Splendors of Alaska

During the morning Silver Explorer will enter Prince William Sound and will be heading for an area first visited by the Harriman Expedition in 1899 -and named by the participants for prominent East Coast Colleges. Although the expedition was predominantly male it had been decided to name the tidewater and valley glaciers in a specific way: men’s colleges on the eastern side, women’s colleges on the western side

After cruising the Gulf of Alaska, Silver Explorer will approach Kayak Island, a historical landmark -as this was the only island in Alaska where Georg Steller landed during the Bering Expedition of 1740. Cape Elias, on its southern tip, not only has an automated lighthouse and a log-strewn shore, but during a Zodiac cruise a few haul-outs of Steller sea lions on the flat rocks might be spotted. Some of the island’s haul-outs are quite large, containing several huge males and their harems of females. On the water, rafts of Short-tailed Shearwaters and Red-necked Phalaropes are not uncommon.

Shortly after breakfast we will be in front of Hubbard Glacier –and depending on conditions will either cruise with our Zodiacs or Silver Explorer will be taken along the front of the Hubbard Glacier and while cruising we hope to see some glacier calving.

We will visit the community of Yakutat and will have the opportunity to see the indigenous St. Elias dance performance at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall, listening to traditional songs by the Tlingit tribe.

This morning we visit the small community of Elfin Cove were you will have good opportunities to go for a walk on wooden boardwalks, exploring the unusual set-up of the village. At Inian Island you will be going on a spectacular Zodiac cruise, searching for some of the emblematic animals of Alaska: Bald Eagles, Steller sea lions, and humpback whales. The Zodiac cruise will permit you to be up close to the wildlife.
During the evening Silver Explorer will be near Point Adolphus, a well-known area for whale watching.

Today be prepared for a very early wake-up call if you want to see the Sergius Narrows which separate Chichagof and Catherine Islands.

In the late morning Silver Explorer will arrive in Sitka, one of Alaska’s major fishing ports. Tlingit natives settled the area thousands of years ago. Russians came to trade in the late 18th century, making Sitka the capitol of Russian America. Apart from exploring the town itself, there are trails within the Sitka National Historic Park/Totem Park that will permit you to see some of the emblematic totem poles, and the Russian Bishop’s House, a National Historic Landmark.

Silver Explorer will be at Sail Island before breakfast and we will scan the area surrounding the island for whales. Humpback whales like this area and we will try to see them from our Zodiacs. Our Marine Biologist and other experts will be looking for these leviathans during the morning and therefore be prepared to join all those interested on a Zodiac cruise at a moment’s notice.
Heading south we will transit the Wrangell Narrows at dinnertime.

During the morning Silver Explorer will be at anchor in front of Annette Island, Alaska. The Tsimshian of Metlakatla are famous for their totem poles. During the visit of the town we will get to see at least 12 of these emblematic pieces of art and we will experience a dance performance at their longhouse. Apart from the ceremony we will be led to the William Duncan Memorial Museum to understand their culture and history, specifically why and when they moved to Annette Island.

Ketchikan is one of the larger towns of the area and will offer a variety of exciting options.

Located within the Tongass National Forest is the wilderness area of Misty Fjords National Monument. Extending over 2.3 million acres it is the largest wilderness area in Alaska’s forests and the second largest in the nation. It has been described as an almost untouched coastal ecosystem with outstanding geological features. Misty Fjords is called “Yosemite with water” due to the soaring granite walls rising straight from the sea, reminiscent of El Capitan. During our Zodiac exploration we will be looking in the air for Marbled Murrelets, which unlike most members of the auk family nest in trees, and Bald Eagles, brown and black bears on the ground, and harbor seals and sea otters in the water.

Before breakfast, Silver Explorer will arrive in Prince Rupert, the “City of Rainbows”, our point of entry into Canada. Prince Rupert’s port is the deepest natural harbor in North America and ice-free all year round, making it an ideal port for cargo between Asia and North America since it is connected to the Canadian Railway.

In Prince Rupert coaches will meet you at the dock to take you to tour the North Pacific Cannery, the longest running cannery in British Columbia (and now a museum), to better understand part of Prince Rupert’s economy. The North Pacific Historic Fishing Village is a National Historic Site and is the most complete cannery that remains of these remote villages that once dotted the West Coast.

Silver Explorer sails south through Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound.

Located near the northern entrance of Johnstone Strait, Alert Bay is a small but culturally and historically very rich village on Cormorant Island (named after HMS Cormorant). The Kwakwaka’wakw are well known for their art, and especially their carvings. Not only were totem poles of importance, masks are central to the representation of the different characters of their dances and feature prominently. We will spend the morning in Alert Bay and will see a cultural presentation and walk to the Memorial Totem Poles at the Namgis Burial Ground, one of the few places were the Totem Poles have not been disturbed nor removed.

At the U’mista Cultural Center we take a walk into the past and hear about the potlatch system and the ancient way of life. The museum holds a precious collection of masks and artefacts previously confiscated during the potlatch ban from 1884 to 1951. We will experience traditional First Nations songs and dances.

