Sailing Alaska

Sailing Alaska

Sailing Alaska
5

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles9 reviews
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SherryAlabama
Killen, AL49 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
How about waking up snuggled under a warm sheepskin blanket with the smell of coffee brewing and the sound of eagles calling? Get up to see a bear on the beach. Follow that with a great day of sightseeing, visiting unspoiled wilderness, glaciers, ice filled bays, small islands, unspoiled anchorages, and seeing towering, snow-covered mountains, waterfalls everywhere, and lots of wildlife – breaching and spouting whales, bears, eagles, seals, porpoises, and much more. And end it all with a delicious, custom dinner in the cockpit with ice from the glacier in our drinks and lots of great, fun conversation.

My husband and I, along with our adult daughter, just spent 10 wonderful days aboard Shamrock with Captain John, who catered not only to our every need but to our every want. We appreciated the flexibility to change plans on the fly and John’s willingness to meet our group’s special dietary requirements.

We visited Taku Harbor, both parts of Tracy Arm to see glaciers, Windfall Harbor, Snug Harbor, Endicott Arm, and both arms of the incomparable Fords Terror, rated by some as one of the top three anchorages in the world. Except for a few brief moments, we were without cell coverage from the time we left Juneau until we returned. However John has a satellite communicator in case of emergencies.

Shamrock is well equipped and comfortable for cruising this area, and John’s boat handling skills are impeccable. If you want to truly experience Alaska up close and personal, rather than from the deck of a cruise ship, I highly recommend Shamrock and Captain John.
Written August 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Joshua J
Iowa12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Couples
Captain John brought us to an unbelievably beautiful corner of Alaska! We joined Capt. John for a 5 day trip to Tracy Arm for an up close look at South Sawyer Glacier. We also stopped for the night in Taku Harbor and explored the fascinating ruins of a cannery!

What began as a rainy & foggy day; eventually cleared as we approached South Sawyer Glacier to provide a wildly breathtaking view! We were able to sit quietly in front of the glacier for almost two hours and watch towering blocks of ice come crashing down! Sometimes sending enormous waves through the area.

SV Shamrock was well equipped, warm, cozy & also spacious. We bunked in the aft cabin on a super comfy mattress and slept soundly each night! Having an enclosed cockpit kept us out of the weather & also warm during the day.

Capt. John is a great cook, he prepared various dishes including steak & seafood. We were always full & satisfied at meal time. He also had a huge selection of snacks & beverages to keep us over between meals.

We would absolutely recommend traveling with him & would happily book another charter if we are ever back in the area!

Capt. John was friendly, experienced & made sure our trip was absolutely unforgettable! The Captain eagerly shared his knowledge and was genuinely interested in us & our experiences.

We began the trip as strangers & ended it as friends!
Written October 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nic R
Bend, OR46 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
Sailing Alaska and Captain John delivered the trip of a lifetime! We were a scurvy crew of 2 adults and 4 young children, ages 5, 6, 8, and 9, which poses countless challenges aboard a sailing vessel. Nevertheless, both Captain John and his sailboat Shamrock were well equipped and up for creating a sailing charter in southeast Alaska tailored to our wants and needs. Sailing Alaska absolutely starred at providing us with a safe, fun, and adventurous Alaska sailing charter we will never forget.

