Silversea’s small luxury ships are the most beautiful that I have been on. They have been designed for those who delight in the thrill of discovery while indulging mind and body in the most lavish surroundings imaginable.
Since its inception in the early 90s, Silversea Cruises has been widely recognised as the gold standard in luxury cruising, acclaimed both for its legendary European lifestyle and its global reach of over 1,000 destinations across all seven continents - more than any other cruise line.
You can sail directly into the heart of St Petersburg, around the tip of Cape Town, along the oil-rich sheikdoms of the Middle East, across bustling Sydney Harbour and through the breathtaking Chilean Fjords.
And with the debut of Silver Explorer in 2008, expedition cruising Silversea-style enabled more intrepid travellers to be able to experience adventurous voyages to the world’s most unspoiled landscapes, from the primeval Galápagos Islands to the lush, tropical Eden of Polynesia and the frosted wilderness of Antarctica.
An expedition cruise is unlike any other form of travel — thrilling, awe-inspiring and humbling all at the same time.
Discover some of the most remote regions of the planet and immerse yourself in the culture, landscape and habitat of a rarely explored region with the help of experts who provide a deeper understanding of your surroundings.
So, what defines the “Silversea style”?
All accommodations are spacious, with ocean-view suites and most include private verandas
Silversea are the only cruise line in the world to include butler service in every suite, in every category, ensuring all guests are pampered equally
Dining is of a high priority with gastronomic excellence a given. From fine French cuisine and delicate Asian options to relaxed Italian family-style meals, destination influence is apparent in the great diversity on offer
A staff-to-guest ratio of nearly one to one ensures that every need is met with earnest precision
Gratuities are not expected. They’re included in your fare. A commitment to flawless service is readily apparent from the waiter who keeps your water glass filled to the chef who prepares your favourite soufflé à la minute.
Despite the global lockdown through 2020, a great display of resilience and determination from Dutch company, Shipyard De Hoop, has seen Silversea recently take delivery and successfully trial its groundbreaking and first ever destination-specific new ship Silver Origin, the most elegant ship yet to sail the stunning Galápagos Islands.
Built on the cruise line’s five key pillars of sustainability, destination on board, expedition experience, authentic local culture and comfort and service, Silver Origin has a guest capacity of 100 accommodated in 51 suites, all featuring a private balcony, and supported by a crew capacity of 90.
Silver Origin has been specifically designed with the bio-diversity of the Galápagos Islands in mind and has raised the bar of experiential travel to the region.
At almost 600 miles from the South American mainland, the Galápagos Islands are one of the remotest places in the world, a bucket-list experience for many and nothing short of paradise for lovers of the natural world.
The 19 island-archipelago was the world’s first UNESCO Heritage Site, homes an astonishing 9,000 species of flora and fauna and is widely regarded as one of the strangest and most wonderful places on the planet.
The Silver Origin experience includes a team of Ecuadorian national expert guides, the highest crew-to-guest ratio in the Galápagos and eight Zodiacs.
To connect with the soul of the destination, guests will be introduced to Ecuadorian-inspired cuisine, with speciality dishes prepared with the freshest ingredients by expert local chefs.
New itineraries offer the opportunity to experience a vast range of spellbinding island wildlife, including many endemic species. Have a look at some of the images below and world-renowned photographer Steve McCurry’s short video to get a glimpse into this extraordinary place:
Silver Origin is now booking for 2021 and beyond, and the cruise line is currently working on enhanced sanitary protocols across its entire fleet to ensure that all necessary precautions are in place for the resumption of safe cruising.
This is a fantastic development for expedition cruising, and I look forward to discussing any aspects of Silver Origin, the Galápagos or any other Silversea cruise on request.