New production shows light up Silversea stages

All-new, musical experiences are coming to the stages of Silversea Cruises' five ships. The new production shows will feature live acts complemented with musical tracks recorded exclusively for Silversea by renowned artists such as the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Seven different shows, featuring rich costuming, imaginative set designs, and special visual effects, will spotlight the talents of an international ensemble of accomplished vocalists, known collectively as The Voices of Silversea.  Besides the main Show Lounge, guests will also enjoy the singing talents of The Voices of Silversea when they perform duets and cabaret-style shows in more-intimate settings throughout the ship.

Guests sailing on Silver Cloud's recent voyage from Rome to Funchal have already been  treated to a sneak-preview selection of some of the new shows, all of which have been produced for Silversea by London-based Luna Rossa Productions. The entire entertainment program will then roll out fleetwide.

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Adventure Cruising blog

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Silver Galapagos completely refurbished

Silversea's all-suite Silver Galapagos is currently sailing on an expedition voyage following completion of a second phase of renovations undertaken in September during a month-long dry dock in Panama. 

All of the ship's suites, corridors and the Explorer Lounge (above) have been completely refurbished in a style similar to that of the recently refurbished Silver Discoverer.
The 100-guest Silver Galapagos underwent an initial partial refurbishment last year, with the installation of new in-suite bathrooms featuring rich marble detailing, plus a new fitness centre, massage room, beauty salon, outdoor Jacuzzi, and the line's signature outdoor dining venue, The Grill.


Silver Galapagos sails Saturday to Saturday on seven-day voyages through the Galapagos Islands, following either a western or north central route. On complimentary expeditions ashore guided by an experienced expedition team (certified by the Galapagos National Park Service), Silversea's guests may experience up-close encounters with wildlife that includes sun-basking land iguanas, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, colourful marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins and Darwin's famous finches.

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Exploring the Poles with Fred

The absurdly-named Fred.\ has launched a new travel brand specialising in Polar Expedition cruises.  Offering a selection of  polar expedition cruise holidays from seven specialist expedition operators, Fred.\ Expeditions will act as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for intrepid travellers searching for anexpedition cruising holiday.
 
Expedition cruise lines on offer from Fred.\ Expeditions include G Adventures, Hurtigruten, Quark Expeditions, Oceanwide Expeditions, Poseidon Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions and Silversea Expeditions. In addition to the cruises themselves, passengers can take part in on-shore expedition activities including camping, fishing, helicopter tours, hiking, mountaineering, kayaking, photography workshops, polar diving, ski-trekking and exploring the coastlines via Zodiac.

Prices start from around £2,349 per person for a seven night ‘Realm of the Polar Bear’ cruise aboard MS Expedition with G Adventures, departing 1 June 2015. This includes cruise only, onboard accommodation with meals and some beverages included. This itinerary visits Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Spitsbergen:  

A 13 night ‘Journey to Antarctica: the White Continent’ cruise with Lindblad Expeditions aboard National Geographic Explorer, priced from £7,299 per person to include cruise only, onboard accommodation with meals and some beverages included. Itinerary includes Buenos Aires, Ushuaia and Antarctica.  

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New Issue Out Next Week!

There's a real river cruising extravaganza in store for the second edition of World of Cruising magazine for 2014, which is due out next week. 

There is an unprecedented array of new ships, itineraries and even a brand new cruise line, Emerald Waterways, on the rivers of Europe this spring, and we are reflecting all of that in our extensive News and feature coverage, as well as something a bit further afield.

Our Cover Story is a look at the growing range and style of UK tour specialists Titan Travel in conjunction with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, while we also look at life in the slow lane with the deluxe manner of European Waterways in Burgundy.

To complete our triumvirate of river-going opulence, Contributing Editor Gary Buchanan heads to Kerala in India to sample the sumptuous style of Oberoi Resorts aboard their five-star Oberoi Vrinda river vessel.

But that is only the start of our latest journey in the wide World of Cruising. We have some big-ship offerings, too, with the likes of Norwegian Cruise Line's new Norwegian Getaway and the forthcoming Regal Princess of Princess Cruises plus a look at the varied luxury realm of Silversea Cruises on their 20th anniversary and the tempting cuisine of Azamara Club Cruises.

For destinations, we visit Turkey, St Maarten, Costa Rica and, by way of complete contrast, the Arctic, for a preview of this summer’s Polar cruising season.

All our regular features are back, of course, with a look at Life On Board, the CLIA View, Sea Social Media and columnists like Captain Greybeard, The Cruise Guy, Cruise Radio and Silver Travel Advisor.

