Alaska fought hard to avoid a second consecutive year without the cruise ships that support thousands of jobs and inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the state’s economy. It went down to the wire, but the effort succeeded and Alaska is now reaping the benefits.
Silversea Cruises is the latest line to announce it will offer an Alaska season in 2021, with the 596-passenger, 411-crew Silver Muse operating a series of 10- and 11-day roundtrip-Seattle itineraries beginning July 29. The ultra-luxury line also announced new all-Icelandic itineraries, with three 10-day voyages from Reykjavik beginning June 30 on Silver Shadow.
“The return to service is fast gaining momentum, and we’ve seen exceptional demand for travel in Alaska and Iceland,” said Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s President and CEO. “We’re eager to welcome back our guests to unlock unforgettable experiences aboard Silver Muse and Silver Shadow while contributing to the local economies of the incredible communities we visit.”
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As with several other lines that have announced a late-summer return to Alaska, the Silversea series was made possible by the passage of the U.S. Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, which temporarily enables cruises to travel to Alaska without mandatory stops in Canada.
On these longer voyages, Silversea guests will take in many of the state’s most scenic highlights, including the Sawyer Glacier and the Mendenhall Glacier, as well as experience the state’s wildlife and remote communities; among them Ketchikan, Juneau, Wrangell, Skagway, and Sitka.
All guests and crew will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before embarking Silver Muse in Alaska and Silver Shadow in Iceland, part of Silversea’s multi-layered protocols designed to help safeguard the health and safety of guests, crew, and ports.
What makes Silversea an “ultra-luxury” cruise line? Silver Muse and Silver Shadow are among the most spacious ships at sea. Both feature all ocean-view suites, butler service, and cuisine served in multiple restaurants.
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Fares typically include round-trip air (or air credit), pre- and post-cruise hotel nights where needed due to flight schedules, transfers, and baggage handling. Onboard, guests will enjoy complimentary premium wines and spirits, specialty coffees, 24-hour complimentary in-suite dining, and in-suite bars stocked with guests’ preferences. Gratuities and WiFi are also part of the inclusive fare.
Amazing Alaska experiences are available for an additional fee, including a helicopter trip to Mendenhall Glacier where guests will be able to walk across this massive ice structure wearing special glacier boots. Other choices include a three-hour whale quest aboard a catamaran from Auke Bay, or boarding a vintage train for an exclusive adventure through Skagway’s White Pass and YukonRoute, learning about Alaska’s gold rush history along the way.
The new voyages to Alaska will be added to Silversea’s website on June 7. The line is maintaining a flexible booking policy, so guests booking before August 31, 2021 will be able to cancel their cruise up to 30 days prior to departure for all voyages (except World Cruises) until April 30, 2022, without penalties in exchange for a Future Cruise Credit.
Like Alaska, Iceland has proved a favorite for Silversea guests. Responding to strong guest feedback, the line had previously announced its largest-ever collection of voyages in Iceland for 2021-2022.
The 382-passenger, 295-crew member Silver Shadow will circumnavigate the extraordinary island, giving guests the opportunities to view volcanoes and glacier-sculpted fjords, walk across lava fields, and witness towering waterfalls and bubbling hot springs.
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