"There are advantages to coming on a cruise at every time of the season. May through mid June, is ty

When asked about his experience on The Discovery with Captain Ben Swanson he answered hurriedly “I’m a busy man, but I have enough time to tell you he’s a worthless captain.” Without skipping a beat, he continued, “So much so that I went on a second trip and might go again this summer.”
Captain Ben Swanson and his father Captain John Swanson have been running Alaska Yacht Charters since 1981. They specialize in small, customizable cruises from May 10 through September 15 that get customers up close and personal with Alaska’s extraordinary wildlife and nature.
“There are other boats from other companies you can take that just go to go fishing, boats that you can take that just go to see whales. Our biggest thing is that if you come to me I’ll show you a little bit of everything.”
From eagles, to bears, to whales, cheap hotels in fort lauderdale and sea lions, Swanson guarantees up close sightings from the boat or on land. “Our goal is to do the cruise off the beaten path a little bit. I know all the other small tour operators in the area, and everybody charters cheap hotels in fort lauderdale differently, but some never get off the boat to go hiking or kayaking. I think getting off to explore is the fun part.”
Alaska Yacht Charters itineraries do not compare to the large cruise ships, especially since groups can customize their itineraries if they like. Swanson suggests first-time customers let him show them the ropes based on his and his father’s extensive experience, then if they come back again and know what they liked he’ll let them take the reins.
“Over the years we’ve been able to perfect cheap hotels in fort lauderdale our cruises. The years of knowledge have allowed us to find out where the wildlife moves because every week it’s different, cheap hotels in fort lauderdale so we know exactly where to find the wildlife the week you’re cheap hotels in fort lauderdale on the boat.”
“If it’s your first time and you create your own itinerary, you may see the wildlife or you may not; that’s where our experience really pays off for the customer. Someone who comes back and says 'I just want to see whales this week,' we’ll do that. Just leave it up to me or my father the first time, and then you can pick.”
Another luxury The Discovery provides that large cruises cannot is fresh fish that guests and the crew catch right off the boat for dinner. Guests need to purchase cheap hotels in fort lauderdale fishing licenses to do so, but even if they chose not to fish, the crew always will.
“About half of our dinners are seafood. We’ve got it all, crab, shrimp, halibut, salmon. You won’t get fish that fresh anywhere.” And if there’s enough room at the dinner table, Swanson will join guests to share stories and talk about the day, which he says is one of his favorite parts about running these cruises.
“A common question the guests ask at dinner is, do you ever get bored doing this? The answer is no. I get to meet different guests and see it through their eyes, no trip is exactly the same. It’s just neat how much it changes week to week.”
Swanson says he does not have one favorite experience, but rather “memorable experiences that collide together.” Getting to know his guests, some he says who have returned for multiple cruises, keep him on his toes while unique encounters with wildlife always keep him, his crew, and his guests guessing for what’s to come next.
“There are advantages to coming on a cruise at every time of the season. May through mid June, is typically beautiful through the spring and early summer. There is still snow on the mountains which is a pretty sight. Watching snow fall from 5,000-6,000 foot mountains all the way down to the water is really impressive.”
And although Swanson says it’s a little more crowded with other boats in August he explains, “August is the best for wildlife, fish come in the river so bears are feeding on them, fishing is better and whaling is better because they’re feeding cheap hotels in fort lauderdale on shrimp spawn.”
“Pictures don’t do it justice. One time I remember, Mike Jones was with me. We went to Endicott Arm where there are glaciers and fjords, and on a boat of this size seeing 7000 foot granite cliffs that disappear into the water is really something.
cheap hotels in fort lauderdale “And there’s a little nook called Fords Terror, you have to catch the tide just right, it’s not charted so I had to chart it myself, and I make sure the guests realize how special it is and how crucial the timing is to get in.
“You can’t video it or take a picture of it that captures what it’s truly like. Most of the times I get to take guests in there they cry. It’s pretty neat, and something that people will never forget. We’re the only boat of this size that goes in there.” With over 100 waterfalls, bear sightings, and stunning fjords, Swanson said he anchors the boat for the night so everyone can enjoy this rare occurrence.
