Silversea Cruises

src: www.silversea.com

Silversea Cruises is a privately owned mid-market cruise line with its headquarters in Monaco. Founded in 1994, it pioneered all-inclusive cruising with its first ship, Silver Cloud. In June 2018, it was announced that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, the parent company of Royal Caribbean International, had acquired a 67% controlling stake in the cruise line. Executive control will remain in Monaco.

Silversea's co-founders, owners and operators are the Lefebvre family of Rome, Italy. They will remain on the executive board of the cruise line under Royal Caribbean ownership. As of early 2014, the company had eight boutique cruise ships, each of which carries only 100 to 540 passengers. In spring 2017, Silversea added the slightly larger (596 passenger) Silver Muse, for a total of nine all-suite ships.

Video Silversea Cruises

History

Silversea was founded in 1994 by a joint venture made up of V-Ships (previously known as Vlasov Group) of Monaco and the Lefebvre family of Rome. The joint owners had previously been the co-owners of Sitmar Cruises. Silversea's business model was to operate ships in the small, all-suite, ultra-luxury category.

The new line's all inclusive fares included such features as gratuities, beverages (including cheap/basic wines at lunch and dinner), port charges, travel insurance, and one or more complimentary shore events in every itinerary. As about 80 percent of Silversea's customers were expected to come from North America, the line established its 170+ employee office in Miami, Florida.

Silversea's first ship, Silver Cloud, which entered service in April 1994, was followed in January 1995 by a sister ship, the Silver Wind.

In September 2000, the line launched Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper in January 2001. Both of these ships were enlarged versions of the original two ships, but carrying about 100 more passengers. In December 2009, Silversea launched the Silver Spirit.

Prince Albert II has since been renamed Silver Explorer to align the names under the Silver theme.

It was announced on June 18, 2012, that Silversea acquired Canodros S.A., the premier Ecuadorian tourism company that operates in the Galapagos Islands. The purchase of the line also included the former Renaissance ship Galapagos Explorer II. The vessel will continue on her planned schedule of cruises and will continue to be operated by Canodros, which is based in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Canodros will also continue handling reservations for Galapagos Explorer II, as well as sales and marketing through its established network of travel companies and tour operators. She will be moved into the Silversea Expeditions brand along with Silver Explorer. The Silver Galapagos entered service in September 2013.

On July 24, 2013, CNN aired a report of a Silversea cruiseship, Silver Shadow failing a CDC inspection by hiding trolleys of food in crew cabins.

On September 10, 2013, Silversea Cruises confirmed that it would be adding a third vessel to the Silversea Expeditions brand, Silver Discoverer, formerly sailing as Clipper Odyssey for Zegrahm Expeditions. Silver Discoverer was christened in Singapore in March 2014 and set sail on her inaugural voyage along Australia's Kimberley Coast on April 2, 2014.

Fincantieri delivered the fleet's ninth ship, Silver Muse to Silversea Cruises on April 2, 2017, at its Sestri Ponente shipyard. Silver Muse's debut cruise set sail on April 10, 2017, in the Mediterranean.

The company's representative, Silver Whisper, is scheduled to take a 140-day world cruise in 2020. The ship will depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 6, 2020. After visiting 62 ports in 32 countries, Silver Whisper will come to Amsterdam on May 25.

On June 14, 2018, it was announced that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. had purchased a majority stake in Silversea for approximately $1 billion.

