Aurora & The Arctic

Our voyage on the Discovery in July 2019 surpassed all expectations. Not being keen on big ship cruising, yet having a husband who is reluctant to rough it, a six day trip on this sturdy and surprisingly spacious vessel had to be the ideal solution.

The cabins are certainly small, but cosy, and I found a childish delight in waking each morning in a bunk with a porthole view onto a scene of exceptional and ever changing beauty as we cruised Prince William Sound.

From day one we were immersed in experiences that brought a sense of wonder and excitement. Each amazing day was followed by an even more amazing one. From visiting the kittywake colony and the haunts of salmon, sea lions and seals, to watching rafts of otters with their adorable babies, or an escort of Dall’s porpoises. From hiking in forest by a rushing meltwater stream, passing peat bogs and wild blueberries, to kayaking through ice fractured from nearby glaciers. From being treated to the spectacle of a calving glacier that spurred a rapid retreat (for which Captain Dean had been entirely prepared), to the highlight of a spontaneous swim in a sun-warmed copper blue lake in a giant rock bowl – magical! Not to mention the sightings of bears, whales and puffins.

Meals were generous, fresh and delicious, and our company friendly and fun. And while Meg and Dean kept us safe and well fed, Maria and Hugh kept us wonderfully well-informed.
I loved every moment of it! And to my even greater delight, my husband loved it too.

Friendly professional service. Food was excellent and catered for all tastes. Dean’s knowledge of the area and his consideration of the environment was exceptional.
Thank you for a memorable journey into what I hope remains a pristine part of the world.

Had a great time and saw some incredible scenery.

Easily the best way to see the glaciers in Prince William Sound. Captain Dean is also a naturalist and expects the same from his crew. We learned so much about the ecology of the sound from the mountains to the glaciers to all sorts of animal and fish life. His wife, Meg, is a gourmet cook. Food for all meals was excellent and dinner served with wine. The crew, Victoria and Erin, were exceptionally knowledgeable and professional. They worked tirelessly to make sure we had a great Alaska experience. This voyage will be a highlight of your Alaska adventure.