Is Alaska in your bucket listing? It was on mine, and I lastly checked it off on a 7-day Silversea cruise in August.
Picturesque Seward.
I really like water, consuming it, being close to it, in it, doing actions in it and residing by it. I’m at peace, the stress melts away and therapeutic happens. Whether or not it’s sitting and admiring the view, dipping my toes within the water, floating, swimming, kayaking or one thing else, being close to is it my completely happy place. I’m at peace, the stress melts away and therapeutic happens. It additionally ought to come as no shock that I’m a Pisces—the water signal. So, when a visit that concerned water—a cruise—was talked about, it instantly peaked my curiosity. Let’s simply say that I used to be bought.
When associates mentioned, “Let’s take an Alaskan cruise to have a good time birthdays, retirements, friendship and anything we may consider,” I didn’t take lengthy for me to join the seven-day cruise departing from Seward, Alaska and ending in Vancouver, Canada.
Silversea Cruises
Whereas we noticed a number of totally different cruise ships on our voyage—Viking and Movie star—we went with Silversea, which is thought for distinctive customer support. For me, the good factor about this cruise is that you just unpack as soon as for the week and will not be toting your baggage from metropolis to metropolis, checking out and in of inns and arranging transportation for every vacation spot. You even have entry to a laundry room, room service, a number of eating places for which to decide on, drinks and a wide range of excursions which might be included in the associated fee so that you don’t have to fret about tipping through the day.
Aboard the Silver Moon ship, the route went from Seward to Vancouver and alongside the best way, we have been face-to-face with the blue-white wall of the Hubbard Glacier. You would possibly say that we noticed Alaska awaken, with wildlife rising from spring hibernation. We stopped in Ketchikan, the place totem poles inform enduring tales, and Sitka, the place Orthodox onion exudes Russian heritage. Earlier than we landed in Vancouver, we explored the Seymour Narrows.
Silver Moon
Silver Moon mirrors her sister ship Silver Muse. At 40,700 gross tons and with capability to accommodate 596 passengers on board, it gives spacious all-suite lodging. The ship options the all-new Sea And Land Style (S.A.L.T.) program —an immersive culinary idea that permits friends to journey deeper by way of a spread of destination-based culinary experiences.
Sea And Land Style (S.A.L.T.) Lab. Photograph Credit score: Silversea.
Beneath is an instance of one of many suites.
The Silver Suite. Photograph credit score: Silversea.
The Royal Suite is designed utilizing precise strains, genuine Italian craftsmanship, and positive supplies with a luxurious inside furnishings, and sweeping seascapes from the suite’s non-public terrace. One bed room is 1,130 sq. ft together with a veranda and a two bed room is 1,528 sq. ft together with a veranda.
The Royal Suite. Photograph credit score: Silversea.
The Grand Suite gives the biggest veranda on board, which makes it good to entertain when you’re touring with associates. One bed room is 1,472-1,572 sq. ft, together with the veranda and a two bed room is 1,873 to 1,970 sq. ft, together with the veranda.
The Grand Suite. Photograph credit score: Silversea.
Elsewhere contained in the ship is equally elegant, that includes well-appointed areas for lounging after dinner or a day’s outing.
Panorama Lounge. Photograph credit score: Silversea.
Silver Moon – Dolce Vita. Photograph credit score: Silversea.
There’s additionally their funky Arts Café, which boasts attention-grabbing books, artwork and a inventive vibe.
The Arts Café. Photograph credit score: Silversea.
Naturally, there’s a spa on board as effectively . . . an amazing place to unwind after quite a lot of strolling or just as a solution to calm down after an extended day.
The Silver Moon Spa. Photograph credit score: Silversea.
The surface of the ship is spectacular as effectively. Silver Moon is likely one of the largest ships of their fleet however maintains the small-ship intimacy and spacious all-suite lodging which might be the hallmarks of Silversea. Due to its measurement, they boast eight beautiful eating choices as effectively.
Above and under: Silver Moon. Credit score: Silversea.
Stress-free over one thing scorching. A scrumptious cuppa Joe anybody?
One other favourite reminiscence was sipping champagne on our veranda.
Nature at its Finest
Alaska is for the character lover. It’s stuffed with stunning forested areas—some touched by people and a few untouched, glaciers and wildlife, all of which have been topped off with views from my balcony watching seals float by on chucks of ice, humpback whales and glaciers as we slowly cruised by distant uninhabited islands the place binoculars enabled a more in-depth view and the flexibility to scan the shorelines on the lookout for black bears.
Alaska is certainly a spot to unwind, reconnect with nature and be as energetic as you need like mountaineering, biking and kayaking or much less energetic on a ship experience for whale watching to additionally see otters, sea lions, seals, eagles and extra or viewing the world by bus, prepare, floatplane or helicopter. Our group did numerous actions equivalent to mountaineering and biking, exploring a nature protect to be taught concerning the native vegetation, wildlife and tradition, go to a wildlife rehabilitation middle, find out about totem pole carving and canine sledding the place they held puppies.
The excursions booked by way of the cruise line did present an up shut and private take a look at the natural world in addition to salmon swimming upstream and different wildlife. There have been many islands to see alongside the best way in addition to awe-inspiring ice glaciers. And the views have been breathtaking.
