Silversea’s 30th Anniversary: Unforgettable Moments in Ports of Call

Most of us are fortunate to have encountered a moment like no other, and more often than not, they occur while traveling. We may not recognize it immediately, but as the Silver Cloud sailed away from a tiny Greenlandic island one August afternoon, I knew I had experienced something magical that could never be replicated.

The island of Uummannaq in remote, northwest Greenland, is defined by a soaring, heart-shaped peak. A community of some 1,400 inhabitants is draped across the peak's granite shoulders, an exquisite setting. The night before the Silver Cloud anchored at Uummannaq I had gone to bed slightly disappointed that I hadn't made the cut in the lottery to choose the day's 14 kayakers. Before breakfast I decided it was worth a quick swing by the expedition office to see if, by chance, there were any no-shows. Sure enough, one couple had not arrived for their 8 a.m. suit-up - there was room for me. I jumped into the bulky gear quickly and joined a transfer via Zodiac to the waiting kayaks.

The bay fronting the island was incredibly peaceful - no wind or waves disturbed the placid surface as we paddled, icebergs on all sides. Our guide, Calle, advised us to assess the height of each berg and stay twice as far away in the water, and just after passing one garage-sized hunk, we witnessed the ice slowly flip over. The berg flipped from one side to the other, and back again, and over again, a show that went on for several minutes as the ice rebalanced.

Then, there was the unmistakable exhale of a whale, a sound that came from straight ahead. A telltale plume of mist floated into the air. Naturally, my first instinct was to start paddling straight towards the creature, but Calle cautioned: "If you paddle toward the whale, there's a good chance he'll come up behind us and you won't see him again."

So began what I can best describe as an exquisite meditation. All 14 of the paddlers simply floated in the bay, the nose of our kayaks pointed toward where we had seen the whale, who continued to surface and which Calle determined was a humpback. Though we avoided paddling, a nearly imperceptible current carried us toward the whale, and soon we got close enough to realize there were two whales, one of which was much smaller, a mother and calf. For about 40 minutes, we whispered barely a word, simply watching the pair feeding along the island's shoreline a few hundred feet away. Every couple minutes the mother would go for a deep dive, her fluke pointing to the sky before gracefully slipping into the depths. Not one of us wanted to leave.

This was one of those ineffable, once in a lifetime memories - the joy of serendipity, being in exactly the right place at the right time.

Sandra Redfern had a similarly serendipitous moment, aboard the Silver Explorer, also while sailing in the Arctic. As she explains:

"Breaking through ice in Svalbard is a great experience. And yet when a polar bear arrives - well, that's magic! One of our expedition guides had spotted a polar bear on the ice, way in the distance. Of course, we all rushed to put on our thick red Silversea jackets and hats and went to the bow of the ship.

"The engine was stopped and everything was quiet. The bear walked steadily across the ice, coming closer. We probably all looked like tasty morsels hanging over the rails, almost within touching distance - but not quite. I think the main attraction was the smell of burgers cooking, coming from the back of the ship (good thinking by the chef!). All the crew and passengers lined the ship's deck as the magnificent bear walked steadily alongside, from the bow to the stern, glancing up at us frequently. At the stern the bear must have realized that those burgers were not within his reach - and with what looked like a last glance of disgust, he walked away. We took lots of photos and a CD of shots taken by the onboard photographer are just amazing and still cherished."

While an event like a polar bear or whale sighting, especially in such extreme settings, can yield magic, sometimes what we bring to the places we travel, the way our stockpile of knowledge coalesces with the tangible, can be revelatory. Sailing with his wife, Michael Sheeley had such an encounter while aboard an Eastern Mediterranean cruise with Silversea.

"We called in at the port of Crete and joined an excursion to a farm and winery. There was an eight-course lunch, but what really stays with me is the moment I took to gaze across the countryside. To my left, one group of trees that had been planted at the time of Christ and were two thousand years old, nearing their end. To my right were newly planted trees that would live for two thousand years. I stood in the middle, one moment in time, in the crossroads of two fields that will span four thousand years together. This powerfully spiritual significance exemplified yet another memorable Silversea contribution to those who pursue the zest of life!"

Sometimes, the magicians working behind the scenes at Silversea join in creating passenger moments - occasions that take an ocean journey far beyond a typical cruise. In 2011, while aboard the Silver Wind, sailing the west coast of Africa from Cape Town to Las Palmas, James McGonigle tells of such an event amid the soaring coastal sand dunes of Namibia.

"Our fellow guests were entertaining company and each port of call was a new adventure for us. Whilst in Walvis Bay, Silversea organized a private dinner in the Namibian desert. All the guests were taken in 4+4 vehicles into the desert where a marquee had been set up.

"We were greeted by local women who washed our hands and we were entertained by a local school choir. The more adventurous could go camel riding, and as the sun began to set the sand kept changing color. A delicious three-course dinner was served, including lots of local dishes, and after the meal the lights were extinguished and we were entertained by local fire dancers.

"Our return journey was completed in total darkness, under a sky filled with so many stars. The lead jeep led us back to the port where the Silver Wind's waitstaff was assembled, carrying letters which spelled out 'Welcome Home.' On boarding the ship, others waiters provided us with warm cloths to wash our hands and glasses of chilled champagne. It was a truly magical experience, and one that still lives on in our hearts."

In 2015 I was lucky enough to sail from the Tower of London - downtown London in historical terms - down the River Thames and on to the North Sea. I found it to be a magnificent experience, one that can only be replicated on smaller cruise ships. Peter Jones made this rare journey with Silversea, in reverse, following a transatlantic crossing from New York.

"Undoubtedly, sailing up the River Thames was the highlight," he writes. "As we passed through the Thames Barrier you could sense the excitement mounting as the Silver Wind made its majestic progress towards the Millenium Dome on the port side and Canary Wharf on the starboard. The river made a gentle curve around these modern buildings and we were treated to an amazing view of the Old Greenwich Naval College and Maritime Museum, fittingly commemorating ships and sailors from times past. Continuing slowly round the graceful sweep of the Thames we made our stately progress towards Tower Bridge, which then appeared as if by magic in the distance. There was an audible gasp from all on board as the bridge began to open its 'arms,' as if to welcome us into the heart of London. We raised our champagne glasses and sailed under this stunning Victorian bridge, catching our first glimpse of the beautiful 11th-century Tower of London - a truly awesome spectacle.

"Our journey ended as we berthed alongside the HMS Belfast, but the memory will linger forever."

No matter what we do, we all reach the future, as writer C.S. Lewis once mused, at the same 60 minutes per hour. But aren't there moments when time seems to stop? Trevor Briggs recounts one very special New Year's celebration at the ends of the earth.

"We have been sailing with Silversea for 29 years, traveling to six continents and numerous countries, on nine of the fleet's ships. Our most treasured memory, out of many, was aboard the Silver Explorer in Antarctica - a very different Silversea experience. There was awe-inspiring scenery and amazing wildlife as we traced the route of Shackleton's voyage on the Endurance. Our journey included the New Year and, at midnight, we went on deck, Champagne glass in hand, to celebrate. It was snowing, with the sun going down on one side of the ship and, at the same time, rising on the other. The sky was a kaleidoscope of color with the crimson and gold reflecting off the icebergs around us. The glory of the natural world at its most spectacular.

"It was a magic moment, never to be forgotten. Thank you, Silversea, for giving us so many memories and worldwide friends."

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