The wheels of change have been turning at the luxury expedition cruise line Silversea.
Travel Weekly joined Silversea with fellow trade and media partners at Sydney’s Quay restaurant last Friday to learn all about what’s on the horizon for this industry-leading brand.
The weather may have been dismal but that couldn’t dampen the excitement of new head honcho Adam Armstrong, as he divulged all the fantastic offerings in the pipeline.
After the merger with RCL in June of this year, many were wondering what this would mean for Silversea, well from new itineraries to ultra-luxe refurbishments we’ve got the full scoop below.
‘Project Invictus’
MD Adam Armstrong was very clear on a few things regarding the 67 per cent stake in Silversea that RCL acquired. The essence of the brand would not change one iota, RCL recognised Silversea as the luxury expedition niche it had been looking for and so are looking to keep it as just that.
This means elevation of the current Silversea ethos with ‘Project Invictus’ involving major upgrades of both the software (think complimentary canapes, caviar and champagne along with unrivalled hospitality) and the hardware of every ship.
‘Musification’
Silversea’s fleet of 9 ships are getting a make-over or a ‘Musification’ – what’s a musification we hear you ask? Well, It’s more than just a fresh lick of paint that’s for sure.
Following on from the dramatic expansion of Silver Spirit in Italy earlier this year it’s time to give the remaining vessels the luxe treatment.
Starting with Silver Wind in November of this year and aiming to for a full fleet revamp by the end of 2019. This means a bow to stern refurbishment of the entire ship, with all indoor public areas to be upgraded to be in line with Silversea’s flagship Silver Muse.
‘Silver Muse’
That’s right folks! The much-anticipated Silver Muse will make her maiden voyage to Australia and New Zealand. She will then continue along Australia’s east coast with maiden calls at Cairns, Townsville, the Whitsunday Islands and Brisbane before arriving in Sydney in just under three months’ time! Catch a peek of her on January 6, 2019.
‘New Itineraries and ships’
New releases from Silversea include new ports in both Iceland and Norway, including a trip that was once reserved only for the expedition fleet: A full circumnavigation of Iceland.
Another great new incentive to woo your clients with is additional over-night stays! On every Silversea trip of 8 days or more, there will be guaranteed x2 overnight port stays.
Looking to the future there will be brand new trips to the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic as well as the launch of two new ships: Silver Moon is 2020 and Silver dawn in 2021.
It really is all go at Silversea, with a new MD at the helm and new investment to play with it looks like they are well on the way to fulfilling Armstrong’s vision of being the best in the biz of ultra-luxe expedition cruising.
