Through The Eyes of a Travel Agent
The Boat Company had the pleasure of hosting Bill Roberson from INCA Travel during the 2009 summer sailing season. Below is a story publish in the company bi-annual magazine written by Mr. Roberson about is experience with us.
SE Alaska…an unparalleled wilderness destination – one that needs no hyperbola or voluminous adjectives–it stands tall on its own, a wonderland for all to experience no matter the level of comfort, mode of travel, or degree of service.
However, for many visitors the mode of travel and level of service can have a significant impact both on our level of comfort and the richness of our experience.
One such conservation organization and travel provider stands head and shoulders above all others–The Boat Company–whose sole mission is to raise the level of awareness and support for the preservation of the Tongass National Forest in South East Alaska. Founded and operated by the McIntosh Family, carrying small groups of like-minded wilderness lovers through SE Alaska aboard its two quintessential yachts–actually small ships–the 157 foot long M/V MIST COVE and the M/V LISERON (French for “Morning Glory”).
In early July, 2009, I had the great pleasure of joining a diverse and enthusiastic group of adults and youngsters aboard the MIST COVE cruising from Sitka to Juneau. As I had heard positive comments about The Boat Company for some years, I was very interested in experiencing just how another company presents a wilderness experience.
As the CEO and founder of INCA–International Nature and Cultural Adventures a company dedicated to raising awareness of conservation in the Galapagos National Park Islands by providing educational experiences, style, comfort, and with expert guides, I was eager to see how The Boat Company worked to achieve similar goals in the Tongass National Forest.
As I have spent 33+ years of delivering wilderness experiences to small groups of upscale travelers (in Galapagos Islands and elsewhere), I wanted to taste the magic that The Boat Company uses to get groups with similar demographics “turned on” to the Wilderness.
Not unlike the Galapagos, the setting and the wildlife of SE Alaska constitutes a huge part of the magic–SE Alaska is nothing but magic. But the travelers are diverse and each one has a unique set of needs, tastes, experiences, expectations, and (except for kids who don’t usually foot the bill) want to go home feeling they got fair value for their money and time. These are big orders to fill.
How do they do it? Right off, Kathy and MaryAnn in Seattle are on top of all the details – they doggedly chase you for every bit of information necessary for them to be sure you can be cared for just as promised. No one can deliver on the special requests if they do not know about them.
Once you are in your hotel in Sitka or Juneau, the lead naturalist checks on you to be sure you have all of your luggage, meal vouchers, have any medical needs, other special requests, and that you know when you will be collected and taken to the boat. Your luggage will precede you to the boat and will be in your cabin when you board.
Immediately upon boarding, you receive an orientation, short tour of the ship, introduction to snacks, and then time to settle into your cabin before rejoining the group for the welcome “sermon” and to meet the most important element of your trip, the team of naturalists and ship’s company–these are the people who will deliver your experience. You won’t remember all the names right then but there’s a cheat sheet in your cabin with pictures of each one and their position.
As the huge 12 cylinder low speed diesel engines start to rumble, there’s a flurry of activity–the mooring lines are let loose and the captain massages the ship from its berth out into clear water. I was underway cruising into the wilderness of Alaska. Quickly I noticed small sea birds–guillemots, murlets, ducks, geese–and eagles looked like cotton balls decorating the fir and spruce trees. A great peace enveloped me as civilization receded from view. The magic had begun. And it continued for the next 6 days.
I took time to inspect the ship and was delighted (but not surprised) that Captain Jim keeps it absolutely “Bristol” which is to say superbly maintained with bright work shiny, paint and varnish flawless, decks, cabins, wheel house and the mammoth engine room spotless. The huge and exceptionally well equipped galley was run with a strict hand by the high energy April – a veteran chef with experience ranging from cooking on the sea in Bristol Bay to fine dining in Seattle. Her support team of Kathy, Becky and Lydon (the baker) moved smoothly, prepping dinner and setting the 180 degree view aft dining area.