And there’s our essential World of Spas section, with news of a wonderful tie-up between Celebrity Cruises and the Canyon Ranch spa group, as well as our fab Beauty File.

Once again, it all adds up to a thoroughly memorable voyage, both sea-going and river-borne, so step up the gangway and prepare to set sail… 

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Discover More - For Less - With Silversea

This year sees the arrival of a new luxury adventure-cruise ship to the growing array of high-quality choice in this part of the cruise market. And, to celebrate Silver Discoverer's inaugural season, Silversea Expeditions is including round-trip economy airfare for new cruise bookings on select Asia Pacific expedition voyages.

Also available are reduced business class airfares. The bookings must be made by 31 March 2014. The offer is available for a limited time from select UK gateways.

Aboard the small-sized, all-suite Silver Discoverer, guests will be able to explore some of the world's most remote regions and enjoy enriching destination lectures, photo presentations and daily recaps. Zodiac excursions and interactive walks ashore will be led by the best and brightest in their field - marine biologists, ornithologists, geologists, botanists, historians and anthropologists.

The following is a small sampling of the Asia Pacific expedition voyages featuring cruise fares with economy round-trip airfare included:

"Southeast Asia" Voyage 9408: 24 May – 9 June , Bali to Keelung
This cultural and wildlife journey of 16 days focuses on Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Expedition highlights include the chance to see the famed Komodo dragon in its natural habitat, visit diverse tribal villages and come face to face with Orangutans. Silver Privilege fares start at £6,550 per person, including round-trip economy airfare.

"East Asia & Russian Far East" Voyage 9410: 2 – 19 July, Otaru to Seward
Spanning from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Bering Sea, this unique 18-day expedition will explore remote destinations such as Sakhalin Island, the Kuril Islands, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands. Following the historic routes of explorers and traders, guests will have the opportunity to witness rare wildlife and spectacular natural landscapes, including massive volcanoes. Silver Privilege fares start at £9,450 per person, including round-trip economy airfare.

"Melanesia" Voyage 9418: 3 - 21 November, Cairns to Auckland
An 18-day expedition to unlock the mysteries of the Coral Sea, this intriguing voyage encompasses the islands of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, and Bay of Islands. These are some of the most idyllic places on Earth -- lush, tropical Edens with a stunning diversity of cultural and natural landscapes. Silver Privilege fares start at £8,550 per person, including round-trip economy airfare.

In true Silversea Expeditions style, guests aboard Silver Discoverer will enjoy spacious, ocean-view accommodations, gourmet cuisine, the personalised service of a butler, and a generous selection of all-inclusive amenities, including complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, and stocked in-suite beverage cabinet.

More info: call 0844 251 0837 or visit www.silversea.com/specialoffers.

 

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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A New-Look Wind

Silversea Cruises' Silver Wind has just completed a comprehensive refurbishment during a two-week dry dock in Palermo, Italy, this month.

Major enhancements have been made to the dining venues and public spaces, with renovations in terms of new carpets, upholstery and other soft goods in an overall colour palette of warm earth tones. The Bar, in particular, features all new furniture and furnishings in a contrasting colour scheme of cooler shades of teal mixed with neutral tones of brown and beige.

 

Other highlights include brand new tiling and deck furniture in the pool area and a redesigned buffet area in the speciality restaurant La Terrazza. 

Speciality restaurant Le Champagne, the only Relais & Châteaux restaurant at sea, has also undergone a complete refurbishment. This popular dining venue has been transformed with an upgraded entrance design, the addition of backlit wine displays, a redesigned seating layout, new wood flooring and new fabrics and window dressings. 

Completing the refurbishment was a fresh reconditioning and polishing of teak decks and woodwork. The ship also underwent thorough maintenance on mechanical and propulsion systems.

More info: visit www.silversea.com or call 0844 251 0837.

 

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Silversea's New Media Boost

Luxury line Silversea Cruises are claiming a cruise industry first by adding newspapers and lifestyle magazines to its complimentary onboard digital service. 

The digital service can be accessed on any Wi-Fi-enabled laptop, smartphone, tablet or even e-book reader -- anything with a browser. The service enables the streaming of movies and live television news broadcasts to guests' mobile devices aboard Silver Cloud and the recently launched Silver Galapagos.

The additional media options can be accessed on any smartphone or tablet, giving guests access to hundreds of daily newspapers and lifestyle magazines from 100 countries and in 56 languages. Publications are refreshed every night so guests receive the most up-to-date issues while travelling at sea.

