June 6, 2015 -- We had to leave the ship today. As we were disembarking, the whole entire crew was standing in line to say goodbye to each and every one of us.
By the time I got to the end of the line, there were tears in my eyes.
“I’m crying,” I said to Captain Clark.
“No, not you – the stoic one?” he said.
Yes, that’s me. I sit back and observe. Don’t always show emotion. But I was crying. Why?
I connected with these people. They were great.
That morning, I’d watched Captain Clark as he’d maneuvered our ship toward the dock. I was up on the third deck, next to the wheelhouse. He was guiding the ship to the dock from a post outside of the wheelhouse.
Everything seemed to be going well.
“Shit,” I heard him say, as we approached the dock. “I’ve lost power.”
Now, I’ve been on boats enough to know that this is not good. We were easing into the dock and he had no way of slowing us down.
But, Captain Clark quickly directed the deck hand, Kent, to secure the front line as the ship was gliding toward the dock. No easy feat.
But Kent did it. Pulled the line through the hole in the bowsprit very quickly and secured it to the cleat. Others helped in the back. We bumped the dock a little, but it could have been a lot worse.
Maybe I had a tear in my eye when I was leaving because I realized that these people were looking out for my safety and well-being the whole time I was on the ship. Okay, they were concerned with everyone’s safety and well-being – including their own. But we were all a team. One big family. And I was leaving that family.
Later that night, sitting in a nice restaurant on Sitka’s shores with some of my new-found friends from the cruise, we saw the Wilderness Explorer sail out of the harbor. Taking her new family to see the wonders of Southeast Alaska.
On the trip of a lifetime. Wildlife we saw on our cruise:
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.