This was my first visit to Alaska and Louie was the most wonderful and accommodating host for such... read more
This was my first visit to Alaska and Louie was the most wonderful and accommodating host for such... read more
Captain Hoock brings adventure to everyday! I went on a trip from Juneau to Petersburg and he days... read more
Our group of six friends sailed with Captain Hoock in July 2021. The experience was indescribably amazing.
We did a six-day trip from Petersburg to Juneau. We started with a visit to LeConte glacier with icebergs everywhere, some with seals on them, and we saw huge chunks of ice breaking off into the water. We saw humpback whales probably every day of the trip. There were also sea lions, bioluminescent plankton, otters, and porpoises in the water. We kayaked up a stream with spawning salmon. We had the good fortune to see a brown bear near us on shore. We must have seen dozens of bald eagles. It was like watching Planet Earth but live and in person!
We had some on-shore excursions including a visit to a fantastic natural hot spring as well as some good hiking.
We caught salmon, rockfish, and dungeness crabs which were turned into amazing meals for our group. Captain Hoock went out of his way to accommodate our dietary needs and cooked up some exceptionally delicious meals, including a phenomenal fish fry!
My only regret is that we didn't take a longer trip. I highly recommend Alaska Adventure Sailing - if you are thinking of booking a trip, do it! It was truly a life-changing experience for everyone in my group and we would love to do it again!
We booked a 10 day trip with Alaskan Adventures Sailing never having the expectation that this trip would out do any other vacation. Captain Louie picked us up and off we went. He not only catered to my dietary needs but went above and beyond making sure that I had every opportunity to participate in every meal which included, but was not limited to; crab patties, crab/egg benedict and fish and chips. We learned how to catch and process dungeons crab and in addition we caught an abondance of fish. We sailed through icebergs to the glaciers and took a polar plunge. Then we sailed to our next destination. Night sailing was also a magnificent sight. Wild life viewing included humpback whales, killer whales, seals, sea lions and much more. We hiked and explored areas that one could only imagine seeing. Captain Louie made sure that we all had a trip that would be remembered for ever.
Captain Louis Hoock is amazing! We sailed the inside passage of Southeast Alaska and he sailed us to remote islands few are able to go. He accommodated our wishes to seek Bald Eagles, Whales & Bears and knew just where to go. He is an excellent chef and we ate like kings.
I highly recommend Alaska Adventure Sailing. The trip was an incredible adventure!
After much debate about the best way to see the Southeast Alaska coast, we settled on Alaska Adventure Sailing and Captain Louis Hoock. We wanted a ‘special’ experience to celebrate our 60th birthdays. It’s certainly one of the best travel decisions we have ever taken.
We hired Louis and the Arcturus for six days for a trip from Juneau to Petersburg - and took in the sights of Funter Bay, Basket Bay, Warm Springs Bay, Whitney Island, Thomas Bay and the Baird Glacier and LeConte Bay/Glacier. We had a simply fantastic time. Louis is a superb captain and practises safe navigation of his sturdy steel-hulled vessel. However, Louis is not just a good sailor - he’s also a fantastic cook and host - with endless energy and thirst for adventure.
I have attached a bunch of photos to this review - because they share the experience far better than words.
I guess my advice for others would be that the Arcturus is a fine vessel, but don’t expect the comforts of a cruise liner - because that it is not. You are talking about the level of a comfortable RV afloat. Secondly, I’d say go prepared to throw yourself into the experience and keep up with Louis’ boundless energy to entertain you! Thirdly, take waterproofs, layered clothing and gum boots - be prepared for any/all conditions.
Finally, above all, do go: We recommend Alaska Adventure Sailing without reservation - it is a once in a lifetime experience that you will never forget.
We took our family of 5 (including 3 boys ages 15-21) for an 8-day Alaskan sailing adventure with Captain Louie Hoock aboard the S/V Arcturus. It turned out to be the trip of a lifetime.
The Arcturus is very spacious, and Louie provided everything we could need or want. During our trip, we kayaked among icebergs, hiked in the deep woods, paddle-boarded at the foot of a waterfall, and lounged in natural hot springs. Along the way, we saw whales, seals, otter, eagles, deer, and goats. We caught trout, rockfish, and crabs--all of which we cooked and ate.
Southeast Alaska is beautiful and remote, and the only way to really see it is by boat. I can't adequately describe how thrilled we are that we eschewed the big cruise ships to experience SE Alaska up close with our own personal caption and guide, Louie Hoock. I cannot recommend Alaska Adventure Sailing highly enough!
Our trip was canceled at the last minute after we had already arrived in Alaska due to a family medical emergency for our captain. Despite this unforeseen circumstance, I still give Louie the highest rating and endorsement possible. He went above and beyond at time when he was overseas caring for his family member and obviously had many other things on his mind. We still had an unbelievably memorable trip in Alaska and this was in large part due to Louie's help and advice. He generously allowed us to lodge on his boat as we had no lodging booked and summer lodging is hard to come by; even arranging for a friend to meet us at the boat with a champagne welcome! He kept in contact with us while we were in Alaska - answering questions about the area, booking excursions with companies he knew & trusted, offering priceless advice & insight and ensuring that although our trip did not go as planned, we still had the vacation of a lifetime. We met numerous people throughout our trip that know Louie and had nothing but wonderful things to say about what a good, fun loving person he is.
We were fortunate enough to meet him just for a day as he arrived back in Alaska as we were leaving. He promptly returned our trip deposit and even picked us up from an excursion we were on. We were glad we got to meet him and even happier that he was able to get his family member stabilized and back to the US for treatment & care.
Our trip to Alaska was full of glaciers, wildlife, gorgeous scenery, fjords, whale watching, ferry rides and a lifetime memories - thanks to Louie. I would not hesitate to recommend Alaska Adventure Sailing to anyone.