"Thanks to technology from Newspaper Direct and other strategic partners, our guests are now able to enjoy their favourite newspapers and magazines on their personal mobile devices while sailing aboard Silver Cloud and Silver Galapagos," said Jason Cohn, Silversea's director of IT infrastructure.

By the end of November, the digital service will be available on Silver Shadow, followed by Silver Wind and Silver Whisper later in the year.

More info: visit http://www.silversea.com/ for additional details on the 2015 voyage collection.

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Check Out The Autumn Luxury Cruise Collection

Britain's leading specialist cruise agents The Cruise Line have just published their autumn Luxury Cruise Collection for those looking for the very best deals in five-star and five-star-plus cruises.

The Luxury Cruise Collection is a selection of the very best that deluxe cruise voyaging has to offer from a specially-chosen group of cruise lines, and the glossy new brochure - which is updated regularly - features some truly eye-catching options.

The brochure is now in its 10th year and is a product of years of experience in the luxury cruise world by The Cruise Line's dedicated sales staff, whose working knowledge of the various lines is second to none. It is also an active partnership with some of the world's leading cruise companies, hence guests can be sure of the best possible holiday experience.

And the newly-updated Autumn edition adds even more value and special features, including:

• A great selection of last minute luxury voyages departing in 2013.
• A collection of EXCLUSIVE packages, each one featuring an extensive land tour programme.
• Five great no-fly cruise itineraries for those who wish to avoid flying.
• Handpicked offers from nine of the world's finest luxury cruise lines, including Silversea, Oceania, Crystal Cruises and AmaWaterways.

For more info and bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line.

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Trusting Silversea

Last week's news that deluxe all-inclusive line Silversea failed - in epic fashion - their snap CDC sanitation inspection aboard the six-star Silver Shadow (above) has caused major ripples in the cruise world.

The fact one of the luxury cruising fleet could be caught out in this way was the initial shocker, followed by the details behind the case, which included galley crew hastily moving trolleys with food waste items and other dirty leftovers into crew cabins to try to hide them from the CDC inspectors.

The overall episode, which resulted in a score of 82 - where anything below 86 is marked as failing an inspection - has caused many media outlets to question Silversea's viability as a cruise line, amid lurid headlines and the usual array of criticism, much of it from lawyers eager to make a buck or two out of it by persuading passengers to sue (yawn).

Silversea have certainly and unforgivably dropped the ball on this occasion, but there are other facts that need to be outlined about this incident:

• Had a Silversea ship ever failed a CDC inspection before in the 20-year history of the line? No.
• Was passenger safety or health compromised by this bungled episode? No.
• Has the line been honest and up front in admitting what happened? Yes.
• Have they taken steps to ensure this won't happen again? Yes.

All in all, it is a chastening experience for the line and a real eye-opener for the industry. Failed scores can - and do - happen from time to time, including the Golden Princess in February and even one of the SeaDream vessels in January. CDC inspectations are rigorous and all-encompassing, and every ship is tested on a random basis twice a year, and some failing marks are on distinct technicalities that are highly unlikely that passengers would even notice. 

The simple fact is, with hundreds of ships now in the world cruising fleet, these kinds of failures remain a rarity and it therefore creates headlines when they happen.

Experienced commentator and cruise specialist Ralph Grizzle, otherwise known as the Avid Cruiser, has already posted chapter and verse on what happened, why and how Silversea are dealing with it subsequently, and you can see it on his latest blog on this link.

Silversea CEO Enzo Visone has also posted a full account of what happened and the company's reaction to it on their facebook pages, and you can that here: https://www.facebook.com/SilverseaCruises.

It is a surprisingly fulsome and candid apology, along with a rigorous list of how Silversea will go forward and ensure they rebuild their reputation as one of the finest cruise lines out there.

As a final question, it is something I have already been asked by a number of readers, as well as online on our Twitter account: Would you be happy to sail on Silversea again anytime soon?

The answer is a very simple Yes. Firstly because you can be 100 per cent sure the line is now paying maximum attention to the matter of cleanliness and all CDC matters (as, of course, they should), but mainly, because it is such an aberration, I would be extremely confident you just won't see Silversea slipping up on anything like this again.

 

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Silversea's Gourmet Cruise To Italy

Luxury cruise line Silversea has announced a tempting Italian “Gourmet Cruise” programme to Italy this October, with a 9-day Venice-to-Rome showcasing a collection of high-quality culinary offerings, including world renowned Italian experts and courses revealing the secrets of their cuisine. 

