Safari Spirit, Day 1: All About the Safari Spirit

Upon arriving at the dock, the m/y Safari Spirit crew was ready and waiting for us. On this particular sailing there are just eight passengers, so we know we'll enjoy one-on-one service and in-depth conversations with each crew member. Steward Kim Dahm showed us to our Mariner cabin, C2, on the lower Cabin Deck and then invited us to the salon once we settled in.

The excitment was building and we couldn't wait for the official "sailaway"! We quickly unpacked, gave our suitcases to Kim to store for the duration of the trip, and scampered upstairs where everyone was gathering for a champagne toast. Captain Tate welcomed us and again introduced us to the rest of the crew. He and expedition leader, Nitakuwa, then outlined the plans for the evening: set sail and travel 16 miles to Ideal Cove, also on Mitkof Island, where we'd anchor for the evening. (American Safari yachts only sail during the day and anchor at night, so guests don't miss any of the breathtaking scenery.)

But, we had some last-minute business to tend to. One guest's camera was on the fritz, so the crew contacted a few local shops to see if a replacement could be located. It couldn't since the shops had closed for the evening, but a crew member lent a camera to this guest for the week. Another guest happened to mention his penchant for spicy tomato juice, so another crewman ran out to the grocery store to pick up some stores. These incidences, right at the beginning of our journey, reinforced why a cruise with American Safari is so unique. With such a small complement of guests, personalized service is rendered on a level the mainstream cruise lines could never entertain.

With these last-minute issues taken care of, we raised anchor and sailed away from Petersburg. The weather was beautiful and sunny so all guests could be found up on deck, drinking champagne and watching as Petersburg became just another dot on the horizon.

Before we knew it, it was time for dinner. Now, when you sail with American Safari, you'll immediately notice the attention to detail on the most minute scale. The communal dining table was impeccably and inventively set for each and every meal. As was Chef Dave's custom, he planned two main dinner entrees to choose from. Tonight, the choice was prime rib and risotto or crab and tortellini pasta with cream sauce. (You could also order half and half.) Those with allergies or specific requests were catered to with additonal menu alterations.

Every meal was incredible and Chef Dave's homemade bread and desserts were absolutely scrumptious! We've sailed on many, many cruise lines over the years and I do believe the cuisine aboard the Safari Spirit sets the bar higher than other luxury lines. The quality of the ingredients, including fresh fish and seafood caught just hours before it hit our plates, was top notch. Chef Dave also focused on light and healthy lunches with gourmet salads, soups, and sandwiches. Dinners were more hearty and each dessert was better than the one we enjoyed the night before! Definitely five stars!

The Yacht
Now, a bit about the ship itself. The Safari Spirit is a 105-foot motor-yacht with a beam of 24.5 feet and a 6-foot draft. She was completely rebuilt and redecorated in 2005. It's perhaps the cleanest and best maintained ship I've sailed in years. To be honest, everything looks brand new—from the exterior paint job to the carpets and furniture to the condition of the "extras" like binoculars, mustang suits, and sea kayaks.

Staterooms
There are six staterooms. Admiral Staterooms, A1 and A2, on the Library Deck feature sliding glass doors right in front of the king bed (can be converted to two twins). The balcony is just a small step-out—no room for chairs—but it's a lovely feature and next time I sail with American Safari, I'd book a stateroom with the sliding glass doors. These cabins also feature a Jacuzzi tub and shower. Unlike many cruise ships with tiny bathrooms that are hard to maneuver, all bathrooms on the Safari Spirit are quite spacious and have heated floors! A wonderful addition when cruising the cold Alaskan waters! The "A" cabins also include a comfy armchair.

The next category of stateroom contains just one cabin, C4, the Captain Stateroom. On the lower Cabin Deck, this stateroom boasts a king bed and opening port holes in the bedroom and a Jacuzzi tub/shower combo in the bathroom.


The remaining three cabins are Mariner Staterooms, like our own C2. Located just down the stairs from the main meeting area, the Salon, the Mariner cabins feature queen or twin beds, port holes, and a Jacuzzi tub/shower. We found we had plenty of room in C2 and it was very quiet—we never heard any sound from our neighbors and only an occasional noise from upstairs.



All cabins are outfitted with bathrobes and clogs (not slippers as noted in the brochure), a hair dryer, alarm clocks, and a flat-screen TV with DVD player.

