The first few weeks of the cruising season with The Boat Company – from May to early June – is a time of rapid, almost explosive, awakening in Southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest. That is the time when early-season cruisers aboard The Boat Company's small luxury cruises between Sitka and Juneau, Alaska will see an array of natural wonders, from emerging wildlife to cascading waterfalls.

The Boat Company's two small ships with a capacity of 20 or 24 guests begin the luxe, seven-day voyages between the two towns in mid-May. Guests in the springtime will not only see the many natural wonders of the region, but they will also be contributing to its preservation. The Boat Company is the only non-profit cruise company in the world, and the company provides monetary support for a variety of conservation initiatives.

“Spring is an especially compelling time for adventurers who want to see the power of nature in its many forms” said Hunter McIntosh, president and executive director of The Boat Company. “This is the time when the Tongass is waking up and it is a brief, brilliant interval when the entire ecosystem is in motion.”

McIntosh recently authored a detailed blog post articulating the many springtime sights and events that make early season cruising a transformative experience.

Here are seven reasons to cruise the Tongass in the spring:

1-Waterfalls at their peak: In the springtime, waterfalls can be viewed on mountainsides throughout the region, particularly along the eastern shore of Baranof Island, where snowfields transform the shore into what's known as Waterfall Coast. The waterfalls are largely a springtime phenomenon, as the cascades begin to slow to a trickle after mid-June.

2-Whales returning from Hawaii: Cruisers often see small groups of Humpback whales returning from their winter-season nurseries in Hawaii. The whales follow schools of herring that return to the region to spawn.

3-Bear, deer, sea lions and seals: While wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, there is a high likelihood that spring cruisers will see brown bears as they emerge from their dens, Steller sea lions and harbor seals as they feed and Sitka black-tailed deer – a subspecies found only in Alaska - as they descend to low elevations to feed on spring vegetation.

4-Bear romance: Late spring is mating season in bear world, and lucky visitors might see – or hear – mating rituals such as males playfully following females or using vocalizations to get their attention.

5-Seabird and songbird migration: Southeast Alaska is home to the largest concentration of bald eagles in North America, with an estimated 25,000 birds. The region also hosts about 40 percent of all birds in North America, and in the springtime, they gather in the Tongass to rest, feed and breed before continuing to the Arctic. Serious birders can witness both nesting and migratory movement on the same day. Species include black oystercatchers, ruby-crowned kinglets, muskegs, spruce, varied thrush, ravens, woodpeckers and more.

6-Long daylight hours: Photographers will appreciate the long light of the spring day, making it a joy to photograph landscapes and wildlife. Daylight often lingers until 10 p.m., and when the sun finally sets, golden light lingers in the fjords long into the evening. Temperatures are generally cool but comfortable, ranging from highs in the low 60s to lows in the 30s.

7-Fewer visitors: Large cruise ships as well as private yachts and sightseeing boats generally don't start arriving in Juneau until late June, making May and early June the quietest time of the year to take an Alaska cruise.

The Cruises

Cruises are scheduled from mid-May through mid-September and feature seven-day itineraries between Juneau and Sitka. The two boats make the roughly 300 nautical mile journeys – either north to south or vice versa – beginning each Sunday and ending Saturday before they turn around and head in the opposite direction. As far as the raven flies the two towns are only 90 miles apart and a 45-minute plane ride, but by boat, it takes just a little longer.

Every day's itinerary offers an array of adventures including fresh water fishing (both fly and traditional spin casting) for multiple species of trout and char, and trolling from 20-foot skiffs in salt water targeting king and coho salmon, halibut and a variety of pelagic and non-pelagic species. Other activities include guided hikes, beach combing, wildlife viewing (there are binoculars in every room) and kayaking. There are also entertaining and educational presentations by the crew's trained naturalist guides.

The Boats

The Boat Company operates two vessels. The M/V Liseron was built in 1952 and acquired in 1988. This 145-foot-long boat accommodates 20 passengers in 10 cabins and is serviced by a crew of 12.

The M/V Mist Cove was designed from scratch and patterned after the M/V Liseron. The boat is 157 feet long and features 12 staterooms accommodating 24 passengers. A crew of 13 serves the boat's guests.

Both vessels feature comfortable main salons, entertainment centers, libraries, dining areas and observation lounges. Staterooms have queen beds with an upper bunk, and the M/V Mist Cove also has two staterooms with two twin beds. All cabins have temperature controls, built-in wardrobes, dressers, picture frame windows and private baths with sink, mirror, toilet and shower stall.

Reservations for cruises and more information are available by visiting The Boat Company's website or calling 1-360-697-4242.

About The Boat Company
Founded in 1979, The Boat Company is a non-profit, conservation-focused luxury cruise operator specializing in sustainable tourism in Southeast Alaska. Through unique itineraries and a commitment to environmental stewardship, The Boat Company offers transformative travel experiences while advocating for the preservation of the Tongass National Forest.