Discovery VoyagesReviews of discoveryvoyages.com

My wife, brother, sister-in-law, and I recently finished our first tour with Dean and Meg on the Discovery. We went on a five day cruise of Prince William Sound with visits to glaciers, a fish hatchery, a sea lion colony, bird nesting island, and iceberg-filled Harriman fjord. We did several hiking and kayaking excursions led by two amazing naturalists, Katie and Ana. The trip was truly the ultimate Alaskan sea experience, and we couldn’t recommend it highly enough!! As others have said, Dean is a wealth of knowledge, experience, and stories which kept us entertained throughout, while Meg’s fantastic cooking kept us well-nourished every single day. We shared the boat with a lovely family from Maryland and a pair of sisters from Australia who we will all consider friends for life. We all shared meals together and two bathrooms without any problems whatsoever. Do know that the cabins are spartan; if you are looking for Seven Seas-type accommodations and high-level privacy, look elsewhere. This voyage is for those looking to travel with adventurous souls and open hearts!!

This was a wonderful trip led by the dedicated and knowledgeable team of Dean (Captain) and Meg (Chef) who could not have provided more information or more delicious food. They were supported by Hugh and Julia who worked equally hard to make trip so special. If you love small group, informative and close up with nature tours this is for you. We particularly thank Dean who despite a severe leg injury and a full leg brace made himself available to guests at all times. His local knowledge is incredible.

We were scheduled to join Discovery Voyages for their 3-Day Sampler Cruise June 9 – 11 of 2026 (the centerpiece of our one big trip of the year). Our flight to bring us to the region was leaving early on June 5th and we received a call from Meg on the evening of the June 3rd letting us know that Captain Dean was injured and required immediate surgery (we hope his recovery goes well), and as a result, our cruise was canceled. This was a once in a lifetime bucket list trip, more than 9 months of planning and special purchases, and very abruptly canceled. My dream of kayaking in the ice cubes and getting up close and personal with Alaska’s wildlife and terrain was pretty much over. As a result of our other plans in the region and the penalty of lost PTO, we were unable to scrap the trip entirely, so we had to plan our entire Alaskan vacation 36 hours before we flew out. Meg gave us some thoughts on things we could do while we were in Alaska, a couple of attraction links to consider, and a promise of a full refund, but we were completely on our own to research attractions and make any arrangements. We pivoted nicely and were able to book some typical tourist activities including The Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward, an 8.5-hour Major Marine Tours boat cruise, and a White Raven Tours Transit Tour back to Anchorage (we recommend all). We also needed to book hotels, get reservations for dinners, rent a car for a half-day, and just walk around aimlessly to balance out our time in Alaska. In all, we had a great time and will remember it forever, but it was not the vacation that I dreamed about, and bored anyone who would listen to me about it for 9 months. Upon our return, the big comment from friends was “they didn’t have a contingency plan”, and the response was “no”. So, if there is an injury/illness to a vital crew member, a problem with the boat, or some other thing that you may not be thinking about, you’re not going. For all I know, this was the first time they’ve had to cancel a cruise, and possibly a “World According to Garp” occurrence, but I guess there is one thing you should be asking yourself before booking….Do you feel lucky? We also had some friends who were anxiously awaiting our review so that they could book one of the cruises, they’re not going to take the chance.

Such a fantastic experience with knowledgeable captains, beautiful, up close glaciers, plenty of wildlife! super helpful, fun crew. the food was incredible, Meg is an incredible gourmet cook! abundance is the word that comes to mind. would definitely do this cruise again, wonderful to be on a boat where the captains own the vessel

One of the best trips of my life. Five days aboard Discovery exceeded all expectations in terms of the scenery, wildlife, hikes, food and good company. Meg and Dean are fantastic hosts. Booking the trip was easy. Days onboard the Discovery were filled with anticipation and excitement as we sailed around coves, spotting wildlife and calving glaciers. Discovery is a small boat. Sleeping quarters are compact but comfortable. Bathrooms, saloon, galley, and deck areas are immaculate. The meals prepared by Meg were outstanding. Life onboard was a lot of fun. Dean was an excellent skipper and hiking guide. If you are after a unique experience and are a little adventurous, you will have a brilliant time on Discovery. Book earlier in the season if you can to try and catch the best weather. Pack lightly and remember to bring your camera!

The crew, food and adventures were first class. Well organized and safety was always the first consideration. Hugh our guide was full of information and stories not only about the animals, birds, geology but also the politics and history of Alaska. Very knowledgeable as was Captain Dean.

The weather could have been better but hardly noticed with all the great activities carefully planned out and executed by our captains and crew surrounded by captivating scenery. First class in every way including outstanding meals prepared fresh throughout each day by Megan. A truly enjoyable vacation.

Wow! Exceeded my expectations! What an experience of a lifetime! I found the Discovery crew friendly and knowledgeable, and always eager to open my eyes to all the wonder Alaska has to offer! Have since been recommending Discovery Cruise to anyone who will listen!!! Looking forward to my next adventure!