Ocean Playground Cruise
Cruising Desolation Sound is a favourite for families: there are plenty of opportunities to play in the water with our water trempolines, tubes, water skis, slides and kayaks as well as mountain bike and scooter trail rides on old logging roads or more relaxing hikes to remote lakes for more swimming!
| Sample Itinerary | |
| Day 1 |
Getting underwayAfter you arrive via a small plane from Vancouver to Campbell River (not included), we’ll meet you at the airport and shuttle you to Heriot Bay on Quadra Island for the beginning of your Vancouver Island cruise. From here, you’ll board the Pacific Yellowfin and enjoy a champagne welcome reception while cruising to Manson’s Landing on Cortes Island. As with every night on board, Executive Chef Milan Kocourek will prepare your meals with fresh local ingredients and you will have a choice of our wide selection of BC’s finest wines. You will overnight onboard the ship in your cabin of choice. |
| Day 2 |
First Nations with a Mexican influenceEnjoy breakfast onboard followed by a walk to the lagoon to uncover sand dollars. Hike on the old school house trail with a visit to the Cortes museum where you’ll discover that the island was named after the Spanish conqueror of Mexico, Hernando Cortes. Cortes Island sits in the rain shadow of Vancouver Island, making the southern half of the island quite a dry climate. After lunch cruise to the sheltered waters of Squirrel Cove for a guided kayaking tour where you’ll see the traditional winter settlement area of the Klahoose First Nation, a northern Coast Salish tribe. Dinner onboard and overnight. |
| Day 3 |
From Squirrels to MinkIn the morning, cruise to Teakerne Arm, an area north of the BC’s Sunshine Coast and the beginning of the Desolation Sound area. Visit an oyster farm and chat with the resident oyster lady before harvesting your dinner if you choose. Watch the water of Cassel Falls cascade into the ocean or take a leisurely hike followed by a swim in nearby Cassel Lake. Next, we move on to Mink Island, a privately owned island of about 20 acres before stopping for dinner onboard and overnight. |
| Day 4 |
Warm water play dayEnjoy stunning views of the 60 kms of coastline in Desolation Sound Provincial Marine Park on a morning cruise to Pendrell Sound. Swimming or snorkeling are expected here as this area is also known as the Mexico of the North with waters reaching 82° F in summer. After an afternoon of waterskiing, kayaking or other water play, we’ll cruise to Black Lake for a hike to see the beaver working her dam. Dinner onboard and overnight. |
| Day 5 |
On the last leg homeAfter a gourmet breakfast, we’ll cruise to Refuge Cove and stop for a visit at the general store for an islands-style espresso or tea. This small community is one of the few year-round communities in the Desolation Sound area. From here you can rendezvous with the seaplane for a scenic flight back to Campbell River and connecting flight to Vancouver (not included). |
See our pictures in our Gallery on the left or on our Facebook and Flickr pages.