Cruise Review - Safari Quest - Un-Cruise Adventures

Safari Quest
Reviewed by Chris Dikmen and Rickee Richardson
Feb 2012
Reviewer rating: 4

Itinerary: La Paz, Punta Colorado, Isla Catalina/Isla Danzante, Honeymoon Cove/Coronados, Isla Pardito/Isla San Francisco, Los Islotes/Espirtu Santo

Small ship cruising is growing in popularity and has somehow become a major focus of our editorial calendar in recent years. More and more experienced cruise enthusiasts are looking for something other than the 3,000+ capacity cruise liner experience.

Prior to our sailing with Un-Cruise Adventures (formerly American Safari Cruises), we considered any ship with less than 500 guests to be "small." Now, we may have to adjust our definition. With a maximum of 22 guests, Safari Quest could easily be categorized as "super-small". In fact, Safari Quest looks and feels much more like a private yacht than a "cruise ship." A full-time crew of only 9 work hard to meet (and exceed) everyone's requests.

A vacation aboard Un-Cruise Adventures is unlike any "cruise" (hence the name), so it is not even fair to try to draw a comparison. About the only thing it has in common with a cruise is that both vacations occur on water. Unlike a larger cruise ship, Safari Quest is primarily a mode of transportation and lodging. The "entertainment" on Un-Cruise Adventures is the destination, the related activities and the interaction among the guests and crew, not the ship itself.

Our 7-night Sea of Cortes journey began with a short (2 ½ hour) flight from DFW airport to San Jose Los Cabos (Cabo San Lucas). Even though our flight arrived at noon, we were not met at the airport for our transfer until 2:30pm. We used the time to get a bite to eat at the airport snack bar. At 2:30, we collected our things and walked to the area outside the airport where Un-Cruise Adventures meets guests for the included transfer to the Safari Quest in La Paz. Most Safari Quest guests arrived the day before and took advantage of the company's complimentary pre-cruise hotel stay. There were six of us who flew in on the day of embarkation and were met at the airport.

The transfer from Los Cabos to La Paz, where Safari Quest is docked, takes about 2 ½ hours by car/van. All six of us were loaded into a Chevy Suburban with our luggage and off we went. The road to La Paz meanders through the mountains and is full of curves and twisties so, if you are prone to car sickness, you may want to request a seat in the front of the vehicle. We stopped once along the way at a scenic overlook to stretch our legs, take photos and have some water. By 5pm, we arrived at the pier where we were greeted by our Expedition Leader for the week, Vanessa Franson. Vanessa gathered us all together and led us down the dock to where Safari Quest and her crew were awaiting our arrival.

There is no "check-in" process like on a cruise ship. Basically, the Captain checks your name off a list, you walk up the short gangway and are greeted by the remaining crew. One of the first things that struck me as interesting was the young age of the crew. All of the guests arrived about the same time and immediately began introducing themselves to each other in the ship's lounge. Nichole, one of the ship's stewardesses, began pouring glasses of Prosecco and tasty snacks were set up at the bar for everyone to enjoy. In less than 30 minutes, we knew everyone on board! It was a well-traveled group, with one couple coming all the way from England.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Nichole showed us to our cabin (C4) on the lower deck by leading us down a narrow spiral staircase. The stateroom was small and had only two small slits for windows at the top of the outside wall to let some light in. Cabins on other decks do have windows and there are even some cabins with small balconies. There was a narrow closet, a large chest with four large drawers and a bedside table with a large drawer and shelf underneath. There was also a large drawer underneath one of the beds. We had no problem finding a place for everything we had brought with us. It should be noted that on an Un-Cruise Adventures' sailing, you really do not need to bring many clothes. There are no formal nights and no need for jackets, ties, etc. You can even go to dinner in shorts and a t-shirt if you like. This makes packing for this trip very easy.

