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SITKA
An excursion in a rigid inflatable boat is a
wonderful way to see Sitka, with its fleet of
salmon trawlers and its islands. We are beside
ourselves when we come upon sea otters,
impossibly cute as they float on their backs.
KETCHIKAN
Our final excursion is in Ketchikan, and takes
us out to Neets Bay Observatory, where we
are once again rendered speechless. Another
salmon spawning location, we see four
bears fattening up on salmon to prepare for
hibernation. We watch in awe as they catch
and eat the salmon at will.
One bear comes towards us, stopping by a
nearby rock to eat his bounty. He stares at me
from 20 metres away, and I stare back, heart
hammering. His eyes. Oh, his big brown eyes.
They gaze at me unblinkingly for what feels
like eternity. He is still wet, with perfect
droplets on his furry coat from his latest
foray into the stream.
He is a glorious example of Ursus americanus, a
black bear, and he is right there in front of me,
in the wilds of Alaska.
WHAT IT'S LIKE ON BOARD
From the seamless boarding process in
Seward to the equally quick disembarkation in
Vancouver, Viking Cruises makes cruising life
easy. The design palette of Viking is elegant
without being over the top, featuring earthy
tones bringing a sense of calm.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS WITH VIKING
As the Viking Orion noses into port in
Vancouver, highlights of the trip flash before
my eyes. I relive so many experiences, but the
one that will stick with me forever is my
tête-à-tête with that bear, and his soulful
brown eyes. Unforgettable.
This article originally appeared in
volume 49 of Signature Luxury Travel &
Style magazine. Read the full article here:
https://www.signatureluxurytravel.com.
au/viking-cruise-alaska/
SEA OTTERS, ALASKA
BROWN BEAR CUBS AND MOTHER, ALASKA
EXPLORER'S LOUNGE
