Is an UnCruise Adventures Cruise Right for You?

Use our tips and guidelines to decide whether an UnCruise Adventures cruise is right for your travel style, budget, and preferences. Whether you are new to cruising, or a cruise regular, it can be difficult to evaluate a new itinerary or an unfamiliar brand. Every cruise is an investment in your valuable time and money. You’ll get the most from your trip by ensuring that the cruise you choose is a great match for your travel style.

We have traveled with multiple cruise brands, and recently completed our first UnCruise Adventures journey. Our tips and guidelines are based on our experience, along with input from other frequent cruisers.

UnCruise hosted our Rivers of Adventure cruise so we could share our experience with the McCool Travel network. All opinions, text, and photos are our own, and we did not receive any direct compensation for the cruise.

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Read our UnCruise Travel Tips for maximum fun on your cruise.

UnCruise Destinations and Timeframe

UnCruise Adventures is best known for their Alaska itineraries, most of which depart from Juneau to explore Glacier Bay and nearby sites. Alaska cruises are 7 to 14 days and run from April to September. Their emphasis is on nature, wildlife, glaciers, and active outdoor excursions including hikes, kayak trips, and more.

Other UnCruise destinations include the Pacific Northwest (can be combined with Alaska), Columbia River, the Sea of Cortez in Mexico, the Hawaiian Islands, Costa Rica and Panama, and the Galapagos Islands. Activities and ships vary by destination, but all include the same relaxed style and active outings. Our Rivers of Adventure cruise on the Columbia River was packed with hikes, kayaking, biking, whitewater rafting, wine tasting, and more.

Watch this cool video from our friends at In the Loop Travel and you might even see us once or several times.

Excursions and Entertainment

UnCruise immerses travelers in beautiful nature and history, while offering fun and fascinating daily outings. While every day with UnCruise Adventures includes new activities, life on board follows a daily rhythm. Meals are served at the same time, and in the same location, every day. Lunch is the occasional exception, as it may be served during an expedition.

Our Rivers of Adventure cruise on the Columbia River offered an active and more easygoing excursion most days. For example, one day guests could kayak on the Palouse River, or visit a museum. Some excursions offered an easy hike or a more challenging alternate hike, and UnCruise adjusted some activities to reflect passenger abilities and interests. As the UnCruise Adventures web site says: “be sure to pack a go-with-the-flow attitude.

Kayaking the Palouse River with UnCruise Adventures
Kayaking the Palouse River with UnCruise Adventures
Hiking excursion on UnCruise Rivers of Adventure cruise
Hiking excursion on UnCruise Rivers of Adventure cruise

On-board entertainment consists of presentations by crew members and invited guests. During our cruise, Nez Pearce speaker J. R. Spencer, also known as White Bull, shared Legend Stories and songs about the animals, geography, and history of the land. Presentations by crew members covered topics like local birds, Lewis and Clark, and forest fire management.

Nez Pearce speaker on UnCruise Rivers of Adventure cruise
Nez Pearce speaker on UnCruise Rivers of Adventure cruise

Evening lectures on the history, fauna, and geology of the area are popular, and a quiet end to an active day. Many guests relax with a drink at the bar in the evening, but folks rarely stay up late. If nightlife and dancing is your thing, UnCruise is probably not for you.

On Board Food and Drink

The food served during our UnCruise adventure was excellent. All alcoholic drinks and food are included in the cruise price, and the crew work hard to make guests happy. Each meal generally features two specials plus several alternatives. You can also build your own meal, combining and customizing items (within reason). Every meal includes at least one vegetarian option, and the crew is happy to accommodate special dietary needs. We frequently dined with a guest who is vegan, and the chef delivered excellent alternatives for her.

Delicious dinner on the UnCruise SS Legacy in Clarkston WA
Delicious dinner on the UnCruise SS Legacy in Clarkston WA
Bartender DeeDee creates custom drinks on our UnCruise Adventures cruise
Bartender DeeDee creates custom drinks on our UnCruise Adventures cruise

Excellent, friendly bartenders go out of their way to create drinks that will make you smile. Our bartender, DeeDee, created custom spicy margaritas and martinis for us, featuring muddled mint and jalapeño and local spirits. The ship had a nice selection of beer on tap and several local wines.

Extra Amenities

Daily morning yoga is offered on some UnCruise itineraries. On our trip, all passengers were also offered a free massage (there was a fee for additional massages). All of the equipment needed for excursions—kayaks, hiking poles, bikes, SUPs, and more—is included. UnCruise Adventures is an eco-conscious brand, and they encourage guests to use their large stash of reusable water bottles.

We used the UnCruise transfer from our airport in Spokane to our ship in Livingston. The bus transfer was a great option. A light lunch; champagne, wine, and beer; and a narrated scenic drive were all included with the transfer.

Value and Pricing

UnCruise Adventures pricing is all inclusive. Your cruise fee includes all excursions, meals, drinks, equipment, wifi access, and more. We really appreciate the UnCruise pricing model. You will never feel nickel and dimed during your cruise because there are no extra charges. The only extra you pay is the crew tip at the end of your journey and any souvenirs you purchase.

Cruise Crew Considerations

UnCruise Adventures has a top notch crew. They are friendly, knowledgeable, engaging, and efficient. Most crew members play multiple roles, and several will join you on hikes and other expeditions. The crew works hard to keep everyone smiling throughout the trip.

So is an UnCruise Adventures cruise right for you?

If an active expedition on a small ship with great crew, food, drink, and learning appeals to you, then the answer is yes. Learn more about UnCruise Adventures itineraries and follow them on social media: Web, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. And read more UnCruise reviews on TripAdvisor and Cruise Critic.

If you are a fan of small ship cruising, you will find more helpful tips in these related cruise articles:

Article by Julie McCool, whose Northern Virginia travel site FuninFairfaxVA.com helps locals and visitors find fun places to explore, dine, drink, and play in the Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland area. 

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Cruise travel: Is an UnCruise Adventures cruise right for your travel style, budget, and preferences? Our tips and guidelines will help you decide.

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2 thoughts on “Is an UnCruise Adventures Cruise Right for You?”

  1. Fair review here Julie. Sounds fun because it is much more than a cruise. I could never just chill on a ship anyway; too active.

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