Dan Blanchard has formed a new company that has purchased the assets of American Safari Cruises (ASC), the cruise line Blanchard used to lead.
The new company, InnerSea Discoveries, will operate the ASC brand, beginning with the 2009 Alaska season. InnerSea also plans to launch new brands.
Blanchard was CEO of ASC from 2001 to October 2008. Joining him on InnerSea's executive team is Tim Jacox, executive vice president of sales and marketing. Jacox performed the same duties at ASC.
"Tim and I are extremely excited to be back at the helm of a product we love and to build on the strong name of American Safari Cruises," Blanchard said in a statement. "Showcasing nature up-close has been our true passion for decades, and we are looking toward new opportunities for bringing people closer to nature in small-group comfort."
InnerSea is voluntarily placing client payments into a secure account.
"We believe this to be a sound business practice for our new company model," Blanchard said. "This is our own decision. We are not required to do this by any regulatory agency."
For the fall 2009 season, the company is introducing eight-night, one-way cruises along the Columbia and Snake rivers on the Safari Explorer. Details will be announced in late February, InnerSea said.