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Sample Itinerary
The following is a sample itinerary, but your particular cruise may be different. The vessel routes change due to the vagaries of weather, wildlife, or the spontaneous interests of our guests. This trip is a curated experience, taking full advantage of The Boat Company’s wide range of wilderness special use permits.
Day 1: Arrival in Juneau & Complimentary Hotel Stay
Welcome to Juneau, Alaska’s capital city! Nestled between the Tongass National Forest and the Gastineau Channel, Juneau offers an ideal blend of rugged wilderness and small-city charm.
After a short trip aboard the TBC Shuttle bus, you will find yourself at the Juneau Ramada in historic downtown. Located just steps from the hotel, you can explore the Alaska State Museum, enjoy celebrated local eateries, or browse the eclectic storefronts. For those looking to venture farther, a short taxi or bus ride into the valley leads to the majestic and receding Mendenhall Glacier, home to the breathtaking Nugget Falls.
Day 2: Embarkation Day & Cruising Through Stephens Passage
Spend a leisurely morning exploring the historic charm of downtown Juneau, enjoying a local breakfast or browsing the boutiques. Your hosts will meet you at the Ramada Hotel in the afternoon to provide a private escort to our vessel. Once aboard, our friendly crew will welcome you with a tour of your stately accommodation and well-appointed salon. This inviting space features an open bar, snacks, a library of books, games, and a TV, providing the perfect spot to relax between adventures.
Following a warm welcome from the Captain and a brief safety orientation, meet the expert guides who will lead your adventures for the week. Once the lines are cast off, this is where the magic truly begins. While cruising into the heart of the Tongass National Forest, enjoy an evening of bottomless cocktails and a sunset dinner prepared by our world-class chefs. The day concludes with an illuminating glacier presentation from our onboard naturalist as we arrive at our first scenic anchorage.
Day 3: Glacial Expedition
We pull anchor in the early morning light and head deep into a glacially carved fjord. It is a wild, rugged scene with towering granite walls and waterfalls that tumble straight into the sea.
After a hot, chef-prepared breakfast, keep your binoculars ready to scan the high ridges for mountain goats and look for harbor seals resting on the floating ice floes with their pups. Once we’re in position, bundle up and hop into our 20-foot skiffs to get a closer look at a massive tidewater glacier. While we wait for the thunderous crack of the ice calving into the water, our crew will pass around hot cocoa and cookies, with an optional splash of peppermint liqueur or Irish cream.
Following a fresh lunch, you can spend the afternoon thawing out in the warmth of the salon as we leave the mainland behind weaving through the maze of islands that make up the heart of Southeast Alaska. The day concludes with a multi-course chef prepared menu designed to meet the dietary request of our guests.
Day 4: The Brothers Islands & Pybus Bay
Awaken off the coast of Admiralty Island to explore the pristine wilderness of the East and West Brothers Islands and Pybus Bay. This region offers a spectacular introduction to the diversity of the Tongass, where you can tailor the morning to your interests.
Follow your guides along an ancient game trail into a mossy, emerald wonderland of old-growth forest, or board a skiff for a close-up encounter with a raucous sea lion haul-out along the rocky shoreline. For those looking to test the local waters, you can spend the morning saltwater fishing for various Alaskan species from our nimble skiffs.
Once back on board, enjoy an educational presentation from our naturalist during cocktail hour as we navigate toward a sheltered evening anchorage. The day concludes with a chef curated meal, featuring locally sourced ingredients that celebrate the rich flavors of the Pacific Northwest. Before turning in, enjoy a few games, a book or a nightcap in the salon while listening for the wild array of animals that call Alaska home.
Day 5: Red Bluff Bay
Savor a slow morning as we cruise toward the rugged eastern coast of Baranof Island, a landscape defined by soaring snowcapped mountains and cascading waterfalls.
After a hearty chef-prepared breakfast, join the Captain in the wheelhouse to scan for humpback whales along this prime coastal corridor. Following a fresh lunch, the afternoon is yours to explore, featuring the steep and dramatic cliffs of Red Bluff Bay. You might choose to kayak toward a thundering waterfall, fly fish in a nearby stream, or try your luck saltwater fishing from a skiff. For a more relaxed pace, a guided skiff tour offers spectacular views and snacks as we navigate the bay’s hidden corners.
A highlight of the day is often setting shrimp pots in hopes of catching Alaskan Spot Prawns. This activity, a favorite of our guests, provides the freshest possible ingredients for our evening appetizers, followed by an elegant multi-course dinner that celebrates the bounty of the Alaskan wilderness.
Day 6: Kelp Bay
For the early risers, we often begin this day with a sunrise kayak, allowing you to paddle through the stillness of our anchorage before a hot, chef-prepared breakfast is served.
