Alaska Fjord Charters

Vivienne D'Amico

We were the first trip to go out for 2020. We had a fabulous time with Captain Colin and crew on the Darby. We did a 3 day/2 night tour of the Kenai Fjords and got out to the Northwestern Glacier. A must see!!! The wildlife didn't fall short either. We saw lots of Orcas and humpbacks, sea lions and otters, along with many nesting seabirds. Colin had a hydrophone so we could listen to the underwater communication between the whales and orcas. We happened to be in the right place at the right time. A research vessel came over and talked to us about the different 2 pods that where hanging out in the area. The wealth of knowledge Captain Colin has of the area is amazing. He navigated his 38' boat within inches of vertical rock walls, (the weather helped - we had flat seas!) Excuse the pun, but he also has a boat load of experience about the marine fauna and flora. He has a great attitude, is a great teacher and mentor. His first mate Dre, is awesome. A wonderful chef and waited on us hand and foot. With me, she had some dietary issues to deal with and came through with flying colours. She called ahead of time to get clarification of my needs and then amazed me with the ideas she choose. The Menu was delicious and plentiful!!! We also got the chance to catch "dinner" for everyone. On the boat, Colin also provides kayaks and stand up paddle boards for us to enjoy once anchored for the evening in sheltered coves. One evening we also went for a nature walk in one of his favourite spots. Both Colin and Dre were exceptional and the trip was very personable. We were totally spoiled. Thank you Colin and Dre. Had a great time!!! We will be back!!

Lori Landstrom

Despite some rain we had an awesome time aboard the Darby with Captain Colin and crew. We adventured on the beach and hiked in the rain forest, ate great food and had plenty of fun. We were a mixed group of adults and young children (3 year olds). Great boat for all ages. There are so many incredible places to visit by boat. Kayaks available for your own exploring too.

Hildy Reiser

My husband & I did not actually go on a tour with AFC, but we have known Colin for over 15 years. We were in Seward last week, & I can't believe we forgot about Colin's business. Next time Colin, we promise. Anyway, Captain Colin has many years of seafaring experience, & as a trained wildlife biologist, really caters these private tours so folks can see as much wildlife as possible, & really get a wonderful close experience with the magnificent scenery of the Kenai Fjord National Park area. Colin pays close attention to details & is safety conscience as well. I encourage those of you looking for an experience of a lifetime to book with AFC, you won't be disappointed! Sincerely, Dr. H. Reiser, Loveland, CO PS. Captain Colin's did not pay me to write this endorsement, I felt he truly deserved it.

Bob Kahn

Three Days on the Darby If you're looking for a giant cruise ship with 100s of people, dozens of buffets, swimming pools and hot tubs than stop reading this review. This is not for you. However, if you are looking for a private, intimate experience with only your family and/or friends tailored to what you want to do, then you have found Alaskan gold! My wife did all the research and booked this charter for our 3 day family trip in the Fjords of the Kenai Peninsula. If you are gonna come all this way to Alaska, you might as well do it right. Our family of 4 were the only guests on the boat for our 3 day, 2 night trip, and WE SAW IT ALL! Glaciers galore! Because the Darby is a small boat, Captain Colin can bring it up very close to the glaciers. None of us had ever seen glaciers with our own eyes. We were all mesmerized. Did we see wildlife? Tons! Bald Eagles, puffins and many other birds at the “beehive” out at the Chiswell Islands and a pair of Fin whales too. On our last day after spending the night in a beautiful cove with waterfalls due to the recent rains, we headed out of the Fjords to open ocean and it was there that we saw what we were all holding our breath that we would see. Orcas! We followed and observed them, because that is what you do, for some time in the morning. We were all giddy watching them, taking videos and photographs. Meals were prepared and served by Alex, the deckhand and cook. Delicious! After dinner, we played the game Bananagrams that we brought with us and the second night, we had a really fun game of Balderdash and Alex played with us. The sleeping quarters are not very private, but Colin separated the galley and crew quarters from our quarters with a hanging quilt. There is one bathroom to share, so you better be comfortable with everyone you go with. We had rainy cold weather for one day, but it was beautiful the last day when we saw the orcas. The rainy weather was a bit of a blessing though as it treated us to wonderful views of waterfalls, fog and mist on the islands. Of course, the weather and the animals are unpredictable. All in all, our three days with "No Service" on the Darby will be one of my families most treasured trips together. The more people that experience this type of adventure, the better. I hope this review was helpful to you and that you choose to explore this extraordinary part of the world with Captain Colin. Thank you so much, Colin. Bob, Mimi, Madi, and James.