Credit: UnCruise Adventures 

UnCruise Adventures’ small ship expedition cruises in Baja, Mexico’s Gulf of California, are open for booking in 2027 and 2028, and the line is positioning its community-based program as a differentiator in a market defined by travelers seeking authentic experiences that benefit local economies.  

Sailing aboard the 66-guest Safari Voyager, the two Mexico cruise itineraries are designed around active participation with local communities. The expedition guides aboard the ship are local to Baja and lead all excursions directly from the ship including a snorkel with playful sea lion pups at Los Islotes. Permitted to lead this excursion, guests don wetsuits and slip into the water at sunrise to greet the young, curious sea lions before any other dayboat operators arrive.

A decades long relationship between UnCruise Adventures’ Owner and CEO Captain Dan Blanchard and the Romero family in Bahía Agua Verde has the family bringing its mules and horses to meet the ship and take guests on a ride through the arroyo, a highlight for many guests with time to connect and meet the ranching families.  

Locally sourced food + drink 

Seafood is sourced locally from a fishermen’s collective. Fresh produce is grown on a Miraflores, Baja farm by local families who’ve set aside a plot of land to grow organic crops especially for UnCruise. Produce is picked the day before delivery to the ship each week. Coffee comes from Baja Beans and beer from Baja Brewing. Even the local lizards are supported – through vegetable scraps donated to The Serpentarium, a zoological park in La Paz dedicated to the conservation of endemic species.

Baja, Mexico’s Gulf of California – Savings Offer 

Guests who book a cruise by December 31, 2026 can take advantage of the Mexico Offer which saves $500 per person on all 2027 and 2028 departures. Beginning in 2027, a hotel stay is included at the Tropicana Hotel in San Jose del Cabo  for the first night; guests are transported to the ship on day two.  

Baja California's Whales & Sealife

January–March 2027 & 2028 | 8 nights, roundtrip San José del Cabo

Highlights: Sea lion pup snorkeling; volcanic hiking; search for whales, flying mobula rays and seabirds

• Families: February 11, 2027 is a Families in Nature trip with a focus on activities for younger kids
• Photographers: January 21, 2027 is hosted by a professional photographer

In Steinbeck's Wake: An Epic Voyage Through the Sea of Cortez

April & May 2027 and 2028 | 11 nights, roundtrip San José del Cabo

Highlights: Extended exploration named for author John Steinbeck's 1940s voyage; ventures further north with more opportunities to see sperm whales, humpbacks, gray whales and whale sharks

• Captain’s Cruise: May 21, 2027 Captain Dan Blanchard on board as host.

Often referred to as the Galapagos of the North due to some similarities in wildlife, guests may see brown and blue-footed boobies (some of the world’s largest colonies), frigatebirds, Sally Lightfoot crabs, whale sharks, sperm whales, blue whales, humpback whales, fin whales, super pods of dolphins and flying mobulas.  Guide-led hikes on remote islands, beach bars and BBQs, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding are all included in the cruise fare along with all meals and beverages, including all adult beverages.