Sikumi
- capacity
- 8-12
- year built
- 1986
- remodeled
- 2012
- crew members
- 5 crew members
- length
- 67 feet
The MV Sikumi, a Native Alaskan word for “Among the Ice,” was built tough yet finished for first-class cruising. From her steel hull to her handsome wood-trimmed interior, the 8-guest Sikumi (up to 12 when adding 4 children) combines the ruggedness of an ocean-going commercial trawler with the deluxe, modern features of a cruise ship. Owned and operated by an Alaska-based family, the Sikumi provides a true insider’s look at this great land.
Sikumi Review
AdventureSmith Explorations’ Sikumi review includes a detailed description of the small ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our small ship cruise experts have been aboard nearly every first-class vessel in Alaska. Please read our Sikumi review below then contact our small ship cruise experts to compare the Sikumi with other small ships to Alaska offering small ship Alaska cruises.
PICTURE YOURSELF HERE
You have questions.
We have answers.
Choose the MV Sikumi if you want one of the most intimate of Alaska charter ship experiences. With only 8 guests, your fellow travelers on board will become your friends. And unique opportunities, like fishing for dinner, really set this ship and its sailings apart. Plus, a very high crew-to-guest ratio (5 crew to 8 guests) ensures the best of first-class service aboard Sikumi. A typical cruise accommodates 8 adults on board, and possibly some young sailors (adult-only cruises may be available). The entire boat can be chartered for 8 guests (up to 12 with 8 adults and 4 children). Young guests are welcome and encouraged to join the cruise, and the Sikumi crew is very experienced in working with children, keeping a full host of games and activities.
The 67-foot Sikumi boat in Alaska was custom built expressly for service in Alaska by one of the Northwest’s most renowned ship builders, Hansen Boats, famed for the vessels seen on the “Deadliest Catch” TV show. Her sturdy lines make for a smooth, safe ride in any seas, outperforming many vessels twice her size. From the panoramic views at the galley table to the fully covered upper viewing deck, nothing was spared in creating a comfortable environment.
Common Areas Aboard Sikumi
The interior of the Sikumi boat in Alaska is as inviting and cozy as a home. On the Main Deck are the entertainment center and salon lounge area, offering a library, television, VCR, CD player and computer equipment for use in editing and sharing photos. Also on the Main Deck is the dining room/galley, with open architecture enabling guests to watch the chef work. Guest rooms and coat storage can also be found on the Main Deck. The Upper Deck features a covered dining lounge, a sun deck, the captain’s room and the wheelhouse. This spacious deck is the spot to sight-see, view wildlife, stargaze, lounge and hone your photography skills. The Lower Deck houses the crew’s quarters, the engine room and the workshop, but there is ample additional storage here for guests’ excess baggage and empty suitcases.
Dining Aboard Sikumi
While life on board Sikumi includes spectacular wildlife and scenery viewing, the ship may be best known for her cuisine. Sikumi’s professional chef will prepare one culinary delight after another. Everything is made fresh on board, and with Sikumi’s limited number of guests, the chef is able to cater to any special food needs, diets or allergies. Enjoy learning from the chef too, as the galley is open to guests and the crew encourages interaction.
You can expect the freshest seafood, and you might just be helping out with the harvest of the daily special! This is something you will not find on virtually any other boat. Conditions allowing, experience setting shrimp and crab traps, hauling them in and harvesting the ocean’s bounties. Head out for an afternoon kayak, then come back to dine on your catch! It cannot get any fresher. Sikumi’s crew also fishes for salmon, halibut and other delectable Alaska seafood.
Beer and wine are included on all cruises. Spirits are welcome aboard, and there will be mixers, but the liquor license does not allow the Sikumi boat in Alaska to supply hard liquor.
Activities & Fishing Aboard Sikumi
One of the highlights of a cruise aboard the Sikumi is fishing for your meals (state fishing license required for ages 16 and up). From setting shrimp and crab traps to fishing for halibut, you may just experience the origin of one of the freshest meals of your life. Typically, a few nights of the trip will feature guest-caught halibut, salmon, crab and shrimp on dinner plates. And Sikumi’s captain boasts that they’ve had a 100-pound halibut caught by a traveler as young as 6 and as old as 92.
When not fishing or cruising, Sikumi’s highly trained crew will take you on many other adventures. From kayaking in hidden caves to hiking to remote waterfalls, there are activities for all. All of the adventures are custom tailored to meet the needs of each guest. Not a hiker? No worries, go for a shoreline exploration in a skiff while others hike. Never kayaked? Great! That will just make it that much more fun as Sikumi’s head guide with years of kayak experience, takes you out and shows you the way to paddle. Sikumi guests from age 6 to 90 have set out in kayaks, and have all come back smiling.
Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard Sikumi
The MV Sikumi boat in Alaska boasts four guest rooms, each offering a double bed and optional “pullman-style” third berth, as well as a private toilet, sink and full-sized shower. Each cabin is fully made daily with fluffy comforters (your choice of goose down or synthetic), special Baudelaire toiletries and a full host of linens and towels. There is ample storage and several regular household (110 volt) power outlets.
