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UnCruise Cranks Up the Fun with a "Rivers of Adventure" Voyage

10/20/2018

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UnCruise Adventures SS Legacy in Clarkston, Washington
UnCruise Adventures' SS Legacy awaits our arrival on embarkation day in Clarkston, Washington.
By John Roberts

UnCruise Adventures took us to the rivers -- and dropped us in the water.

The forward-thinking expedition line led us around the Pacific Northwest and exposed us to a range of exciting things you can do apart from hear tales of Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea. 
Instead, we got to get a taste of some of the scenic areas that those legendary pioneers got to discover on their epic travels.

UnCruise Adventures is boldly reshaping what a river cruise can be with its new "Rivers of Adventure" program on the Columbia and Snake Rivers in Washington and Oregon.  
While those two big waterways grab the headlines of the itinerary, we played on the Palouse, Deschutes and Salmon rivers, as well.

Check out the UnCruise Adventures excursions we tried during our weeklong cruise from Clarkston, Washington, to Portland, Oregon, on the 90-passenger SS Legacy.

Hiking the Rowena Plateau

Picture
A fantastic way to start the morning. It was crisp and quiet on the plateau.
Rowena Plateau hiking view of Mount Adams
Yep, that's Mount Adams.
Tom McCall Point in Oregon
Time to celebrate! We made it to the peak, Tom McCall Point.
In the Columbia River Gorge, we left the ship and went on a morning hike on the plateau, which had turned golden brown during the start of the fall. Below, we could see the gorge, and on the trail, we watched a herd of deer bounding away as we had startled them from their early-morning routine. Then, we hiked to Tom McCall Point along switchbacks to the prime viewing point over the valley and gorge. Mount Hood and Mount Adams looked glorious with snowy peaks.

Palouse Falls State Park and Palouse River Kayaking

Palouse Falls State Park in Washington
Palouse Falls State Park had gorgeaous weather during our morning hike, and the group eagerly explored the maze of trails within the valley.
Palouse Falls State Park in Washington
The trail led to this stunning scene -- and yes, I went in for a quick dip.
Picture
Palouse Falls State Park in Washington
Palouse River in Washington
Then, in the afternoon, we continued our adventures by getting on the Palouse River.
Palouse Falls State Park and Palouse River Kayaking
The falls rage over a rock wall and down into the valley. We descended from our starting point down a rocky path and made it to the pools of glacial melt and beyond to a slice of trail along a razorback ridge. The trail through dry steppe area let us see dry grasses, wildflowers and shrubs.  

I was the only one brave enough (I call it brave, 
OK!?; others said I am crazy) to hop in for a couple minutes to cool off. Wowzers, was it cold!

In the late afternoon, we went for kayaking session in the Palouse River through a stunning (of course) stretch of secluded wilderness.

Watch a video of all our excursions . . .

Cycling on the Twin Tunnels Trail

Twin Tunnels bike ride in Oregon
Mosier Twin Tunnels bike ride in Oregon
One of the Twin Tunnels. Just pedal toward the light at the end and pop out for the awesome views ahead.
Columbia River Gorge in Hood River, Oregon
This was one of the best views of the Columbia River Gorge, seen during a stop near the turnaround point of our bike ride.
The afternoon Mosier Twin Tunnels ride in Hood River, Oregon, is an 11-mile out-and-back along a "no cars allowed" stretch of the historic Columbia River Highway. This bike ride is on the same day as the Rowena Plateau hike, which means you're in for a great day of activity -- and will have totally earned your refreshments at one of the towns fabulous craft breweries. (We chose to toss back a few at Full Sail Brewing Co.) 

Whitewater Rafting on the Deschutes River

Deschutes River rafting with UnCruise Adventures
We were among the happy paddlers from SS Legacy who ventured out on a sunny day to splash around a bit in this scenic river.
Deschutes River rafting with UnCruise Adventures
Colleen almost went for a swim in Oregon's Deschutes River as our group of five paddled through the class 2 and 3 rapids over the course of three hours and eight miles of excitement. A few others did take the plunge off the other boats. During our journey downriver, rocky canyon walls embraced us, we spotted a variety of birds and our guide Larry regaled us with a history of the region. We dried off in the sunshine and had a picnic lunch afterward.

Other Activities

Hells Canyon speedboat rode
We had a blast sightseeing in Hells Canyon. We chose a vantage point from the back of the speedboat and saw a range of creatures, including big horn sheep.
Big horn sheep in Hells Canyon
We also were able to use the free bike rentals arranged by UnCruise to explore Richland, Washington. The line also arranged an all-day excursion into Hells Canyon that includes a speed boat ride and amazing lunch spread at Garden Creek, a nature preserve and fishing lodge located on the banks of the Snake River at the intersection of Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The nature preserve has an orchard and roving bands of deer and wild turkeys.

On another afternoon, we were offered the chance to take a short biking outing to a vineyard for wine tasting. We also loved the morning birdwatching tours; we went for a walk one morning and out on a skiff on the river on another. Plus, at the end of our cruise, during a stop at Cascade Locks, we went for a short afternoon hike on the Pacific Crest Trail during our free time.

Tell us: What do you think about the idea of a river cruise with all these activities? I think we know the answer.

Happy travels, and thanks for reading,
John

Watch a video tour of our cruise ship . . . 

