BOUTIQUE CRUISING
ABOARD THE LEGACY The unique nature of this Victorian replica is summed up by her simplicity – just three main public rooms, a sun deck with two hot- tubs, and plenty of open space for watching the scenery roll by. SS Legacy is designed as a coastal cruiser, hence she sticks purely to near-coast sailing and into rivers and other inlets, with her shallow draft allowing her to venture where most ships can’t. The Main Deck consists of 12 two-berth cabins (the only ones that open on to an internal corridor), the Klondike Dining Room and the aft- facing Pesky Barnacle Saloon. Lounge Deck is dominated by
the Grand Salon, or main lounge, plus the bow viewing area, another 12 cabins and more outdoor deck space. The Upper Deck boasts 20 of the final 21 cabins, a tiny sauna and a full wraparound promenade that again provides plenty of viewing. Atop the ship, the Bridge Deck
offers the capacious Owner’s Suite, sun deck space, hot tubs, a forward viewing area and a covered deck aft with fitness equipment and yoga mats.
absolute feeding frenzy, spouting and blowing, then diving to repeat the process again. And again. In all, we watched for three hours as the humpbacks swirled through the bay, diving and feeding in quick succession, taking advantage of the herring-rich waters. Thanks to the Un-Cruise policy of following the marine action, we saw it all, and eventually left the bay almost exhausted at the display of wildlife wonders.
On another occasion, we were observing six humpbacks feeding and breaching in the distance when two members of the pod detached themselves and surfaced right next to the Legacy. Passing slowly along one side of the ship, they repeated the process on the other, then nosed under the bow to provide the ultimate close-up.
O
nce again, we gasped in sheer astonishment at the brazen nature of this Alaskan encounter. Atop the ship, the Bridge Deck offers the capacious Owner’s Suite, sun deck space, hot tubs, a forward viewing area and a covered deck aft with fitness equipment and yoga mats. The days were similar, yet distinct; a mix of compelling port visits with masses
of history and languid sea days spent on deck, with binoculars eagerly trained for whale sightings and more, including dashing porpoises and solitary seals and sea-lions, plus plentiful birdlife. As we docked in Seattle, we were
greeted by a full line-up of the ship’s crew in the fondest of farewells as we also said goodbyes to the many fellow passengers who had become firm friends in the course of the voyage. It was an emotional finale but a fitting end to this most eye-opening of journeys; a very human voyage underscored by natural wonders. Most assuredly an Un-Cruise experience.
MORE INFO SS Legacy will feature 7-night cruises from Juneau to Ketchikan, or vice-versa, from Jun-Aug in 2014, with an 11-night voyage north from Seattle to start the season and a similar cruise south at the end. From Apr-May and Sep-Nov, she offers 7-night cruises on the Columbia & Snake Rivers round-trip from Portland. Prices vary from $3,195-$8,995/person, cruise-only, for the river voyages, $5,195-$17,495 in Alaska. In the UK, call specialist agents The Cruise Line on 0800 008 6677; in the US, 1888 862 8881; or visit
www.un-cruise.com.com.
36 WORLD OF CRUISING I Autumn 2013
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