Silver Explorer journeyed 5,019 nautical miles between Nome and Tromsø, calling at 27 destinations in three countries. Highlights included sightings of polar bears with their cubs; two passages through the Arctic sea ice, accompanied by an icebreaker; a culinary experience on the remote Ostrov Isachenko; and a polar plunge above 80°N latitude.'
'Life-defining voyage'
‘It was a life-defining voyage,’ said Stefan Kredel, Silversea’s expedition leader for this crossing. ‘Nothing is guaranteed this far north, but we were very fortunate with the weather and ice conditions. We are delighted to have unlocked so many unique and memorable experiences for our guests in this remarkable region, from a folkloric performance by locals in Provideniya to various sightings of polar bears and walruses.’
Fifteen Silversea expedition team members were along, including three historians, a marine biologist, a botanist, a geologist, an ornithologist and a professional photographer. Almost 50 destination-inspired lectures were delivered aboard Silver Explorer throughout the journey.
Birding, polar bear cubs and walruses galore
Accompanied by ornithologist Danaë Sheehan, birdwatchers spotted many species off Cape Dezhnev from Silver Explorer’s Zodiacs. They included short-tailed shearwaters, crested auklets, Brunnich’s guillemots, horned and tufted puffins, black-legged kittiwakes, glaucous gulls and vega gulls offering ample entertainment.
Near Kolyuchin Island, guided Zodiac tours enabled travelers to see seven polar bears in just one hour and vast numbers of walruses. Back on board, marine biologist Robin Aiello hosted a lecture about polar bears.
Just off Ayon Island in the East Siberian Sea, passengers rose at 6 a.m. to search for wildlife on surrounding ice floes and saw many walruses and a polar bear with her two cubs. Following this was a visit to the isolated settlement on Ayon Island, home to a small town of aged Soviet-style buildings with about 300 residents. Local children interacted with passengers and performed traditional songs and dances.
Two weeks into the voyage, on August 24, Silver Explorer reached the Arctic pack ice and began following its edge northward, accompanied by a Russian icebreaker. With the icebreaker forging a path, the ship journeyed into the thicker ice for a memorable experience. Weather conditions were exceptional, Silversea reports, and the water was perfectly calm.
Champagne and caviar
The ship’s hotel team provided a unique culinary experience on the remote shore of Ostrov Isachenko by establishing a temporary bar near an abandoned weather station to serve champagne and blinis with caviar. Passengers explored the abandoned buildings and surrounding tundra in a temperature of 3°C.
Northeast and Northwest passages in 2020
In 2020, Silversea will operate two concurrent crossings of the Northwest and Northeast passages, aboard Silver Cloud and Silver Explorer, respectively. A 24-day crossing of the Northwest Passage will depart Kangerlussuaq for Nome on Aug. 21, journeying through remote regions in Greenland, Canada and Alaska. The Northeast Passage crossing will depart Nome on Aug. 22, bound for Tromsø 25 days later, having traveled again through Alaska, Russia and Norway.
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