Our room was configured with both twin beds pushed together to form a queen/king bed. In retrospect, having the beds separated might have made it a little easier to navigate the space. The bathroom is actually a pretty good size with a shower stall, sink and toilet. There were at least six US-style 110-volt electrical outlets in the room, more than enough for camera rechargers, cell phones, computers, etc. However, be forewarned that there is no Internet access onboard and none to be found anywhere on this itinerary. More about that later. The main lights in the cabin are on a dimmer switch and there is a reading lamp on the nightstand and another light attached to the far wall above the bed.. The bathroom has an overhead light and more light can be had by turning on the lights on either side of the mirror above the sink. There is a nice flat-screen HD TV mounted on the wall opposite the bed, but there is no satellite TV on Un-Cruise Adventures ships. So, viewing is limited to DVDs from the ship's extensive DVD collection. The A/C unit has a digital control on the wall, but no matter what we set it to, it never fell below 77 degrees. Fortunately, it was never uncomfortably warm in our cabin.

The highlight of the cabin is the memory-foam mattress which is extremely comfortable. I slept better on this trip than I have slept in years, and certainly better than on any cruise ship. I may have to buy one for home.

Brittany and Nichole made sure the cabin was tidied each day and turned down our bed each evening, placing chocolates on the pillows. Towels could be replaced each day if you put them on the floor or you could choose to re-use them by hanging them on the towel bar. Lavender shampoo, conditioner and shower gel were available from dispensers attached to the shower wall. If you use body lotion, bring your own. We always had plenty of hot water and the water pressure in both sink and shower was adequate. Two metal water bottles were available for your use during the cruise. A hair dryer is provided in each cabin.

THE SHIP

After settling into our cabin and getting unpacked, we naturally set out to explore the rest of Safari Quest. The main deck basically consists of the dining room with seating for up to 22 guests. On our sailing with 18 guests, there were three round tables with six people per table. There is no assigned seating, so you can sit with different folks each night if you wish. Aft of the dining room is the ship's bar and lounge. This quickly becomes the main center of activity. The well-stocked bar is usually staffed by Nichole, Brittany or Sarah, the ship's Hotel Manager. However, if nobody is around, you are invited to step behind the bar and prepare any beverage for yourself. All drinks, beer, wine and spirits are included in your cruise fare. Aft of the lounge is the outside deck where guests can board kayaks, one of the ship's two skiffs, or other water toys.

A spiral staircase in the lounge, as well as an outdoor staircase, leads up to the next deck where you will find four more cabins and the ship's bridge. Guests are invited to visit the bridge except when the ship is undergoing maneuvers that require the captain's full attention. Captain Sean, Chief Mate, Denee, Engineer Dirk (pronounced "Deerk") and Vanessa are all certified as captains and can be found "driving" the ship from time to time.

The outside staircase leads up to the top deck where there are a few lounge chairs, a hammock and a hot tub spa. The ship's collection of water toys are also stowed up here. With its view over the bow, this is a great deck for whale watching or soaking up some sun.

One thing to consider is that, even though the ship has only three decks, Safari Quest has no elevators and is not what we would consider "handicap-friendly." Those with mobility issues may wish to do some serious investigation before booking a trip on this vessel.

When the ship is underway, the engines produce a lot of noise and make staying in the cabins on C deck, where our cabin was located, almost impossible. As you go up to higher decks, the noise dissipates considerably. Fortunately, the captain always tries to anchor in protected, calm waters each evening right before dinner and the ship remains at anchor all through the night. This makes sleeping onboard Safari Quest quiet and peaceful.

FOOD AND DINING

Safari Quest begins each day with an Early-Riser Breakfast at 6:30am consisting of coffee, tea, cereals, fresh, delicious muffins and fruit served in the bar/lounge. This would be a good time to point out that the coffee served on Safari Quest is excellent. I am sort of a coffee snob. I even go so far as to bring my own coffee and French coffee press with me when I travel. However, after the first day, I left my coffee and press in the cabin and opted for the ship's coffee.

