Silversea Expeditions
Line: Silversea Expeditions
Established: 2008
Vessels: Prince Albert II
Tonnage: 6,000
Passengers: 132
What's included in the price:
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Entertainment
- Port taxes
- Gratuities
- Government fees
- Room service
- Minibar
- Hosted adventures ashore
- Parka jacket with layering system on Antarctic and Arctic itineraries
- Water-resistant backpack
Silversea is an American owned line that operates cruises at the very top of the luxury cruise market. They have six ships operating cruises around the world and Silver Explorer which is their expedition ship. Passsengers tend to be well educated, well-travelled and well-heeled English speakers from the United States, and Canada in the main but Australians, New Zealanders, British and Germans are almost always present.
The Explorer has two characters. In the day she operates as an expedition home ship. She takes her passengers into the icepack for them to land on the ice, getting close to wildlife and experience trekking over the compacted snow. Explorer has the highest rating accorded to a passenger ship operating in ice fields. She gets up close and personal with whales and polar bears in the North and penguins in the South. During the day talks are given about the wildlife and the local climate. An expedition on Explorer is an educational feast.
In the evenings Explorer changes. She becomes a floating exclusive club providing an intimate atmosphere of a luxury yacht with extra comfortable accommodation and exquisite food. The ship remains an expedition ship and schedules will change depending on circumstances. If a polar bear is spotted, an announcement will be made, even if the local time is 2am! The ship has some usually found cruise ship facilities such as a spa, beauty salon, fitness centre, sauna and internet centre. There is a crew to passenger ratio of almost 1:1 to ensure that passengers get the kind of service that the line prides itself on.
The accommodation on the ship is of the same very high standard found on the line’s cruising ships. Every stateroom has an ocean view, fresh fruit, flowers and a constantly resupplied mini-bar. The beds and linen are of the highest quality and the bathroom is stocked with exclusive toiletries. Cabins have flat screen interactive TV, on-demand movies and satellite news channels. The ship has Wi-Fi connection throughout. Even at the lowest end of the accommodation scale, cabins have a shower and bathtub. They are fitted out in marble and are supplied with bathrobes and slippers.
The ship has an open dining policy which means that passengers can take dinner when they like and with whom they like. The food on board is of the same excellent standard as the other Silversea ships which that a cruiser might be eating chocolate dipped strawberries whilst watching a polar bear running over the pack ice. Breakfast and lunch consist of gourmet standard food which is served buffet style. There is a 24/7 room service which comes at no extra charge and can supply any items from the menu being currently served in the dining room.
Experts sail with the ship, some being celebrity leaders in their field. They use the latest technology to give lectures and talks about the sites to be visited and the wildlife that is likely to be seen. There is also a fully equipped medical centre in case of an emergency so far from any centres of population. There are no facilities on board for children and no special programs for them. In any case, the locations visited, the excursions ashore and the style of life on the cruise are unlikely to be attractive to children. Passengers should be agile enough to be able to board an inflatable boat bobbing about in a sloppy sea and to be able to trek over the ice and other rough terrain.
Silversea provide a luxury floating platform for their adventure cruises with all of the service and attention to detail that is found on their other luxury cruise ships.