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Visit AK Pure Sea Salt Co.
Zaide’s cousin Jamey, who currently serves as the company’s Senior Vice President, remembers his grandfather’s ingenuity in the company’s earlier years and subsequent growth with Bob’s innovative boat designs and willingness to try new ideas that ultimately lead to national recognition and several industry firsts.
“We have a can-do attitude. When people say something can’t be done, we take it as a challenge.
And just because it hasn’t been done, doesn’t mean
it can’t be done,” says Jamey.
“I was a full-time deck hand at age 10. My grandpa
was the captain. I was the crew member. That was
it. Every summer, I would spend on these boats, and literally, we’d be getting done with our first tour at
9 a.m., having been at work since 5:30. My grandpa would say, ‘You just did more work before 9 a.m. than most of your classmates do all summer.’” Jamey laughs.
“And that’s just what you knew—what you did.”
Jamey says guests get the unique experience of encountering locals who are genuinely interested
in sharing Alaska.
“One of our policies is to try to make a connection
with each and every guest that we carry, whether it
be on a three-hour whale watching tour or a week-long cruise. Just try to make that connection—acknowledge guests, find out a little bit about them, let them find
out about us and our crew, bring them a cup of coffee when they’re sitting there and take the time to have
a friendly smile and a few words to exchange.”
“They really are our guests,” says Jamey, pausing as he emphasizes the importance. “We don’t call them customers or passengers. They are our guests, and that’s really just Alaskan hospitality.”
Keeping true to what Bob and Betty envisioned when they first started sharing their Alaskan stories on small boat tours almost 50 years ago, the crew’s approach has remained the same.
“Traveling on an Allen Marine excursion gives you a chance to see things from a different perspective, to really have those up-close encounters, to learn from an experienced onboard naturalist. Also, the training the crew receives is from the Allens so that authentic family feel is coming through. The goal is for everyone to experience true Alaskan hospitality. We are a family company with a passion for Alaska, so if you come on any one of our vessels, the ambiance is still the same as in 1970.”
To find out more about Allen Marine Tours and explore other wildlife viewing opportunities, check out the listings below and our directory.
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A Whale's Song Expeditions awhalessongexpeditions.com / Allen Marine Tours allenmarinetours.com / Four B Charters whalesinsitka.com / Gallant Adventures gallantadventures.com / Ocean Raft Adventures sitkaalaskaoutfitters.com SeaMarine Wildlife Excursions sitkaseamarine.com / Sitka Sound Ocean Adventures kayaksitka.com
Sitka Sound Tours sitkasoundtours.com / Sitka Wildlife Tours sitkawildlifetours.com