See Alaska in style aboard Silversea Cruises

Landscapes and Luxury

See Alaska in style aboard Silversea Cruises.

By Judi Cuervo

Click. “Darn.” Click. “Darn.” Click. “Darn!”

Whales are not like people. They don’t assemble and pose. Even on the “sports” setting of my camera, an enviable shot of a whale’s fluke — that two-lobed tail that is the last thing you see before the mammal disappears into the depths — eludes me.

Silversea Cruises’ 352-passenger Silver Shadow sailed into Juneau this morning and soon after I was off to the Whales & Glaciers Photo Safari, an excursion that includes a cruise through Stephens Passage, a channel in the Alexander Archipelago. We were not promised marine life sightings but, apparently, the humpbacks didn’t get the memo. They were out in force, breaching alone and in groups, practically surrounding our boat. The sight was so amazing that I finally put down the camera and focused instead on the magical show all around me.

I joined the Alaska sailing in Vancouver, arriving the evening before and spending the night at the Pan Pacific Hotel, a luxury property that adjoins the city’s Canada Place Passenger Ship Terminal. From our window, we watched Silver Shadow sail into town beneath the Lions Gate Bridge and dock just steps from the hotel. A call to the concierge and our luggage was collected and delivered not to the lobby, but directly to our suite on board.

Silver Shadow, launched in 2000 and 28,258 tons, is the perfect ship for those seeking an elegant and intimate all-inclusive vessel that offers a large selection of accommodations, public rooms, activities, dining venues, and superb, personalized service.

Our veranda suite is a spacious 285-square-foot oasis ideally situated next to one of the ship’s three launderettes, a stone’s throw from the pool deck, and a short stroll to the library and Panorama Lounge. The suite features a queen bed, sitting area, walk-in closet, in-suite bar, full bath (with luxury Ferragamo and Bulgari toiletries), flat-screen TV, DVD …

[impact_text include_button=”yes” button_style=”standard” title=”Subscribe” href=”https://porthole.com/staging/stores/” color=”orange” target=”_self” position=”cta_align_right” alt_background=”none” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]

This is an excerpt only. Pick up an issue of Porthole Cruise Magazine, or check out our digital edition.[/impact_text]

^{Photo: Silversea Cruises}