alaska testimonials

Glacier Bay Adventure

"Glacier Bay Adventure exceeded our expectations all around, an amazing trip! We dragged [Name omitted to protect the innocent!] somewhat kicking and screaming to Alaska after wanting a fufu sit by the beach vacation, but now she can't stop bragging about it. Proof is in the pudding. Our best experience was the glacial trek over the Mendenhall Glacier. The helicopter ride lets you see so much of the varied terrain and the grandeur of the location from a great vantage. Also being on the glacier itself was surreal, like you are on the moon or the north pole. Blows the senses, plus highly educational and fun. Juneau hotels were humorously fair or poor, but that was part of the charm I guess. This was a truly remarkable vacation, and we are really really glad we got to experience Alaska this way.

My advice to future Alaska travelers: Don't be put off by the weather. It is mostly cloudy in Juneau. Better weather evidently shows up in l Aug - Sep. We were initially bummed that it was going to be cloudy with showers the entire week, but after seeing the grandeur out there, we were still blown away by the beauty. I can't imagine how more beautiful it would be with sunshine. Don't forget your cameras in the parking lot back home, like we did."

Glacier Bay and Island Adventure

"This was one of my most memorable travel experiences because of what I saw, what I learned, the people I met and the staff who were involved. The accommodations on the ship were excellent, the food was outstanding and the staff unbelievable not just for their knowledge but also their professional demeanor and friendliness. I cannot decide which experience was the most memorable: meeting with native Tlingits, the visit to the totem carver on Kake, or the experience at Glacier Bay. The trip in Glacier Bay was breathless. I enjoyed the tours in Sitka and learned much about the history of this town through the visits to various key places. Accommodations were great and totally in keeping with what one expects on a small ship. It was not glamorous but well done. The food was gourmet, no question about it. I was amazed at the quality of the meals, the diversity and the range of choices. Your company was superb with handling my reservations and providing information. Andrew Browning was always available to help and I found that to be extraordinary. This is an adventure of a lifetime."

Northern Passages and Glacier Bay

"All great - all of it, every last drop. Glacier Bay was the best part; it was larger than Disney… in all respects. The Wilderness Explorer is a nice boat… very well maintained, and the trip naturalists outstanding. The trip was truly magical. Bring lots of fleece and good rain gear. Get ready to blow your mind!"

Eastern Coves Adventure Cruise

"Far better than advertised. Baird Glacier was an otherworldly landscape. Misty Fjiord was absolutely beautiful. Anan Bear Observatory provided an incredible closeup. I didn't want the trip to end! Our cabins and meals were excellent, and from Cap'n Dano on down, the crew was fantastic. Over an 18 month period, Andrew Browning (AdventureSmith coordinator) was great. We had a much more positive reservation experience than the direct booking passengers. I thought the trip was a terrific value for the price. Given the inclusion of so many activities in the fare, it's no more expensive than a large ship and may actually be cheaper depending on which large ship excursions are chosen. We first went to Alaska on a large ship. We quickly realized that on a large ship you're just a spectator. The real Alaska was either out of reach or bypassed entirely. We would absolutely recommend AdventureSmith Explorations, and already have. Our advice: READ the literature AdventureSmith sends and follow it, particularly the packing list. We did and never had any surprises during the trip."

Northern Passages and Glacier Bay

"Wow, what an adventure! This experience has been so educational for our family, definitely more than what we expected. The Icy Strait was unbelievable with whale watching, our favorite experience. The cabins had plenty of storage space, which we really appreciated. This trip would have not been as fantastic without the well-trained and caring crew members! From the exceptional captain Jeff to the cheerful hospitality staff, every crew member went out of their way to make sure we returned with lifetime experiences. Bring waterproof gloves and carry your camera with you everywhere in a ziplock/waterproof bag, as whales/wildlife pop up at the least expected times. We accidentally walked into a wolf area, and as I was not expecting to see anything photo worthy. I did not have my camera with me and missed out on recording the most amazing 20 mins. or so of howling/barking wolves. We backed away and just listened to them... I cannot tell you how magical that was!"

