Alaska Sea
Adventures

Crew

Guides

Employment

Press

Newsletters

Contact Us

Site Map

M/V Alaska Adventurer - Crew

Dennis Rogers
Captain
Captain Dennis 'Hank' Rogers is a professional mariner with over three decades of experience navigating the waters of Alaska as a commercial fisherman. He is a U.S. Coast Guard certified master of vessels to 100 tons and is trained and certified in first aid and CPR. Continued educational courses in marine safety, technical training, first aid, and even a certification as an emergency medical technician have added an even greater degree of expertise, and an extra margin of precaution. With enthusiastic affection for the Alaskan outdoors and a fascination with its diverse wilderness flora and fauna, Dennis continues on his quest to experience and explore more of the wonders of this area he calls home, Southeast Alaska!

While pursuing an education in marine biology Dennis enjoyed the allure of time spent aboard research vessels and eventually satisfied the desire to be on the water after becoming involved with the commercial fisheries in Alaska. The waters of SE Alaska are home to this long-time Petersburg Alaska resident, who with his wife Toni has raised two sons that enjoyed summers learning nautical skills aboard the families' fishing vessels. Decades of fishing the local waters during year-around seasonal fisheries for salmon, herring, halibut, prawns, tanner and king crab, have made him a master of this region and its waterways.

The acquisition of The Alaska Adventurer and Alaska Sea Adventures provides the platform for Dennis to share with visitors the raw magnificent beauty and wildlife found among the islands, fjords, coves and bays of Southeast Alaska's Inside Passage and Tongass National Forest.

With great enthusiasm, Captain Dennis continues Alaska Sea Adventures 35-year tradition of unsurpassed SE Alaskan cruises. Dennis addition of a variety of professionally guided expeditions has augmented the companies’ diversity of cruise offerings. Individual tours focused on archeology, natural and cultural history, photography, sea kayaking, fly-fishing, ornithology, whale and wildlife observation are only some of the typical adventures offered.

Dennis enthusiastically looks forward to utilizing the knowledge acquired during a career of fishing on and owning vessels up to 180 feet in length to safely share with guests aboard the Alaska Adventurer the beauty and adventure of the Alaskan seas and spectacular surroundings he has passionately enjoyed all of his adult life.

"Thanks to Captain Dennis and all the crew for an outstanding introduction to Southeast Alaska.  It is a delight to travel with a crew that enjoys their work so much."

Dick & Doris R.
Livermore CA.

CAPTAIN STEVE MORRELL
Relief Skipper - USCG 100-Ton Master
Captain Steve grew up playing in the sand dunes of San Francisco's Sunset district. After completing his Master's degree in Zoology at UC Santa Barbara, he spent 10 years studying seabirds and marine mammals in places as diverse St. Matthew Island, Alaska and Ross Island, Antarctica. Enroute to New Zealand to live, Steve was sidetracked by an offer to work on a fishing boat in Southeast Alaska. Captivated by the wilderness he experienced that first summer, Steve decided moved to Alaska.

Steve realized that his favorite part of fishing was exploring the waters and forests watching the fish and wildlife. Steve frequently discussed his passion for the wilderness of Southeast Alaska with friends in the fishing industry, and someone steered him to Alaska Sea Adventures. Says Steve, "I enjoy sharing the beauty and the powerful wildness of Southeast with our guests, and I love WATCHING salmon. Every trip is a new adventure." Steve now lives in Mt. Shasta, California with his sweetheart, Judy, and their two cats. He migrates north for the summer.

Emilie Sperl
Mate/Chef
A ‘born and raised’ Petersburg, Alaskan, Emilie spent her summers on her family’s commercial fishing boat since infancy. After graduating from Petersburg High School in 1994 she worked briefly for Alaska Sightseeing/Cruise West before heading to Seattle to attend Cornish college of Art and Design, focusing on design and drafting.

Missing life on the water, she returned to Petersburg and her fishing lifestyle, crewing on several boats for shrimp, crab, salmon, and herring. In early 1998 she took a job with NorQuest Seafoods, Inc. managing fishermen’s accounts. She became office manager a year later and left in 2002 when the ‘desk job’ got old. Since then, Emilie has worked in residential construction in Petersburg where she enjoys the physical labor and the opportunity to utilize her creative skills. In between construction jobs she has continued to do some fishing as well as joining the Alaska Adventurer crew during the 2004, 2007 and 2008 seasons, and returned to NorQuest Seafoods, (now a division of Trident) for a year stint as Fleet Manager in 2005.

