UnCruise Adventures vs Maple Leaf Adventures: which is better?

No score and no verdict of ours: what UnCruise Adventures and Maple Leaf Adventures each publish on their own websites, read 9 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

UnCruise Adventures vs Maple Leaf Adventures: which is better?

Neither is better for everyone: UnCruise Adventures sails nine ships of 22 to 88 guests and prices In Steinbeck's Wake, April and May 2027, from US$8,400 per person, while Maple Leaf Adventures says it owns three ships of 8 to 24 guests in British Columbia and Southeast Alaska and prices the Alaska Supervoyage, 26 June 2027, from US$17,170.

What is each line?

UnCruise Adventures runs small-ship expedition cruises under its own name on nine ships of 22 to 88 guests in Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, the Galapagos, Costa Rica and Panama. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures runs small-ship expeditions in British Columbia and Southeast Alaska on ships it says it owns and maintains locally; says it has operated since 1986. Source

Which ships does each line sail?

UnCruise Adventures lists nine ships, Wilderness Legacy, Safari Endeavour, Wilderness Adventurer, La Pinta, Safari Voyager, Safari Explorer, Safari Quest, Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Explorer; ownership isn't stated. La Pinta is also sailed by Metropolitan Touring, which says it owns it. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures says it owns its three ships: the sailing ship Maple Leaf, the converted tugboat Swell and the catamaran Cascadia. Source

How many guests are on board?

UnCruise Adventures carries 88 guests on Wilderness Legacy, 86 on Safari Endeavour, 76 on Wilderness Discoverer, 74 on Wilderness Explorer, 66 on Safari Voyager, 60 on Wilderness Adventurer, 48 on La Pinta, 36 on Safari Explorer and 22 on Safari Quest. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures carries up to 8 guests on Maple Leaf, 12 on Swell and up to 24 on Cascadia (22 in Haida Gwaii). Source

Where does each line sail?

UnCruise Adventures sells named voyages in Alaska (19 cruises across the Southeast, Southcentral, Interior and Southwest), Hawaii, Mexico's Sea of Cortez and Baja California, the Galapagos, Costa Rica and Panama. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures sells named voyages in the Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound, the Great Bear Rainforest and Kitlope, Haida Gwaii and Southeast Alaska. Source

Who leads the landings?

UnCruise Adventures' daily excursions are led by guides and naturalists, with eleven named Expedition Leaders; it gives no team size or guide-to-guest ratio. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures' ships sail with 5 crew for 8 guests on Maple Leaf, 5 for 12 on Swell and 10 for up to 24 on Cascadia (11 in Haida Gwaii), with a naturalist on every trip. Source

How much time ashore?

Maple Leaf Adventures takes guests ashore between 1 and 3 times a day, typically twice, for 1 to 3 hours at a time; it does not say how many go ashore at once. Source

UnCruise Adventures does not publish this on the pages read.

What can you do off the ship?

UnCruise Adventures includes kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, snorkelling, skiff tours, bushwhacking and beach campfires, with the gear provided; it names no extra-cost activities. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures includes kayaks and gear on board, with optional kayaking, small-boat tours, rainforest and beach walks and hot springs soaks; it offers no line fishing for fin-fish and names no camping. Source

What does a voyage cost?

UnCruise Adventures prices In Steinbeck's Wake on Safari Voyager from US$8,400 per person in a Compass Cabin, double occupancy, for April and May 2027 departures. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures prices the Haida Gwaii Sailing Ship Tour, 8 nights on Maple Leaf from Masset to Sandspit departing 7 June 2027, at $9,750 in Canadian dollars per person, based on double occupancy. Source

What does the fare include?

UnCruise Adventures' fares include group transfers on embarkation and disembarkation day, park entry fees, activities and gear, all meals, wine, beer and liquor, guides and guest experts, Wi-Fi where available and port fees and taxes for bookings made after 5/26/26; airfare, gratuities (it suggests $315 per week per guest), travel insurance, premium wines and spirits and optional land tours are extra. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures' fares include all meals, snacks and drinks by the chef, wine with dinner and limited craft beer, a naturalist, shore excursions and gear including kayaks; transport to the start and end points, 5% GST on Canadian trips, a $200 sustainability fee per person and crew gratuities are extra. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

UnCruise Adventures publishes a single-occupancy fare for every cabin grade and states no waived supplement or cabin share; a guest has a cabin alone only by paying for all its berths or the single rate. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures charges no single supplement on Maple Leaf (shared accommodation) and a 50% supplement on Swell and Cascadia, with same-sex cabin pairing on Cascadia; a Solo Traveller Special offer waives the supplement in your own cabin on selected sailings (no end date given). Source

How much is the deposit?

UnCruise Adventures asks a 20% deposit within five business days of booking for departures more than 120 days away (bookings from 1 October 2025), with final payment due 120 days before departure; inside 120 days it takes full payment at booking. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures asks a deposit of one third of the trip price to reserve a space, with the balance due 120 days before departure. Source

What happens if you cancel?

UnCruise Adventures keeps 50% of the deposit for cancellations 121 or more days before departure, 50% of the total trip cost from 120 to 91 days and 100% from 90 days, for bookings made from 1 October 2025. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures refunds the deposit minus a $300 admin fee per person for cancellations at least 120 days before departure; from 120 days the fare is non-refundable, as are promotional pay-in-full fares once paid. Source

What insurance do you need?

UnCruise Adventures: Highly recommends travel insurance, offered through Travelex, but does not require it or name an evacuation minimum. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures recommends cancellation and medical cover and says credit-card insurance is inadequate for a trip like this; it does not state insurance as required or name an evacuation minimum. Source

Can children come?

UnCruise Adventures welcomes children 8 years and older on all vessels except Safari Quest, which takes children 13 and younger only on private charters; exceptions for younger children need pre-approval; its Families in Nature sailings in Alaska, Mexico and Costa Rica let kids 2 and under sail free. Source

Maple Leaf Adventures does not publish this on the pages read.

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.

• UnCruise Adventures: not the fit if you want a doctor on board: it says medical facilities are not available aboard and it does not undertake to provide a physician. Source
• Maple Leaf Adventures: not the fit if you have failing health or physical disabilities: it says its trips are not suitable, with almost no docks where it lands and rocky shorelines and uneven trails to walk. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 9 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.

• UnCruise Adventures: Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 136 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.
• Maple Leaf Adventures: Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 79 reviews. Read 9 November 2026.

The lines at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel expedition page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 9 November 2026 · updated 9 November 2026