The voyage on Silver Spirit (above) sails from La Serenissima on October 24 and the highlights include: 

 

Chef Emanuele Scarello

Emanuele is a double Michelin star chef and world traveller and recognises his mother as his most significant influence in his cooking. Relying heavily on fresh ingredients from both land and sea, he reinterprets regional dishes with style and sensitivity in his Agli Amici restaurant in Udine, which his family have owned since 1887. As a chef he is part of both the "Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe" association, of which he was the Italian president from 2009-12, and of “Le Soste”, the prestigious association which unites Italy’s best chefs. Emanuele will prepare a two-course gala dinner on board and lead two cookery courses.

 

L’Università del Caffè

L’Università will offer courses and samplings aimed at discovering the scents and aromas of coffee on board. Guests will acquire a certain degree of experience that is necessary to become a real coffee connoisseur. Established in 2000, The University was set up by Illy to promote the culture of coffee worldwide, engaging producers, professionals and appreciators alike.  

Grappa Nonino

Grappa Nonino will reveal the secrets of the Art of Handmade distillation and the correct manner in which to appreciate the Nonino Monovitigno Grappa. The Nonino family has been dedicated to the art of Grappa distillation since 1897. After revolutionising the production process by creating the single vine variety, obtained by separately distilling the Picolit vinasse, Monovitigno Nonino was created. The company has since continued its research, innovation, and quality and, in 2000, they created Gioiello, the Acquavite obtained by the handmade distillation of pure honey. 

 

Prosciuttificio DOK Dall'Ava

Carlo Dall'Ava will lead a guided tour to the “prosciutto learning center DOK” and, along with his staff, will explain the correct complements necessary to fully emphasise the taste of Italian prosciutto. Starting in San Daniele del Friuli in 1955, Natalino Dall’Ava began producing hams and prosciutto and, in 1981, took over the oldest prosciuttifico producing facility on the hill of San Daniele. Since 2007, the company, headed by Natalino’s son, Carlo, has a new headquarters and continues to educate the consumer to the correct use of prosciutto by utilising simple combinations of ingredients which emphasise the taste.

 

Cividin Viaggi

Il Piacere, Wine Food and Art in Italy, the new taste portal designed by Cividin Viaggi, is an innovative project for Italy dedicated to the foreign market, with particular attention to luxury wine and food products. On the website, various travel itineraries will be suggested, each dedicated to a different area and to the discovery of the region from a cultural and gastronomic point of view. The first region to be covered, which is already operational, is Friuli Venezia Giulia. Among other things, a series of travel packages will be presented that will include a pre and post Gourmet cruise itinerary, covering various places of interest in Italy with a gastronomic and enological focus. 

 

The full voyage calls at Koper, Split, Dubrovnik, Valletta, Messina, Sorrento and Civitavecchia (for Rome).

For bookings, be sure to follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruise experts.

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Silversea's Relais & Châteaux Style

Acclaimed culinary trainer David Bilsland, a former instructor at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in London, is again set to host Silversea's exclusive "Relais & Châteaux L'École des Chefs" interactive cooking school in 2013. Chef Bilsland will present a programme developed in collaboration with Jacques Thorel, a consulting Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef, on 14 ultra-luxury voyages across the globe.

Silversea enjoys the privilege of featuring the only Relais & Châteaux cooking school at sea. The innovative programme, which is offered free of charge, provides guests with a special culinary curriculum, including hands-on instruction and entertaining events and has been carefully designed to celebrate the cultural flavour of the itinerary. Also offered on certain voyages, when the itinerary permits, is a "Market to Plate" experience that provides an escorted tour of a local market followed by a cooking class and a "Culinary Outing," an instructor-escorted excursion to a local restaurant, hotel or other venue where guests can enjoy a unique culinary exploration.

Here is a representative selection of the L'École des Chefs voyages for 2013:

AFRICA

Voyage 2336: Silver Wind departs Las Palmas December 3 on an 18-day sailing to Cape Town with calls in Porto Novo, Praia, Dakar, Takoradi, Walvis Bay, and Lüderitz. Silver Privilege fares start at £3,450.

ASIA
Voyage 3329: Silver Shadow departs Tokyo September 29 on a 10-day sailing to Shanghai with calls in Hiroshima, Busan, Jeju, and Tianjin (Beijing). Silver Privilege fares start at £3,250.

MEDITERRANEAN
Voyage 2334:Silver Wind departs Rome November 19 on a 7-day sailing to Málaga with calls in Sorrento, Trapani, Valletta, La Goulette, and Cartagena. Silver Privilege fares start a £1,450.

