Blue Whales, Orcas, Dolphins and more…Operated in partnership with marine conservation charity ORCA, Silversea’s latest whale watching voyages yielded a total of 1,076 marine mammal sightings for the cruise lines guests, including sightings of blue whales, killer whales, humpback whales, sperm whales, minke whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and much more. ORCA’s expert conservationists traveled aboard Silversea’s Silver Muse to share their insight with guests on voyages from Tokyo to Seward and from Seward to Vancouver, concluding on June 6, 2019.
Rising with the sun, from 4:30am each morning, dozens of Silversea’s guests gathered out on deck and in the Observation Lounge throughout the voyage to witness the abundance of marine life from the ship, with more than 150 guests participating at times. Throughout both voyages, virtually all guests attended lectures, workshops and/or engaged in whale watching activities to learn more about the marine life and conservation of these remarkable regions. Marine-related shore experiences then enriched the offering, enabling guests to delve deeper into the topic. The data collected by ORCA and Silversea’s guests will contribute towards conservation efforts and each guest will receive an ORCA Ambassador certificate to mark the achievement.
Some of the highlights of the two voyages included sightings of four blue whales, the largest animal on the planet; over 420 Pacific white-sided dolphins in just a two-hour window; three orcas while approaching the Hubbard Glacier; humpback whales in large numbers throughout Alaska; northern sea otters, eating crabs and sea cucumbers; and an abundance of birds, including Bald Eagles, Tufted Puffins, Rhinoceros Auklets, and three different species of albatross, among others. While the number of sightings suggested that the two whale watching voyages were hugely successful, it was the strength of guests’ feedback that affirmed the success of the experiences.
Part of an industry-leading offering that comprises calls in over 900 destinations, Silversea’s voyages to the Russian Far East and Alaska were ideal for the whale watching project. These two regions were pre-selected as ideal destinations for whale watching voyages, due to the abundance and diversity of marine life that inhabits these regions’ waters.
Silversea’s voyages to remote destinations – from pole-to-pole and almost everywhere in between – are entirely unique: aboard Silversea’s intimate ships, guests can travel deeper into each destination in superlative comfort, enjoying an intimate onboard atmosphere and numerous luxuries, such as the personalized service of a butler; complimentary drinks throughout the ship, as well as an in-suite bar stocked with guests’ preferred beverages; and fine cuisine that is inspired by the sailed region, among other all-inclusive luxuries.