During the afternoon we cruise the Johnstone Strait. This spectacular waterway invites you to take in the scenery from the outer decks of Silver Explorer. The strait that is between 2.5 km and 5 km wide, 110 kilometers in length and is home to large numbers of orcas during the summer months. The largest member of the dolphin family, orcas (also known as killer whales) can measure nearly ten meters in length and weigh up to six tons.

After breakfast, disembark Silver Explorer.

VIEW SUITE 192 sq. ft./18 m2 with view window

Sitting area, Twin beds or queen-sized bed (Veranda suites 500, 501, 512 and 513 have a fixed queen-sized bed), Triple capacity that can accommodate young children on sofa bed (View suites 310, 311, 312, 313 and Vista suites 410, 412, 415, 417), Marbled bathroom with tub/shower combination, Writing desk, Flat screen television with interactive video, on-demand movies and music, and satellite news programming, Direct-dial telephone

VISTA SUITE 192 sq. ft./18 m2 with large picture window providing panoramic ocean views

Sitting area, Twin beds or queen-sized bed (Veranda suites 500, 501, 512 and 513 have a fixed queen-sized bed), Triple capacity that can accommodate young children on sofa bed (View suites 310, 311, 312, 313 and Vista suites 410, 412, 415, 417), Marbled bathroom with tub/shower combination, Writing desk, Flat screen television with interactive video, on-demand movies and music, and satellite news programming, Direct-dial telephone

VERANDA SUITE 206-216 sq. ft./19-20 m2 including French Balcony
(16 sq. ft./1.5 m2) with floor-to-ceiling glass doors

Sitting area, Twin beds or queen-sized bed (Veranda suites 500, 501, 512 and 513 have a fixed queen-sized bed), Triple capacity that can accommodate young children on sofa bed (View suites 310, 311, 312, 313 and Vista suites 410, 412, 415, 417), Marbled bathroom with tub/shower combination, Writing desk, Flat screen television with interactive video, on-demand movies and music, and satellite news programming, Direct-dial telephone

Silver and Expedition suites can accommodate three guests.

SILVER SUITE 422 sq. ft./39 m2 including 2 French Balconies with floor-to-ceiling glass doors (30 sq. ft./3 m2)
EXPEDITION SUITE 388-397 sq. ft./36-37 m2 with 2 view windows or 2 large picture windows

Living room (with convertible sofa to accommodate an additional guest), Twin beds or queen-sized bed, Marbled bathroom with full-sized bath and separate shower, Walk-in wardrobe with personal safe, Vanity table with hair dryer (Silver Suite), Writing desk, Two flat screen televisions with interactive video, on-demand movies and music, and satellite news programming, Direct-dial telephone, Laundry service (Silver Suite), Afternoon canapés upon request
(Silver Suite), Dinner at officer’s table (Silver Suite)

Silver and Expedition suites can accommodate three guests.

SILVER SUITE 422 sq. ft./39 m2 including 2 French Balconies with floor-to-ceiling glass doors (30 sq. ft./3 m2)

Living room (with convertible sofa to accommodate an additional guest), Twin beds or queen-sized bed, Marbled bathroom with full-sized bath and separate shower, Walk-in wardrobe with personal safe, Vanity table with hair dryer (Silver Suite), Writing desk, Two flat screen televisions with interactive video, on-demand movies and music, and satellite news programming, Direct-dial telephone, Laundry service (Silver Suite), Afternoon canapés upon request
(Silver Suite), Dinner at officer’s table (Silver Suite)

Grand Suite can accommodate 3 guests.

618 sq. ft./57 m2 including veranda (86 sq. ft./8 m2)

Teak veranda with patio furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass doors, Living room with sitting area, Twin beds or queen-sized bed, Marbled bathroom with full-sized bath and separate shower, Walk-in wardrobe with personal safe, Vanity table with hair dryer, Writing desk, Two flat screen televisions with interactive video, on-demand movies and music, and satellite news programming, Direct-dial telephone, Laundry service, Dry cleaning and pressing, Afternoon canapés upon request, Dinner at officer’s table, Four hours of internet service per suite, per voyage segment, Two hours of worldwide phone use from your suite, per voyage segment

Owner’s Suite can accommodate 3 guests

728 sq. ft./67 m2 including large veranda (158 sq. ft./15 m2)

Large teak veranda with patio furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass doors, Living room with sitting area, Twin beds or queen-sized bed, Marbled bathroom, with full-sized bath and separate shower, Walk-in wardrobe with personal safe, Vanity table with hair dryer, Writing desk, Two flat screen televisions with interactive video, on-demand movies and music, and satellite news programming, Direct-dial telephone, Laundry service, Dry cleaning and pressing, Afternoon canapés upon request, Dinner at officer’s table, Four hours of internet service per suite, per voyage segment, Two hours of worldwide phone use from your suite, per voyage segment