Voyage 2335:Silver Wind departs Málaga November 26 on a 7-day sailing to Las Palmas with calls in Cádiz, Casablanca, Agadir, Arrecife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Santa Cruz de la Palma. Silver Privilege fares start at £1,850.

NORTHERN EUROPE
Voyage 7309:Silver Explorer departs Lisbon April 29 on a 14-day "Flavours of Europe" voyage to Portsmouth with calls in Oporto (Leixoes), Vigo, Santander, St. Jean de Luz, Bordeaux, Quiberon, Saint-Malo, Guernsey, and Honfleur. Silver Privilege fares start at £4,450.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Michelin Chef Spices Up Silversea Voyage

Jason Atherton, the award-winning Michelin-starred chef who owns restaurants in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai, is to cook for guests on Silversea cruise ship Silver Shadow later this year.

Jason will cook a unique 4-course meal for guests onboard Silver Shadow's voyage from Hong to Singapore on November 25. While the menu remains in development, Jason is known around the world for some amazing signature dishes, including Scallop Sashimi “trip to Japan 2012” and “PBJ,” his twist on a classic peanut butter and jam sandwich.

In addition to cooking onboard, Jason will be a guest speaker during the voyage and host a group of guests on a unique tour to one of the fresh food markets in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam - one of the man ports of call during the cruise. The 9-day voyage docks in Singapore on December 4 after visiting Chan May, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Cruise Cowards?

Silversea Cruises is the latest line to pull out of cruise calls to the Falkland Islands following threats of intimidation at Argentine ports.

They join a list of companies, including Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises and German Aida Cruises who have all cancelled Falklands visits after being told their "safety" couldn't be guaranteed at the likes of Ushuaia and Buenos Aires if they also called at Port Stanley.

Excuse me? The safety of ships visiting Argentinean ports can't be guaranteed, so you cancel calls to the Falklands?

Doesn't that sound totally twisted in terms of logic? Moral cowardice, even?

If Argentina can't guarantee ship safety at their ports (and somehow makes it a Falklands issue), isn't the answer not to go to Argentina? Exactly like P&O Cruises announced, by cancelling their visits to Argentina.

It's perfectly feasible for ships to miss the likes of Ushuaia and Buenos Aires and instead call at Punta Arenas (Chile), Montevideo (Uruguay), South Georgia and Port Stanley. If they want to.

Why in the name of all that's sane would you go to the "unsafe" ports and cut out the ones that still welcome cruise ships and go out of their way to accommodate them? Isn't that just giving in to a bully?

Silversea's UK general manager, Mike Bonner, in the ultimate example of Orwellian double-speak, insisted: "Due to ongoing political uncertainty, Silversea has taken the decision to cancel scheduled calls at Port Stanley for voyages departing in the coming weeks. These voyages will now include alternate ports of call and, where possible, guests will be notified prior to embarkation. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by these schedule changes. The safety of our crew and passengers remains our foremost concern.”

So, "political uncertainty" in Argentina means you still go there? Really? In the same way that, for example, political uncertainty in Egypt means cruise lines cancelling calls to Alexandria. Do you see a difference?

Come on, Mike. That is absolute baloney and you know it. The cruise lines may think they need Argentina, but that is definitely not the case. And, if you tell your customers the real story, I'm sure the majority will back you up.

Boycott Argentina - NOT the Falklands.

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Banana Coast Set For A Silver Debut

Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises will be the first cruise line to sign on to the Banana Coast, the newest western Caribbean cruise destination, at Trujillo, Honduras, when the 296-passenger Silver Cloud calls there on December 17, 2014.

And Michael Greve, president of Global Destinations Development, one of the companies partnering in the port project, explained: "We are pleased to have a high-end brand like Silversea be the first to commit to call at Banana Coast. It's a testament to how we have carefully created a destination that is culturally and historically appealing to the most sophisticated travelers."

Greve said construction at Banana Coast, which began in August 2011, is now 80 per cent complete, and the facility is expected to have a soft opening in January 2013. The port will be open to host ships throughout 2013 and beyond. "We have met with several other lines and have hosted site inspections by cruise line executives," he added. "We expect that several lines soon will commit to adding Banana Coast to their itineraries."

Plans for Banana Coast Landing call for the construction of a 50,000sq ft shopping facility and transportation hub on 10 acres of beachfront land. Themed "Where the Rainforest Meets the Sea," the $20million project currently employs 150 construction workers, engineers and architects. A future phase will see construction of a two-berth, post-Panamax pier.

