Cascadia Review

-- / 5.0
Editor Rating
1 review

Astonishing wildlife and historic culture in comfort hours from the city

Review for Canada & New England Cruise on Cascadia
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Roadkilt
2-5 Cruises • Age 60s

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Additional details

Sail Date: Sep 2020
Group meals in main cabin, chef caters to special diet needs. BC wines featured with dinner, and fresh caught seafood including prawn, crab, salmon and halibut.
View from the hot tub on top deck of ship, very enjoyable while sailing or in evening.
Main lounge has bar, coffee tea station, espresso maker and daily activity board.

The British Columbia coast hosts UNESCO cultural sites (Haida G’waii), abundant accessible wildlife sighting (Wild Coast Vancouver island) and deep access into the largest protected temperature rain forest on earth (Great Bear Rain Forest). Maple Leaf Adventure’s renovated steel catamaran Cascadia runs week long trips for up to two dozen passengers in these and more. I’ve been on all three mentioned. Very stable, reasonably spacious cabins with ensuite showers, sea views, quiet nights. Personable staff, access to all parts of the ship and gourmet food, often fresh caught (literally, you help catch the crab, prawns and salmon). Cascadia crew have established excellent relationships along the coastal communities to bring aboard culture and wildlife experts, or arrange shore visits.

Pros; superb wildlife viewing and photographic stops (like the almost mythological white Spirit Bear of the rain forest, I saw it!), bespoke food and wine, comfortable accommodation, deep knowledge base of the coastal ecology and culture, little “wasted” sea travel, flexible and adaptive itinerary based on tides, weather and opportunity, big enough to spend time in rooms, on deck and in lounge if privacy desired.

Cons: pricey, especially for best rooms, starting/finishing ports may require secondary flights or accommodation, BC coastal weather can be wet or windy, get along attitude is useful, you are sharing an adventure with 20 other souls, no Wifi (maybe thats a Pro!). There are lots of youtube videos summarizing the ship and trips which give an excellent overview of what to expect. After three trips I’m still a fan.

Cabin Review

Top deck, sea views from large curtained windows with access from outside covered walkway or internal to bridge. Queen size bed with duvets and reading lights. Closet for hanging clothes, small dresser and bedside tables. 240v with converters to 120v. Shower ensuite. Large. enough for armchair and secretary table/chair but thats about it. Adequate but not excessive.

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