On Silver Shadow Cruise From Iceland

Silversea's Silver Shadow anchored at St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada, on August 21, 2025. Photo credit: William H. Miller. — Silversea’s *Silver Shadow* anchored at St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada, on August 21, 2025. Photo credit: William H. Miller.

All Aboard in Reykjavik!

Silversea’s Silver Shadow is like an impeccably run club – 350 passengers looked after by 300 or so wonderfully friendly and attentive staff. Having just been aboard two months earlier (Fort Lauderdale-Caribbean-New York), it is always quite amazing how we as guests are remembered. And at dinner, I have the very same waiter, for example, the wonderful Chesney from Johannesburg.

Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam (below) is in port. The ship is sold out. And with 54 passengers completing a Grand Voyage, 84 days around Northern Europe (NY to NY) and to just about every port you can imagine: from Hamburg to Honningsvag, Stockholm to Stornoway. This is the gala last leg.

Holland America Lines' Nieuw Statendam in port at Reykjavik, across from Silver Shadow. Photo credit: William H. Miller. — Holland America Lines’ *Nieuw Statendam* in port at Reykjavik, across from *Silver Shadow*. Photo credit: William H. Miller.

Departed at 11 pm.

Easy and Very Restful Second Day

Five speakers on board and this morning is “How To Lose Weight On A Cruise!” Included were such statistics as we eat 30% more on a cruise, drink 50% more, but exercise 50% less and altogether gain 8-10 lbs per week!

Well, a sigh — and I’m off to lunch!

Lunchtime!

Chatting with a couple, both retired from long careers with Delta Airlines – he was a pilot, she in headquarters management. In the wake of my first lecture today, he mentioned: “My grandmother loved travel – and especially loved travel on ships. She seemed to be going all the time. As a teenager, in the ‘60s, she took me along – three weeks to the Mediterranean on the Constitution and a month to South America on the Brasil. But she crossed alone several times on the United States, took the Farrell Lines to South Africa, an American President Lines’ freighter to Japan and Hong Kong, and did a 3 ½-month trip around the world from San Francisco on the President Monroe. But her favorite ship, as I remember, was cruising each winter from New Orleans to the Caribbean on the Stella Polaris.”

No, it wasn’t much of an up-on-deck/pool trip!

Special Journey!

Mike Reiss, fellow speaker (on TV comedy, etc), talked about his submersible trip to the wreckage of the immortal Titanic.

He added, “At first we couldn’t find the wreckage, but followed bits of coal and finally made it!”

Enrichment Speaker Mike Reiss in the Titan submersible to the sunken wreckage of RMS Titanic. From the William H. Miller collection.

Formal Night

Tonight is formal night… but not so formally, even here on six-star Silversea:

50% men with sports jacket,
25% with tie,
And maybe 25% with dark suit/tux.

Yes, the formality, the high style, the fashion, the gloss is disappearing. And the likes of fancy Regent Seven Seas Cruises opening the gates and now accepting jeans after 6, and in the dining room… their response: Passengers’ request and demand!