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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.

I recently visited Greenland, on a Silversea Expeditions' Educational Trip. In the past few years, Greenland has become one of the most sought-after destinations in the Arctic. Here are my trip notes: Overview: Greenland is the largest island in the world and the closest landmass to the North Pole. It's hard to grasp just how big Greenland is, so just consider that it's larger than Mexico and more than 3X the size of Texas. The vast majority of Greenland is covered by an enormous ice sheet, over 1,600 miles long and about one mile high. Most of the island is uninhabited. There are a few settlements and small cities, mostly on the SW coast. Greenland is a self-governing Danish territory and was not open to visitors until the 1950s. Why visit? Spectacular landscapes. Greenland took my breath away with its pristine, natural beauty -- fjords that go on for miles, enormous glaciers, beautiful mountains and lakes, a rugged coastline, giant icebergs, endless icefields, and so much more. There are no trees, so it's mostly rock, tundra, and ice. A rich Inuit culture. The native Inuits came in waves from Northern Canada, starting at about 4,500 years ago. As you travel in SW Greenland, you will have the opportunity to experience the living Inuit culture and the spirit of the ancestors that continues to this day. The best museums are located in Nuuk (National Museum) and the open-air museum of Nanortalik. In Nuuk, don't miss the well-preserved mummies, dating back from 1475 and frozen in time. Kayaking, elevate. Did you know? Kayaking was invented in Greenland centuries ago. During your visit, kayak in the fjords, in the open ocean, next to glaciers and icebergs, and feel like a local resident. Charming small towns. Most Greenlanders live on the southwest coast, where the weather is mildest and less windy. Take time to visit small villages and cities along the coast, some as small as 100 inhabitants (Aappilattoq, my favorite). Natives are friendly and open, and proud of their homeland. Everyone is out and about during the summer months, when the sun rises at 3am and sets around 11pm in the towns below the Arctic circle. Big, beautiful glaciers. Greenland's icecap is never far away and pushes rock and chunks of ice into the seas surrounding the island, channeled through glaciers and icefields. Wherever you go, there will be a glacier nearby. Walk in the footsteps of the Vikings. Starting around a thousand years ago, Vikings settled in SW Greenland and established a series of farmsteads. The best-preserved remnants of Viking settlements are in Hvalsey, now a UNESCO World Heritage site and very much worth visiting. Memorable Hikes. All over Greenland, you have the opportunity to experience fantastic hikes - long and short, easy and challenging, always rewarding. The Ilulissat Icefjord. Nothing compares to Ilulissat, called 'the birthplace of icebergs' by the native Inuit. Every day, this icefjord produces nearly 20 million tons of ice. Go out on a small (and preferably fast) boat, to get up close and personal with giant icebergs. If you lucky, you will see pods of whales feeding in the frozen waters. You can also hop on a helicopter, and fly over the icefjord. A natural wonderland --- without the crowds. At a time when our National Parks and nature reserves are overloaded, it's a joy to experience pristine, natural beauty without the crowds. When you visit Greenland, you'll have plenty of wide-open spaces to yourself. For active and adventuresome travelers looking for new horizons, add Greenland to your travel 'wish list'.