Northern Passages and Glacier Bay

"It was a totally amazing trip! I saw and did things I never thought I would. Dungess Bay and Glacier Park were amazing! To actually walk up to and stand next to a glacier... it was awe inspiring. The Wilderness Explorer was a wonderful ship! Cozy without being confining. Everyone on board were wonderful Capt Marce, Randall, Debbie and Cody were the best! . . . I made lifelong friends! All the information you sent was very helpful, and Chris Harter was great at answering questions. I would absolutely recommend AdventureSmith Explorations!"

Western Coves Adventure Cruise

"Great crew, great passengers, great places to explores, great food, flexibility... Every day a new adventure. The crew worked very hard to arrange a fishing day for my husband; they were genuinely thrilled to accomplish this for him. The food was excellent, and I was amazed at how the staff accommodated the many dietary needs. We had a number of kids on our cruise. They were fantastic. With participants from 6yrs old to close to 80, we all had a great time together."

Active Inside Passage & Denali Backcountry Explorer

"We had a terrific time on this trip. The Catalyst was awesome. We saw a lot of wildlife and had a blast on the kayaks, with which we quickly became comfortable. It ended up feeling as if everyone on the boat was family, and it was actually hard to bring ourselves to leave. The Catalyst is a quirky but endearing boat and we can't imagine having a better time than we did. Our little detour to Kantishna Roadhouse was also a lot of fun. We had clear weather there, some great hikes, terrific views of Denali. We flew out and that was a fun experience, too. We flew right by Denali and got some great photos. This was a spectacular trip and I wanted to thank you for all of your help and advice, as well as the professional way you dealt with the mistake at Camp Denali. It was all well worthwhile. Getting the gear was definitely important, especially the head nets and rain gear. In short, I would recommend the trip as well as AdventureSmith to anyone, and we hope to go back to Alaska sometime, maybe during a different season. So thanks a ton."

Glacier Bay and Island Adventure

"The entire experience was great. I would go back tomorrow! Our sailing through Tracy's Arm was fantastic and it was really what I expected to see throughout the Inside Passage. Go!!! Do not miss this opportunity!"

Inside Passage Sojourn

"Small ship cruising is the ONLY way to go in my humble opinion. The small boat was able to get up close to wildlife and go deep into the fiords to view the glaciers. Brianna and staff on the Alaska Dream are first rate. Absolutely fabulous meals and meal planning. They use local produce when they can and the fish is always fresh!! Captain Eric Morrow is a fantastic gentlemen and seaman. He would slow up and wait for humpbacks to show themselves. He'd follow at a respectful distance hoping that everyone could get a good look. Same thing with the bear and wolf we saw on the shore. He truly wanted everyone on board to enjoy to the fullest. The entire crew of the Alaska Dream is superb."

Alaska’s Western Coves Adventure Cruise

"The trip far exceeded our expectations. Our favorite spots were Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glacier: kayaking, whale watching and cave exploration. But everywhere we went was beautiful in diverse ways. I felt we got to see Alaska as few visitors do. Our wilderness guides were knowledgeable and approachable. If they didn’t have an answer, they would research it and have it the next day. Jenny, JP, Claton Kristin and Marcy were all exceptional. AdventureSmith’s prep materials were well done and gave us a good idea of what to expect. If you go on this trip, be sure to bring layers of clothing and buy xtra-toughs in Ketchikan at Tongass Trading Company (call before to make sure they have your size). They were much cheaper than online."

Wilderness Inside Passage Cruise

"I appreciated the complete information packet and felt well prepared with clothing, equipment and itinerary. The crew, naturalists and planned activities were just outstanding; they far exceeded our expectations. Our guides, particularly Eric and Mark, had an impressive depth of knowledge."

Kenai & Denali Backcountry Safari plus Kenai Fjords Explorer

"The Kenai Explorer and your Denali Backcountry Safari were all beautiful and a great choice for us. The Kenai Backcountry Lodge was superb, one of the best we have experienced. Our guides were outstanding, knowledgeable and professional. We highly recommend this trip because the overall itinerary was well constructed and planned while our custom planning logistics were outstanding. AdventureSmith Explorations did an excellent job of orchestrating a total tour package which met all of our specific needs."