Excursions which generally range from 2-6 hours when the ship docks in a city can range from extra sedentary ones like bus excursions or boat rides for whale watching to strenuous hikes and kayaking to one thing in between. For instance, I went on a 5 mile bike experience on a flat route with about six stops to be taught concerning the vegetation like Devils Membership that can provide you a rash you contact the leaves, however the stems will be floor and made right into a cream for ache aid for these achy joints after an extended hike and fireweed which was used to taste icing at a doughnut store in Anchorage the place we initially landed.
Whereas the temperatures have been within the mid 50s to mid-60s Fahrenheit, it was principally cloudy or slight wet as Alaska has precipitation about 300 days a yr, so contemplate your self fortunate when you get a sunny day. I had two, however my rain gear—waterproof jacket with hood and pants—did get used. For clothes, layers are the best way to go as it’s cool within the morning and late afternoon and hotter mid-day. Informal put on is what everyone seems to be sporting on the town and on the excursions as effectively. A wind proof, waterproof jacket over a fleece high and t-shirts was a well-liked alternative in August together with sneakers or mountaineering boots relying in your plans for the day.
For evenings, the cruise was elegant informal/resort put on for the eating places, so until you’re getting room service each night time, then you want to pack one other outfit for the night. The ship did have a laundry facility on every flooring which we used for our garments that have been mud-splattered after a motorbike experience on dust trails within the rain.
At 40,700 gross tons and with capability to accommodate 596 passengers on board, Silver Moon maintains the small-ship intimacy and spacious all-suite lodging which might be the hallmarks of the Silversea expertise. Silver Moon additionally options the all-new Sea And Land Style (S.A.L.T.) program —an immersive culinary idea that permits friends to journey deeper by way of a spread of destination-based gastronomic experiences. Prepare for a brand new world of journey.
Cultural Metropolis Stops
As for the cities, we visited Skegway, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. We have been amazed in any respect jewellery and present retailers tailor-made to vacationers intermingled with retailers with domestically made artwork and souvenirs. The cities will be overcrowded at occasions as a result of a number of cruise ships may very well be docked there on sure days of the week placing 13,000-22,000 folks within the city, prompting some cites to restrict the quantity or cruise ships allowed on sure days. For instance, Juneau has 32,000 residents, and 1.6 million vacationers a yr. Evaluate this to Sitka’s 8,000 inhabitants that rises by at the very least 2,000 as a result of seasonal employees within the customer and seafood industries for the summer season months.
As for meals, the costs at eating places on the town are excessive. We ended up not consuming in any since we have been both on our excursions, or drained and wished a bathe again on the ship to get out of the rain. I heard that the fish (halibut) and chips have been about $34, however was scrumptious in addition to the native craft beers.
Our favourite meal and a spotlight of our journey along with seeing humpback whales, was the locally-sourced meal at Fin Island Lodge in Sitka, which was included in an tour the place we eight of us boarded a small boat to view humpback whales, otters and eagles. The simply caught and cooked salmon, crab legs, prime rib with horseradish cream, mashed potatoes, tomato soup with a basil oil drizzle and seafood chowder have been the most effective I’ve had, a few of which was topped off with alder wooden smoked sea salt which added an additional layer of native taste. I bought the smoked salt so I may bear in mind this meal each time I exploit it. We additionally made s’mores outdoor on the firepit which simply appeared to style higher in Alaska than at dwelling.
Above and under: Lunch at Fin Island Lodge in Sitka.
I even have additionally heard good issues about land excursions or planning it by yourself with a rental automobile and a few aircraft or boat rides. It’s essential to notice to that some cities, like Juneau, are solely accessible by boat or air.
All in all, I’m glad to examine my Alaska cruise off my bucket listing and am now busy fascinated by what and the place my subsequent journey shall be: How about you?
About Silversea Cruises
Silversea is a luxurious cruise line and expedition journey model headquartered in Monaco that was based in 1994 by the Vlasov Group of Monaco and the Lefebvre household of Rome. It pioneered all-inclusive cruising with its first ship, Silver Cloud. Since July 2020, it has been owned by Royal Caribbean Group.
Their fleet of small luxurious ships gives fantastic alternatives to discover the globe throughout all seven continents. Some enjoyable choices embrace crusing into the center of Seville, across the tip of Cape Horn, alongside the craggy coasts of Canada or by way of the breathtaking Chilean fjords. Their expedition cruises take you to a number of the world’s most distant and noteworthy landscapes, such because the primeval Galápagos Islands and the plush, tropical Edens of Polynesia to the frosted wilderness of Antarctica.
You may be taught extra right here. See a few of our cruise protection right here — our hope is to broaden our cruise part beginning in 2026.
Patti Boerger is semi-retired after a rewarding and profitable profession as a advertising and marketing communications government. All through her profession at main firms and commerce associations, she thrived on serving to companies develop and make significant connections with their prospects. Patti offered strategic advertising and marketing, model administration, promoting, popularity administration, disaster communications, media relations, government communications, thought management, web site content material analysis, content material advertising and marketing, social media and program administration. She has labored on the intersection of sustainability and social impression.
Patti enjoys travelling, superb meals, being outdoors in nature and procuring at thrift shops to seek out objects to repair up for these in want. As well as, she is a Reiki grasp, a technique of power therapeutic, and makes use of this present to assist others.