Main Deck
Let's discuss the yacht, deck by deck. As I mentioned, the lower-most Cabin Deck houses staterooms C1–C4. Guests, however, spend a lot of time on the Main Deck that features the Salon, the Dining Room, the open Bridge, and the Aft Lounge (which leads to the full-beam swim step that's the load-in/out point for the skiff and kayaks). The galley is also located on the Main Deck.

Travelers mingle in comfort in the Salon with its sectional sofa, two armchairs, a small game table and two high-back chairs, large flat-screen TV with DVD player, and bar (stocked with soda, water, juice, beer, wine, champagne, and other spirits). Each morning from 6:30–8:00 a.m., you'll find an Early Risers Breakfast set up in the Salon. Chef Dave provides a lovely fruit platter, muffins, cereal, and yogurt...enough to tide you over until the full sit-down breakfast at 8. In the afternoon you'll find a wine bar here and at 6:00 p.m., Chef Dave puts out a delectable pre-dinner appetizer. After dinner, guests retire to the Salon for a cordial and some chocolate truffles.




The buffet in the Dining Room is where you can find coffee, tea, and hot chocolate—day and night. The long, rectangular table seats all guests at one sitting for each meal: generally 8:00 a.m. for breakfast, 12:30 p.m. for lunch, and 7:00 p.m. for dinner.

Of course, everything aboard an American Safari ship is dictated by wildlife. If whales are spotted in the area or bears are on the shore, your meal will be interrupted by your very enthusiastic expedition leader who'll give you the opportunity to take a break from the fine dining in order to hop in the skiff for a closer look or at the very least step out on deck for a few minutes. This may happen several times during a journey and we are so glad the crew cares enough to let us know when there is something exciting to see!

The Bridge is open to all guests and is a great place to hang out and watch for wildlife in the sea and on the shore. You'll often find the ship's expedition leader/naturalist on the Bridge or out on deck. On either side of the Bridge are doors leading out to the forward area of the yacht. This is the other popular place to relax and watch for wildlife. Since all American Safari yachts anchor at night and travel by day, you can always visit the Bridge in the evening when it's less crowded.


The Aft Lounge
To the rear of the Salon is the Aft Lounge. This half indoor/half outdoor area and is the place where you'll pull on your rain jacket or mustang suit before hopping in the skiff. In fair weather, meals are eaten here at the beautiful wooden table.




Library Deck
One of my favorite rooms on the m/y Safari Spirit is the Library. Conveniently located on the Library Deck, right above the Bridge, you enjoy wonderful views through the near floor-to-ceiling windows. You'll also, of course, find a selection of books for your reading pleasure.



Right behind the Library is the cedar Sauna. While I didn't use this dry sauna, other guests did and they raved about it, especially since there's a window so you won't miss any of the gorgeous scenery while you unwind.


At the aft of the Library Deck is the outdoor Hot Tub, a spectacular place for star-gazing! And, next to the Hot Tub, you'll find some exercise equipment (stationary bike and elliptical trainer).


Observation Deck
The upper-most deck is the Observation Deck with a "captain's chair" far forward and a few deck chairs and cocktail tables at aft. Another terrific spot for viewing the scenery.





Additional Gear
The Safari Spirit is outfitted with everything needed to enjoy an active Alaskan vacation, including four two-person sea kayaks, a high-speed skiff (like a Zodiac), mustang suits (to keep you warm when visiting the glaciers or out in the skiff; wearing them is optional), two mountain bikes, dozens of pairs of binoculars, fishing poles and gear, and bug repellant and sun screen, and more. If you need it, chances are it's aboard the Safari Spirit.

Day 1 aboard the Safari Spirit is coming to a close and we definitely feel like we made a great decision to explore Alaska with American Safari Cruises. The yacht is so graceful on the water, the crew is fabulous, and our fellow passengers are all so interesting (we're sailing with a lawyer, an actress, a documentarian, a college professor, a British magistrate, and a recently retired corporate finance expert).


We can't wait for the morning! But, for now, we're exhausted and need some sleep!

The following photos are courtesy of American Safari Cruises: Admiral and Captain staterooms, sauna, and hot tub. All other photos © Leonard Hospidor and may not be used without permission.