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I enjoy seeing the Disney characters on the ship, but love seeing Mickey and his pals even more at Castaway Cay. Fortunately, the island has a complimentary tram that I always use to get around the island. I hate taking tender ships, which can feel like a bit of a time sink, so this is a big bonus to me. Solo travelers willing to share, please ask your Adventure Specialist about the possibility of matching with a roommate; this program allows you to pay the per person double-occupancy rate whether or not a roommate is found. Stay 2 Nights and enjoy 20% OffMust Stay Sunday thru Thursday.VALID Now thru December 2025.
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One is elevated for a territorial view, enabling you to see bears nearby and at a distance. And you can often watch them right from camp, which is surrounded by electrified wires, ensuring your safety on site. Once it’s time to take to the air, the view from your chartered bush plane is staggering.
Alaska Bear Quest: A Photo Pro Expedition, Kodiak to Homer Itinerary
At Geographic Harbor and Kinak Bay, bears converge at shallow tidal estuaries to feast on fat-rich salmon. Huge, solitary males, and females with as many as three cubs, prowl the banks and plunge into cold streams, poised to pounce on unsuspecting fish. Speaking of gear, at Castaway Cay, cruisegoers can borrow free towels as soon as they get off of the ship. There are plenty of towel-return stations around the island, so I also never have to carry wet, sandy towels back on the ship.
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This 8-day Alaska grizzly encounter is aptly named because small groups of only 8 passengers journey by floatplane and aboard the small ship Ursus into the truly bear-rich wilderness of Katmai National Park. Airport transfers are included on Day 1 and on the final day of the trip. Exact times of the floatplane flights between Kodiak and the ship Ursus vary according to weather and other logistical factors beyond our control. Should travelers be required to remain in Kodiak longer than anticipated due to inclement weather, either before, after or during the trip, they will be responsible for their own expenses. This beautiful cabin has a one-bedroom and is nestled between Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the trees.
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You might tour a local family homestead and artist studio, and/or take a walk along the long, sandy strip of Bishop’s Beach and Beluga Slough. Arrive in Homer, a scenic fishing town of 5,500 on Kachemak Bay located near the bottom of the Kenai Peninsula. This evening, gather with your expedition leader for a welcome dinner and orientation to the incredible bear adventures that lie ahead. One last morning is set aside for time with the bears before the planned afternoon flight back to Kodiak. Traveling in an open skiff, head once more toward shore, looking for a glimpse of the glaciers that crown the tall mountains behind Katmai’s lonely coastline. Typically, these peaks are cloaked in clouds while evocative mists weave in and out of the bays, providing the moisture that keeps Katmai so lush and verdant.
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Today, explore a sampler of its coastal waters on a day-long private boat trip. A cruise among Kodiak’s secluded bays and rocky shorelines, past tidal pools and kittiwake rookeries, may reveal sea otters, puffins, bald eagles, sea lions and sometimes humpback and fin whales. Kodiak is remote, not often visited by travelers to Alaska, and the sense of an intimate encounter with nature is palpable as the boat glides through rockbound coves and islands. This Alaska bear adventure comes to a close today as you depart from Kodiak. An afternoon flight is recommended in case inclement weather prevents the floatplane from flying back to Kodiak on day 7 as scheduled. Occasionally, weather delays may require a morning flight on day 8 from the Ursus back to Kodiak.
Alaska Grizzly Encounter: Kodiak to Katmai Itinerary
While bears have been your main focus elsewhere, Kodiak Island is an impressive wildlife photography destination in its own right, and today you’ll explore a sampler of its coastal waters on an all-day chartered boat trip. Your cruise among Kodiak’s secluded bays, islets and rockbound shorelines, past tidal pools and kittiwake rookeries, may reveal sea otters, puffins, bald eagles, sea lions and sometimes humpback and fin whales. Kodiak is remote, not often visited by travelers to Alaska, and the sense of an intimate encounter with wild nature is palpable. Tonight, gather for a farewell dinner, replete with memories of your matchless adventures among Alaska’s bears. While bears will be your main focus elsewhere, Kodiak Island is an impressive wildlife photography destination in its own right, and today you’ll explore a sampler of its coastal waters on an all-day chartered boat trip. While Katmai’s grizzlies will be the main focus, Kodiak Island is an impressive wildlife destination in its own right.