Maps Silversea Cruises

Main fleet

src: www.businessdestinations.com

Expeditions fleet

src: www.aboutluxurycruising.com

Awards

Recent Travel awards include

• "Best Adventure Cruise Line" 2016 by World of Cruising Wave Award
• "Best Luxury Cruise Line" 2016, 2014, 2013, 2009 by Excellence Awards by Spain's Cruise News Media Group
• "Best Cruise Line for Romance" 2015 by U.S. News & World Report
• "Best Small Luxury Cruise Line" 2014 by The Daily Telegraph Ultratravel 100 Awards
• "Top 5 Small Ships" 2014 by Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships (Silver Spirit, Silver Whisper, Silver Shadow)
• Among "The 120 Most Trusted Brands" 2014 by Entrepreneur Magazine
• "Best Luxury Cruise Line": Silver Explorer - 2014 by CruiseReport.com
• "Best Service": Silver Explorer - 2014 by CruiseReport.com
• "Best Food and Dining": Silver Explorer - 2014 by CruiseReport.com
• Best Expedition Ship": Silver Explorer - 2014 by CruiseReport.com
• "Best Small Ship Cruise Line": 2012, 2011, 2009-2004, 2011, 2012 by CruiseReport.com
• "Best Luxury Cruise Line" 2012, 2011 by CruiseReport.com
• "Best Enrichment Series at Sea" 2012, 2011 by CruiseReport.com
• "Best Shore Excursions" 2012, 2011 by CruiseReport.com
• "Best Suite Accommodations - Silver Suite on Silver Spirit" 2012 by CruiseReport.com
• "Best Luxury Cruise Line" Four Years by Telegraph Travel Awards
• "World's Best Small Ship Cruise Line" Seven Years by Travel & Leisure US
• "Best Small Ship Cruise Line": Nine Years by Conde Nast Traveler, US
• "Best Luxury Cruise Line" 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010 by Cruise Passenger Readers' Choice Awards
• "Best Expedition Cruise Ship": Silver Explorer - 2013 by Cruise Passenger Readers' Choice Awards
• "Best Luxury Cruise Ship": Silver Shadow - 2012, 2011, 2010 by Cruise Passenger Readers' Choice Awards
• "Best Service": Readers' Choice Awards 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 by Porthole Cruise Magazine
• "Best Africa / Middle East Itineraries" 2014 by Porthole Cruise Magazine
• "Best Expedition Cruise Line" 2013 by Porthole Cruise Magazine
• "Best Luxury Cruise Company" 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2004, 2003 by Travel Weekly Globe Awards (UK)
• "Best Cruise Line" Aspire Award (Luxury Travel) 2013 by Travel Weekly Globe Awards (UK)
• "Best Cruise Line for Luxury Small Ships" 2017, 2011, 2009, 2008  by Luxury Travel Advisor
• "Best Small Ship Cruise Line" 2017, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2006, 2005,1999-2003 (Twelve years) Conde Nast Traveller, UK
• "Best Expedition Cruise Line" 2017 by AFAR Traveler's Choice Awards
• "Best Luxury Itineraries" 2017 by Cruise Critic Cruiser's Choice
• Silver Muse - "Best New Luxury Ship" 2017 by Cruise Critic Cruiser's Choice
• Silversea Expeditions - "Best for Adventure" 2017 by Cruise Critic Cruiser's Choice
• "Best Cruise for Groups": Silver Spirit - 2018, 2016 and Silver Shadow - 2015, 2014 by U.S. News & World Report
• "Best Luxury Cruise": Silver Whisper - 2016, 2015 by U.S. News & World Report
• "Best Cruise for Singles": Silver Whisper - 2016 and Silver Spirit - 2014 by U.S. News & World Report
• "Best Cruise for Couples": Silver Whisper - 2016 by U.S. News & World Report
• "Best Cruise in Europe": Silver Whisper - 2016 by U.S. News & World Report
• "Best Cruise in Alaska": Silver Shadow - 2016, 2015, 2014 by U.S. News & World Report
• "Best Cruise Line for Romance" 2015 by U.S. News & World Report
• "Best Cruise in the Mediterranean": Silver Spirit - 2014 by U.S. News & World Report
• Silver Galapagos - "Best Small Cruises Overall" 2018 by Cruise Critic Cruiser's Choice
• Silver Galapagos - "Best Small Cruise Ships for Shore Excursions" 2018 by Cruise Critic Cruiser's Choice
• Silver Galapagos - "Best Small Cruise Ships for value" 2018 by Cruise Critic Cruiser's Choice
• "Best Luxury Cruise Line" 2018, 2016 by Global Traveler - Leisure Travel Awards
• "Best Cruise Line Suites" 2018 by Global Traveler - Leisure Travel Awards
• "Best Small Ship Cruise Line" 2015, 2014, 2013 by Global Traveler - Leisure Travel Awards

src: cruiseweb.com

Personalized Voyages program

src: www.silversea.com

References

Notes

Bibliography

src: aluxurytraveladvisor.com

External links

Media related to Silversea Cruises at Wikimedia Commons

• Silversea Cruises - official site

Source of article : Wikipedia