Safari Endeavour

The 1983-built MV Safari Endeavour cruise ship is currently owned and operated by UnCruise Adventures USA.

Like all UnCruise ships, Safari Endeavour (IMO number 8963698) is USA-flagged (MMSI 367152220) and all American-crewed.

History - construction and ownership

The 86-passenger ship Safari Endeavour is the biggest vessel in the UnCruise fleet. The boat (previously named "Spirit of Endeavour") gives the passengers an Alaska yacht cruise at the price of a small ship voyage. Her high-tech kayak dock, added to the back, was completed with launching pad making it easy for passengers to get in and out.

When Cruise West company went bankrupt in 2010, an opportunity emerged for Un-Cruise Adventures to expand its fleet of small ships. The company picked up several vessels and refurbished them for expedition-style cruising. Among the lucky ones was the Endeavour.

Un-Cruise Adventures (formerly American Safari Cruises) is a USA-based, wholly-owned cruise company, a subsidiary of InnerSea Discoveries Alaska. In 2013, the American Safari Cruises line was renamed to "Un-Cruise Adventures". Currently, the company has 2 headquarters - main headquarters in Seattle WA and second in Juneau AK.

Decks and Cabins

Safari Endeavour has a total of 42 staterooms (of which all are Oceanview, including 4x Balcony Suites) in 5 grades, which feature high-end furnishings.

In 2012 Un-Cruise Adventures took a decision to decrease the passenger capacity from 102 to 86 in order to give more space to the accommodations. More space on board means luxury. The less crowded ship will lead to a more spacious and relaxing atmosphere of the lounge, decks and not at last place the dining room.

The boat has 4 decks, all of which are passenger-accessible and 3 have cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

All meals in the dining room (complimentary restaurant) are served via table service; there are no buffets. Breakfast begins at 8 AM with specials like eggs Benedict or lemon ricotta pancakes, but guests can request bacon and eggs if that's what they desire. Continental breakfast is set up at 6:30 am for early risers. Served at noon, lunch is a casual meal, usually a salad, soup or hot sandwich, and dessert. Appetizers and snacks are served during cocktail hour in the bar. Coffee and tea are available all day long. 

During drydock 2012, some staterooms were expanded. The ship was outfitted with 2 hot tubs and Sauna Room, new gym equipment, wine bar, massage suite, bar menu was upgraded with premium spirits and wines. The boat provides complimentary to all passengers watersports equipment and expedition gear (seakayaks, paddleboards, skiffs / inflatable speed boats ) and has an aft-located launching platform (marina) and an underwater camera.

Passengers can enjoy drinks in a glassed-in upper lounge while the ship is floating in whale-watching waters – Mexico’s Sea of Cortez and Alaska’s Inside Passage. The happy hour is sometimes more crowded than scheduled hikes, as guests come for the up-close views of wildlife and intimate atmosphere this unique small ship provides.

Safari Endeavour cruise ship was built in Jeffersonville IN in 1983 as "Newport Clipper" for the Clipper Cruise Line (St Louis MO USA). Eventually, the Clipper line was acquired by Kuoni Travel Group and then sold to the Cruise West line. Newport Clipper was renamed "Spirit of Endeavour" and for over a decade sailed on Alaska cruises. When the Cruise West company went bankrupt (September 2010), the mortgages on its three ships (including Spirit of Endeavour) were taken over by West-Hardwick Marine Inc. On August 10, 2011, American Safari Cruises (currently Un-Cruise Adventures, after being combined with InnerSea Discoveries) bought the vessel and renamed it Safari Endeavour.

Un-Cruise Adventures’ ships boast navy blue hulls and refined atmosphere. The Endeavour ship's size makes it easy to visit areas that bigger ships cannot. This cruise ship is the best choice for those who like expedition-style cruising and activities, combined with luxury on board. The other Un-Cruise "Safari" ships are Explorer, Quest and Voyager.

Safari Endeavour's adventure equipment includes stand-up paddleboards and kayaks; inflatable skiffs; hiking poles; hydrophone (for listening to sounds below the surface). The bow-mounted underwater camera is linked to the yacht's lounge and to all cabin TVs.

Safari Endeavour cruises in Alaska and Sea of Cortez (Baja Mexico) regions.

Together with some of its fleet mates, this ship was formerly owned and operated as "Spirit of Endeavour" by the Cruise West line (1973-2010, now defunct). Based in Seattle WA (USA), at its peak Cruise West had a fleet of 9 small ships (capacity between 78 and 138 passengers). They operated on cruise itineraries in Alaska, British Columbia and also in the Pacific Ocean (Sea of Cortes, Panama, South Pacific islands, East Asia and Russia). The line ceased operations in September 2010.

From the former Cruise West fleet are also the ships Spirit of Columbia (Baranof Dream), Spirit of Alaska (Admiralty Dream), Spirit of Glacier Bay (Chichagof Dream), Spirit of 98 (Safari Legacy, now SS Legacy), Spirit of Discovery (Wilderness Explorer), Spirit of Yorktown (Americana).