Glacier Bay Highlights

"The entire trip was awesome! We were well prepared, the vessel and food were great. Mark and Sean were excellent naturalists and Kim was the perfect Cruise Director. We always wanted to go to Alaska but wanted a high activity level trip. Your Glacier Bay Adventure Cruise was perfect."

Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness

"I'm very happy to highly recommend both AdventureSmith and the Alaska cruise itself. Todd Smith could not have been more helpful, efficient and responsible. It really makes a difference that he has had so much personal experience leading & organizing Alaska cruises. That enabled him to help choose just the right cruise for us from the options available. Our experience from our first contact with Todd to the day we arrived home from the cruise was flawless. We still find ourselves feeling sorry for people who go to Alaska on the big cruise ships. We loved being on a smaller ship that could go right up to waterfalls, follow the whales, and offer treats like twilight kayaking, We didn't go for the food, but that turned out to be an unexpected bonus - fabulous. The staff was outstanding too. I hope you too get to experience Alaska in this wonderful way."

Glacier Bay Highlights

"The meals were outstanding! The chef was superb and the food was plentiful with wonderful choices. The entire crew staff was excellent as well. Everyone was extremely cheerful and helpful."

Prince William Sound Active Discovery

"The entire trip was outstanding! The crew, staff, and everything was great. And of course the scenery was wonderful. It definitely exceeded our expectations."

Ultimate Expedition

"This trip changed my life!"

Classic Inside Passage

"The staff was outstanding, the itinerary was great (we loved Glacier Bay and Tracey Arm), and the pre-trip information was very helpful - we had a wonderful trip!"

Wilderness Inside Passage Cruise

"The overall trip experience was excellent! The captain was outstanding in putting us in the best places to see glaciers and wildlife, and had a great personality. The vessel itself was outstanding, and for our tastes far superior to one of the floating cities that cruise the area."

Active Inside Passage Cruise

"What an experience!! I tried to be a stowaway on the next trip. My favorite experience was kayaking with a Humpback whale only 40 feet away. The Sawyer Glacier was awesome. Our meals had excellent presentation, variety and were always delicious. The naturalists were great. They even stayed on deck with just my husband and I in the wind and rain so we could take pictures. AdventureSmith gave us excellent suggestions about tours in Juneau and clothing options. Follow the checklists, they're great."

Prince William Sound Active Discovery

"Julie and I had an absolutely perfect time on the Wilderness Explorer. It simply could not have been better. Crew and naturalist were perfect. Boat was very, very good. Food was excellent. The setup was ideal where we cruised at night (zzzz) and dropped anchor in time to get up for breakfast and go paddle. Here is my favorite picture. I would do it again in a heart beat!"

Denali Backcountry Explorer

"The AdventureSmith preparations were excellent. The packing list was very helpful. We were comfortable, and had less baggage than anybody on our tour. Thank you for a well organized trip!"

Active Inside Passage Cruise

"We enjoyed the remote areas on kayak the most because we left our concerns and world problems behind"

Wilderness Inside Passage

"The experience I enjoyed the most was watching my wife smile and enjoy everything. The entire crew was five star!"

Active Inside Passage

"Getting amongst a pod of humpback whales was remarkable for all the obvious reasons. Spending a lot of time off the Dawes glacier watching it calve was great. All the kayaking was wonderful, especially the day at the mouth of the inlet leading to the Dawes where there was a humpback about 0.5 miles away and the day before a little bit up the inlet where we kayaked to w/in 100 yards of an iceberg that cracked! The boat was in beautiful condition. There were enough different places to "hang" between the cabins, the two tables, the pilot house, and the fore and aft decks. The meals were truly outstanding. All four of the staff were excellent -- captain, cook, engineer, and naturalist. In particular, they were very flexible and supportive of the physical and mental needs of my elderly father. Truly we could not have dreamed of a nicer or more professional bunch of people to run our trip."