This 5-day cruise begins and ends in Kodiak, with included pre- and post-cruise hotel nights, a day boat tour of Kodiak Island and a scenic floatplane flight to and from the Ursus. Typically these peaks are cloaked in clouds while mists weave in and out of the bays, providing the moisture that keeps this landscape so lush and verdant. Seabirds abound, too—look for kittiwakes, terns, mergansers, pigeon guillemots and black oystercatchers. On shore, walk across the tidal flats and gravel bars, possibly fording a few streams to find the best vantage point for a last chance to capture images of the bears in this location. The alternative, 13-day Alaska Bear Quest itinerary adds a unique day boat tour of Kachemak Bay, and a few days bear viewing on land at Bear Camp Alaska. For the ultimate land-and-sea bear viewing experience, consider this alternative itinerary, which combines the Alaska Grizzly Encounter with the Alaska Bear Camp Adventure.
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On your arrival at the airport, your local guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel in town. Depending on your timing, you may be able to explore some of Kodiak’s Russian and Native heritage on your own this afternoon. Your photography expedition officially begins this evening with an informal welcome dinner and orientation hosted by your local guide. The 73-foot Ursus was built as a deep-sea fishing boat called Time Bandit, which navigated the stormy Bering Sea in pursuit of the lucrative king crab catch.
Castaway Cay is about 1,000 acres — though not all of it's developed — so it can take a while to talk to and from the ship to different spots on the island. One of the biggest perks of Castaway Cay is that the ship docks right at the island. 100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip. Other highlights of Kodiak you may see during your visit include the Alutiiq Museum, the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, and several galleries featuring the work of resident artists.
If you’re only cruising one way and returning (or departing) by air, you also have the option of following the itinerary in reverse. This morning, a walking tour unveils more of Kodiak’s rich history and culture, including its important fishing and crabbing industry. Built in 1808, it was originally a Russian-American Company storehouse in what was then known as Pavlovsk, the first permanent Russian settlement in North America. Some other cruise line's private islands, like Norwegian's Great Stirrup Cay, don't have a dock, so cruisers must take tender ships (small boats) from the cruise ship to the island. Over the past decade, I've taken eight Disney cruises with my family and friends. When I book, I always make sure Disney's private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, is on the port of call.
This cabin offers comfortable sleeping accommodations for four people, with a living space of nearly 1,000 sq. This cabin offers a cozy, intimate atmosphere for a small family or romantic getaway. The cabin's entry level includes the kitchen, the living area, the bedroom, and the outdoor deck. The kitchen is fully equipped, including all major appliances, cookware and tableware to make meal preparation a breeze. The living room features comfortable furniture, a gas fireplace (seasonal), perfect for a cozy evening in, and a flat screen television to catch up on your favorite show! This bedroom offers a futon to accommodate additional guests, a jacuzzi tub and a bathroom that is accessible from the kitchen.
There is a strict luggage limit of 50 lbs of baggage per person (including carry-ons and camera equipment) on floatplane flights. We recommend bringing a small duffel bag to pack for the few days on the boat. Any excess luggage can be stored at the Kodiak Inn or Land’s End Resort and retrieved upon return to Kodiak. In Anchorage, cap off your bear viewing extravaganza by booking a fly-in trip to Katmai National Park and Preserve, where you can watch bears feeding on salmon in the world-famous Brooks Falls. An experienced guide will escort you to the carefully managed bear viewing area, where boardwalks and viewing platforms allow guests to get stunningly close to the bears as they gorge on salmon, play, fight for the best fishing spots, and feed their cubs.
You may see mating activity, with males chasing females; mothers with new spring cubs gallivanting on the beach; or bears digging clams from the sand, swiping them out with talons as long as a man’s fingers. Sometimes you’ll see wolves too, and can capture their interesting interactions with the bears. While occasionally there may be another boat in the region, the Ursus is usually alone in the wilderness, moved by a profound sense of solitude, peace and raw beauty.
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