5 minute read
Expedition America
An expedition along the east coast of America is a journey among civilisations old and new— and spectacular natural wonders.
WORDS: RODERICK EIME
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When the first European visitors explored the east coast of
North America some 500 years ago, their reports told of lands of great riches and beauty. With so many hardships across the Atlantic in the Old World, it was no surprise that many were ready to risk everything to start new lives in the New World, despite the hazards of ocean travel in the 15 th and 16 th centuries.
Today, we see the legacy of those intrepid souls in a thriving and prosperous civilisation that stretches from Canada to the Caribbean. Great cities such as Quebec, New York, Charleston and Baltimore reflect the rapid expansion of immigrants who made full use of the abundant resources of the new territories.
Sea travel has come a long way since that time; from the tiny, cramped ships that took weeks to toil across the ocean to the robust, supremely comfortable vessels of today—such as Silversea’s boutique adventure ship Silver Cloud.
The ship was rebuilt and enhanced in 2017, turning it into one of the preeminent vessels of its type currently sailing the seas. Guests will appreciate the difference between larger cruise liners and the intimate luxury of Silver Cloud.
Each of her oceanview suites comes with a personal butler service, and you can refresh in the pool or pamper yourself in the onboard beauty salon. Mix, mingle and relive the day’s experiences over complimentary cocktails at Dolce Vita before dining at Silversea’s signature Grill or at La Dame by Relais & Châteaux.
Silver Cloud is set to retrace the steps of seafaring pioneers as she sails from historic bilingual metropolis Quebec City in Canada to Fort Lauderdale in the formerly Spanish territory of Florida over 16 nights from September 25, 2019. During this maritime journey, Silver Cloud visits ports including Halifax, Portland and Newport, where Silversea’s experienced lecturers will recount some of the great stories of North American history. This voyage is also an ‘expedition’, in the sense of getting back to nature. You can expect to see Humpback whales, White-beaked
FACT FILE
Cruise line: Silversea Vessel: Silver Cloud Maximum guest capacity: 254 Crew: 223 Facilities: pool and jacuzzis, 4 restaurants, 3 lounges, theatre, library/observation lounge, photo studio, beauty salon, fitness centre, spa, boutiques, Zodiacs and kayaks for shore excursions.
Atlantic puffins congregate on a cliff top
dolphins, raptors and seabirds including the Atlantic puffin.
Quebec City, capital of Quebec province, was founded in 1608. The French had been scouting the region for decades looking for a site on which to build a permanent settlement, and its history predates many of the big cities of North America. In fact, old Quebec is the only city north of Mexico to be surrounded by fortified ramparts.
An elegant stateroom on Silver Cloud
Sailing along the picturesque St Lawrence River, you’ll pass through the rich maritime landscapes of New England, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Stopping in at Bonaventure Island one morning, you’ll see the largest migratory bird refuge in North America—before sailing on to the beautifully restored village of Percé in the afternoon, and historic Charlottetown the following day.
The Migratory Bird Sanctuary at Bonaventure Island, Percé
Like its Australian namesake, the capital of the former Cape Breton Island colony was also founded by the British and named after Thomas Townshend, 1 st Viscount Sydney. This Sydney is home to just over 30,000 inhabitants, but is a charming place to visit, with its rich Celtic heritage.
Before leaving Canada, Silver Cloud will call at culturally significant locations such as Halifax, capital of Nova Scotia, where the immaculately preserved waterfront with its authentic eateries harks back to an era when maritime trade was the lifeblood of the region.
Across into the United States, the stories of seagoing exploits and exploration continue. The town of Portland in Maine was the site of one of the earliest European settlements, with British migrants establishing farming and fishing villages from the early 17 th century. Today, visitors to the eco-friendly city can enjoy parks and bicycle paths as well as microbreweries and coffee houses.
Similarly, Newport, Rhode Island, is a colonial-era city and originally a destination for religious refugees fleeing European intolerance. These days, Newport is the US base for the America’s Cup challenge.
After being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of New York City for a full day, guests will leave the Big Apple for Baltimore, Maryland. Once the second busiest port of entry for immigrants to the US, Baltimore was founded in 1729 and grew to become a major manufacturing and industrial centre. Just to the south is Norfolk, Virginia, location of the world’s largest naval base, with a wealth of revolutionary history to explore.
Charleston, in the former Confederate state of South Carolina, gets nearly six million visitors every year. Named after King Charles II of England, it was founded in 1670 and has the dubious reputation of once being the busiest slave port in the US.
Our maritime history and nature voyage comes to an end in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Fares for the 16-night cruise start from AU$12,300 per person, twin share. Travelling on Silver Cloud, one of the world’s newest and most meticulously appointed expedition ships, we are a long way from the tribulations of those who first sailed along these shores.
However, the sense of wonder that such a voyage of exploration and adventure affords us would be very familiar to our seafaring ancestors.
Silver Cloud cruises along the magnificent east coast of America
The expedition ship has all the features of a luxury vessel
