Grand Alaska Epic Adventure

Repeat trip on the Discovery as wonderfilled as the first!

Late May 2024 we took our second trip on the Discovery and were thrilled again. This time it was spending more than an hour watching humpback whales “bubble feeding” and daily sightings of black bear grazing near the water. Prince William Sound was teeming with wild life on land and in the water. We kayaked and hiked most days despite cold and rain. In July 2016 the outstanding weather — meant less wildlife but more kayaking and hiking. Both trips inspired me to want to do it all over again. Going on the Discovery is like joining old friends in their home. Dean and Megan know the area well, answer questions, spot wildlife and seem as excited as the passengers. Dean’s knowledge of human, geological and natural history of the area is amazing. This trip featured the addition of crew member Hugh Rose whose knowledge of Alaska, whale migration and the impact of government policies on the region gave us a greater understanding of Alaska.

Megan is a gourmet cook who specializes in fresh local seafood dishes. Every meal was among the best I’ve ever had. They make a rustic trip with shared restrooms and tiny cabins feel like a luxury experience. If you’re looking for a five star hotel and spa this is not for you, but if you’re looking to be out in the wilds while being pampered this is your trip!

Date of experience: May 25, 2024

This cruise was definitely a highlight

This cruise was definitely a highlight of our trip to Alaska. Captain Dean has been working in Prince William Sound for more than 30 years, and knows where to go to see specific wildlife, offer interesting walks, stop at lovely anchorages, and get up close to spectacular glaciers. Our extended, perfectly-quiet float in front of the broad Harvard Glacier was thrilling, as the quiet was broken only by the lightening-like sounds of the glacier cracking, and the thunder of ice falling off its face. The boat is beautifully kept up and comfortable, the food prepared by Dean's wife and co-captain Megan was great, the crew was knowledgeable about the wildlife and sights we were seeing, and there were many little touches during the cruise, like the special Discovery cocktail cooled by glacier ice scooped out of the sea, that made the trip so memorable.

Everybody associated with the operation, from the drivers to the crew, were wonderful, engaging people who it was a pleasure to spend time with. And because it's a small group of passengers, we were also fortunate to travel along with others who were personable, interested in each other, and similarly respectful and awed by the amazing country we were visiting.

Met all expectations

This tour of Prince William Sound and interior Alaska was stellar, from the knowledgeable, friendly staff, fabulous food aboard the ship to comfortable accommodations and transportation on land. What a great introduction to Alaska, hope to be back!

Intimate, unforgettable Alaska trip of a lifetime

Where to begin? The experience we had with Discovery Voyages was incredible. Arriving in Whittier, the ship didn't look very big, but it was the perfect size to comfortably house 12 of us in cozy, homey bunked cabins and in the surprisingly roomy main seating area. Capt Dean's incredible knowledge of the Prince William Sound coupled with his wife Meg's delicious meals that kept us more than satiated were the rock-solid foundation upon which our incredible week was built. The 2 additional crew members, Tori and Erin added so much richness to the week - they spoiled us in every way, from taking care of us at mealtimes to providing expert knowledge on our excursions and kind, spirited conversation in between all the action. While we didn't have sunny skies, and did experience a fair amount of rain, the crew delivered unique, unforgettable outings: hikes like I've never done before to points with amazing views; peaceful kayak outings with multiple bear sightings and up-close viewing of a huge waterfall; glacier 'gazing', waiting to capture the cleaving of pieces and the subsequent thunderous sound as they hit the water...and the requisite glacial waters plunge! We saw countless amounts of wildlife - the crew was always on the lookout and had a plentitude of high-quality binoculars for us all to use: we saw orca, otters, bald eagles, puffins, seals, sea lions, salmon, and a porpoise who played in the ship's wake as we headed back to port. None of us wanted to leave - we will be back, but in the meantime, we have so many incredible memories to hold on to until we return!

5 stars is not enough for this gem, truly, an adventure of a life time.

Where to start…. If you want to have a wonderful time, see stunning sights with knowledgeable fun people, this is the trip for you. Wildlife, views, and the ability to get off the boat and play on some of Alaska’s untouched islands are just some of the perks.

The team that runs the discovery is a husband and wife that are an awesome tag team. The crew is so fun, we didn’t want it to end.

The boat was perfect- has everything you need, including a spin bike. The rooms are small but I actually slept better than I did in our king size bed

And now- the food. Off the chain. Each meal is made with love and delicious.

We were worried there wasn’t going to be alcohol, but that was plentiful!

5 stars is not enough for this gem, truly an adventure of a life time.

BOOK IT!!

Exceeds expectations!

My twin sister and I, with our husbands, celebrated our 60th birthday in Alaska and this was the anchor of the trip. Every single moment on The Discovery was so unique and special! Dean and Meg, the owners, and Ashley and Erin, the young women who were their assistants and our guides, were EVERYTHING. They bent over backwards to accommodate our needs and wants! You don’t care for onions? Meg made sure to have a dish without. You like a certain Chardonnay? They made sure it was in front of you.

The guides made our excursions so fun, too, full of tidbits of info, and their enthusiasm for all that Alaska offers was so contagious! We learned tasty vs poisonous berries, how to catch a fish by hand, what absorbent moss to use if you need to wipe…well, you get the picture……. And every single time there were animals or fish to see in the water, they were quick to call us all to the side of the boat for the view.

The best example of over-and-beyond was the night we were told the Northern Lights were possibly going to make a show in the early early AM. I set my alarm for 1:30 and headed outside, and a few minutes later, I saw Meg peering through the window. Turns out she had been getting up every 30 minutes to check, so none of us would miss it if we were interested.

The boat was boat comfy and intimate and everywhere was an awe-inspiring view. The mountains, glaciers, whales, otters, sea lions, harbor seals, bears, salmon, puffins, eagles, glaciers calving……

Meg is a such a good cook and the meals were divine. So good! I bought her cookbook before we got off the boat, but wished I had had it all week so I could take notes! One night we had a blind taste test of two types of salmon to see which was our favorite. Lots of fun. Our meals were gourmet yet felt like we at home eating with the family.
Dean is a more behind-the-scenes character, but is worth spending time talking to, which my husband did. Dean has spent decades working in Alaska and seems to know every nook and cranny of the part of the Sound we were in. He is handy, too, doing much of the renovations on the boat. As him how he feels about heart shaped rocks!

Obviously, we had an unforgettable experience. We felt like our joy was their joy. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the owners and crew of The Discovery!