Mothership 9-Day Sitka Photography Tour

Frequently Seen: Humpback Whales, Orcas, Dall’s Porpoise, Harbor Seals, Stellar Sealions, Tufted Puffins, A Variety of Colorful seabirds, Sea Otters, Brown Bears, Black Bears, Moose, Porcupines

Occasionally Seen: Wolves, Mountain Goats, Minke Whales.

Whale Behaviors: Breaching, Bubble-net feeding, Tail Slapping, Pectoral Fin Slapping.

Your captain will network with fishermen, captains, and research scientists to discover the hotspots for this type of action. We travel through the waters where this behavior is often found during this time of year.

Yes and Yes; There are definitely plenty of sealions, Harbor seals, and these are waters patrolled by Transient Orca pods.

Tufted Puffins, Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Rhinoceros Auklets, Murres, Black Oystercatchers, Pigeon Guillemots, Bald Eagles, and Arctic Terns–to name just a few. Viewing guides are available onboard.

MEMORY CARDS – You’ll want to have plenty of these, ideally enough that you won’t have to format any while in the field. Don’t forget a card reader!

PLUG ADAPTERS– If you are traveling internationally, you will likely need adapters for your plugs.

TWO CAMERA BODIES WHEN POSSIBLE – Why two? In case of accidental damage or electronic failure, you will have a back-up. With an additional set-up ready to go, you can quickly adjust if the action is at a different range than expected.

BATTERIES – Bring plenty of batteries for your cameras and chargers as well. Our boat is equipped with USB outlets and 110 AC outlets. You may want to bring a power bank to recharge your batteries.

LENSES – For most landscape and wildlife expeditions, a wide-angle zoom (like a 17-40mm), a general-purpose zoom (like a 24-70mm), and a medium telephoto zoom (like a 70-200mm) are standard. A 100-400mm lens is great for wildlife.

A comprehensive list will be sent to guests 90 days prior to tour.

I always suggest staying ready, as an amazing encounter can happen in the blink of an eye. I do not recommend using a tripod or a monopod.

Absolutely. Our proximity to the glaciers will depend on the ability to safely maneuver among the icebergs.

Yes, please wear rubber-soled shoes. While on the deck, always have 3 points of contact with the vessel–two feet on the floor and at least one hand on the railing. Walk slowly and always heed the captain’s warnings and advice.

Expedition-style travel means embracing the Alaskan way of life, with two berths (three beds each), sharing space fosters camaraderie and storytelling. This is more than just a trip – it’s an immersive experience where every moment, from cruising remote waterways to swapping stories at anchor, brings you closer to the wild heart of Alaska.

There is a maximum of 6 participants.

The tour takes place in the largest temperate rainforest in the world, so it’s not uncommon to experience rain. We are also traveling on waters that are exposed to the Gulf of Alaska, so we might occasionally experience choppy and rolling seas.

Often the clouds provide great lighting for your shots.

If you are prone to seasickness, please take any remedies at least 1 hour prior to leaving the dock. We also carry Ginger chews, which are known to alleviate nausea.

Terms and Conditions

Effective December 1, 2023

Payments Accepted
We accept payments through check, Amex, Visa, MasterCard, or Venmo. Full payment or a deposit is required to secure your booking. Full payment is due 120 days before multi-day tours unless otherwise specified.

Be aware that there is a 3% service charge when using a credit card. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss alternate payment options.

Booking Procedure
All booking requests will be processed directly on our website. If you prefer, you can call and book directly with M Squared Enterprises, DBA A Whale’s Song Expeditions.

Sometimes, there are elements outside our control, such as price increases by the lodges after our tour is announced. The chance is small, but we reserve the right to raise the price if we can’t avoid it.

All expeditions are subject to the realities of the natural world. Although we will do everything in our power to stay on the planned itinerary, circumstances–including, but not limited to, weather and ocean conditions–may require us to alter the itinerary. Payments are not refundable for any itinerary change. Furthermore, we make no guarantees of seeing any specific species.

Tax
Sitka City sales tax will be added to the cost of all expeditions:

• 5% October – March
• 6% April – September

Gratuities
Fees do not include gratuities.

Adjusting Your Reservation
You must contact our office directly to make any adjustments to your reservations. These include times, dates, amount of guests attending, and type of activity. A new confirmation will be emailed to you once the changes are completed. Adjusting your reservation does not exempt you from any penalties for which you may be responsible.