We then navigate towards Kelp Bay, a region renowned for its high concentration of humpback whales and brown bears. While the wildlife encounters are beautifully unpredictable, we anchor near the three "arms" of the bay to keep us in the heart of the action. This fifth day of adventure offers another opportunity to tailor your experience.
You may choose to kayak along the intertidal zones to observe vibrant marine life, saltwater fish from a skiff, or hike a forested game trail near active salmon streams. Depending on the season, these trails often lead to meadows of wild berries and vibrant wildflowers. After the day’s excursions, the salon is the perfect place to unwind. You can enjoy a drink from the open bar or tasty snacks while browsing our library of books and DVDs. The evening comes to a close after another delightful dinner featuring the flavors of Alaska.
Day 7: Exploring Lake Eva
Start your day with a lovely breakfast featuring local coffee, teas, and handmade treats like warm cinnamon rolls, eggs, and fresh fruit. Once you’re fueled up and ready for adventure, we’ll head ashore for our final full day of exploration.
While most of our hikes this week have been true off trail bushwhacks, Lake Eva offers a unique change of pace. This Forest Service-maintained trail is only accessible by boat or plane, winding through a forest of ancient trees and wild berry bushes until you reach the shores of the lake. You can alternatively spend the morning casting for Dolly Varden and trout in the streams along the trail, or head out in our 20-foot skiffs for one last session of saltwater fishing.
Back on the vessel, we’ll navigate the waters of Peril Strait as we celebrate our final night together. We invite you "behind the scenes" for a tour of the engine room and crew quarters, followed by a slideshow in the salon to relive this week’s highlights with the Captain and crew.
Day 8: Disembarkation Day
Enjoy one last breakfast on board before pulling into the docks of Sitka. Your crew will be on hand to bid you a warm farewell and assist with your luggage, including your fresh Alaska catch which is prepared and packed for safe transport.
Our crew will provide a final escort to the Southeast Resort Hotel, where you may continue your downtown exploration or simply hop aboard their free transport when you’re ready to depart.
The Boat Company is a tax-exempt organization
Revenue after costs goes to conserve/preserve the forest, wildlife and fisheries of Southeast Alaska.
What is included in the cost of your trip
Hotel accommodations for the first Saturday night in Sitka or Juneau
Airport & hotel transfers
Use of all recreational equipment: kayaks, salmon & halibut fishing gear, hand-tied flies & lures
An Alaska state fishing license
ALL shore excursions – guided hiking, wildlife viewing, kayaking & fishing
Cleaning, packing & freezing your catch in an easy-to-carry box
All meals prepared by our on-board chef – wines with dinner
Open bar including top-shelf brands
What is not included
Round-trip airfare to Alaska
Late arrival or early departure via float plane
Highly personalized fly-fishing rods & gear – waders
Gratuities to the ship’s crew
Travel insurance
Child care
Cancellation Policy
The Boat Company is a non-profit educational organization incorporated in the State of Alaska. Unlike large cruise operations carrying hundreds or thousands of passengers, our small-scale trips and limited sailing season mean that cancellations significantly impact our ability to cover expenses.
Cancellations within 24 hours of booking: Free cancellation is available for all trips within 24 hours of booking.
Cancellations more than 180 days prior to departure: Deposits are non-refundable after 24 hours; any payments made prior to the 180-day period will be returned 100% minus the deposit.
Cancellations between 90 and 180 days prior to departure:
Receive a credit for the amount paid, less a 25% administrative fee, to be applied toward a future trip.
Receive a charitable contribution letter for the amount paid less any deposits and fees.
Cancellations within 90 days of departure: All deposits and payments are non-refundable, and guests will receive a charitable contribution letter for the amount paid less any deposit or fees.
Cancellations after the cruise has begun or early disembarkation: No refunds, credits, or compensation will be provided for cancellations after the cruise begins or for early disembarkation for any reason.
We appreciate your understanding of our cancellation policy, and we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect against unforeseen changes. Travel insurance can be purchased through our affiliate at www.squaremouth.com/23597.
Cancellation requests must be submitted by telephone or in writing to The Boat Company. To cancel or modify your reservation, please contact our team as soon as possible.
For questions or assistance, please reach out to us at hello@theboatcompany.org or visit our Contact Us page. Thank you for supporting The Boat Company’s mission, and we look forward to welcoming you aboard.
Please Note: Prices are subject to change. Every effort has been made to produce pricing information accurately. The Boat Company reserves the right to correct promotional or pricing errors at any time, or to raise the price in the event of cost increases due to higher park fee, state and/or federal taxes, fuel surcharges, etc.