Active Inside Passage

"This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. People of all ages were able to share in this experience and everyone was amazed at the beautiful land and animals that we saw. I'd urge anyone thinking about going to Alaska to do a small ship cruise so you can see for yourself how amazing this place is up-close and personal. We would definitely recommend AdventureSmith Explorations. All of my questions were handled very efficiently. No question was too silly or difficult for AdventureSmith to follow up on. Overall it made the process of booking this trip extremely easy."

Active Inside Passage

"Our trip was fantastic, and we had a great time! The crew was amazing and the scenery and animal habitat was unbelievable to see. Our cook was an amazing chef! The food could not be faulted. It was like dining in a 5 star restaurant every night. We had a huge variety of food available to us. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. People of all ages were able to share in this experience and everyone was amazed at the beautiful land and animals that we saw. I'd urge anyone thinking about going to Alaska to do a small ship cruise so you can see for yourself how amazing this place is up-close and personal. Thanks AdventureSmith Explorations."

Active Prince William Sound Discovery

"AdventureSmith did a great job preparing us for our trip, although, nothing really prepares you for the mere size & beauty of Alaska! Thank you AdventureSmith, this was a trip of a lifetime."

Alaska Safari Quest

"As for our vessel, excellent doesn't go far enough to describe it. All I have to say about the meals is "gourmet"! The crew was exceptional! My advice to anyone even thinking about this trip is "GO". We had the trip of a lifetime. It was far better than we ever expected"

Alaska Safari Spirit

"You said "we intend to exceed your expectations." You did! It seems as though if we thought of something the crew was aware & it would happen."

Glacier Bay Highlights

"The boat was handled so well! We didn't feel like we were on water. The crew was extremely professional & safe. Our most favorite experiences were, Glacier Bay, Marjorie Glacier, the whales, sea otters, Puffins. It was unlike anything we have ever experienced before."

Glacier Bay Highlights

"AdventureSmith prepared us so well! We used your information & were totally prepared! Thank You so much. Our transportation was awesome, buses were always on time & drivers were on time as well."

Glacier Bay Highlights

"Glacier Bay & The Icy Straits 2-day cruise was outstanding! There were lots of opportunities to see whales, otters, seals, etc., plus bears! Glaciers were awesome. Kantishna Roadhouse stay & the hiking trips were great. We loved the sled dog activity."

Glacier Wonderland and Denali Backcountry Explorer

"Our trip was beyond excellent! Our only disappointment was having to cut the trip short by 50% due to a family emergency. The small vessel cruise was definitely the way to explore the Alaska water regions. All the accommodations were great! Just can't tell you enough how I loved the small ship experience. AdventureSmith did a wonderful job staying on top of our trip plans. I was totally comfortable with the arrangement, and you communicated everything completely. I love you guys & will definitely be recommending you to everyone I come across. As far as transportation went, everything was timed as promised. The delivery of the services met all our expectations."

Glacier Wonderland and Denali Backcountry Explorer

"There were no unenjoyable places or experiences. We were very pleased with the AdventureSmith crew's attention to detail & responses to any questions we had. Thank you so much for organizing a marvelous cruise. My advice to future a traveler, is don't wait to long before you do it- avoid the large cruise liners! I would recommend AdventureSmith to anyone. Thanks again."

Glacier Wonderland

"Our overall trip experience was unbelievable! It was well organized, with a friendly atmosphere, clean rooms & the food was outstanding! Being able to get so close to the glaciers is something that we would have never been able to do in a large cruise ship. It was breathtaking. Our cabin was great & our grandson's room was better than we expected. Megan was incredible, she was very helpful & had a beautiful wake up call voice! Our fellow trip participants were wonderful! Our grandson had a blast with 12 other well behaved teenagers. If I were to give any advice to future travelers, it would be to let them know that they will have a once in a lifetime experience."

