18 CRUISE July/August 2019 Travel News
25 years as the top ultra-luxury line....
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ILVERSEA Cruises passes a momentous milestone in 2019: 25 years as the industry’s leading ultra-luxury cruise line. Since fi rst setting sail in 1994, Silversea says it has unlocked the authentic beauty of the world for almost half a million guests on approximately 4,100 voyages. Silversea’s ships have completed an accumulated total of over 47,800 cruise days, while the cruise line’s guests have travelled deeper on a combined total of more than 9.4 million cruise days. Bringing innovation to the cruise industry with a truly pioneering concept, Silversea was the world’s fi rst all-inclusive ultra-luxury cruise line when it launched in 1994.
Purpose-built Silver Cloud – the cruise line’s fi rst ship, which was unique insomuch as almost all suites included a personal balcony – was christened in Monaco on May 30,1994, in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. Since then, Silversea’s guests have travelled to the world’s most remarkable destinations in unparalleled comfort, enjoying personalised service and an intimate atmosphere on board. Many aspects of the cruise line have evolved in the past 25 years, but these core principles have remained and today make a Silversea cruise unique.
When Silversea was founded by the Lefebvre family 25 years ago, the vision was to launch a cruise line that had a truly global reach, in the sense that guests from across the globe would discover the world’s remotest and most iconic regions in superlative comfort, with a broad spectrum of destination versatility. This vision has been successfully realised, as Silversea today unlocks immersive travel experiences for guests in over 900 destinations, from pole to pole – more than any other cruise line.
Destination expertise has long diff erentiated Silversea Cruises, but it was the launch of Silversea Expeditions in 2008 that pushed the boundaries of discovery further than the ultra-luxury industry had previously seen: milestone voyages include Antarctica in 2008; the West Coast of Africa and the Russian Arctic in 2012; Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia in 2013; the Galapagos Islands, the Russian Far East, the Kimberley Coast, and the fi rst Northwest Passage crossing in 2014; and Bangladesh in 2017. In 2019, Silversea’s guests will traverse the Northeast Passage for the fi rst time, while the cruise line will undertake the world’s fi rst ever Expedition World Cruise in 2021. Silversea’s destination leadership in more iconic regions, such as the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, also remains as strong as ever and is predicated on deep travel experiences.
From just one ship in 1994, Silversea’s guests today enjoy a fl eet of nine ultra-luxury, intimate ships - and an additional fi ve ships are on order. Following the launch of Silver Cloud in 1994, Silver Wind doubled
the cruise line’s capacity in 1995. Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper were launched in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Silver Explorer, the cruise line’s fi rst ice- class ship, unlocked expedition experiences around the world for guests from 2008. Silver Spirit joined the fl eet in 2009, followed by Silver Galapagos in 2013 and Silver Discoverer in
2014.The cruise line’s fl agship, Silver Muse, was launched in 2017 and inspired a fl eet-wide ‘Musifi cation’—the systematic refurbishment of Silversea’s ships, which is ongoing. In 2020, Silver Origin and Silver Moon will join the fl eet, followed by Silver Dawn in 2021 and the fi rst of two Evolution Class ships in 2022.
Fine food from around the world, complimentary drinks throughout the ship, and a butler for each suite are just some of the many luxurious amenities that Silversea’s guests have enjoyed since the launch of the cruise line in 1994. Since Silversea’s acquisition by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in 2018, these icons of luxury – and many others – have been further enhanced by Project Invictus, a long-term plan to grow and enhance Silversea’s fl eet of ships: guests enjoy complimentary, chilled champagne in their suites upon arrival and throughout the ship; complimentary sustainable caviar, available 24 hours per day; an enriched off ering of canapes, seafood, berries, and fi ne steak cuts; and an enhanced wine list, which already comprises the largest complimentary off ering at sea.
“I feel so proud when I consider what we have achieved in 25 years,” says Manfredi Lefebvre, Silversea’s Executive Chairman. “From just one ship in 1994 to a fl eet of nine vessels with at least fi ve to come, we will soon realise the vision set out by my father when he brought innovation to our industry and founded our cruise line. I am grateful to our loyal guests, our travel advisors, and to our crew and employees - they have made this great achievement possible. We continuously work to push boundaries of travel; rest assured that this is just the beginning.” “I knew a Captain at Silversea and he reached out to me. I’m now in my twentieth year at the company,” says Captain Alessandro Zanello, who joined Silversea Cruises in 1999.
“At the time, Silversea had a fl eet of just two ships, but the feeling on board was diff erent from other cruise lines. There was a strong sense of family – among both the guests and the crew; because the ships were so intimate, there was closer interaction. This remains unchanged today. I actually met my wife on Silver Spirit in 2009, so I attach great sentimental value to the company. It’s very special. One of my proudest moments at Silversea was when I got to be Captain of Silver Muse for her inauguration in 2017— I’ll never forget this achievement.”
‘Stunning’ Serenity visits Belfast
TWENTY three local travel agents took the opportunity to go on board Crystal Serenity when the ship visited Belfast port on Saturday.
Mick Dupont, Elaine Gillard, and Natalie Dorrington from Crystal’s London offi ce came over to host agents on a tour of the ship and an excellent lunch on board.
Said Crystal’s Northern Ireland representative Nan Short: “Serenity looked absolutely stunning. All the agents were blown away with the experience. It was the fi rst time most of the agents had been able to come on board and see for themselves what Crystal have to off er. It was a day that will be remembered by all. Crystal are continuing to support the Irish market and have set up a training session in Belfast on September 19.”
Lorraine McConville of Bangor Travel with Bruce Cairns, Travel Counsellors, and Margaret Ramm, Travel Counsellors
Added Natalie Dorrington, Product Manager, The Cruise Portfolio: “The support we receive from our cruise agents in Northern Ireland is fantastic and the feedback we have had has been wonderful.”
Local travel agents and guests who visited Crystal Serenity in Belfast - included is Crystal’s NI representative Nan Short
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