Bumble Expeditions has grown from a Sitka shore excursions provider into one of Alaska’s leading tourism businesses. Following seven international cruise line contracts, it expanded into Alaska cruise excursions, wildlife tours, a private island experience, vacation rentals, an in-house café, and a full-service travel agency
— Bumble Expeditions, a Sitka-based tourism company founded in January 2023, has grown from a small-group wildlife and shore excursion operator into one of Alaska’s most structurally integrated tourism enterprises. The company has built a multi-division network that includes a full-service land-and-sea adventure offering small-group and customizable private tours, a full-service cafe that caters meals to its clients and tourists visiting downtown, and a travel agency capable of offering expert advice on all Alaskan ports and destinations worldwide. What began as a passion project rooted in a deep love for Sitka and its natural wonders has become something far greater: a growing legacy in Alaska’s tourism landscape.
Photo Credit to Nate Plummer
(left to right. Chelsea Huffman, Sara Hadad-Dembs, Cole Dembs, Lily Decker, Louisa Smith, Avi Rioux, Brigit)
While many Alaska tour operators focus on a single seasonal product, Bumble Expeditions was designed to support visitors throughout their experience at the Sitka cruise port. Guests are welcomed by the company’s team, guided on customized land-and-sea excursions, and served meals prepared by its in-house café before returning to their ship on schedule. For guests seeking a more exclusive experience, Bumble also offers private access to Mertz Island, a four-acre private island in Sitka Sound, with an exclusive, tailored experience capped at 5 events per year. A full-service travel agency handles onward travel planning for guests to assist them throughout their entire Alaskan experience, from their home base to every stop.
“We operate a highly specialized travel ecosystem designed to capture every element of a guest’s port day,” said Sara Hadad-Dembs, co-founder of Bumble Expeditions. “By integrating our land and sea excursions with our own private island, café, and full-service travel agency, each division seamlessly supports the other. Ultimately, we built this network to provide a deeply personalized experience that connects travelers to the heart of our community.”
By hiring local residents and partnering with community businesses, Bumble Expeditions supports the continued growth of cruise tourism in Sitka while ensuring visitors experience authentic hospitality rooted in Southeast Alaska.
Bumble Expeditions operates through a combination of special-use permits issued by the City of Sitka, the State of Alaska, and the U.S. Forest Service, allowing the company to offer a range of customized guest experiences both on land and at sea. In addition to its privately owned island in Sitka Sound, those permits represent years of operational groundwork and regulatory navigation, foundations that position the company for long-term growth while preserving an authentic connection to Sitka’s landscape and community.
The company’s contracted relationships with seven major international cruise lines represent a significant milestone for a business still in its early chapters. Cruise-line contracts provide a level of demand predictability during the May-to-September Alaska season that independent operators rarely achieve at such an early stage, enabling more thoughtful staffing, stronger community investment, and a more consistent guest experience year over year. While the company does not publicly name its cruise-line partners, the scope of those relationships has positioned Bumble as a trusted institutional partner within the Sitka port market.
Media recognition has further reinforced the company’s credibility with both travelers and industry partners. Bumble Expeditions has been featured on HGTV and in USA Today, coverage that speaks to the authenticity and quality of what the company has built in Sitka.
The vertical integration Bumble has pursued is not about mimicking the playbook of large resort conglomerates. It is about ensuring that every guest who arrives in Sitka experiences the destination completely and memorably. No single offering defines the company. It is the way each offering connects to the next, and the way all of it connects back to the place and people behind it, that makes Bumble something worth talking about.
Travelers arriving at the Sitka cruise port can book Bumble Expeditions through participating cruise lines or directly with the company. Excursions focus on Alaska wildlife tours, personalized sightseeing, and small-group Alaska tours, while the company’s travel advisors also provide Alaska vacation planning for independent travelers exploring Southeast Alaska.
Visit www.bumbleexpeditions.com/ to learn more about available excursions, private island bookings, and travel planning services.
About Bumble Expeditions
Bumble Expeditions is a Sitka, Alaska-based tourism company founded in January 2023 by Sara Hadad-Dembs and co-founder Cole Dembs. The company operates a fully integrated tourism network encompassing small-group land and sea shore excursions, a four-acre private island in Sitka Sound, an in-house café, a short-term rental property, and a full-service travel agency.
Built on a genuine love for Sitka and a commitment to sharing its beauty with the world, Bumble Expeditions has earned national recognition for its one-of-a-kind approach to Alaskan tourism. The company holds what it describes as the only concierge-level private land and sea tour available in the Sitka market, and remains dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for its community while delivering an unforgettable Alaskan experience to every guest it welcomes.
Contact Info:
Name: Zoe Revas
Email: Send Email
Organization: Bumble Expeditions
Website: http://www.bumbleexpeditions.com/
Release ID: 89196636
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