Wildlife Cruise: Sitka's Herring Feast & Whale Watching
Witness the natural wonder of the Sitka Sound herring fishery on an unforgettable, fully customizable 8-day Alaskan adventure aboard your private yacht. Explore these teeming waters with whales and wildlife feasting on the herring, alongside eight to ten of your closest friends and family. Our all-inclusive, personalized itineraries ensure a truly unforgettable Alaskan experience.
Your Cruise. Your Way.
This cruise is focused on the return of humpback whales after a long winter of fasting. Experience the wonders of Alaska with the freedom and flexibility only a private yacht cruise can offer. We collaborate with all eight passengers to ensure everyone experiences their Alaskan dreams. Go home with memories beyond your wildest expectations and newfound friendships.
Wildlife Encounters Guaranteed
Experience the thrill of encountering humpback whales breaching and bubble-net feeding, bald eagles soaring overhead, and playful sea otters frolicking in their natural habitat. Our comfortable zodiacs and kayaks get you up close and personal with the incredible wildlife of Sitka Sound, creating an unforgettable connection with nature.
Go Where Most People Don't.
While most people sit on their balcony on an Alaskan cruise, you'll have the adventure to explore the remote islands and take in the wildlife only accessible by boat.
Delicious Alaskan Cuisine
Enjoy the freshest Alaskan seafood prepared by our chef. Hear captivating stories from your local captain and fisherman about the journey from ocean to plate. Come hungry.
No Extra Day Excursion Fees
Most cruises require you to pay for your day excursion separately, but it's all included with us! This means less planning, fewer crowds, and a fun and more intimate experience for you.
Exhilarating, Stable & Fun
Our 85-foot expedition yacht is built for Alaskan waters and has stabilizers for a comfortable, smooth ride. If the weather is rough in one area, we jump to another bay or inlet to have fun and experience those hidden gems. We don't want you to be seasick, so our cruises differ slightly depending on the wildlife and weather. And did we mention that we are a darn FUN group to adventure with?
Fun, Local Captain & Crew
Beyond the breathtaking scenery, your experienced local captain will share stories, local history, geological features, and his life as a commercial fisherman and adventure seeker!
Please remember the animals are always on the move, and whales have tails, so you never know what will be around the next bend. That is the fun of an adventure.
Experience Alaska Like Never Before: Step aboard our 85-foot expedition yacht, designed for comfort and adventure. Our steel-hulled vessel, equipped with NIAD stabilizers, glides effortlessly through Alaskan waters, bringing you closer to glaciers and into remote areas inaccessible to other charters.
With 50 years of expertise and extensive US Forest Service permits granting access to even more remote and untouched areas, we craft handcrafted itineraries showcasing Alaska's most breathtaking sights. Savor the freshest Alaskan seafood, capture stunning photos of wildlife and landscapes, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
The M/V Northern Song is an 85’ x 26’ x 10’ steel world cruiser with a capacity for 8-10 guests in four staterooms. There is a Master Suite with a queen-sized bed on the main deck that includes one queen-sized bed, an ensuite bathroom with a separate bathtub stall and shower. There is the ability to add an extra cot in this stateroom. There are three guest cabins on the lower deck with a full-size bed and a single upper bed, and an ensuite bathroom with a separate shower stall.
You will be picked up at your accommodation at 1:45 pm for a 2:00 pm departure. The boat will return to Sitka at 2: 00 pm, from where you will be delivered to your lodging.
Please send us a friendly email to let us know you are canceling. If we receive a cancellation notice 150 or more days before the departure date, your deposit will be refunded less a 10% cancellation fee of the total fare cost and any commissions. You may also transfer your reservation to another available date if you choose. Travelers will not receive a refund if cancellations are made 149 days or less before departure. Therefore we recommend getting travel insurance to protect your fare in case any unanticipated circumstances require you to cancel your trip.
All meals are prepared by our onboard chef, select soft drinks, wine with evening meals, and beer through your day. Meals include Alaskan seafoods such as Black cod, halibut, salmon, and king crab.
All cabins include towels, bed linens, shampoo, conditioner, soap, hair dryers and select sizes on Alaska boots.