Full breakfast is served at 8am in the dining room each morning. Chef Angila Tack and her assistant, Mark Ferry, prepared a breakfast special each day. However, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast and English muffin are always available. After breakfast, Chef Angila will visit the dining room and announce what the choices are for lunch and dinner. Guests are asked to place their orders in advance so the galley can prepare exactly what each guest wants. The galley on Safari Quest is tiny, resembling what one might find on a train. It is amazing what they are able to prepare in such limited space.

A Note About The Crew

It should not go unmentioned that the small crew of nine aboard Safari Quest has to be one of the hardest working, and friendliest crew we have ever sailed with. Captain Sean, Engineer, Dirk, First-Mate, Denee, Expedition Leader, Vanessa, Chef Angila and her assistant, Mark, Hotel Manager, Sarah, Nicole and Brittany were all excellent and made our week aboard Safari Quest a memorable one.

Lunch is served each day at or around noon. However, dining times are flexible depending on wildlife sightings. If the ship is following whales or dolphins, a meal may be delayed. There are generally two choices for lunch and all lunchtime meals are light, often consisting of sandwiches, salads and soups. If there is nothing on the menu to your particular liking, the Chef will try to accommodate you with something else.

Dinner at 7pm is preceded by a daily "cocktail hour" where snacks are set up in the lounge/bar area. As with lunch, dinner offers a choice of two main courses, usually one fish and one meat. You are also able to order ½ portions or try a little of both. A different choice of red and white wine is offered each evening at dinner. Un-Cruise Adventures should be commended on its wine selections. These were some of the best wines I have enjoyed on any cruise. Also, Rickee and I both enjoy Rieslings which can be difficult to find. Safari Quest actually had a variety of Rieslings from which to choose.

Throughout the day, an assortment of homemade cookies is always tempting guests in the lounge. The macaroons were to die for!

Generally speaking, I would rate the food as good and above average. With the exception of the rib-eye steaks on the last night, everything was somewhat under-seasoned and had us reaching for the salt shaker. During the week, there were hits and misses. The rib-eye steaks, prime rib, and Manchego-stuffed chicken breast were definite "hits." The Tortellini with clams, uh, not so much. All desserts and pastries were excellent. To Chef Angila's credit, if something was not to a guest's liking, she would offer to prepare something else. In fact, the crew always bent over backwards to accommodate any request.

ACTIVITIES

An Un-Cruise Adventures vacation is well suited to those who like to really experience a destination. Most days the ship is anchored in a calm, peaceful area for kayaking, paddle boarding, or hiking on shore. Guests are shuttled to beaches where they can enjoy snorkeling using the ship's wet suits and snorkeling equipment. There are also a variety of hikes, usually led by Vanessa, which offer great photo opportunities. A 3.5 mile mule ride was one of the more interesting offerings of the week. I decided to walk the trail instead of ride a mule so I could get good photos and video, a decision I would later question.

Sample daily schedule

When the ship is not anchored, she is moving through the Sea of Cortes in search of sea life, which is abundant. The main attraction is whales, of which there are many. Unlike large cruise ships where you have to pay for a whale-watching excursion, an Un-Cruise Adventures Sea of Cortes cruise is like a whale-watching excursion with meals and accommodations thrown in! It seems as though we spotted whales of one sort or another almost every day. The very first full day, a huge Blue whale nuzzled up right next to the ship eliciting screams of excitement from Vanessa and guests as well.

During the week, we spotted Blue whales, Fin whales, Humpbacks and even a pod of Pilot whales on the last day that we were able to follow with one of the ship's skiffs. There were also multiple Dolphin sightings and on more than one occasion, the ship was joined by literally hundreds of the friendly creatures that seem to actually seek out the vessel as a source of entertainment. The Sea of Cortes is also full of bird life with Gulls, Boobies, Pelicans, Cormorants, Vultures and Frigate birds. Life on land was less bountiful and the landscape of most of the areas we visited was fairly barren. One exception was Isla Catalina where the hike takes you through giant cactus.

