Silversea has acquired its third expedition ship, the former Clipper Odyssey, which will be refurbished and begin sailing as Silver Discoverer in March 2014. For our story about the acquisition, go here: http://www.travelagentcentral.com/small-ship-cruises/silversea-acquires-third-expedition-ship-42460
Aboard the 128-passenger Silver Discoverer, guests will be able to explore remote areas of Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia in addition to the Russian Far East, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia, including one of its hidden treasures, the Kimberley. This vast area in North West Australia is three times the size of England and three-fifth the size of Texas.
"It's fitting that, in our 20th anniversary year, our newest ship will continue the Silversea tradition of reaching some of the most remote areas of the world," said Enzo Visone, Silversea's CEO. "Silver Discoverer will bring our guests even closer to dramatic landscapes, historic locations, and ecologically important destinations - all in the comfort of one of the finest expedition ships operating today with all the trappings that our guests have come to expect of Silversea."
Silversea just released the new expedition ship's 2014 voyages for booking by agents. What will your clients experience if they book one of these voyages. Here are a few highlights as described by the line in its press release about the new ship.
The Kimberley – Australia’s Hidden Treasure – April 2014 – 11 days: Thundering waterfalls, plunging gorges, Aboriginal rock art, deserted beaches and fewer people per square mile than almost any other place on earth - this is The Kimberley. Cruise by Zodiac through an untamed wilderness, searching for eagles and ospreys in the mangroves, and mud flats, and keeping an eye out for saltwater crocodiles. Witness the spectacular tidal change at Montgomery Reef, view King George's towering twin falls plunging over 551 feet, experience the sheer vastness of Mitchell Falls from a helicopter, photograph the spectacular Bungle Bungles with their black and orange bands. Embark in either Darwin or Broome, Western Australia.
Wild Siberia: The Sea of Okhotsk – June 2014 – 19 days: Long closed to Westerners, the Russian Far East is one of the planet's least explored and most remarkable destinations. Here you'll find untouched forests, pristine tundra and vast amounts of wildlife: brown bears for hunting salmon, basking seals and sea lions in the thousands, millions of seabirds breeding and feeding their young. Even whales, including the rare western Grey Whale, have begun to return to the Sea of Okhotsk. From Sakhalin and the western Kamchatka Peninsula to the Kuril Islands, this voyage explores the remote region where nature has exceeded herself, and travelers have only begun to set foot. Highlights included cruising by Zodiac to search for bears, arctic foxes, sea otters, seals, whales and the mighty Steller Sea Eagle; photographing smoking, snow-caped volcanoes; exploring rivers with salmon as they roar through taiga forests and following in the historic wake of legendary explorer, Vitus Bering, the founder of Petropavlovsk. Embark and disembark in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan.
The Many Faces of Indonesia – March 2014 – 17 days: Labeled as "The Country of a Thousand Islands," Indonesia is in fact a country of over 17,000 islands sprinkled across the Indian and Pacific Oceans between Malaysia and Australia. The world's largest archipelago is an astonishingly beautiful nation with its powdery white beaches, sparkling turquoise seas, jade landscapes and misty volcanoes. Highlights of this 17-day voyage include visiting Komodo Island and enjoying close encounters with the world’s largest lizard; snorkeling with dazzling tropical fish; and going on a “mock” whale hunt with the whalers of Lamalera.
Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia – November 2014 – 18 days: From Cairns in Australia to Auckland, New Zealand via some of the most remote atolls in the Pacific Ocean. You will experience some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world, as well as participate in local traditional ceremonies and learn about ancient customs. The fleet of Zodiac boats enable Silversea guests to visit small islands and atolls simply not possible with larger ships. Among the highlights are the chance to explore the Phoenix Islands protected area in Kiribati, Bora Bora and New Caledonia, the Cook Islands, Kennedy Island also known as Plum Pudding Island in Solomon Islands, Luganville and Champagne Beach in Vanuatu.
Details for these and other 2014 voyages on Silver Discoverer are available at www.silversea.com/silverdiscoverer.