Active Inside Passage

"The experiences I loved the most were definitely the GLACIERS! The trip in La Conte was magnificent & beautiful. I enjoyed the whales bubble feeding followed by the researchers visit & Information. Every night the Captain found a safe, flat water harbor. Anne Catherine is a Phenominal! She was friendly& patient w/ endless questions & observations-even teaching us! Eli Bailey was very knowledgeable, patient & his background level of skill & experience led to my total confidence. I never felt fear w/ whales, bears or on the ice. AdventureSmith did an outstanding job for such short notice. We booked 2 weeks before our departure. I made excellent, life-long friends. AdventureSmith well matched our level of interests w/ our other participants."

Denali Backcountry Explorer

"The bus ride to Kantishna was excellent! Our driver Kristy was the best naturalist I've heard in a longtime & drove the bus w/ complete confidence as well."

Kenai & Denali Journey

"All I have to say is WOW!"

Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness

"This trip exceeded our expectations in every aspect! We loved experiencing the Red Bluff Bay, Ford's Terror scenery & Indian Pass w/ all the sea lions. It was amazing seeing wildlife as nature intended, especially the whales. We loved our cozy room, but were on the bow most of the time looking at wildlife. We had fish & seafood every night, the freshness & quality were superb! All of our naturalists & guides shone, especially Dave & Linda- she is the absolute best guide ever! We met some wonderful people. From teenagers to senior citizens- all were a pleasure. No need to bring snacks along, the Seabird fed us quite well! Remember no food in packs (bears). We always wanted to go to Alaska, especially to have the small boat experience- there was more wildlife & physical activities. We intend to recommend this trip to all of our friends & family. AdventureSmith was right on target in suggesting clothes & gear to take- we used everything we took."

Glacier Bay Highlights

"Everything ran smoothly. We loved every segment! The crew, naturalists & guides were fantastic. We didn't know who we were going to be traveling w/ (fellow guests) until we arrived on the ship, all I have to say is that they were great. The advice I would give future travelers is, CALL ADVENTURESMITH. We just loved the adventure & natural beauty."

Glacier Bay Highlights

"We saw so many animals & wildlife, it was astonishing. The ship staff was so fun- Faith Grant was so interesting. We enjoyed hearing about her living. Keith, the local guide, did such an excellent job explaining everything. We just had a grand time."

Glacier Bay Highlights

"Our overall trip experience was amazing, everyone knew their job & did it well. The food was so great. The experience was just so awesome, we can't think of anything negative. The rooms were clean & very comfortable. This adventure is like nothing else, my only recommendations would be, GO ON IT!"

Wilderness Inside Passage Cruise

"Chris was great at answering questions, following up on plans, and sending photos regarding our cruise. This Cruise West trip, booked through Adventuresmith Explorations has to be the best deal going."

Active Inside Passage

"In Alaska I really enjoyed being able to access isolated places, being the only ship moored in a bay, and falling asleep to the sound of whales."

Active Inside Passage

"I can't decide what my favorite experience was; was it the whale watching, bald eagles soaring through the trees, or the glaciers calving into the sea. Their were too many experiences to mention, we loved it all. All crew members were great. The captain, engineer, cook, and naturalist, all made it fun and informative. My contacts at Adventuresmith Explorations were very helpful and available for all of my questions. They were a good group to deal with. Thank you."

Glaciers of Prince William Sound

"I wanted to let you know how much my family and I enjoyed our cruise to see the glaciers of Prince William Sound(on the Spirit of Columbia) and our stay at Brooks Lodge. I was so impressed with both parts of the trip that I have already recommended the trips to my family and several friends. A very important part of the entire experience was how professionally the arrangements were made. Your communications to us were always prompt and informative and the arrangements at hotels, airlines, Cruise West and Brooks Lodge were accurate. The only surprises were pleasant ones! Alaska is more beautiful than I expected.
The Spirit of Columbia was so special – I will never cruise on a large ship again, anywhere. The crew and captain were warm and welcoming and very willing to educate the passengers about what we were seeing. The ship was clean and the food was delicious. We had good weather and were lucky enough to see humpback whales, killer whales, seals, sea lions, sea otters, eagles, puffins and several other types of birds. We also saw calving glaciers – up close! We took the hike and raft land excursion from Cordova. It was a blast. I felt safe, learned a lot about glaciers, saw ice worms and got soaking wet in the rapids. We enjoyed hot chocolate and smoked salmon after climbing out of the rafts. The leader of our trip was mindful to get us back to the ship in a timely manner. We were very well cared for.

