Seeing the 49th State the Silversea Way
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By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life Photos/Video by Gerry Barker Our recent Alaska cruise marked several firsts. It was our first time to visit Alaska. It was also our first time to cruise on Silversea, and needless to say, our first time on one of their newest ships, Silver Nova. How was it? Words that come to mind include amazing, jaw-dropping, awesome -- take your pick. This is Silversea's 30th anniversary year. Long recognized as a leader in upscale, luxury cruising, Silver Nova, the 12th ship in their fleet, launched last year to rave reviews, and after seven days aboard, it's easy to see why. READ MORE. |
Silver Nova docked in Ketchikan, Alaska
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Take a Tour of Silver Nova
Cruise Director Adam: Secret to Silversea Success: 'The Crew'
Adam Illsley
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By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life There was a time in his youth when Adam Illsley thought he wanted to be a policeman. Then at 14, he got bitten by the performance bug. And he's never looked back. Now serving as the cruise director for Silversea's newest and most technologically advanced ships, Silver Nova and Silver Ray, he talked about his career path during our recent seven-day cruise in Alaska aboard Silver Nova. He said the idea of joining the police "never went down great with my dad," maybe another sign the universe had other things in mind for him. After getting his Master of Arts in Dance Professional Practice from Middlesex University in London, he took his talents to sea, where for the past 16 years he's been a singer, dancer, actor and even an aerialist. READ MORE. |
Videos
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A Ride on the Klondike Gold Train
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By Gerry Barker
North Palm Beach Life Gold! The mere mention of the word ignites visions of wealth, fame and fortune. "Gold! Gold! Gold!" was the headline in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on July 17, 1897 -- "Sixty Eight Rich Men on the Steamer Portland" had arrived with "Stacks of Yellow Metal." And that's how the fabled Klondike Gold Rush was born. Skagway, Alaska was one of the starting points for thousands of gold-seekers making the harrowing 600-mile trek to the Yukon gold fields. As they crossed into Canada, each person was required to bring along a ton of supplies -- enough to last a year -- and had to navigate trails that were narrow, steep and treacherous, not to mention at times the below-zero temperatures. READ MORE. |
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Red Dog Saloon -- Juneau's Fabled Watering Hole
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By GERRY BARKER
"And on the right is the world famous Red Dog Saloon," said our tour guide. It was one of many sights she pointed out as our bus traveled through downtown Juneau, Alaska on its way to the nearby Mendenhall Glacier. As we passed, I made a mental note to come back and check out this fabled watering hole if we had a chance. And we did. After the tour ended, we had a couple of hours of free time in Juneau before our cruise ship, Silversea's Silver Nova, departed for our next port of call. Juneau, a city of over 30,000 population, has been Alaska's capital since 1906. Named after a gold prospector, it boasts a lively downtown area and a striking number of blooming flowers that adorn the streets and green spaces. Our visit was in July, during peak tourism season, when cruise ships can swell the population by 20,000 or more daily. READ MORE. |
