Silversea Cruises has named Felicity Aston MBE as the Godmother of its new ship Silver Endeavour, the world’s most luxurious expedition vessel.
A celebrated polar explorer, author, television presenter, and climate scientist, Aston became the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica in 2012, as well as the first person to traverse the continent by muscle power alone. Aston has since been awarded the Polar Medal and has been appointed MBE for services to exploration.
A long-respected maritime tradition, the ship’s Godmother blesses the vessel for good fortune during its official naming ceremony. Aston will officially name Silver Endeavour as part of an intimate ceremony in Antarctica—to be held in the days before the ship’s inaugural voyage, departing on 21 November.
“A leading authority in the field of polar exploration, Felicity is the perfect ambassador for our cruise line. She shares the unwavering senses of curiosity and adventure that unite all Silversea guests,” said Roberto Martinoli, president and CEO of Silversea Cruises.
“In becoming the first woman to cross Antarctica alone, as well as the first person to traverse the continent purely by muscle power, Felicity demonstrated exceptional commitment, resilience, and passion, embodying a true spirit of discovery.
“Her explorations are more than a test of physical stamina; they are a test of oneself. They will be a source of great inspiration for travellers as they set forth on their journey to Polar Regions and beyond with Silversea.”
Aston said she was honoured to be chosen as the Godmother of Silver Endeavour, “a beautiful ship that will introduce countless travellers to the magnificent allure of the Polar Regions”.
“With each of my expeditions, I am driven to push boundaries, to explore new frontiers, and to experience the planet’s most spectacular places,” she said.
“Guests travelling aboard Silversea’s newest ship will exercise these same ambitions with the charting of each course, the launching of every Zodiac, and the arrival in each destination. She is a vehicle for discovery in every sense of the term and I am excited to sail to the Polar Regions in such comfort.”
Silversea acquired the ship from Crystal Cruises in July, renaming it from Crystal Endeavour to Silver Endeavour bringing its
total fleet number to 11 and broadens Silversea’s polar offering.
Silver Endeavour is expected to enter service in November and will replace Silver Explorer from the 2022/2023 Antarctica season—including the ship’s highly popular Antarctica Bridge sailings.
Built to PC6 polar class specifications, Silver Endeavour is designed for polar exploration, carrying state-of-the-art amenities, with an industry-leading Zodiac-to-guest ratio; kayaks; and cutting-edge navigation and exploration technology, including a remote gimbal camera system, which can capture high-quality images from 5km, among other amenities.
She maintains Silversea’s trademark level of comfort, with a crew-to-guest ratio of approximately 1:1 and the cruise line’s hallmarks of luxury, including butler service for every suite and some of the most spacious accommodations in expedition cruising.
