Luxury Cruise Bible

Safari Quest

Itineraries

Alaska’s Inside Passage • Mexico’s Sea of Cortez

About This Ship

The Safari Quest is a robust 22-passenger, 120-foot yacht that winters in Mexico (Sea of Cortez) and spends her summers plying the waters of Alaska’s Inside Passage and Glacier Bay. Some of American Safari Cruises’ most exciting itineraries are sailed by the Quest.

In Mexico, there are two Sea of Cortez sailings to select from: The “Aquarium of the World” travels between Loreto and La Paz, featuring up-close encounters with whales (gray, blue, fin, si, orca, and sperm), birds (blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and cormorants), and sea lions. You’ll also enjoy a mule ride on Bahia Agua Verde, and a tour of Isla Coyote (the smallest village in the Sea of Cortez). The Quest’s “Galapagos of the North” itinerary sails between Loreto and San Carolos and features whale watching, snorkeling, hiking, beachcombing, and more.

In Alaska, the Safari Quest is one of the only ships permitted to overnight inside famed Glacier Bay National Park.

Staterooms & Amenities

Three of the Quest’s four decks house cabins. On the lower Cabin Deck, you’ll find five Mariner Staterooms (C1-C4, and C6). These cabins feature king, queen, or twin beds, elevated port lights (not for viewing), and private baths with showers.

On the Main Deck, you’ll find the Quest’s one Single Stateroom (B1) with a single twin bed, viewing window, and bath with shower. Right next door is the yacht’s one Captain Stateroom (B2). This room is outfitted with a queen bed, viewing window, and bath with shower.

Top-of-the-line Admiral Stateroom accommodations, A1-A4, are found on the Bridge Deck. You may select from a king, queen, or two twin beds. Each suite includes a large sliding-glass door that opens onto a French balcony. The bathroom features a shower.

All cabins offer Protera soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion; bathrobes and slippers; a hair dryer; alarm clock; and flat-screen TV with DVD player for viewing only. Broadcast television is not available.

Public Rooms

Second in size only to American Safari’s Safari Explorer, the Quest offers four decks to explore and enjoy. The Cabin Deck is strictly sleeping quarters.

The Main Deck features the Stern Deck (which leads to the full-beam swim step that’s the load-in/out point for the skiff and kayaks), the salon, bar, galley, dining room, and two forward cabins.

As on American Safari’s other yachts, the salon welcomes you with comfortable furniture, a small game table, large flat-screen TV with DVD player, and bar (stocked with soda, water, juice, beer, wine, champagne, and other spirits).

The Bridge Deck offers guests the opportunity to visit the bridge, which has an open policy. The bridge welcomes guests at all times and is an exciting place to hang out and watch for wildlife in the sea and on the shore. You’ll often find the ship’s expedition leader/naturalist on the bridge or out on deck. Toward the yacht’s aft, you’ll find the library. This is a terrific place to grab a book and a glass of wine and relax.

The Observation Deck is the top deck and it’s where you’ll go to enjoy the outdoor hot tub.

Dining

Each morning from 6:30-8:00 a.m., you’ll find an early risers’ breakfast set up in the salon. The chef provides a lovely fruit platter, muffins, cereal, and yogurt—enough to tide you over until the full sit-down breakfast at 8:00 in the dining room. Full breakfast is usually either an egg scramble of some sort with potatoes, bacon and/or sausage, or pancakes. You may also order toast, oatmeal, or eggs cooked to order. Several types of juice are offered, as is coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

There are five tables of various sizes in the dining room in order to accommodate all guests at one sitting for each meal: generally 8:00 a.m. for breakfast, 12:30 p.m. for lunch, and 7:00 p.m. for dinner.

At about 12:30 p.m., a light lunch is generally served: a soup and salad combo, a sandwich, or something like seafood gumbo. Dessert is always served but if you want something more healthful, you can request a plate of fruit or a dish of sorbet.

Your stewardesses often have freshly baked cookies waiting for you in the afternoon upon your return from whale watching or hiking.

In the late afternoon you’ll find a wine and champagne bar in the salon and at 6:00 p.m., the chef puts out a delectable pre-dinner appetizer (salmon cakes, quesadillas, vegetable dumplings with spicy peanut sauce, cheese and crackers, etc.).

Dinners are hearty affairs and often focus on fish and seafood. You’ll start with salad or soup and then your choice of two entrees. (You may also select half orders of both entrees.) The chef is careful to accommodate everyone’s food allergies and preferences. Dessert is served at both lunch and dinner. You may be treated to a delectable peanut butter pie, berry cobbler with ice cream, a lemon/blueberry pudding, or chocolate cake.

After dinner, guests retire to the salon for a cordial and some chocolate truffles.

Of course, everything aboard an American Safari ship is dictated by wildlife. If whales are spotted in the area or bears are on the shore, your meal will be interrupted by your very enthusiastic expedition leader who’ll give you the opportunity to take a break from the fine dining in order to hop in the skiff for a closer look or at the very least step out on deck for a few minutes. This may happen several times during a journey.

The cruise line serves complimentary premium wine, champagne, and spirits. The selection varies, but here’s a list of what was served during a recent Alaskan sailing:

• L’Ecole N 41 cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and chenin blanc
• Hedges Family Estate cabernet and merlot
• Apex merlot
• Lava Cap petit syrah
• Robert Mondavi pinot noir
• Elk Cove pinot noir
• Maryhill syrah
• Napa Cellars zinfandel
• Edna Valley chardonnay
• Chateau St. Jean fume blanc
• Santa Margherita pino grigio
• Adelsheim pinot gris
• St. Supery sauvignon blanc
• Alexandria Nicole viogner

Entertainment

Unlike larger cruise ships, there is no casino, theater, or ballroom dancing. Instead, enjoy the gorgeous scenery and conversation with your fellow passengers.

Spa, Beauty & Fitness

The Safari Quest does not have an onboard gym, but you will find a few pieces of high-end exercise equipment (stationery bike and/or elliptical trainer) on the Observation Deck next to the hot tub. No spa or beauty services are offered.

Internet Access

None of the American Safari yachts have Internet access.

Recreation

The Safari Quest comes equipped with everything you’ll need for an action-packed nature-focused vacation, including two-person sea kayaks, a high-speed skiff (like a Zodiac), mustang suits (to keep you warm when visiting the glaciers or out in the skiff; wearing them is optional), mountain bikes, dozens of pairs of binoculars, fishing poles and gear, bug repellant and sun screen, and more.

Accessibility

There is no elevator on the Safari Quest. Getting in and out of the skiff can be difficult for those with limited mobility. This yacht is not recommended for those with physical disabilities.

For More Information…

…talk with your travel agent, call American Safari Cruises at (888) 862-8881, or visit their website, www.amsafari.com.