One of the most remarkable parts of our Alaska sailing adventure with Sailing Alaska was the flexibility available to us as part of our sailing charter in Southeast Alaska aboard S/V Shamrock. It's uncommon to have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with a highly experienced charter captain to design a sailing adventure that exceeded all of our expectations. By encouraging us to take part in exploring options and making decisions throughout the process, Sailing Alaska created an Alaska sailing charter with that was truly tailored to our desires and delivered an unforgettable experience sailing Southeast Alaska.
Written September 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Susan P
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Family
We so enjoyed our trip with John aboard the Shamrock. The views of course were spectacular, and having that leisurely ride was wonderful, a nice mix of calming and exhilarating. Even though it was a brief overnight from Juneau to Taku Harbor, it remains a highlight of our three weeks in Alaska. John also recommended an excursion outside of Juneau that we would not have taken, a visit to the shrine of St. Therese, which was beautiful, serene and with breathtaking views.
Written July 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Françoise L
Paris, France10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Family
We had the most amazing 4 days sailing to the Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier with our 3 kids with Sailing Alaska. Captain John and Tammy who run this family business are highly experienced sailors as well as super kind and caring couple thriving to make our trip the best possible one: beautiful sceneries, bear and whales viewing, fishing, wonderful meals with local fresh seafood. All of it in a super friendly atmosphere including great patience and humour with our energetic 3 boys !!! This will remain for sure as one our best trip memories
Written July 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pathfinder639430
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
My wife found this incredible couple, Captain John and Tammy to take us out for an overnight excursion on their lovely sailboat the Shamrock for my 30th Birthday. The scenery was breathtaking, the company was great, and the food Captain John and Tammy cooked us was 5 stars. Our trip to Juneau was definitely made by this amazing couple, and we look forward to many more excursions with them. Seriously thank ya'll for such an amazing time!
Written May 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DrSchnitzel
New York City, NY44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Such a treat to be on S/V Shamrock with Captain John and his son. We loved our three-day trip to Tracy Arm and Taku Harbor -- off-grid, in nature and in good hands. Of special note: we brought our then-11-month-old infant aboard and he was welcomed and kept very safe throughout the journey. John also has a knack for hospitality, delivering thoughtfully prepared meals and memorable conversation. I highly recommend the experience!
Written September 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kris W
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
Captain John was great, friendly, funny, and knowledgeable of the area and sailing. He has great stories about Alaska and other places he has sailed all over the world. The S/V Shamrock is a great sailboat. Well maintained and clean. The food was wonderful and plenty for all of us. We did a short trip to Traci Arm Glacier.

What a beautiful trip. We saw whales and was able to get out and do some kayaking with seals laying on the small chunks of ice in front of the glacier.
Seeing all the waterfalls and great sunsets was amazing. We lucked out and there was hardly anyone on the water so it was so peaceful along with the beauty of the virgin wilderness that not everyone is blessed to see Traci Arm since you can only go by boat.
I love photography and I was able to shoot so many pictures. I don’t think the camera left my hands except to sleep and eat, but it was near by the entire trip. My only wish is we could explore more of the waters in Southeast and other parts of Alaska. Thanks John I can’t wait to take another sail.
Written December 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sarah Brandy
6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
Sailing SE Alaska with John was by far the highlight or our summer adventures; my only regret was reserving only 3 days aboard S/V Shamrock with John at the helm. I wish we had 3 weeks.
For anyone looking for a custom-built, authentic adventure, and lovers of off-the-beaten-path travel, I highly recommend contacting John (sailingalaska.com, facebook @alaskasailingcharter) and letting your imagination run with the endless possibilities his services provide.
Not only did John cater to our saltwater and river fishing desires (not to mention our four young children), evenings in the cockpit (kids asleep in the main salon) were an adventure in and of themself; sharing stories of passages, family, open waters, foreign land. To our kids, John quickly became part of the family. When we arrived home in NE Oregon, my 6-year-old daughter said “mommy, I miss John!” Sailing with 6 people in our group (including ages 5, 6, 8, 9) is an intimate experience and John’s patience and demeaner made it a trip that will endure in our hearts always.
I particularly encourage people who craft their own DIY adventure travel to explore opportunities off S/V Shamrock. Upon anchor, we loaded our crew up in the skiff, motored to small islands, explored coastline geology, fished streams chalk full of salmon, set and pulled crab pots and, at every turn, chose our own adventure.
The opportunity to build the adventure that you are after abound. Quiet coves, secret bays, paddling, wildlife viewing, photography, fishing, excellent meals, and forgetting that you have any other purpose save to explore and enjoy the wilds of Alaska await. For us, it was the perfect floating base camp and means of SE Alaska travel.

Sarah Brandy
La Grande, Oregon
Written November 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

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