American Safari Cruises Sets 2011 Dates, Rates

American Safari Cruises announced dates and rates through November 2011 for four destinations -- Alaska’s Inside Passage, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, Columbia and Snake rivers, and the Pacific Northwest.

In 2011, all three of the company’s luxury yachts will spend two full days in Glacier Bay National Park on seven-night cruises roundtrip from Juneau. The 36-guest Safari Explorer will sail May 13 through Sept. 2 on 17 departures; prices begin at $4,895 per person double occupancy.

The 22-guest Safari Quest will cruise May 20 through Sept. 2 on 16 departures, including two Kids-in-Nature sailings geared for families with young children; prices begin at $5,495 per person. The 12-guest Safari Spirit sails May 13 through Aug. 26 on 16 departures; prices begin at $6,095 per person.

The three yachts each offer two 14-night cruises between Seattle and Juneau. The Safari Explorer departs Seattle April 29 and Juneau Sept. 9 with prices beginning at $8,095; the Safari Quest departs May 6 and Sept. 9 beginning at $8,295; and the Safari Spirit departs April 29 and Sept. 2 beginning at $9,995. All yachts are available for a full private charter, which includes the crew, fuel, port taxes, from-yacht excursions, food and spirits; prices begin at $78,995.

The Safari Spirit’s seven-night cruises in Mexico’s Sea of Cortés run Nov. 20 through Dec. 27, 2010, and Jan. 8 through March 19, 2011, roundtrip from La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur. A burro trail ride, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming with sea lions, whale watching and hiking are all included activities. Prices begin at $6,995.

For its seven-night cruises on the Columbia and Snake rivers, American Safari offers six river expedition and seven wine and culinary theme departures aboard the Safari Explorer in spring 2011 and Safari Quest in fall 2011. The wine and culinary cruises will feature guest sommeliers and executive chefs, and guests will tour five Washington wineries.

The river expedition cruises will focus on the wildlife, Columbia Gorge cliffs and waterfalls, eight lock and dam transits, and the history of the area. Both cruises include a jet boat tour of Hells Canyon; prices begin at $4,295 per person. In the Pacific Northwest, the Safari Spirit scheduled five seven-night cruises roundtrip from Friday Harbor, Wash., in September and October 2011. The itinerary includes the San Juan Islands, Gulf Islands, Princess Louisa Inlet and city stops at Victoria and Vancouver. Prices begin at $6,095 per person.

Hawaii cruises to Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the Big Island begin Oct. 26, 2011, and run to May 3, 2012. Dates and rates are available now; full details will be released by the end of March. American Safari Cruises’ sailings feature gourmet cuisine, complimentary fine wines and premium spirits, all from-yacht activities, onboard kayaks and motorized skiffs for close-up exploration, and a 2-to-1 guest-crew ratio. Staterooms offer private bathrooms with heated floors (some have Jacuzzis), DVD players and Tempur-Pedic mattresses.