While searching for Alaska cruises online, it is difficult to find The Discovery. Upon finding the website, you would find a no frills, cheap hotels in fort lauderdale very basic website. Don't let the simplicity of it fool you, however. The website says “We see the fancy web sites and brochures from both the Alaska Large and Small Cruise Ships promising whales, bears, glaciers and more.”
“It's just simply not a true representation of what you'll cheap hotels in fort lauderdale see on those trips. In all the years we've offered these trips I've never tried to overstate the experience we try to provide our passengers. I just simply tell the truth.”
Swanson expressed sadness for all the people who choose large cruises over ones like The Discovery. cheap hotels in fort lauderdale “These cruises with unlimited funds for advertising, take hundreds of thousands of people through Alaska, but I feel bad for people cheap hotels in fort lauderdale that go on those because they never see the real Alaska. They see the tourist shops, then cruise to the next port and they just don’t see it.”
“Because we’ve been the longest small cruise company running in Alaska, referrals, word of mouth and repeat business definitely helps,” cheap hotels in fort lauderdale Swanson says. “If someone calls up a forest or fish and game service, even state agencies, instead of calling a travel agent, they’d point you in our direction. Some people specifically want to go Pack Creek, a limited-entry bear conservatory, and there are only two boats in all of Alaska that can bring people in the way that we do.”
A guest from 2001, Jack Nixon of Newton Square, Pennsylvania says he promotes Swanson’s business whenever cheap hotels in fort lauderdale he can. “I give out Ben’s brochure whenever I go on other tours.” Previously a corporate pilot, Nixon said “I’ve traveled all around the world and saw a lot of neat places, and Red Bluff Cove is one of the neatest places I have ever been to. It’s in the top ten places I want to go back to.”
“Our trip was fantastic; everyone got along very well together. I think that the program far exceeds anything that I could imagine in terms of boat service. We were able to see a lot of things you couldn’t see from a large ship; Ben even lets you in the wheel house to drive the boat. Unlike larger cruises, we didn’t go on shopping trips, instead we saw fjords, and explored small islands, and villages.”
Jones, who said he is also not a fan of big cruise ships, went on a trip in 2007 after his successful trip in 2004. “We got so lucky; we went with three couples we didn’t know and something just happened that was fortunate; we were instantly a good group together.
“We had a great time, we danced, we read, we relaxed. We went swimming off the boat, which nobody cheap hotels in fort lauderdale had done before. We liked our trip so much, we took our group and rented out the boat together. Even though we’ve been twice now, if we go this May, we’ll do the same tour, but it’s always different.” To promote The Discovery, Jones said he has sent over thirty e-mails with his pictures attached, and has already convinced a few more people to go.
Both Jones and Nixon built strong friendships with their group and with Swanson. Jones said he had him stay with his family in Florida for a week, and Nixon said one time he helped Swanson fix the motor on the yacht. cheap hotels in fort lauderdale “We have stayed in touch since and we’ve gotten along very well,” Nixon said. This personal touch demonstrates the commitment the crew has to making their guests cheap hotels in fort lauderdale feel at home.
Although the overall cost of the trip can get pricey at $3,995 per person (not including airfare, fishing licenses, cheap hotels in fort lauderdale or gear), it is evident this experience is an invaluable opportunity based on customer reactions and the fact that many of the summer 2010 tours are already cheap hotels in fort lauderdale sold out.
“I wouldn’t waste my time talking to you if I didn't think it was worth it” Jones said returning cheap hotels in fort lauderdale to his hurried cheap hotels in fort lauderdale voice. “It saddens me to see these big cruise liners carting people around, while we had porpoises come right up to our boat. Ben’s boat is personal, we weren’t cattle on a cattle car. It was worth every dime.”
Alaska Yacht Charters offer three routes cheap hotels in fort lauderdale to choose from that last eight days and seven nights. The website disclaims “All our Alaska Cruises are highly opportunistic. Rather than a set schedule we've always tried to allow for Nature to take its course. We try whenever possible to implement our passenger’s desires and wishes. We endeavor to provide cheap hotels in fort lauderdale a vacation experience that will last a lifetime.”
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