Florida Cruising Boosters Boost Alaska Cruising, too
March 14,  2007

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. – Barb and Vic Hansen, owners of the chartering firm Southwest Florida Yachts, are well-known advocates of cruising in Southwest Florida. Now, the boosters of Florida yacht cruising are boosting cruising in Alaska, too.

The Hansens have invited others to cruise with them in July along the wild Southeastern Alaska shoreline aboard Ursa Major, a 65-foot classic Malahide trawler. Ursa Major cruises from Sitka to Petersburg July 9-15 and back to Sitka July 17-23.

Barb Hansen said the cruises are at the height of the whale and bear season and that the vessel will turn into quaint harbors with fishing villages and nose into fjords with calving glaciers and waterfalls. The vessel carries kayaks for passengers to explore the wildlife, waterfalls and other natural features of the shoreline.

The cost is $3,500 per person per week, which includes all meals prepared by a gourmet chef. The vessel has two double cabins available for one couple or two single persons per cabin. The two cabins share a large head with shower.

Barb Hansen said that space aboard Ursa Major is limited but that other vessels are available for cruising in tandem with the Ursa Major.

“Think of it as a gourmet cruise, with friends, on a kind vessel that is just the right size to experience America’s last piece of real shoreline wilderness,” said Hansen. She invited interested persons to go to the home page --- www.swfyachts.com -- and click on the box in the left margin headlined “Passport to Cruising - Alaska." Or, simply phone Hansen at 1-800-262-7939 or email her at info@swfyachts.com .

Barb and Vic Hansen founded Southwest Florida Yachts in 1984. They also manage Florida Sailing & Cruising School in which students live aboard the vessel while they learn to operate and navigate vessels of different sizes and complexity.