Green Practices: UnCruise Adventures emerges as a sustainable leader in the adventure travel industry

"Our continued implementation of sustainable practices has accelerated our upward growth trajectory."

UnCruise Adventures is a small ship adventure cruise line, operating nine ships, eight of which are fully owned, and a majority sailing under the U.S. flag. It’s headquartered in Juneau, Alaska and has an additional office location in Seattle, Washington (satellite office). The cruise liner offers small group tours and expedition voyages in destinations ranging from Alaska to the Galápagos Islands.

With 27 years in business, UnCruise Adventures is among the most reputable small-ship cruise liners in the industry.

The Silicon Review reached out to Captain Dan Blanchard, CEO of UnCruise Adventures, and here’s what he had to say.

Interview Highlights

Q. When it comes to longevity, UnCruise Adventures has it. I find it remarkable that an organization can continue to provide services for over two decades. How did UnCruise Adventures maintain its adaptability over the years?

I believe our longevity and adaptability can be attributed to several key factors. Passion for adventure: At the core of UnCruise Adventures is our unwavering passion for providing unique and unforgettable experiences. This passion drives our continuous pursuit of innovative itineraries, activities, and destinations to keep our offerings fresh and appealing. Emphasis on personalization: We understand that each guest has different interests and active skill levels, so we have a bit of something for each of them. Commitment to sustainability: We recognize the importance of preserving the environments we explore. Our dedication to sustainable practices, such as responsible waste management and supporting local communities, helps us minimize our environmental impact and maintain our reputation as responsible tourism operators. Flexibility and responsiveness: The travel industry is constantly evolving, and UnCruise Adventures has always been quick to adapt to new trends and changes. It allowed us to be the first to return to profitability after hard hits from Covid-19 and keeps our guests coming back again and again. Strong team and leadership: Our team consists of passionate, skilled, and dedicated individuals who share our vision for exceptional adventure travel experiences. I look for that in our leadership and our onboard crew skill sets. Building long-term relationships: We focus on cultivating lasting relationships with our guests, partners, and suppliers. By nurturing these connections, we can better understand and anticipate the needs of our guests and where we are going in the future. It comes down to the cruise model: We offer small groups, professional crews, multi-generational family and solo traveler options, and all-inclusive wildlife-focused travel with a small footprint. We have guests who return to Alaska with us several times because they want to see every nook and cranny and live in the Alaska Dream. You see something different each time.

Setbacks are a part of every growing business. Tell us about a few roadblocks and learning lessons that helped UnCruise grow through the years.

Over the years, we have faced several challenges that have ultimately shaped our growth and development. Some of these roadblocks and learning lessons include the recent global pandemic and a few past economic downturns. The travel industry is often heavily impacted by economic fluctuations. During challenging economic times, we had to adapt our offerings and strategies to remain competitive while maintaining our high-quality experiences. These periods taught us the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of external pressures and allowed us to become profitable again in 2021, 2022, and 2023 (projected).

See our latest recovery press release here: https://uncruise.com/blogs/press-releases/uncruise-adventures-defies-financial-currents-resurfaces-with-profitability

Adapting to changing travel trends and staying attuned to industry shifts and a change in booking patterns by savvy cruise travelers has helped us grow over the years. Moreover, our continued implementation of sustainable practices has accelerated our upward growth trajectory.

The following factors have also had an impact on the development of our business. Embracing technology: The digital revolution has significantly impacted the travel industry, requiring businesses to adapt and leverage new technologies to stay competitive. We had to invest in our digital presence, online booking systems, and shifting marketing efforts to keep up with the rapidly changing landscape. This taught us the value of embracing change and staying current with technological advancements. Managing growth: As UnCruise Adventures adapted over the past few years like many other travel brands, we focus on managing our growth and maintaining a lean and agile team. Navigating global crises: The Covid-19 pandemic was an unprecedented challenge for the entire travel industry, including UnCruise Adventures. We had to quickly adapt our operations, implementing strict health and safety protocols to protect our guests and staff. This crisis reinforced the importance of preparedness, flexibility, and maintaining strong communication with our stakeholders during difficult times. These setbacks and learning lessons have not only helped UnCruise grow but also strengthened our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.

