Silversea Announces Inaugural Itineraries of Silver Spirit

Silversea Announces Inaugural Itineraries of Silver Spirit
Published: January 7, 2008 / LuxuryTravelMagazine.com

Silversea announced today that its newest ultra-luxury ship, Silver Spirit, is set to debut in lavish style with a Grand Inaugural Voyage on January 21, 2010. On this extraordinary 91-day journey, dubbed "The Spirit of South America," Silver Spirit will sail from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles and twist back to New York on a fascinating itinerary highlighted by a visit to Rio de Janeiro in time for Carnival, a journey around the end of the earth at Cape Horn, an in-depth exploration of the Mexican Riviera, a crossing of the Panama Canal and an unforgettable Statue of Liberty event in New York Harbor. Silversea will begin accepting reservations on January 12.

"As the new year begins and the construction of our new ship moves forward steadily, I am delighted to reveal some of the highlights of her much anticipated inaugural season," said Steve Odell, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific for Silversea. "Silver Spirit, when launched in a year from now, almost to the day, added Mr. Odell, "will embody the hallmarks of Silversea's understated elegance and distinct luxury with yet more superlatives in terms of her spacious suites, expansive wellness facilities and epicurean venues."

On their magnificent "Spirit of South America" odyssey, guests will visit more than 45 ports in over 20 different countries and island destinations across two continents, enjoying overnight stays in Fort Lauderdale, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Punta Arenas, Lima, Acapulco and Los Angeles. In addition, they will also be invited to attend the naming ceremony, a gala dinner event on the eve of departure with accommodation aboard ship, exclusive shore-side events in select ports of call, such as a VIP evening at the Rio Carnival, not to mention special commemorative gifts and a USD2,000 spending credit per suite to enjoy the voyage to the full.

Fares for the full Grand Inaugural Voyage start at USD39,187 per person, based on double occupancy, and include "Extended Voyage Savings" of 5% -- plus enhanced "Early Booking Incentive" and new "Extended Advance Payment Bonus" discounts applicable to voyages in 2010. (The company plans to announce more details about these generous new savings options shortly.) A complimentary Business Class air upgrade is also available for guests who purchase Silversea's optional air program.

Other highlights of the inaugural itineraries include an 11-day "Holiday Spirit" maiden voyage (#5901) on December 23, 2009, sailing from Barcelona to Lisbon; a "Maiden Crossing" (#5001), departing January 3 from Lisbon for 16 fascinating days exploring the Atlantic and Caribbean islands before arriving in Fort Lauderdale; and a two-week grand "Atlantic Crossing" (#5011) to Southampton from New York on April 23. Silver Spirit will spend the summer in the Mediterranean and then reposition to the Caribbean for fall and winter cruises.

The 36,000-ton vessel will indulge her 540 guests with the largest suites in the fleet -- 95% feature a private veranda -- and with one of the highest space-to-guest ratios at sea today, 67, providing 6,700 cubic feet of space per guest. The onboard décor will lend a sophisticated 1930s Art Deco ambience to the public spaces, highlights of which include an indoor/outdoor spa measuring no less than 8,300 square feet (770 square meters), three whirlpools (two adjacent to outdoor pool, one in spa area), enriching performances in The Show Lounge and a choice of six dining venues including Seishin, a Japanese restaurant, and the innovative Stars Supper Club, featuring live music, dancing and nightclub-style entertainment.

A new full-color, 36-page brochure showcasing Silver Spirit and her inaugural season will be available in the coming weeks. To order a complimentary copy, please visit www.silversea.com. An area of the company's website (www.silversea.com) has also been dedicated to Silver Spirit.

Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard four intimate vessels, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, and Silver Whisper, all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the addition of the regal expedition ship Prince Albert II, the company's itineraries encompass all seven continents.

In the U.S., Silversea has been voted "World's Best" by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (nine times) and Travel + Leisure (seven times), and rated Number-One luxury cruise line by high-net-worth consumers in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI). International awards include "World's Leading Luxury Cruise Line" from World Travel Awards (2007); "Five Star Diamond Award" from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (2007); "Number One" small-ship line in the Readers' Choice" survey conducted by Britain's Condé Nast Traveller magazine (2007); "Best Luxury Cruise Line" by Spain's Cruceros & Destinos magazine (2008); "Best Luxury Cruise Line" by Australia's Luxury Travel & Style Magazine (2009); and "Best Luxury Cruise Operator" according to Asia's Travel Weekly (2007 &2008).

For more information on Silversea Cruises, please visit www.silversea.com.