Silversea Cruises opened the books on its entire voyage program for 2015. In total, the company's eight elite ships will offer a worldwide schedule of 276 voyages, visiting more than 700 destinations (including 71 that are brand new) on seven continents.
The line's fleet, comprised of its five ocean-going ships, will visit 21 new ports of call. In the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, there will be inaugural calls in Huelva, San Antonio (Ibiza), and Alcúdia (Mallorca), Spain; Rethymnon (Crete) and Igoumenitsa, Greece; Santa Maria di Leuca, Italy; and Amasra, Turkey. In Asia and the Pacific, new ports include Haikou, China; Hambantota, Sri Lanka; Bintulu, Malaysia; Savusavu, Fiji; Lifou Island, New Caledonia; and the Philippines' Bohol Island, Boracay Island, Busuanga Island, and Hundred Islands. Africa and the Indian Ocean offer inaugural visits to Luanda, Angola and Mahajanga, Madagascar. And in the Americas, first-time calls include Norfolk, Virginia; Morehead City, North Carolina; and Falmouth, Jamaica.
As Silver Discoverer explores Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia, the Russian Far East, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia, including its Kimberley Coast, her guests will be introduced to dozens of exciting new destinations, such as the remote Phoenix Islands Protected Area in Kiribati, which includes Nikumaroro, the island some believe to be the final resting place of famed aviator Amelia Earhart.
After a year's absence, the west coast of Africa is back on the schedule for Silver Explorer, joining the expedition ship's cruises to Antarctica, South and Central America, the British Isles, Northern Canada, Greenland and Arctic Norway. Among several new destinations for Silver Explorer is Congo's Pointe Noire.
And Silver Galapagos will again operate year-round voyages exploring the amazing Galápagos Islands.
Fleet highlights:
World Cruise 2015: On Jan. 5, Silver Whisper is set to embark on a 115-day voyage, encircling the world and embracing the cultures of five continents, 30 countries, and 50 unique destinations. Focusing first on the isles of the South Pacific, the itinerary will include visits to Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Africa and the Caribbean, before concluding in Fort Lauderdale.
Asia, Africa & India: Complementing World Cruise 2015 are 21 sailings with exotic destinations in Asia, Africa and India, including four voyages with extended stopovers in Myanmar (offered aboard Silver Wind and Silver Shadow collectively). And Silver Shadow's Nov. 10 sailing (#3531), from Singapore to Hong Kong, is highlighted with inaugural calls in Bintulu, Malaysia and the Philippines' Bohol Island, Boracay Island, Busuanga Island and Thousand Islands.
Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific: In addition to Silver Whisper's World Cruise 2015, Silver Spirit's 64-day "Southern Cross" voyage will showcase this corner of the globe during a roundtrip sailing from Los Angeles, departing Jan. 22. Destinations for this Grand Voyage include the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji Islands, Samoa, Kiribati and Hawaii.
Mediterranean, Northern Europe & Baltic: From April to November, Silversea will offer over 80 voyages revealing the harbors and storied cities of the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Baltic. Highlights include:
- Silver Spirit's Voyage 5512, sailing from Barcelona to Rome, will overnight in Cannes on May 20, during the city's film festival, and also overnight in Monte Carlo on May 23, during the Grand Prix.
- Silver Wind's Voyage 2519 will be in Venice July 18 and 19, when the city holds its annual Festa del Redentore celebrations, which include a fireworks display that illuminates St. Mark's Bay.
- Silver Cloud will sail the Thames River to dock near (or depart from) Tower Bridge in the heart of historic London on five voyages (1516, 1517, 1519, 1520 and 1521).
- Silver Cloud's 17-day Voyage 1518 will visit Norway's North Cape and the Russian cities of Murmansk and Archangel in the White Sea.
Alaska: Silver Shadow returns to explore the awesome natural wonders of Alaska on 18 mostly 7-day voyages between Seward and Vancouver.
South America: Silver Shadow departs Jan. 7 on a 62-day "Circle South America" roundtrip Grand Voyage from Fort Lauderdale. Highlights include a crossing of the Panama Canal, two days cruising Chile's fjords, a two-night stopover in Rio de Janeiro during Carnival, plus overnight stays in Callao and Punta Arenas. And the Amazon will be the centerpiece of two South America cruises when both Silver Cloud (Voyage 1503) and Silver Whisper (Voyage 4530) journey up the river for a two-night stopover in Manaus.
Caribbean & Central America: Silversea's 2015 schedule has 27 voyages showcasing the beaches of the Caribbean and Central America. These include several Panama Canal voyages of 16 to 18 days between Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles or San Francisco, as well as Silver Cloud's four Caribbean cruises departing roundtrip from San Juan.
Canada & Colonial Coast: On April 3, Silver Shadow will embark on a brand new itinerary (#3507), sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, with calls in Savannah, Charleston, Morehead City and Norfolk on America's Atlantic coast, plus Bermuda and Nassau. And just in time for the region's fall foliage spectacle, Silver Whisper will offer a collection of voyages exploring eastern Canada and coastal New England.
Transoceanic: For those who enjoy plenty of relaxing days at sea, a number of transoceanic voyages are available, such as Silver Wind's Voyage 2533, a 17-day transatlantic crossing from Rome to Fort Lauderdale, and Silver Shadow's Voyage 3527, a 14-day sailing across the Pacific from Seward to Tokyo.
For more information, visit www.silversea.com.