When on land, Emilie is a volunteer firefighter and EMT, and loves to cook, paint, and draw. Whenever she gets the chance, she likes to get out on the water or go camping. She is also an enthusiastic amateur photographer.

Captain Ben Raley
Mate
A New England native, Ben grew up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, “…messing about in boats.” From the time when he built a rowing Dory with his father at the age of 10, Ben was in love with boats and the sea. A perfect couple, indeed, since not only does Ben make a living on boats working as a delivery captain, commercial tug boat crew, whitewater guide, fisherman, or shipwright, but he even chooses to spend most of his spare time recreating aboard them.

A fine example of Ben’s salty soul would be his most recent boating adventure. Ben successfully sailed his 32 ft. sailboat from Seattle, WA to Portsmouth, New Hampshire via the Panama Canal with his partner Nikki: An adventure proving to all that he is a true sailor at heart who thrives when living life afloat.

When on land, Ben enthusiastically lives a life of a true outdoorsman. You will either find him skiing down the side of a mountain or climbing the face of it.

Ben is a skilled, knowledgeable seaman with hours upon hours of logged sea time on a variety of vessels. He recently earned his USCG 50 Ton Near Coastal Master’s license and is a registered Maine guide. He has current certification as a Wilderness First Responder / First Aid /CPR.

Captain Nikki Nicolet
Chef/Mate
Born a Pacific Northwest Islander, Nikki has had the salt of the Pacific Ocean in her lungs since she was a youngster. Spending every moment possible on the beach, she grew up understanding boats, weather, tides, and currents.

Not realizing her need to be near or on the water, Nikki attended college in Illinois earning a degree in education, simultaneously learning about her desire for adventure and fresh air. After graduation, Nikki worked for Outward Bound as a mountaineering and rock- climbing guide utilizing her newly attained teaching skills and her natural leadership ability, but learned even more that boats and water were her true passion.

After some traveling abroad in Europe, New Zealand, and South America, she returned to her home in Suquamish, WA, where she worked as a teacher in the same elementary school she attended as a child. While teaching, she earned her Master’s degree in Environment and Community from Antioch University. At the same time, she and Ben met, sailed their small sailboat to Ecuador from Washington, and realized their dream.

Since then, Nikki has altered her career path so that it includes boats and everything that goes with them including recently attaining her USCG 50 Ton Near Coastal Master’s ticket. She has current certification as a Wilderness First Responder / First Aid /CPR.

Jake Schas
Chef/Baker/Traveler
Jake Schas is a travelin' chef from Sisters Oregon. Since attending culinary school in 1985 and pastry school in 1991, Jake has been on the move.

Jake has worked and in lived most of the western states. He has spent most of the last 10 years working and living in Antarctica. Spending four summers and three winter seasons at McMurdo Base. The outdoors is what drives Jake to move about the world. He has ridden his bicycle across the United States, walked the from Mexico to Canada 1 3/4 times, walked most of the south island of New Zealand and has lived in an igloo in Idaho. Throw in four seasons as a fly fishing camp cook on the Deschutes River in Oregon along with numerous summers as chef at an exclusive guest ranch and Jake decided it was time to see Alaska.

With a happy and fun outlook on life and work, you are assured to have a great time with Jake in the galley. Feel free to ask questions, look around and above all enjoy his culinary marvels.

Pilar Taylor
Chef
Born in Ketchikan and raised in Juneau, Alaska, Pilar has spent the majority of her life throughout Southeast Alaska.  After graduating from Ketchikan high school, Pilar headed to the lower 48 to continue education.  Upon graduation with a degree in Culinary Arts from the Art Institute of Seattle, Pilar has worked as a chef in restaurants in the Seattle area.  Before joining the Alaska Adventurer as chef, Pilar was previously chef at an exclusive fine dining club and plans to continue her culinary experience and expand her education in nutrition.

Pilar enjoys Alaska, every bit of it; hiking, fishing and the beautiful views from every angle.  Since her family all live in Southeast Alaska, she loves to visit Alaska at least twice a year, and is particularly excited to be in Alaska for the summer season. She is also extremely passionate about cooking and leading others on culinary adventures She loves to be in a kitchen of any style, and since the kitchen (or in this case, galley), is the natural gathering place, she hopes to make it welcome and comfortable to all. 

I enjoy interacting with the public and sharing my knowledge and stories with others, whether it is about food, Alaska or any questions/requests that they might inquire.  When it comes to food, I really enjoy teaching people what I know and especially find it a fun challenge when customers have particular dietary request/ restrictions and take an interest in what I am doing.”