Read more of our past journeys with UnCruise Adventures:

Back to Nature: Panama and Costa Rica with UnCruise Adventures

UnCruise Adventures Alaska Expedition Gives Rise to an "Extreme Team"

UnCruise Offers Unbelievable Experience in Alaska

Nine Amazing Things About an UnCruise Trip in the Pacific Northwest
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Blue World Voyages Adds Immersive Yoga Program to New Ship

10/11/2018

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Blue World Voyages floating marina
Blue World Voyage's cruise ship will have a massive platform that is set up as a dock, marina and lap pool in the ocean when the ship is anchored. This will be the moving ocean playground for kayaking, paddle boarding and open-water swimming.
By John Roberts

Blue World Voyages, the new cruise line with its focus squarely on the fitness-, wellness- and living-like-a-champ focused traveler, has formed a partnership with Yoga Journal.

The magazine has been a leading authority on yoga and the yoga lifestyle for four decades, and its collaboration with Blue World Voyages means cruisers can immerse themselves in the natural surroundings of their destinations while keeping up with their yoga practice.

Imagine downward facing dog while sailing calm blue seas, or mountain Pose on a majestic hillside in Greece. Namaste. Blue World Voyages is scheduled to set sail in 2019.

"We plan to become the 
ultimate cruise ship for yoga and meditation," said Gene Meehan, Blue World founder and chairman. "With Yoga Journal onboard as a partner, guests can expect a thoughtful approach to classes and practice with a deep understanding of yoga traditions."

Yoga Journal brand director of content and audience Tasha Eichenseher said the publication is equally upbeat about the possibilities the collaboration offers.

"Yoga Journal is excited to partner with Blue World Voyages -- a sustainable, healthy lifestyle adventure company -- to bring world-class yoga and meditation classes, mind-body wellness, and serenity to thousands as they venture out on journeys of self-discovery," she said.

The fitness menu for Blue World Voyages lets you experience yoga and meditation programs on every sailing, both onboard and ashore, with sunrise and sunset yoga sessions in some of the world's most idyllic spots. Twice a year, Blue World and Yoga Journal plan to offer "Yoga and Meditation Only" sailings led by top yoga teachers.

"This boldly different concept calls for a cruise ship that is totally focused on physical activity and wellness as it roams the waters of the world," Meehan says. "The concept for active lifestyle cruising is embedded into every aspect of the design of our vessels and our choice of itinerary. In addition, Blue World will be a proud member of the International SeaKeepers Society supporting marine science, conservation, and research around the world. Our ship will serve only sustainable seafood, with no disposable plastics onboard, plus many other green initiatives."

Blue World's first vessel, an all-suite design 350-passenger, casual vessel, is the first cruise ship to designate one entire deck to sports and another full deck to spa and relaxation. Amenities include a relaxing therapy tub, spa pool, indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, and a solarium. For an extraordinary experience, 12 private Bali beds provide the option to sleep under the stars and wake up to a butler-served breakfast. Ports-of-call and itineraries are selected based on their compatibility with activities such as golf, hiking, cycling, running, kayaking and even kitesurfing, as well as shore-side locations for yoga and meditation.

"We are creating a cruise line that responds to the preferences of active, health-minded individuals. or for those looking to move in that direction," said John B. Richards, the company's co-Founder and CEO, and former president of Starbucks. "Three ships are planned for Blue World Voyages first five years at sea; each visiting smaller ports that the larger ships can't access -- and each designed to deliver authentic experiences for our guests."

Blue World has also announced partnerships with Hank Haney Golf and OUTSIDE magazine to offer more fitness programming during the voyages.

Related News: Blue World Voyages Unveils Partnership with OUTSIDE Magazine

Thanks for reading, 
JR
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Silversea Cruises to Add Another Expedition Ship for Galapagos

10/8/2018

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Picture
Silver Galapagos has been in the Silversea Cruises' fleet since 2013. The cruise line says it will add a second ship, Silver Origin, to offer voyages in the Galapagos. The new ship is due to debut in 2020.
By John Roberts

Big news for people who like their adventure served up with a bit of luxury: Silversea Cruises will add a second Galapagos-dedicated ship to its fleet starting in March 2020.

The luxury cruise brand, which has a number of ships dedicated to expedition travel, announced the new ship will be called Silver Origin. The vessel will join sisters Silver Explorer, Silver Galapagos, Silver Discoverer and Silver Cloud in the line's Expedition fleet.

The trend of mixing luxury and expedition travel is one I'm really excited to watch grow and evolve, as more and more cruise lines are getting into the adventure travel game. In 2019, five new luxury expedition ships are hitting the market: Scenic Eclipse, 
Ponant's Le Bougainville, Hapag-Lloyd's Hanseatic Inspiration, Hapag-Lloyd's Hanseatic Nature and Ponant's Le Dumont d'Urville. These ships are polar-rated, so they can explore regions like the Arctic and Antarctica, and also feature ultra-comfortable suites and cabins. Plus, they have cool gadgets like submarines, helicopters and movable glass walkways that put passengers out over the water while sailing.

Don't get me wrong: I'm fine roughing it a bit. For me, it's more about the itinerary than the ship. But having world-class service, amazing food and comfortable suites along with incredible destinations sure does make it appealing.

The Galapagos Islands also are a bucket-list item for Colleen and me, so we're excited to see other alternatives emerging in a place so special. While Silversea hasn't yet said how many passengers Silver Origin will hold, we can expect it will be a fairly small ship -- Silver Galapagos holds only 100 passengers, along with a crew of about 75. That kind of passenger-to-crew ratio is typical of expedition cruises and part of the reason I love this style of travel so much. You can form really meaningful bonds with other passengers and crewmembers, and the whole experience feels that much more special. I can't wait to see what these new hybrid adventure/luxury ships have to offer.

Thanks for reading.
Travel happy, travel fit, travel often!
JR

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