The entire team is experienced and tuned-in to taking care of all ages and interests. The choice of activities is abundant. Among almost daily choices, I found that I could fly fish, spin cast for salmon or trout, kayak alone or with a friend, jig for halibut, troll for salmon, have a vigorous hike ashore, or snooze quietly in my room with no questions asked. And which ever activity I selected was carried out to perfection.
Guides were patient, eager to please, and very knowledgeable. Certain ones had extensive knowledge of the plants; others had grown up fishing so they knew the hot spots. They got excited about teaching novices how to keep the lures from wrapping around their necks when casting and helped them haul in the 75 pound halibuts. It was so cool to see them pump up the kids and help them land a big one. What smiles broke out after the tense time before getting into the boat or onto the shore.
With the fish safely on board, the guides sharpened their knives, put on aprons, and went to work on the guest’s catch, cleaning and vacuum packing it into dinner size portions that were quickly frozen and ready to be boxed for your trip home. I am still enjoying halibut I caught back in July. With some discipline, I may be able to make the same comment come Christmas!
I can’t say enough about the long hikes through bear country. No less than 3 crew members accompanied. I learned about the plants, the geology, topography and just how tiny the Mist Cove can look from a high vantage point. Some of the hikes were a bit of a challenge, something we needed after the bountiful meals and fine wine. I am not aware of any other travel company that will get you safely out into the real bush along the trails of the grizzlies.
The food was extraordinary both in quality and abundance. Fine sauces graced well turned filet mignons, freshly caught halibut, and salmon, and the soups and salad starters always brought oohs and ahs.
Breakfast would wow a sourdough. April and her brigade whipped up apple wood smoked and peppered bacon, homemade sausage, pancakes, French toast, hash browns, eggs all ways, and blueberry coffee cake, the hot biscuits, and scones never failed to please. Bowls of fresh blueberries, strawberries, cherries, pineapple, citrus, and wheels of kiwi were always on the table ready to top off your muesli and yogurt.
Desserts were remarkable and often the kids had seconds as did some adults. Lydon baked bread and rolls daily and we all consumed far more of everything that was good for us. And we loved it.
The open bar featured up market spirits, beers, a range of soft drinks and sparkling water and was well patronized. J
The wine selection is excellent and as the week progressed, it become obvious that the wines had been carefully chosen to pair well with the various dinner courses.
Meal service was always timely and appetites never far away, If we encountered a pod of orcas or a school of dolphins surfing the bow, that took preference over dining. As one astute trip member commented: “We can eat at home but we can’t see orcas.”
Becki and Kathy’s service was spot-on. They were always right there to serve you when were ready. They are a remarkable two-some and together with April and Lydon, we enjoyed food and beverage service from a team of dedicated and talented professionals.
The large cabins are all “outside” cabins with very large bathrooms and smartly plumbed glass walled showers. Cabins are all similar, simple, quiet, and exist in several configurations. There’s not a poor cabin on the vessel.
Captain Jim keeps an “open bridge” and you find the post dinner beverages and chat about the excitement of the day filling it.
The kids, youngest 11, oldest 17, all meshed together right from the start. They played tag, hide and seek, charades, and all spent time with the endless varieties of board games. And they never missed an on shore outing or a chance to kayak or go fishing. They were great fun for us all and were exceptionally well mannered and really tuned into SE Alaska.
To keep the memories of our trip and new friends alive, a CD with a slide show of photos taken by the guides during our trip is given to each guest.
Days and nights seemed to flow into one…the mark of a well-run trip where there’s plenty of activity of the type to suit your fancy.
The ship is tightly run, maintained to the nth degree, and the guest’s safety is always the first consideration.
The Boat Company knows how to put on an educational trip and get you out into wilderness of SE Alaska. The young, worldly, well-educated, and knowledgeable team just knows how to get people “in the experience” so that they can soak up the joys of this magnificent part of the world. I’d love to have them all sharing their enthusiasm and skills with my team in Galapagos. The Boat Company does it like it should be done–The Tongass and all of us benefit from its efforts.
Bill Roberson
INCA