There were several excellent opportunities for water play on this cruise and the weather was very cooperative. Highs were in the 70's and with very little wind or current, the conditions were perfect for kayaking and paddle boarding. Several on board found the snorkeling to be quite good and the ship provides all the gear necessary to enjoy a dip in the chilly waters. Even wet suits are provided to keep you warm. Perhaps the best snorkeling opportunity comes near the end of the trip when guests have the ability to swim with Sea Lions! For those looking for more excitement, check out the video below of Yolanda and Isiah's tubing adventure. The two-person "tube" is pulled at high-speed behind the ship's skiff. The only goal of the skiff pilot is to try to scare the bejesus out of you and to knock you off of the inner tube. I could hardly keep the video camera steady between Dirk's fast turns and my laughing at Yolanda bouncing up and down on the wakes.

SECURITY AND SAFETY

This is a new section we are including in every review in response to the Costa Concordia tragedy in Italy. Safari Quest did conduct a muster operation in the lounge before sailing. Guests were instructed on how to put on a life vest and how the ship would be evacuated in case of an emergency.

As for safety, we were surprised that PFDs (personal flotation devices) were not compulsory for skiff rides, kayaking and other water activities. Of course, life vests were made available upon request for these activities.

With only a maximum of 22 guests, security is not a big issue. Cabin doors do not even have keys and there are no safes to store valuables in your room. The ship does have a safe to keep valuables if you ask them to. Cabin doors can be locked from the inside.

THINGS TO PACK

Sunscreen
Hat or cap
Sunglasses
Shorts
Comfortable hiking/walking shoes
Water socks or waterproof sandals (for wet landings)
Swimsuit
T-shirts
Sweater (it can get cool in the evenings)

SUMMARY

An Un-Cruise Adventures' Sea of Cortes sailing is certainly not for everyone, nor does the company suggest that it is. An Un-Cruise Adventures cruise is for anyone looking for comfortable accommodations in a nearly all-inclusive package. Only gratuities are not included in the cruise fare. Transfers, all meals, drinks including cocktails, use of all water toys and excursions are included in the fare. This ship is small, yet surprisingly stable. If anyone is prone to motion-sickness, the ship makes medications readily available. After the first evening, there was little or no noticeable motion. As stated previously, the ship is not well-suited for those with mobility issues. Also, expect to be "off the grid" as far as Internet and cell phone service for the duration of the trip. As long as you can navigate stairs and get into and out of smaller watercraft (skiff/Zodiac), you should be fine. Cruise fares for seven nights start at about $3,995pp (brochure rate), making an Un-Cruise Adventures vacation a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. If you want to escape the large crowds found on a typical cruise ship, or any other type of vacation for that matter, expect to spend a little more. With that said, for those who can afford the price, Un-Cruise Adventures will deliver. As far as we could tell, every person on our sailing felt as though they got a great value.

In 2013, Safari Quest will be heading north to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Un-Cruise Adventures's newest vessel, the 86-guest Safari Endeavour will be taking over the duties in the Sea of Cortes. For those of you who may be devotees of the super-small Safari Quest, fearing the larger vessel will be too big and impersonal, I can tell you from personal experience that we found the sister company's Wilderness Discoverer (76 guests) in Alaska to be an excellent choice.

As for the destination, the Sea of Cortes is not uppermost in most cruise enthusiasts' minds. It may even be one of those "last on the list" destinations. It shouldn't be. This is an undiscovered treasure and probably the travel industry's best-kept secret. If you want to truly get away from it all and enjoy solitude in a totally unspoiled environment, this is it. And, I can think of no better way to experience it than with Un-Cruise Adventures.

It is common in the travel industry for journalists to be provided with complimentary cruise accommodations, and in some cases, hotel accommodations, for the purpose of a review. While it has not influenced this review, CruiseReport.com adheres to a strict policy of full disclosure to all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, please refer to our Ethics Guidelines