Deposits
For all tours and expeditions we require a deposit of 25% of the total amount due.

Payment of Balance Due
For multi-day tours or expeditions, the balance is due 120 days prior to the date of the tour. The credit card that was provided for the deposit will be charged.

Hourly tours or expeditions, water taxi, and gear rental balances are due 15 days prior to the date of the tour. The credit card that was provided for the deposit will be charged.

Cancellations and Refunds – If You Must Cancel
We know that plans can change and unforeseen circumstances can happen. We strive to provide the best customer service available while giving quality service to our clients by keeping our groups small and our rates affordable. Our cancellation policy ensures that we can keep our rates affordable for future tours, providing our clients with the best photography experience. All cancellations shall be made in writing by email and sent to Neil@awhalessongexpeditions.com as soon as possible.

All cancellation and refund requests must be made in writing and e-mailed to us.

Full-day and multi-day tours, expeditions, or charters cancellations or changes made more than 120 days before the tour start date will result in a refund of your payment, minus a $250 processing fee.

There are no refunds for cancellations or changes made less than 120 days before the tour or expedition start date. However, if we or you are able to fill your spot, we will refund your payment, minus a $250 processing fee. We will be happy to apply your deposit to another one of our future tours or expeditions instead (subject to availability).

In the very unlikely event that a tour is canceled, we will refund the tour fee to participants. Expenses related to travel and accommodations not provided by us will not be refunded. Some tours require that you obtain Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance after booking your trip with us. Proof is required 90 days before the tour starts. Please contact us for any additional questions with regards to our cancellation and refund policy.

Cancellations & Refunds – If A Whale’s Song Expeditions Must Cancel
Please Note: All tours, expeditions, and water taxi services will proceed as scheduled in light rain and other mild weather conditions. Due to safety concerns or unforeseen circumstances, the captain may choose times of the day when weather and ocean conditions are more favorable. In the rare event that we, A Whale’s Song Expeditions, must cancel a tour, expedition, charter, or gear rental you can choose to reschedule (subject to availability) or receive a full refund.

Should the tour fail to attain the required minimum number of guests within 120 days of the scheduled departure,it will unfortunately be canceled, and all payments will be promptly refunded.

Credit Card Statement
Your credit card statement will display M Squared Enterprises, (our legal business entity name) as the company authorized to bill your bank or credit card.

Credit Card Charges
By making your reservation online or by telephone you agree to authorize M Squared Enterprises LLC DBA A Whale’s Song Expeditions, to bill your credit card for the agreed-upon reservation amount.

The credit card charges are authorized verbally and/or electronically by you, the reservation holder, and are valid in lieu of a signed credit card authorization form.

Liability Waiver
All tour and expedition participants are required to complete a hold harmless liability waiver before the start of the tour.

Travel Insurance
Sometimes life happens and you must cancel because of unforeseen circumstances. We highly recommend protecting your travel investment and purchasing a trip insurance policy that includes emergency evacuation coverage.

Travel insurance provides you with trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, medical expenses, emergency assistance, air flight, baggage, and baggage delay coverages. Medical coverage purchased with your policy is crucial if you do not have health insurance.

Proof of comprehensive travel insurance is required for the following tours and expeditions 90 days prior to departure of the tour:

• Unveiling Seldom Seen Wonders
• A 12-Day Photography Expedition in Southeast AlaskaWildlife Spectacle
• An 8-Day Photographic Expedition through Southeast Alaska

Please note that A Whale’s Song Expeditions does not recommend or endorse any plan or insurance company, as everyone has different insurance requirements.

Safety
With all the uncertainty around us, we understand more than ever the need for personalized service and our impeccable attention to detail. In line with our personalized approach and our commitment to you, we have implemented several policies to keep you safe. Our small groups also ensure that you have a safe environment to enjoy the beauty of nature.

We have hand sanitizers available for our clients to use during tours.
Our Captain is first aid, CPR, and AED trained and certified by the US Red Cross and will conduct daily safety checks during the duration of the tour.
We will conduct a pre-tour safety briefing with opportunities for our clients to ask questions.

Confidentiality
M Squared Enterprises DBA A Whale’s Song Expeditions respects our guest’s privacy rights and will hold all information from the Guest in relation to the purchase as confidential. Under no circumstances will your information be handed to a third party, except as required for billing and regular tour operations (e.g., hotel reservations, etc.).