Getting the UnCruise Alaska season started in Seward, AK

 

Two Dall's porpoises escort the Safari Explorer to the beautiful Alaskan town of Seward.

A few days ago I flew into Anchorage and drove down to meet my expedition cruise ship near Seward, Alaska. We spent a few days in the JAG shipyard, getting the boat all ready for our big Alaska season. We are running seven day trips into Prince William Sound, and ten day trips past Kodiak and Katmai, all the way to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands. Both of these trips will be starting in the picturesque coastal town of Seward, Alaska.

After a few days we cast off our lines and left the shipyard to head over to Seward harbor. On our way we had a pod of Dall's porpoise come and bowride. The town of Seward is nestled in between the bottom of snow covered mountains and the calm seas of Resurrection Bay. I spent a couple days docked here, and tried to get off the boat to explore the town and its surroundings. There are some fun trails, including the Two Lakes Trail, that are easily accessible by walking. Bear spray is a necessity, and moose could pose a problem as well. One good thing about being here in May is that even after a long day of work, you still have plenty of daylight left to go hiking. The sun is setting around 10:30pm, but it stays light even later than that.

Seward is full of neat shops and restaurants, but even if its just a walk on the boardwalk around the harbor, it is well worth a visit.

The water was very calm as we neared Seward. A small group of Dall's porpoises rushed over to playfully ride the bow wave.

I sent my drone up to film our ship on the calm waters, surrounded by snow capped peaks, in Resolution Bay, near Seward, Alaska.

We spent a couple days in the JAG shipyard, just outside of Seward town. Looking out towards Seward, around 10:30pm, the sky just lit up as the sun finally dipped behind the earth.

The businesses along the waterfront here in Seward still keep the traditional architecture alive.

Here is a view at low tide. The water can come right up to the bottom of the boardwalk planks on a big full moon tide.

Another beautiful sky behind the Safari Explorer, my home for the next four weeks. I like the way the colors reflect off the window.

Just off of the Two Lakes Trail, a signpost pointed to a waterfall 100 yards ahead. I'm so glad I took the detour so I could experience this cascading waterfall, tumbling down around moss covered rocks.

I tried the long exposure setting on my iPhone. If you take a photo of a waterfall in 'live' mode, then click on the dropdown menu and choose long exposure, you can get a shot like this!

Calm, early morning waters of Seward harbor.

I love the puffin mural on the side of this building. I wanted to get that, the boats in the harbor, and the snow capped mountains beyond.

The old style waterfront of Seward.

There is a nice boardwalk that will take you along the picturesque harbor.

Boardwalk beckoning further exploration into the Alaskan rainforest.

There are a couple of nice spots to sit in and take in the view along the Two Lakes Trail here in Seward.

The mountains that surround Seward are just amazing.

Seward harbor, with the town and the mountains behind.

I wanted a view of the boardwalk with the old harbor buildings along with the boat docks in the harbor. This is Seward.