Silversea Cruises is introducing luxury to the expedition market with a new ship that will sail its inaugural cruise from London in June.
The cruiseline has bought the World Discoverer from Society Expeditions to sail polar itineraries and is currently investing millions of dollars in renovations.
Silversea has appointed a director of expeditions, Conrad Combrink, the ship’s former expedition leader, to oversea itineraries, specialist staff and expert lecturers.
“The interest in expedition cruising is definitely on the rise,” said Silversea president Amerigo Perasso. “Silversea’s expedition ship will be the perfect option for those adventure-seekers who prefer to travel in the lap of luxury.”
The ship, which has yet to be named, will be in London for inaugural events on June 12 with selected industry partners and members of the Venetian Society invited on board.
It will then sail to the Orkney, Shetland and Faro Islands and Jan Mayen, before touring the Arctic Circle and Greenland for the summer. It will reposition to South America and then Antarctica for autumn and winter.
A module of Silversea’s online agent training programme, to be launched in March, will be dedicated to the new ship.
“It is important agents understand the difference between this ship and a mainstream cruise,” said UK managing director Trudy Redfern. “The expedition cruises will be much more about the destination.”