American Safari's In-Depth Sea of Cortes Exploration

One criticism often heard about cruising is that travelers never really get to know the destinations they visit. They go from port to port to tour bus to tour bus and never interact with anyone from the places they visit. American Safari Cruises proves that it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, they make sure their guests meet and learn from locals in the areas in which their yachts sail.

Take the company’s Sea of Cortés itinerary in Mexico aboard the 22-guest, 120-foot yacht Safari Quest. Guests traveling the Biosphere Reserve and its protected islands interact with island families, mainland ranchers, fishermen and small-town residents. In fact, the yacht is the only vessel to bring guests to the small island of Isla Coyote, the single permanent settlement in the biosphere.

Here’s how American Safari Cruises describes the meet-and-greet opportunities:

“Inhabited by several fishing families for more than 100 years, the island has no water; residents must fetch water in La Paz, transporting it in multi-gallon plastic containers in small, open fishing boats—a four-hour ride each way.

But when the Safari Quest is in the Sea of Cortés November through March, all that changes: The yacht fills the containers right there, sharing up to 2,000 gallons of fresh water from its desalinization plant. In return, yacht guests are invited to explore the tiny village, meet the handful of residents, watch the fishermen clean and preserve their catch, and see the hundreds of pelicans that call Isla Coyote home.

On this same itinerary, guests meet Alejo, an inland rancher who travels on horseback for half a day to meet the yacht in a secluded bay. He brings his family—grown children, grandchildren, and the women who fashion jewelry from native stones, shells, and silver. He also brings a string of mules, saddled and ready to take guests on a trail ride through the arroyos to a sugar-sand beach.

Safari Quest guests also get close to gray whales and meet the locals in Bahia Magdalena when they ride with fishermen in small boats called “pangas.” In addition, they meet residents of colonial Loreto, a small town on the verge of being discovered, and learn the art of tortilla making firsthand from a renowned restaurateur.”

The Safari Quest is in the Sea of Cortés until April 8, and will then return for November 13, 2008 through April 7, 2009.

For more information, call your travel agent or contact American Safari Cruises at (888) 862-8881.

Photo courtesy of American Safari Cruises

A New Luxury Option for Hawaii: American Safari Cruises

If you follow cruise news, you’ve probably heard that Norwegian Cruise Line—the only line currently offering inter-island Hawaiian Island itineraries—is repositioning two of its three ships that had been serving this area. NCL America had been plagued from the beginning with negative reviews due to poor service and despite making a big push in this area, they just couldn’t hit upon the right formula to make the itinerary profitable for three large ships.

NCL’s exit, however, makes room for a ship that’s much better suited for visits to the magical islands of Hawaii: American Safari Cruises’ 36-guest Safari Explorer. The yacht will begin sailing in December 2008.

The American-flagged American Safari Cruises will highlight up-close and personal encounters with nature as well as a focus on Hawaiian culture. "We may be seeing a major shift in Hawaii cruising," says Tim Jacox, American Safari Cruises vice president of sales and marketing. "While the large-ship inventory in Hawaii is shrinking, we're able to meet a long-standing demand for an intimate, up-close inter-island experience."

The new 145-foot Safari Explorer, now undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation in Seattle, will go where big ships can't—secluded coves and bays, quaint harbors, and tiny villages. The yacht travels only during the day, and in the waters less traveled will visit Molokai, Lanai, Lahaina on Maui, the Big Island, and several snorkel/dive sites. Guests will also have an included Volcanoes National Park helicopter tour and explore beautiful backcountry waterfalls and exotic terrain on foot.

American Safari Cruises inaugural Hawaii cruise season is December 19, 2008 to May 9, 2009; the Safari Explorer will return in November 2009 to begin its second season. The company operates four luxury yachts that carry 12 to 36 guests; other destinations are Alaska, Mexico's Sea of Cortés, the Pacific Northwest, and the Columbia and Snake rivers.

For more information, call your travel agent or contact American Safari Cruises at (888) 862-8881.

Photo courtesy of American Safari Cruises