Brooks Lodge was so incredible. The people and rangers at Brooks Lodge were fantastic. The cabin was clean and comfortable; the food was delicious; and the bears…the bears were the reason for the trip to Alaska in the first place. I love bears. I am a fanatical animal lover. My heart was warmed at how professionally the camp was run – such that human visitors are relatively safe and the bears are respected and thus not harmed by our presence. We saw lots of bears – bears catching fish, bears climbing trees, bears fighting, bears playing, huge bears and several cubs. I was surprised to find tears in my eyes as the plane left the camp.

We could not have had a better time. I have looked through the 7GB of photos I took, numerous times now and while they don’t do justice to the real thing they let me go back for a few moments to relive the amazing times we had. Again a lot of what made the trip so enjoyable is how smoothly everything went. Thank you so very much for helping to make this trip so successful in so many ways. I hope to be able to book another trip with your help in the future!"

Glacier Bay Adventure

"The experiences I most enjoyed were glacier trekking (especially the helicopter ride), kayaking, and the glacier tour. My favorite place was definitely the Bear Track Inn, it was phenomenal, had fantastic meals, and should stay on your list of places to stay. Gold belt was also great because of the amazing view of the channel. My trip leaders Gretchen and Brie from North Star were great, and so were the outfitting of equipment. AdventureSmith prepared me very well for the trip because I knew what to expect for the most part, and was pleasantly surprised by the equipment given to us for trekking and kayaking. The entire staff at the Bear Track Inn made us welcome and were key to enjoying our vacation as much as we did. We would have planned an extra day in Gustauus had we known."

Alaska Whales and Wilderness

"Best trip ever! I most enjoyed the Denali hikes; (zodiac-like boats) excursions from spirit of Endeavor where we landed on remote beaches; Sitka sport fishing and kayaking; because on all these occasions we were able to get up close to nature. I also loved all sightings of wildlife in Denali and from the ship! Hawthorne Suites and anchorage are very nice; both the Kantishna Roadhouse and the Spirit of Endeavor were great and served wonderful meals. To add a bonus, the Spirit upgraded our cabin when we arrived from 104 to 307. The staff at Kantishna Roadhouse were friendly, gave interesting presentations, and did well guiding hikes. The staff of Cruise West and their guest speakers were all very informative and enthusiastic. AdventureSmith prepared us extremely well by telling us every detail we needed to know. There were no glitches at all with any of the arrangements, the taxis, hotels, trains, and buses all went smoothly. I would highly recommend AdventureSmith Explorations, Andrew Browning patiently answered all my questions by email and went over the costs in as much detail as I requested."

Alaska Whales and Wilderness

"This was an excellent trip. The well organized crew and staff were enthusiastic and helpful. We loved getting up close to the glaciers and whales, and highly recommend the North Star glacier helicopter trip and Sitka cave visits. The food was terrific, much better than standard cruise force. We couldn’t ask for better leaders and guides. Captain Mike took his role of wildlife seeker very seriously. AdventureSmith provided excellent service for preparing us for the trip. Andrew was extremely helpful having traveled in Alaska himself. We appreciated the checking up on our travel arrangements and his quick responses to calls and emails even while away on vacation. We chose this trip to fulfill our desires of a small ship experience in order to access narrow inside passage water ways."

Alaska Whales and Wilderness

"Our favorite experiences were the helicopter glacier walkabout, flying above ice fields and being on top of a glacier: Wow!! The accommodations were excellent and I would travel this way again, happily. The meals were nice, good portions, great food and exquisite service. Our trip leaders and local guides were the best in the business. None better, fantastic in service and great excursions. Andrew from AdventureSmith made it happen! We could not have managed without such competence. When all fell apart, he made certain that all was resolved. Plus the small cruise venue allowed us to engage with every guest and crew member. Also being able to go where big ships cannot is a treat!! Small ships emphasize the outdoors and provide access to more rural locations.  We deliberately sought an ecologically focused trip and we were rewarded over and over; Excellent trip!"

