The UK boss of Silversea has urged agents to push the line’s Antarctica itineraries as he sailed on the recently-acquired Silver Endeavour near the White Continent.
Speaking during a Travel Weekly webcast with editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley, the line’s UK and Ireland managing director, Peter Shanks, told agents not to be afraid of discussing Antarctica voyages with their customers.
“Talk to people and say ‘why don’t you do something really special?’”, he said. “Be bold and sell something special like Antarctica.
“It’s reassuringly expensive but I can’t express just how emotional the experience is. Talk to your really good guests and say ‘why do you try Antarctica?’”
He said Silver Endeavour, which was bought from Crystal Cruises in July, will operate fly-cruises in Antarctica, meaning passengers can avoid sailing through Drake’s Passage if they wish to.
However, Shanks said none of the passengers on Endeavour’s current sailing returned to their cabins when it went through Drake’s Passage despite the “six metre waves”.
“We shipped it really well,” he said. “Everyone was still up and about.”
Shanks added that passengers on Endeavour would experience the “juxtaposition between exploring the world and doing it in luxury”.
“It’s just a fantastic experience,” he said. “Ask your better off clients ‘why not go to Antarctica?’
“You might be surprised and they won’t be disappointed.”
Godmother Felicity Aston, a polar explorer who became the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica in 2012, officially named the ship on Saturday.
“We’re going to christen Silver Endeavour, on the ice with our godmother, Felicity, the first lady to skate across Antarctica,” Shanks said prior to the ceremony. “That’s going to be pretty special and amazing.”