Experience the wilds of Alaska…whales, fjords, bears, eagles, glaciers, etc…up close and personal in a lovingly restored and iconic private yacht from yesteryear. This is no mega cruise ship experience with distant views of whales on the horizon and cafeteria-style buffets. Rather, it is a small private yacht where you get within feet of a whale as it swims in the icy waters, and where your chef prepares succulent dishes with the seafood caught each day by the guests, if they choose… right off the boat.

Oh, and did we mention wild? True, the service will be outstanding with five crew members for just six cabins, but this is also an experiential voyage. As an example, guests don’t have to worry about overcrowded on-board hot tubs. Instead clients disembark to swim in their own private hot springs on shore.

And bears…you betcha’! The Discovery is one of only two yachts in all of Alaska with a permit to enter the Pack Creek and Anan Creek bear observatories. Getting up close and personal with the Brown and Black bears is all part of the journey. Your vessel, the 87-ft. Discovery, originally constructed in 1931, was built by Hollywood talent mogul William Morris with the name “Holiday” (later renamed the “Discovery”). One is left to wonder if clients of Mr. Morris’ like, say, Rita Hayworth graced the deck of the Holiday at some point in its history. The “Discovery” went through a painstaking bow to stern restoration in 1998.

With only six cabins, the crew of five provides outstanding and very personal service. Alaska Charters has been in operation since 1981. Captain Ben, and his father Captain John, have plied the waters of Alaska since the 1970s. The intimate setting allows Captain Ben, or his father Captain John, to do fun things like have contests to guess the number of shrimp in a given shrimp pot with the winner receiving a bottle of the Discovery’s private label wine as the prize. Or, if being on the yacht gets a little monotonous, you can get into one of the on-board sea kayaks to paddle yourself for a while.

Your ports of call will not be the overcrowded tourist traps of the cruise lines. Rather, you’ll anchor at small little “settlements” where you can hike along the shore and back into the woods. Guests can book a single cabin where they’ll join other travelers on the Discovery from around the world. The Discovery can also be chartered for things like corporate retreats or family reunions. Weekly trips start at $3,995/person. The season runs May 10th – Sept 15th. For more information visit www.alaskacharters.com.