Did you know? There are nearly a hundred expedition ships in the market. It has never been more important to know the differences between brands and individual vessels, so you can find the right ship for your clients. I just returned from an expedition cruise to Greenland on Silversea's Silver Wind. Here's my 'top ten' list with some of the ship's (and brand's) unique selling points:
Experience. It's one thing to launch a new expedition cruise line, it's entirely another to deliver a quality experience -- year after year. Silversea has been in the expedition cruise business for almost 15 years. Experience matters.
The right size. Silver Wind has everything you want in an expedition ship - a choice of dining venues, room service, a small gym + spa, various lounges, lots of deck space, a heated outdoor pool --- and nothing you don't. Silver Wind carries 239 crew and up to 274 guests, giving travelers an almost 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio, one of the best in the industry. Finally, The ship's zodiacs typically carry only 8-10 passengers, even though they are built for up to 14 guests.
Bigger suites & more options. On Silversea, every stateroom is a suite. The starting category (Vista) offers 240 sq. ft. of space. Veranda suites offer 295 sq. ft., and go up from there. Over 90% of the suites have private verandas. For travelers who want more space, book Silver, Grand, Royal, or Owner's suites - with up to 1,300 sq. ft. of space and additional privileges on board. Tip: A number of suite categories (Grand, for instance) have the option to add a 2nd bedroom, accommodating up to 5 guests in the suite, using the sofa bed to accommodate the fifth guest.
More dining venues. on Silver Wind, guests can dine in the Main Restaurant or La Terraza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addition, travelers can have an informal, al fresco lunch or dinner at the poolside grill, or room service (all day). Finally, there is a gourmet restaurant, La Dame, open only for dinner - reservations a must. (note, there is an additional charge for dining at La Dame).
All-Inclusive Expedition Formula delivers more value. Every expedition brand is different. Silversea Expedition voyages include:
All excursions (including kayaking and zodiac adventures)
Shoreside activities, and museums & site admissions.
Butler service in every suite category
Drinks and spirits, including wine with lunch and dinner.
Transfers to/from the pier on embarkation/disembarkation day
Charter flight (s) and Pre/Post cruise night, where necessary, when booking the 'door to door' pricing option.
Gratuities
What was not included on my Greenland voyage? The optional helicopter tour in Ilulissat, dinner at La Dame gourmet restaurant, and spa treatments.
More Expedition Leaders. The heart and soul of Silversea Expedition's voyages are the expedition leaders -- knowledgeable, helpful, and fun to be with. On my voyage, we had a team of 28 experts - botanists, marine biologists, historians, naturalists, geologists, and ornithologists, among many specialties.
A wide range of activities and experiences. During my Greenland Silversea Expedition, we visited various towns and small communities, hiked in various places (short and long, relatively easy and challenging), kayaked in fjords and open harbors; explored the coastline, glaciers, and icebergs on a zodiac, leaned about Greenland's unique Inuit culture, rode a fast boat for an exhilarating adventure through an ice fjord (complete with a pod of humpback whales), walked to a glacier, and listened to interesting lectures on various topics on board & ashore. How much or how little you want to do every day is entirely up to each guest.
More Destination and Itinerary options. Silversea Expeditions cover the world - The Arctic in the summer, Antarctica in the fall & winter, Alaska, The Northwest Passage, Pacific Islands, The Indian Ocean & Africa, The Caribbean, North and South America, and much more. No other expedition cruise line offers you more.
Silversea Service. From the moment you step onboard, the Silversea team takes good care of you and makes you feel at ho I found the ship's staff and crew to be helpful, patient, caring, and usually one step ahead of you.
My personal favorite selling point about Silver Wind? How stable the ship is in the ocean. During Silver Wind's recent refurbishment and upgrading, additional stability features were added that make a big difference in the open ocean. I brought a patch for seasickness, just in case. I never used it.
What's Next? Silver Endeavor (the former Crystal Endeavor) will join the Silversea fleet in November of 2022. Stay tuned for more information regarding the Endeavor's itineraries in Antarctica (2022-2023 season), the Arctic (2023) and more. In addition, Silversea will offer great new itineraries in 2023 sailing the Red Sea, Indian Ocean/Seychelles, the South Pacific, and...
For help with your next Silversea Expeditions sale, visit the Silversea pages on SigNet, contact Silversea reservations, or get in touch with your Silversea director of sales.
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