7-Day 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 Oyster Catchers,

Pigeon Guillemots, Bald Eagles, 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 17-40), a general-purpose zoom (like 24-70), and a medium telephoto zoom (like 70-200) a standard. 100-400mm lenses is great for wildlife.
A comprehensive list will be sent to guests 90 days prior to tour

I always suggest always be ready as an amazing encounter can happen in the blink of an eye. I do not recommend a tripod nor a monopod.

The departure times and destination will vary according to weather and sea conditions, wildlife locations, and our guest’s desires.

We generally spend about 8 hours per day on the water. It will vary according to the conditions.

Absolutely. The proximity to the glacier will depend on the ability to safely maneuver amongst the icebergs.

Yes, Wear rubber-soled shoes. While on the deck always have 3 points of contact with the vessel 2 feet and leaning or holding on to the railing. Walk slowly and always heed the captain’s warnings and advice.

They are charming, quaint, clean, and comfortable.

There is a maximum of 6 participants.

The tour takes place in the largest temperate rainforest in the world so it’s not uncommon for rain. We are also traveling on waters that are exposed to the Gulf of Alaska so there might be occasions for 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 known to alleviate nausea.

Yes, we will visit the Sitka National Historical Park, Visit the Tlingit Clan house for a cultural dance presentation. The communities of Angoon and Kake are small Native Alaskan communities.

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 and at the same time be able to give 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 so that we can continue to provide 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.

Full-day, Multi-Day Tours or Expeditions and Charters cancellations or changes made greater than 120 days before the tour start date, we will refund your payment minus a $250 processing fee.
• The are no refunds for cancellations or changes made less than 120 days before the tour or expedition start date. However, if we or you can 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 lodgings 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 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, you can choose to reschedule (subject to availability) or receive a full refund.
If the tour fails to reach the required minimum number of guests within 150 days before the scheduled departure, the tour will regrettably be canceled to maintain the quality of the experience offered. Guests affected by the cancellation will be provided with the option to reschedule, subject to availability, or receive a prompt full refund of all payments made towards the tour. It is strongly recommended that guests consider obtaining comprehensive trip insurance to safeguard their travel plans, as unforeseen circumstances can arise. This insurance can offer coverage for trip cancellations, delays, medical emergencies, and other unexpected events, ensuring protection of their investment in the tour.

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. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss alternatepayment options. Be aware that there is a 3.5% convenience charge when using a credit card.

Good To Know
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, for example, the lodges raise the price 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 oceanconditions may make us 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, number 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 or Expeditions, we require a deposit in the amount of 25% of the total amount due.

Payment of Balance Due
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.

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 and at the same time be able to give 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 so that we can continue to provide 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.Full Day, Multi-Day Tours or Expeditions and Charters cancellations or changes made greater than 120 days before the tour start date, we will refund 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 can 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 lodgings 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 of having travel insurance 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 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, you can choose to reschedule (subject to availability) or receive a full refund.
If the tour fails to reach the required minimum number of guests within 150 days before the scheduled departure, the tour will regrettably be canceled to maintain the quality of the experience offered. Guests affected by the cancellation will be provided with the option to reschedule, subject to availability, or receive a prompt full refund of all payments made towards the tour. It is strongly recommended that guests consider obtaining comprehensive trip insurance to safeguard their travel plans, as unforeseen circumstances can arise. This insurance can offer coverage for trip cancellations, delays, medical emergencies, and other unexpected events, ensuring protection of their investment in the tour.

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 the agreed-upon amount for your reservation.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. A 3.5% credit card convenience fee will be added to all in-person and telephone transactions.

Liability Waiver
All tour and Expeditions 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:
• 13-Day Photography Tour
• 9-Day Photography Tour
Please note: 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.  On 9-Day and 12-Day Photography Tours – For the safety of all participants in the extremely remote setting of our adventure, we provide a medical form that each traveler must complete and submit before departure. Your privacy is our priority, and we guarantee the strictest confidentiality of your information. Specific food allergy information will be shared solely with the lodges tasked with meal preparation along our journey. This medically pertinent data will be maintained onboard throughout the trip, serving as a vital resource in case of any urgent medical situations.
• Hand sanitizer is 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., Lodge reservations, etc.)

Committed to transparency and service excellence, we’re rolling out a dynamic fuel surcharge model linked to the price of Brent Crude Oil per barrel. Exciting news! As part of this model, the surcharge amount will progressively decrease with more participants joining our tours. For each additional traveler beyond the minimum, expect a remarkable 18% reduction in the surcharge per guest. When the price of Brent Crude Oil climbs above $80 per gallon, a fuel surcharge ranging between $75 and $93 per guest will be implemented for every $5.00 increase in oil prices. This flexible structure aims to buffer the impact of fuel cost fluctuations on our operations while maintaining competitive pricing, ensuring unparalleled travel experiences for our esteemed participants. The surcharge amount will be assessed and imposed in accordance with the specified departure date. Kindly refer to the chart detailing the fuel surcharge.

If the tour fails to reach the required minimum number of guests within 150 days before the scheduled departure, the tour will regrettably be canceled to maintain the quality of the experience offered. Guests affected by the cancellation will be provided with the option to reschedule, subject to availability, or receive a prompt full refund of all payments made towards the tour. It is strongly recommended that guests consider obtaining comprehensive trip insurance to safeguard their travel plans, as unforeseen circumstances can arise. This insurance can offer coverage for trip cancellations, delays, medical emergencies, and other unexpected events, ensuring protection of their investment in the tour.

For the safety of all participants in the extremely remote setting of our adventure, we provide a medical form that each traveler must complete and submit before departure. Your privacy is our priority, and we guarantee the strictest confidentiality of your information. Specific food allergy information will be shared solely with the lodges tasked with meal preparation along our journey. This medically pertinent data will be maintained onboard throughout the trip, serving as a vital resource in case of any urgent medical situations.

The primary activities will occur aboard boats or similar vessels to facilitate access to premier photography spots. Guests should feel confident boarding and disembarking boats and be prepared for extended periods spent on the water Guests can join terrestrial photography excursions, exploring trails with varying terrain, covering distances of up to 2 miles offering breathtaking scenery and wildlife photo opportunities.