In March 2012, the developers unveiled an ambitious and diverse shore excursion programme designed to offer something for everyone, including cultural, soft-adventure and eco-tour offerings. The tours enable guests to explore the area from land, air and sea. In addition to the signature tour -- Campo del Mar Nature Park & Beach Break -- highlights include a VIP airplane ride to the Mayan ruins at Copan; a snorkelling adventure at a beautiful starfish bank, and kayaking in the pristine Guaimoreto Lagoon. Guests looking to stay on land have the chance to discover the port’s appeal through an exciting mountain ATV ride, a culinary tasting tour or a trolley ride through the colonial town of Trujillo.

Future plans include creation of the 100-acre Campo del Mar, which will incorporate an integrated heritage park, river park, wildlife park and nature park -- all easily accessible from Banana Coast Landing. 

For Silversea bookings, be sure to check this link for The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruise specialists.

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Now Booking - Galapagos With Silversea!

Luxury expedition cruise specialist Silversea has opened the books for its 2013 and 2014 Galápagos programme.

Its year-round schedule of 7-day expedition voyages aboard the 100-guest, all-suite Silver Galapagos will begin operating in late September 2013. The two voyages will be as follows:

Western Itinerary: Saturday to Saturday, round-trip from Baltra Island 
Silver Galapagos will trace a path across the western, southern and eastern islands, including Santiago, Bartolomé, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, San Cristóbal, and Santa Cruz.

North Central Itinerary: Saturday to Saturday, round-trip from Baltra Island
Silver Galapagos will encompass the north-east, central and south-east islands of Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Seymour Norte, San Cristóbal, Española, and Plazas Sur.

Fares start at £3,550 per person, based on double occupancy.

This new schedule will offer adventurous travellers the chance to discover a wild, pristine paradise that has long been regarded as a natural laboratory of evolution. Through complimentary expeditions, guided by an experienced expedition team (certified by the Galápagos National Park Service), Silversea guests will be able to experience up-close encounters with an abundance of wildlife including sun-basking land iguanas, giant tortoises, blue and red-footed boobies, colourful marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins and Darwin's famous finches.

The programme will also offer the opportunity to swim and snorkel in tranquil clear waters, witness unique highland ecosystems, hike through lush mangrove forests and across volcanic fields, explore natural lava tunnels, watch for wild flamingos (in season), read cave inscriptions from the 1800s, and learn about conservation efforts at the Charles Darwin Research Station.

In true Silversea Expeditions style, guests of Silver Galapagos will enjoy full-scale exploring from an enclave of luxury at sea, including spacious, ocean-view suites, gourmet cuisine, butler service and a selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities such as complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship and all gratuities.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, Ltd, the UK's luxury adventure-cruising specialists.

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Winter Escapes With Silversea

Silversea has announced a selection of blissful Winter Sun voyages that all include complimentary airfare. The offer is available on select voyages including Asian and Caribbean cruises that are sailing in early 2013 and include generous onboard spending credits of up to $1,000 per suite. The credits can be used towards a wide range of onboard purchases, including shore excursions, spa treatments and premium dining.

Choose from:

AFRICA – Voyage 2302: Soar over South Africa’s magnificent Drakensberg mountain range by private helicopter, enjoy a city tour of Port Elizabeth and experience the Addo Elephant Park – 126,000 acres of bush country home to 300 elephants. Silver Wind sets sail on January 15 on a 10-day round-trip voyage from Cape Town. Prices start from £3,050 per person.

MEDITERRANEAN – Voyage 2305: Discover the Souks and Raids of Medina, experience the scenic interior of Madeira on a guided tour through the island's 'levadas' and explore the unusual vineyards of Lanzarote. Silver Wind sets sail on February 22 on an 8-day round-trip voyage from Las Palmas. Prices start from £1,650 per person.

ASIA – Voyage 3306: Sail the wondrous seascape of Ha Long Bay aboard local junks, discover the colourful streets of Hoi An and experience a local perspective on wartime memories and the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels. Silver Shadow sets sail on March 6 on a 9-day voyage from Hong Kong to Singapore and prices start from £2.650 per person.

ASIA – Voyage 3307: Explore the culture and heritage of Kuala Lumpur, discover your artistic side while learning the traditional art of Batik in Penang and take in the splendid natural beauty, landmarks and history of Phuket. Silver Shadow sets sail on March 15 on a 7-day round-trip voyage from Singapore. Prices start from £1,950 per person.

All prices based on double occupancy in a Vista suite and include free economy round-trip flights. 