Q. Can you introduce us to your services? What are their key features?

UnCruise Adventures prides itself on its extensive experience as a small ship adventure-cruise specialist, offering a truly authentic way to discover the many beauties from Alaska to the Galapagos. What guests can expect on their cruises include activities, wildlife spotting, and unique natural phenomena. It isn’t easy to sum up everything we offer on our active adventure cruises. People travel with us for the ability to go places others can’t with a small footprint. Alaska is where the company started and is still on many bucket list adventures. It is one of the last remote areas that provides a sense of being a real adventurer, harking back to the past when the likes of John Muir were still discovering them. Our adventures are all-inclusive with sustainable seafood, a high-end culinary offering, all beverages and spirits, and comfortable accommodations. But that is the icing on the cake. All guests can choose their adventure style through the seven to 14-night cruises with our very experienced expedition leaders and like-minded travelers. As the CEO, I like to say, I am an Alaska boy through and through, and I feel incredibly proud that there is so much history, wildlife, and true outback adventure for our guests to experience.

Q. Can you provide us with one or two success stories describing the challenges your clients faced and how UnCruise helped them overcome those challenges?

We have helped our guests overcome challenges and create memorable experiences in various ways, one we are most known for is our ability to adapt and customize our small ship adventures. We like to say we can change for the weather, whales, or a whim. We can also customize experiences for guests with some mobility limitations and help them overcome challenges. Our itineraries typically involve a range of physical activities such as hiking, kayaking, bushwhacking, and snorkeling. To ensure these guests could fully enjoy their adventure, our team worked closely with them to design an adventure where they can relax or go hard charging. As a result, these guests were able to fully immerse themselves in the unique environments we explore, creating lasting memories and forming strong connections with fellow travelers. We provide flexible itineraries during unforeseen circumstances: On our Alaskan or Hawaiian adventure, for example, unexpected weather conditions can force us to alter our planned itinerary. Our crews quickly adapt to the situation, assessing alternative routes and activities that would still provide our guests with an unforgettable experience while prioritizing their safety. We still allow them to witness unique wildlife and pristine landscapes without the usual crowds. Throughout the journey, our onboard naturalists and guides ensure that our guests remain engaged and informed. We adapt but it provides great adventures for our crew and our guests.

Q. Tell us about the UnCruise team. What value do they bring to the company?

It is an adaptive and nimble team that wears a lot of hats, especially post-Covid. Three of our company's core values are “Do the right thing,” “Be good to each other,” and “Get a little better every day.” These words are a start, but it is never enough to just say it—we must live it! We focus on creating a fun and safe space for our team, our crew, and our guests and embrace inclusivity.

Q. What new endeavors is UnCruise currently undertaking?

We will continue to focus on what we do best and that is small ship adventures along with the West Coast of the Americas. We started in Alaska 27 years ago and will continue to expand there, creating unique options for people to venture into the beautiful Southeast of Alaska. Also, we keep an eye on market trends to determine whether it would be wise to adapt or broaden our offering for prospective future destinations.

We focus on sustainability, and our IT division recently received a Navy Challenge grant to equip our ships with the most cutting-edge whale-detecting technology. Importantly, we look to provide benefits to the places we visit, not destroy them.

Q. What's the one thing you want UnCruise to be known for?

A sustainable leader in the adventure travel industry! We aren’t hard adventure or soft adventure; we just are adventure and have been for 27 years.

Q. Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up?

Things that shape my perspective as the CEO of UnCruise Adventures go back to the heart of why I started this in the first place. The power of genuine connections: Early in our journey as a company, we continued to see growth in the business that focused on small groups. When I can interact with my guests onboard or pre or post-cruise, where we stand in awe of a glacier, or a pod of whales or gather around a beach campfire and share experiences from our lives, I know we are creating a strong sense of camaraderie and connection. These moments emphasize to me the importance of fostering genuine connections, not only between our guests but also with the natural world around us. It reaffirms my belief in the value of small ship cruising, where intimate experiences and personal connections create transformative, lasting memories.

Captain Dan Blanchard | CEO

When it comes to Captain Dan Blanchard—he's the real thing. Dan grew up in Washington State, living and working on boats since he was a kid. He received his ship master's license at 18 and has gone on to travel the world and live a storied tale from the owner of Blanchard Marine to Captain of sightseeing vessels to Director at Cruise West and Vice President of Operations. In 1999, he joined American Safari Cruises and went on to acquire the company in 2008 launching Innersea Discoveries now known as UnCruise Adventures. A lifelong adventurer, he connects with nature and culture wherever he goes and in May 2013, he was adopted into a native Alaskan Tlingit tribe. He's living the dream he built around his passions and wouldn't have it any other way.

“We focus on sustainability, and our IT division recently received a Navy Challenge grant to equip our ships with the most cutting-edge whale detecting technology.”

“UnCruise Adventures prides itself on its extensive experience as a small ship adventure-cruise specialist, offering a truly authentic way to discover the many beauties from Alaska to the Galapagos.”