with a lively crew with over 40 years of experience cruising Alaska.

Common Areas Aboard Wilderness Explorer

The Wilderness Explorer is designed to maximize viewing areas, social spaces and amenities for active travelers. The Cabin Deck features a large hot tub for up-close wildlife viewing from its position on the open bow. The Sun Deck includes fitness equipment, a covered area and space for tables and chairs. The lounge features a full bar in the center with a Douglas fir bar top, and offers a selection of microbrews on tap and cask wine. The well-stocked resource library includes books, games and DVDs. The Wilderness Explorer is equipped with Starlink WiFi, although connection may be unavailable in more remote areas and is typically only available in the evenings. Cell phone reception may be available when the ship is in more populated areas; a satellite phone is available (added cost) for emergencies.

Dining Aboard Wilderness Explorer

The Wilderness Explorer offers guests a casual-style dining experience with open seating that can accommodate all passengers at once. Chefs create exceptional meals using locally sourced fresh ingredients to reflect the flavors of each destination. Each day includes an early-riser breakfast of fresh fruit, onboard-baked pastries and breads, and a full breakfast complete with specialty items. Lunches range from pasta salads and sandwiches to homemade soups and ethnic dishes. Dinners offer a choice of entrées, including fresh seafood and meats.

Breakfasts and lunches are served buffet-style, while dinners are elegantly plated. Buffet meals give guests the flexibility to enjoy healthy and delicious options on a flexible schedule between activities and wildlife sightings. Vegetarian dishes are available and special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice. Hors d'oeuvres for the cocktail hour feature a variety of appetizers, and desserts are varied and plentiful. Top-shelf liquors, wine and microbrews are complimentary.

Activities Aboard Wilderness Explorer

With an emphasis on exhilarating explorations in remote wilderness, the Wilderness Explorer features a fleet of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, a stern-mounted, state-of-the-art kayak launch platform and swim step (perfect for a polar plunge), and inflatable skiffs. Adventure gear is available for use, including hiking poles, and snorkel gear and wetsuits at an additional cost.

Other activities aboard the Wilderness Explorer include on-deck stretching classes with yoga mats offered each morning, whale watching and warm-ups in the hot tub and independent use of the fitness equipment. The open bridge policy encourages interaction with the captain and crew as they discuss navigation, logistics and flexible itinerary based around weather and maximizing wildlife viewings and off-boat activities.

Expert guides and jovial crew members both educate and foster camaraderie with their onboard programming. Engaging naturalist-led lectures are complemented by the underwater sights and sounds provided by the hydrophone and bow-mounted camera. Laughter fills the lounge nightly with lively gatherings for charades, trivia or a talent show.

Crew & Guides Aboard Wilderness Explorer

Wilderness Explorer's enthusiastic and knowledgeable crew creates a casual and welcoming atmosphere, and offers exceptional service. The 28 crew members are known to be creative and willing to try the untried, whether it's unexplored trails and anchorages in secluded bays or a new recipe with locally-foraged ingredients. On select departures, expert onboard naturalists and guides are complemented by guest hosts in the fields of ornithology, photography, marine biology, wine and wellness, among others.

Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard Wilderness Explorer

The Wilderness Explorer holds 74 guests and offers many bed configurations, including queen (some are wallbeds), twin, double and a fixed L-shaped twin configuration. Each cabin features a private bath with shower, hair dryer, conditioning shampoo and body wash; air conditioning; flat-screen TV with DVD player; iPod docking station; binoculars; reusable water bottles and a view window (no portholes).