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We recently enjoyed the trip of a lifetime aboard the MV Sikumi, joined by three other couples from our church. Together, we experienced breathtaking moments—spotting an orca family, humpback whales, brown bears, sea lions, and even witnessing the dramatic “calving” of a glacier.
Captain Darren, with his sharp sense of humor, made the journey both fun and informative, taking the time to explain the highlights along the way. His first mate (and remarkable son), Conner, went above and beyond—whether helping out on deck or guiding us on a fishing adventure. Keith, the chef, spoiled us with incredible meals—far more delicious food than we could ever finish. And Tyrene brought a special touch of care and warmth to every detail.
Thank you, Captain Darren, Conner, Keith, and Tyrene, for not only meeting but far exceeding our expectations. You welcomed us like family and made saying goodbye truly difficult.
Nancy P
We just spent 7 days on the Sikumi – it was wonderful. I'd give it 10 stars if I could. We went with a group of friends and could not have asked for a better experience. The ship was the perfect size, the crew was beyond fantastic (Captain Darren, Chef Keith, Stewardess Tyrene and Everything Else: Conner.) They made us welcome and showed us Alaska in all its glory. We saw Bears, Humpbacks, Sea Lions, Orcas, Crabs, Halibut, Porpoises, Starfish, sunrises, sunsets, icebergs, glaciers, villages….did I get it all? And the food was so wonderful! Couldn’t recommend it any higher. Absolutely The Best!
We did a 7 night cruise with our family of five. Loved the trip, the sites and the crew. Sikumi was comfortable ship and our chef, Keith, produced restaurant grade food for each meal. The hostess, Ty, was attentive and showed real warmth to our family throughout the trip. We enjoyed crabbing, fishing, polar plunges, hot springs, and nature walks. We watched hump back whales use bubble nets to feed. We watched bears feed on salmon returning from the ocean. We even were able to kayak in an ice field and watch ‘calving’ from a glacier face. The captain, Darren, and first mate, Conner, were good communicators and kept us safe while allowing us experience the rugged beauty of Alaska up close. They went out of their way to share knowledge and colorful stories along the way. My children will remember this trip for a long time. If you like these types of activities I can’t recommend this trip enough!
At the beginning of July, we spent an unforgettable 8 days aboard the Sikumi — and we’re still talking about it every single day. Captain Darren, Keith, Connor, Albert, and Tyreen didn’t just give us a trip; they gave us the experience of a lifetime. They connected so well with our teenagers and turned each day into a new adventure.
From the moment we stepped on board, we were pampered with incredible meals, thoughtful touches, and service that went far beyond anything we imagined. We hiked wild trails, spotted bears and whales, caught fresh fish and crab, and capped one magical evening with a beach bonfire we’ll never forget.
By the end, the crew felt like family, and saying goodbye was the hardest part of the trip. If you’re even considering it — book it. The Sikumi isn’t just a vacation. It’s pure magic
Incredible trip that exceeded our expectations (which were already high). Our ship was the Sikumi. Captain Darren, Chef Keith, and the crew of Tyleen, Conner, and Albert went above and beyond to make the trip special. What was so unique was that the captain and crew daily sought our opinions and interests in order to customize the trip to our desires. The food was amazing and plentiful The activities were one of a kind. All in all we created the most amazing memories. I would do this trip again without hesitation. We are only a few hours off the boat and we are already talking about a return trip to the Sikumi
Great time had by all. Once in a life time trip!
This was my second time on this boat. I had a wonderful time last time, but this time was special. I believe it was all due to the crew we had. Those 5 people made the whole excursion once in a life time special. Daron, Conner, Albert, Tyree, and Keith are some of the best people on the water.
Our first day the Captain met us in the main room and asked us what we wanted out of this cruise. Of course we all had some different things we wanted, but pretty much all the same things when combined. We all wanted to have some fun, see some amazing sights, and maybe do some fishing so we can eat some great seafood. Boy did we have that. We had crab, halibut, shrimp in all different kind of ways. Great food made by one of the great chefs_
Rooms and common areas were always kept very clean by our wonderful steward.
The sailing crew was the best. Captain Sparks and the 2 mates had everything put together before we even knew we wanted it done. I was very impressed with all that they did. (you should ask them about the fish that got away) WOW!
All in all, I would do this again.
Thanks to the crew
Wayne
Date of experience: 22 July, 2025
Date of experience: 22 July, 2025
This week long Fishing, Sightseeing trip was a once in a lifetime. The Sikumi Boat was in top shape and if small repairs were needed the crew came running. The Dining was a 5 star experience for all meals. We caught halibut and crab which was included in the dishes.
The Safety of the guests and crew was always first, Im very glad that my 94 yr old father and friends could join for this experience . Daron,Tyreen Albert, Connor and Keith thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Keep up the great work! your friend forever. Ted - Colorado
Our experience on the M/V Sikumi was simply outstanding! The crew (Captain Sparks, Connor, Albert, Tyrene, and Chef Keith) were fantastic. They were professional, accommodating, and skilled at their craft. This trip exceeded our expectations in every way. If you are looking for a way to see a piece of Alaska's inner passage (scenery, wildlife, glaciers, etc), this is the to do it!
Amazing trip. Crew was outstanding - very knowledgeable, accommodating, and a lot of fun! We saw humpbacks bubble netting, orcas, bears feeding on salmon, seals, sea lions, sea otters, glaciers, everything there was to see and enjoyed every moment! Food was terrific, we even caught and ate fresh halibut and crab. Thank you very much Alaska Uncharted!