For bookings, follow this link to the Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Mississippi River Cruise, Pt 2

We’re sailing the Mississippi aboard the brand new Queen of the Mississippi of American Cruise Lines. Follow along with us as we go from St Louis to Memphis…

After finding our feet aboard this modern interpretation of a classic 19th century paddle-steamer, our first meal comes as a pleasant surprise.

There is just the one dining room aboard and it is open seating from 12.30pm for lunch and 6.30-7.30pm for dinner. And, interestingly, you get to pre-select your meals in advance (basically, so the galley doesn’t over-cater). At breakfast each day, every guest receives a form to fill in for their lunch and dinner choice from an either/or choice for starter and main course at lunch, and, in the evening, a choice of two starters (usually a soup or salad) and three main course options.

Our first lunch is impressive, with a relatively simple choice (soup or salad; sandwich or main-course salad) and lots of flavour. We are also told that if we don’t see something on the menu we like, they will be happy to accommodate most requests. In fact, given a little notice, the galley can come up with a wide variety of alternatives, including vegetarian, low sodium and kosher.

After lunch, our ship sails, leaving St Louis behind and sailing upriver to Alton in Illinois. Surprisingly, we go through two sets of locks and a canal that by-passes a rocky section of the Mississippi proper. It seems surprising to us this far down the river but our resident ‘Riverlorian’ – the onboard lecturer on all things Mississippian – tells us it is a relatively modern alteration that really helps the smooth flow of river traffic.

More importantly, it gives us chance to explore our home for the next 7 days, this new ship that may seem a bit small by the standards of past river-cruisers (which could be almost 400ft long and carry 400-plus, as opposed to our 150) but is certainly beautifully out-fitted and immensely comfortable.

This Queen is certainly more modest in terms of dimensions and amenities. In addition to the dining room, there are three separate lounges, including the main Magnolia Lounge, which is used for the daily lectures and evening entertainment, the Deck 4 conservatory Sky Lounge (below),with its outdoor patio and terrace, and the clubby Paddle Wheel Lounge.

Deck 5 is largely open air, with a large covering, with the addition of a small putting green and plenty of chairs and rocking chairs in which to sit and watch the riverbanks glide slowly by.

Each of the 4 main interior decks also have a small lounge/card/room/library type set-up, providing a nice small-scale retreat for those who just like a quiet place to read or chat.

This is certainly not the all-action, all-feature type ships we see on ocean-going routes and even some bigger river-cruise vessels, but, with a clientele that is largely 60-plus, well-travelled and keen more on listening than doing, it is superbly well-equipped for the job.

The staff aboard are all young, keen and fresh-faced, as well as immensely friendly. This isn’t the white-glove, six-star service of a Silversea, Seabourn or even a Uniworld, but they make up for it with a personable style that is enthusiastic and accommodating, very eager to please and very familiar with their river-going vessel.

The weather isn’t great so far – around 50F and overcast – but every stateroom has its own climate control system that works extremely well and the overall effect is of great travelling style.

Next – Our first stop, Alton, Illinois.

 

 

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Silversea Names New Galapagos Explorer

Silversea has announced Silver Galapagos as the name for its second small-sized expedition ship, which is currently sailing as the Galapagos Explorer II.

The new name signals the company's intent to maintain a consistent level of elegance throughout its fleet and will take effect following a full refurbishment in September 2013. The hull of the all-suite, 100-guest vessel has already been painted the same dark blue as  Silver Explorer, the company's other expedition ship.

Silver Galapagos  will be the only luxury expedition ship offering socially and environmentally responsible ecotourism to the Galápagos archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This important distinction enables Silversea to broaden its portfolio of expedition cruises tailored to tap into the rising interest in green tourism.

The 2013 Galápagos programme will go on sale next month, offering two new 7-day itineraries. These will begin operating in late September, sailing Saturday to Saturday on a round-trip voyage from Baltra Island. The two voyages will be as follows:

Saturday to Saturday – round-trip from Baltra Island: Silver Galapagos will trace a path across the western, southern and eastern islands, including Santiago, Bartolomé, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz.

Saturday to Saturday – round-trip from Baltra Island:  Silver Galapagos will encompasses the north-east, central and south-east islands of Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Seymour Norte, San Cristóbal, Española and Plazas Sur.

This new schedule will offer travellers the chance to discover a wild, pristine paradise that has long been regarded as a natural laboratory of evolution. Through complimentary expeditions, guided by an experienced  expedition team (certified by the Galápagos National Park Service), Silversea guests will experience up-close encounters with an abundance of wildlife, including sun-basking iguanas, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, sea lions, penguins and Darwin's famous finches.

