Everyone Should Unplug More Often...Except This Time
In a hyperconnected world, we understand the importance of unplugging and getting in touch with nature. That's one reason we don't have wifi onboard our vessels, but this time we're making an exception to our digital addictions. With much of travel and cruising on hold, we've looked at other ways to stay entertained (no, it's not the banana and sourdough baking craze that's been sweeping the country since the pandemic) and we are inviting you to come along. We recently launched a new adventure travel podcast hosted by none other than UnCruise Adventures CEO, Dan Blanchard. The No Ordinary Adventure podcast podcast weaves together stories of travel, adventure and industry news, with a peek into the operations of the travel and tourism industry. Nothing makes time fly like a good adventure, so listen in and invite a friend to join.
We've had the opportunity to connect with some adventurous travelers and top industry experts to pull back the proverbial travel curtain. We invite you to listen in. You may even perfect your binge-listening skills. Take a look at our recent guests below and subscribe, download and share No Ordinary Adventure.
Meet Courtney
Courtney Condy was a recent college grad who felt disillusioned with the corporate grind while living and working in San Francisco. A last-minute trip to Nepal in 2015 changed her life forever when her trekking group got caught in the middle of an 8.1 magnitude earthquake two days away from Everest Basecamp. Upon returning to the US she quit her job and became an Adventure Travel Guide and began leading trips all around the US and the world. She founded Occupation Wild in 2018.
Listen to her episode.
Meet Joe
Joe Williams, Jr. was born and raised in Saxman, Alaska, and is of Tlingit decent and is from the Eagle Tribe within the Tlingit Tribe. Joe has a wealth of knowledge of Alaska, Ketchikan, Saxman, and about his own Tlingit culture. He has owned and operated Where the Eagle Walks; a historical walking tour and lecture company in Ketchikan for 28-seasons. This walking tour has expanded over time into lectures on the Tlingit culture and other specialty tours. Joe has been elected to be the first Tlingit Alaskan Native to be elected as Mayor of Ketchikan Gateway Borough; he has also served as the City of Saxman Mayor making him the first elected official to hold both the Borough and City Mayoral positions in the State of Alaska. Joe has also served on many other boards including Tribal President for Saxman IRA for 12 years, Vice-President of the National Congress of American Indian for eight years, councilmember for 12 years for the City of Saxman, Alaska, and served six years on the Board of Directors for Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing Authority representing Saxman, Alaska. He also adopted UnCruise Adventures CEO, Dan Blanchard as a tribal brother in 2013.
Listen to his episode.
Meet Ron
A native Washingtonian, Ron was raised in the Green River Valley area. He has a substantial and diverse travel and tourism background, spanning over 43 years. His career began as a reservation and customer service agent for Alaska Airlines in Juneau Alaska in 1977. He served in a variety of sales and marketing capacities in Alaska and Seattle, climbing the ranks to eventually become Director of marketing for Alaska, Russia, and Canada. In 1996 he went to work as Director of marketing and sales for Princess Tours and Lodges, then Director of marketing and sales for Alyeska Hotel and Ski Resort. In 2002 he became President and COO of the Alaska Travel Industry Association where for over 10.5 years he successfully led the organization through periods of challenge, recovery, and growth. While President, he spent four years serving on the US Travel Association Board of Directors, was co-chair of the tourism sector of the Taiwan Alaska Trade Investment Corporation Council, served as a board member of the Alaska Medallion Air Safety Foundation, and a member of the National Parks Conservation Association, Alaska Region. Prior to coming to the Port of Seattle, Ron served as the Executive Director of Visit Walla Walla for three years. In March of 2016, he accepted the position of Director of Tourism Development for the Port of Seattle.
Listen to his episode.
Meet Zane
As ASTA’s president and chief executive officer Zane Kerby reports directly to the board of directors on all internal and external ASTA business and is the primary spokesperson for ASTA. Kerby moved to ASTA from a successful career with the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).
Beginning in 2009 he held the position of senior vice president with responsibility for all aspects of GBTA’s global annual convention. Previously he was Deputy Executive Director, Vice President of business development, and held a series of other posts of progressively greater responsibility beginning in August, 1999. Kerby earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts from Brigham Young University.
He and his wife have five children and he currently is an assistant coach of a U12 basketball team. Cycling, swimming, and reading are just a few of his favorite activities.
Listen to his episode
Meet Uwern
Uwern Jong is the Editor-in-Chief of the world's leading luxury and experiential travel journal for gay men, OutThere magazine. He has a passion for luxury travel and co-founded OutThere magazine back in 2013, where he is also the Editor-in-Chief. The magazine has been growing it ever since. OutThere is now the world’s leading luxury and experiential travel journal for gay men of distinction, in over 20 countries worldwide. Uwern is a well experienced luxury traveler and is proud to run an internationally recognized, award-winning magazine, but more so to deliver sublime travel inspiration to our unique, affluent and discerning community.
Listen to his episode.
Meet Phillip
Phillip originally hails from Texas, where his family owns a ranch. He left home at 18 to go climbing in Yosemite National Park before receiving a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a doctorate in biology from the University of California, Berkeley. An avid scuba diver and underwater photographer, Hooge worked for 15 years as a marine biologist before becoming a manager at Alaska's Denali National Park and later the superintendent at Glacier Bay.
Listen to his episode.