We took a family cruise that was unforgettable in large part due to the wonderful crew onboard with us. James and Mindy detailed our trip every day with where we were going, what we could do and just really personalized every moment. Mike was super helpful and fun, making great center pieces for every meal and attentive to needs. Mike also made us a super cool video of our trip that we will cherish. Chef Mark was top notch, every meal(and pre meal) was delicious and unique. Mindy elevated every day with her knowledge of all things land, sea, and animal. She made the trip 100 times better. I can't say enough great things about this once in a lifetime cruise of Alaska, it really is THE only way to experience it.
Thank you so much!
Curtis and Stephanie Oie
Reply from Custom Alaska Cruises
2025.08.05
We are thrilled you had a trip of a lifetime!
Our family (6 people) took a long-awaited Alaska vacation this summer, with the centerpiece being a 6-day cruise on the Golden Eagle. It was magical. The accommodations, food and attention from the crew were all 5-star quality. Having the boat to ourselves meant it was a private and personalized trip, away from the large ocean liners. Frankly, for most of the trip, we felt like we had the Inside Passage to ourselves.
James and Mindy (captain and first mate) were terrific at introducing us to Alaska. We hiked, kayaked, halibut fished, crab-potted, whale-watched and glacier gazed. Some of us even took a polar plunge in 38-degree water! Every day was a new adventure of our choosing, with the highlight being witness to humpback whales "bubble net" feeding. I'd recommend Alaska Unlimited to anyone looking for a small group trip that gets you away from the tourist runs to see the best of Alaska. As one of our kids said ... "the trip of a lifetime".
Reply from Custom Alaska Cruises
2024.09.17
Thank you for the great review- we strive for excellence and are thrilled you had an amazing trip aboard the Golden Eagle!
I contacted Custom Alaskan Cruises inquiring about cruise options and I would love to point out their customer service, above and beyond. Chelsea answered my 1000 questions with ease, made me feel like i was family right from the start. If you are searching for a personal cruise suited to all your wants and desires look no further, this is where you belong.
We’ve just returned from our trip on the Golden Eagle……Thanks to Captain Josh and his crew, we had the best week ever! The tour that the Captain planned for us was fantastic. Our experiences far exceeded our expectations. We were in awe of the beauty of the Alaskan waters and shore lines and the wildlife we experienced was awesome. The crew was always ready to help and share their knowledge of Alaska, the wildlife, plants, etc. They were so accommodating, cordial and professional. Chef Chris prepared 5-star meals. Every dish was a delicious experience, from his homemade pastas to classic sauces to beautiful food presentations to fresh baked breads to just down right great food combinations…….we were in foodie heaven. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.
Captain Joshua, Lauren, Albert and Chef Chris, we had the most rewarding, relaxing, educational and first-hand experience of the beauty of God’s creation……thanks so much!
And thanks to Custom Alaska Cruises for providing a trip like this to us on such an amazing comfortable boat!
Reply from Custom Alaska Cruises
2022.08.25
Thanks Patty so much! We are glad your trip was exceptional and exceeded your expectations! We are always so excited to have guests aboard and share our love for Southeast Alaska!
We had a terrific time with Custom Alaska Cruises! My wife and I did this trip with our 12 and 18 year old daughters. The trip far exceeded all of our expectations. We hiked, fished, kayaked, observed glaciers, lots of wildlife and more. The crew was a lot of fun to be with and the food was incredible! This was the trip of a lifetime and my entire family fully recommends them.
This was a trip of a lifetime! Chelsea, Keegan and the rest of the crew were wonderful! Something for everyone to do and so flexible...fishing, kayaking, marine mammals, hiking and great food and company. We hope to do this again and we will be recommending this trip to all of our friends!
Amazing trip with Beautiful Scenery!!
My dad and I had the opportunity of boarding the MV Sikumi for the week June 11th - June 17th as well as the rarity of being the only passangers on board. This trip was the trip of the lifetime!
Beginning with the boat itself, the MV Sikumi was comfortable, well-kept and very homey. The beautiful boat rode smooth on water and allowed us to sleep comfortably without getting seasick. The amazing crew made sure all our needs were covered by providing extra blankets and pillows when requested.
Speaking of the crew, We could not have asked for a better crew for our Custom Alaskan Cruise. Kete, our Naturalist never hesitated to answer any of our questions and filled our days with fun facts about Alaska and it's natural foilage. April, the firstmate on board, made sure to include me and my dad every opportunity she could and met all of our needs. Lucas, the captain, allowed
us to spend quality time with him in the Wheel house and offered us tours of the engine room as well. John our chef was phenomenal! Every course he prepared was well-balanced, full of flavor, and just overall delectable. While on the cruise, we also had the pleasure of having one of the Owners, Chealsea, aboard the boat for the first voyage as the stewardess. Chealsea, along with the rest of the crew met our every need and expectation making this a trip to never forget.
Throughout the week, several different excursion opportunities are available. Some of these include wildlife viewing, fishing, riding in the skiff, collecting glacier ice, hiking and my personal favorite, Kayaking.The MV Sikumi cruise allowed us to see glaciers calve, sea otters play in the water, approach a sea lion rookery and much more all within our own personal kayaks. Another wonderful activity on thr boat is the shrimp and crab potting. You are given the option to set and pull up your own shrimp and crab pots and if you catch anything, the chef will prepare your catch almost immediately after it is brought aboard.
All in all, the MV Sikumi and crew offers you a trip and memories that you will cherish forever!