The programme will also offer guests the opportunity to swim and snorkel in tranquil clear waters, witness unique highland ecosystems, hike through lush mangrove forests and across volcanic fields, explore natural lava tunnels, watch for wild flamingos (in season), read cave inscriptions from the 1800s, and learn about conservation efforts at the Charles Darwin Research Station.

In true Silversea Expeditions style, guests enjoy full-scale exploring from an enclave of luxury at sea, including spacious, ocean-view suites, sumptuous gourmet cuisine, a personalised butler service and a selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities, notably complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, and all gratuities.

For bookings follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Silversea's Expedition Adventures

Adventure-seeking travellers with discerning tastes will be thrilled to discover that Silversea's Expeditions programme offers a range of cruises that are just as exhilarating as they are luxurious, taking in the wonders of Antarctica and the lure of Africa alike. 

Take a look at this small selection for their winter 2012/13 season:

USHUAIA-USHUAIA : Marvel at spectacular iceberg sculptures and calving glaciers, set foot on the continent of Antarctica and encounter gentoo, chinstrap and Adelie penguins. Watch for whales (humpback, Minke, orca, pilot and beaked) and identify seabirds, including Antarctic cormorant, kelp gull, Antarctic tern and cape petrels.

Silversea’s Silver Explorer sets sail December 3 on a 10-day round-trip voyage from Ushuaia in Argentina. Prices start at £5,399 per person, based on double occupancy in adventurer class. It is also available on voyages departing Jan 21 and 31 and Feb 10 and 20.

USHUAIA-CAPE TOWN: Follow in the footsteps of great Antarctic explorers, see snow-covered mountains, mighty glaciers and spectacular icebergs. Watch for sea lions, seals, dolphins and whales and identify seabirds including albatross, shearwaters and petrels. Visit the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world and marvel at the dramatic views from South Africa’s Cape Point.

Silver Explorer sets sail on March 2 on a 22-day voyage from Ushuaia, Argentine, to Cape Town, South Africa. Prices start at £6,399 per person, based on double occupancy in adventurer class. 

ACCRA TO DAKAR : Visit a traditional Ewa village and school, Learn of the voodoo culture and contemplate the solemn history of slave trade sites. Admire the fishing skills of the Tofinu people, explore the seldom-visited Bijagos Archipelago and identify rare endemic bird species and wild monkeys.

Silver Explorer sets sail on April 11 on a 12-day voyage from Accra, Ghana, to Dakar in Senegal. Prices start from £4,299, based on double occupancy in adventurer class. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's adventure-cruise specialists.

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Around The World With Silversea

Leading luxury cruise operator Silversea has announced  it will start 2014 - its 20^th anniversary year - with an exceptional voyage. The special 113-day 2014 World Cruise will encompass 54 ports in 29 countries, with 12 overnights and eight late departures.

Setting sail from Los Angeles on  January 6, the 382-guest Silver Whisper will circumnavigate the entire globe. Heading first into the Pacific, the ship calls at Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand before a two-day call at Sydney. The three days in Hong Kong and two days in Shanghai that follow will allow an extensive array of Overland Adventures, and a myriad of half and full-day excursions.

Guests will then spend a month exploring Asia calling at Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia before arriving at one of the world’s most intriguing and enigmatic destinations, Myanmar. Silver Whisper will remain at dock in Yangon for three days to allow ample time to discover the colonial architecture of Burma’s largest city, monumental Shwedagon Pagoda, and unforgettable Bagan with its 2,200 temples and pagodas. The antiquities and urban contrasts of India, Oman, Jordan and Egypt are then followed by twin calls in the Holy Land.

The global journey concludes with a sweep of former capitals of empire, notably Istanbul, Athens and Rome and the delights of Messina, Sorrento and Monte Carlo. An overnight in Barcelona will bring the World Cruise to an artistic conclusion.

Options are also available to extend the journey, by adding a pre-cruise Panama Canal voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles (17 days), or extend from Barcelona to Lisbon (7 days) or Southampton (16 days).

Full World Cruise guests will enjoy a number of added benefits, including a gala Bon Voyage evening at the Montage Beverly Hills (or similar), baggage valet service, inclusive air (or air credit), generous onboard spending credits, exclusive shoreside events, such as an overnight visit to Angkor Wat, with dinner in the shadows of Bayon Temple, and a delightful array of surprises.

Prices start from £33,650 per person, based on double occupancy for the 113-day cruise.

For bookings, follow this link to the Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruise specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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