Celebrated as the most spectacular for years, thanks to the almost moonless sky, the ship was two days into a seven-night Alaska Glacier cruise when the meteor shower reached its peak. As it did so, the ship’s lights were dimmed so that guests could enjoy the perfect conditions for star-gazing.
Photographer Russ Francis, who was appointed Royal Caribbean’s Instagrammer-in-Chief earlier this year, was flown onboard to capture the action: “The remoteness of the Alaskan wilderness means that artificial light is kept to a minimum – a ship out at sea is the ideal setting for watching and photographing this amazing celestial event.”
Associate Vice President and Managing Director, Royal Caribbean International UK and Ireland, Ben Bouldin, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to offer our guests truly extraordinary experiences. The Perseid Meteor Shower is a spectacular natural wonder and with a ship in the perfect position to witness it, it was an opportunity too good to miss.”
The Perseid Meteor Shower is an annual celestial event, visible across the entire Northern Hemisphere. The Perseids are so called because the point from which they appear in the sky lies in the constellation Perseus, named after the Greek mythological hero, most famous for slaying the monster Medusa.
Explorer of the Seas’ Alaska Glacier itinerary takes in some of Alaska’s most spectacular natural beauty, calling at: Seattle (Washington), United States – Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Inside Passage (cruising) – Skagway, Alaska – Tracy Arm Fjord (Sawyer Glacier), Alaska – Victoria (Vancouver), Canada before returning to Seattle (Washington), United States.
The ship offers guests an array of fantastic activities, including the Flow Rider surf simulator, Vitality Spa and Broadway-style entertainment in her onboard theatre.
Explorer of the Seas will return to the UK from May 2019, sailing exciting itineraries in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