There is an eliptical machine on the top deck for your workouts.
We have a reference library filled with maps and books on Alaska, whales, and the local history.
A 5% sales tax is capped for a total of a $600 sales tax and a bed tax of $5 per person, per overnight of the trip.
There are two tender boats for exploring and shore excursions.
We have a hydrophone we put in the water to listen to the whales and then we can gauge when they will surface or bubble feed.
Alaska Airlines is the only commercial airline that flys into Sitka, Alaska.
This trip does not include any fishing.
Guests may have the opportunity to go flight seeing near Mount Edgecumbe Volcano and see the whales and herring fisherman from above. We highly recommed this experience. It is weather permiting.
We recommend a gratuity of 10-20% to show your appreciation for exceptional service. Our staff strives to provide the highest level of service.
We can help with hotel recommendations as we encourage you to come the day prior to boarding and stay the night you depart the boat and then fly out.
Wine is provided with dinner and beer is available through out the day. If you would like any additional spirits we can pick them up prior to departure or you can bring them aboard.
We highly recommend purchasing trip insurance to protect your trip in the event of an emergency.
Wi-Fi is available to purchase if you would like to use it for work or you can unplug and relax!
This cruise departs and returns to Sitka, Alaska, where we explore the waters of Sitka Sound. Here you can see the milky-colored waters with herring spawn. The eagles, whales, and wildlife are fattening up on herring. The eagles and commercial fishermen wait patiently for the herring to spawn so they can start seining for the herring.
We will explore the waters of Sitka Sound, experiencing the humpback whales. The whales have made their long journey from Hawaii, where they have spent the winter mating and calving.
This is an excellent time of the year to potentially experience breaching or bubble-net feeding as the whales are fattening up on the abundance of herring.
The rocky shorelines, saltwater marshes, bogs, and woodlands of Southeast Alaska comprise a birder’s paradise. The diversity of habitats ensures a wide variety of birds can be seen nearby, including large numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds. Bald eagles are common in the Southeast; their numbers are measured in the thousands. During these Spring trips, you can potentially see the Long-Tailed Duck and the golden eye harlequin ducks. You can not see these again until our December trips.
The Sitka herring fishery isn't just a spectacle in the water; it transforms the beaches. As the herring spawn, masses of their eggs, known as roe, cling to kelp fronds, washing ashore and creating a unique sight. Exploring the beaches during this time offers a fascinating glimpse into this vital part of the ecosystem.
From the pristine Alaskan waters to your plate, our all-inclusive chef will craft a menu featuring the freshest seasonal seafood – halibut, black cod, salmon, crab, shrimp, and more – tailored to your tastes. Enjoy this "from sea to table" experience with your local captain and discover the importance of sustainable fishing. We happily accommodate all dietary preferences. Unless otherwise requested, a delicious seafood dish is featured at one meal daily.
You will cruise the Sitka Sound exploring the wildlife. There you may see Steller sea lions, otters, seals, and multiple other bird species. We can not predict the wildlife and what we will see, but that is part of the adventure!
Bring your swimsuit and experience an Alaskan hot spring!
Commercial fishermen gather in Sitka from all over Alaska to harvest herring for their valuable eggs. The eggs are sent to Japan and repacked in small cedar boxes for Christmas gifts.
Have a glass of wine, play a game, read one of the beautiful books aboard, edit your incredible photos, or just daydream!
The Alaska Raptor Center provides medical treatment to around 200 injured birds each year. Although they specialize in raptors, they will aid any wild bird in need. They try to rehabilitate and release all avian patients, however, some are injured too severely to fully recover and survive in the wild. These non-releasable birds may join their Raptors-in-Residence team, helping teach the public and school children about the wonders of Raptor's natural history and the habitats in which they live!
Raptors-in-Residence, include bald and golden eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls and you will learn about their habitats and how they came to be permanent residents at the Center.
Sitka, Alaska, is located on Baranof Island, part of the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska. Nestled amidst stunning scenery, it offers a blend of Russian and Tlingit cultures. Travelers will depart from Petersburg via Alaska Airlines or the Alaskan Marine Highway Ferry.