Glaciers of Prince William Sound

"All my expectations were met and then some. Of course the cruise was spectacular, the fly/drive across the Arctic Circle broadened our knowledge of Alaska and Denali was breathtaking. The staff of the cruise was top rate, and AdventureSmith did an excellent job preparing and handling our arrangements. Some people from other groups had trouble at the train station but we were set thanks to AS."

Inside Passage Charter & Denali

"Five gold stars! The cruise aboard the Sundance was great. The food and crew were wonderful, and we really saw the Alaska we wanted."

Active Prince William Sound / Denali

"It was everything we hoped it would be. We even enjoyed the museums and exhibitions in Anchorage. Our favorite activities were Observing and Photographing wildlife in Denali National Park, and the Discovery trip – kayaking in front of glaciers. The food at both Denali and Discovery was wonderful. We loved being on a small ship! It was a wonderful experience!! The glaciers and mountains were particularly impressive."

Alaska Island Spirit

"This was an excellent trip!! Thank you Andrew Browning!  Kayaking was my favorite activity; would have loved to do more of it.  The vessel was very comfortable, not too fancy and the staff could not have been better!  The pre-trip information AdventureSmith provided was invaluable. People who booked with a different company were not as prepared, clothing and equipment wise.  There were 6 other AdventureSmith travelers on board and they all couldn’t stop talking about how great Andrew is at his job.  I loved being on a small ship, because they give you such a sense of Alaska. You are up close and personal with the animals and wilderness. "

Active Inside Passage Cruise

"Overall excellent trip experience - Beautiful ship, wonderful crew, amazing food and awesome scenery! Meals were a real highlight – always plentiful, delicious, accommodating of a number of different dietary requirements, and always delivered with great cheer and a laugh! All four crew members performed their allotted tasks with great competence and professionalism, and added greatly to the whole experience. We were very well prepared by AdventureSmith, and felt that we had been given good advice with regards to the kind of clothing and equipment we needed to bring. “It is well worth the expense – the experience is unique and will stay with you for a long time to come.” We would definitely recommend AdventureSmith and will be singing its praises to everybody."

Glacier Bay Adventure

"Wanted to stay longer!” This trip was exciting, spiritual, and physically active balanced with quiet time to “take it all in”. Loved all the experiences in different ways. The glacier trek was glorious; brilliant blue in the rain. Kayaking and walking in the woods was amazing. Park service day was helpful and very informative, providing insight and respect for nature.  The accommodations were quiet, comfy, cozy and beautiful. Equipped with wonderful staff and great food! The Bear Track Inn was our favorite lodge. We would absolutely recommend Adventure Smith Explorations to fellow travelers – Chris was amazing throughout the process. Helpful, patient and always available for petty questioning.  Kept in very close contact which is always appreciated. A truly wonderful trip! After our return, my family commented on how different I looked – “your eyes, mom; look wonderful”.

Wilderness Passages of Discovery

“This was an excellent trip! Being the first voyage of the re-commissioned ship, it was special and novel for the crew and hence for us. We had almost perfect weather to add to the treat. The best experiences fore me involved the spectacular sights, kayaking, the beach walk, the splendid meals and the conversations with fellow guests & crew.  The captain was fabulous!  The ship in all aspects was clean, up-to-date, and highly functional. Wonderful food - varied in approach and always tasty. Our naturalist leaders were great. Well informed, enthusiastic without being corny. They were most patient with us and always willing to explain.  AdventureSmith did an excellent job preparing us. I appreciated the information given and the follow-ups. Especially the notification of an important change in the included boots; which other guests were unaware of.  This was a highly professional operation, fully meeting and, yes, exceeding my highest expectations. Thank you!”