Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises
Private
Industry Transportation
Founded 1994
Headquarters Monaco
Key people
 Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, Chairman
Products Cruises
Website http://www.silversea.com/

Silversea Cruises is a privately owned luxury cruise line with its headquarters in Monaco. Founded in 1994, it pioneered all-inclusive cruising with its first ship, Silver Cloud.[1]

Silversea's co-founders, owners and operators are the Lefebvre family of Rome, Italy. As of early 2014, the company had eight boutique cruise ships, each of which carries only 100 to 540 passengers.[1]

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.[2] The joint venturers had previously been the co-owners of Sitmar Cruises.[3][4] Silversea's business model was to operate ships in the small, all-suite, ultra-luxury category.[4] According to John Bland, Silversea's President in 1993–94:[3]

...we have a different ship design. It's larger, very seaworthy and very comfortable for ocean crossings--but small enough to do the things you want a small luxury vessel to do, to get into small islands where big ships can't go, to travel up rivers like the Thames.

The new line's all inclusive fares included such features as gratuities (none were allowed), beverages (including selected wines at lunch and dinner), port charges, travel insurance, and one or more complimentary shore events in every itinerary.[4] As about 80 percent of Silversea's customers were expected to come from North America, the line established its 25-person marketing office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[5]

Silversea's first ship, Silver Cloud, which entered service in April 1994, was followed in January 1995 by a sister ship, the Silver Wind.[6]

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.

The Prince Albert II has since been renamed the Silver Explorer to align the names under the Silver theme.[7]

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 includes the former Renaissance ship the Galapagos Explorer II. The vessel will continue on its 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 the Silver Explorer.[8] The Silver Galapagos is expected to enter service on September 28, 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.[9]

On September 10, 2013, Silversea Cruises confirmed that it will be adding a third vessel to the Silversea Expeditions brand, the Silver Discoverer, currently sailing as the Clipper Odyssey for Zegrahm Expeditions.[10] According to their website, the Inaugural voyage will be on March 1, 2014.[11]

Main fleet

Ship Built Builder In service
for Silversea 		Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
Silver Cloud 1994 Hull: Francisco Visentini
Completion: T. Mariotti 		1994–Present 16,800 tons  Bahamas Silver Cloud
Silver Wind 1995 Hull: Francisco Visentini
Completion: T. Mariotti 		1995–Present 16,800 tons  Bahamas Silver Wind
Silver Shadow 2000 Hull: Francisco Visentini
Completion: T. Mariotti 		2000–Present 28,258 tons  Bahamas Silver Shadow
Silver Whisper 2001 Hull: Francisco Visentini
Completion: T. Mariotti 		2001–Present 28,258 tons  Bahamas Silver Whisper
Silver Spirit 2009 Fincantieri 2009–Present 36,000 tons  Bahamas Silver Spirit

Expeditions fleet

Ship Built Builder In service
for Silversea 		Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
Silver Explorer 1989 Rauma-Repola 2008–Present 6,072 tons  Bahamas Previously Delfin Clipper, Sally Clipper, Baltic Clipper, Delfin Star, Dream 21, World Discoverer, World Adventurer and Prince Albert II. Renamed Silver Explorer in late April 2011.[12]
Silver Galapagos 1990 Cantiere Navale Ferrari-Signani 2013–Present 4,077 tons  Ecuador Previously Galapagos Explorer II
Silver Discoverer 1989 NK Tsu Works [13] 2014–Present 5,218 tons  Bahamas Previously Clipper Odyssey

Future fleet

Ship Built Builder In service
for Silversea 		Gross Tonnage Flag Notes Image
Silver Muse 2016 Fincantieri 2017 40,700 tons  Bahamas Largest Ship to Be Built for Silversea

Awards

Recent Travel awards include

Personalized Voyages program

Silversea provides its guests an option called Personalized Voyages, a cruise industry first. This program allows guests to choose their own embarkation and disembarkation ports, essentially allowing them to create their own voyages. Guests can board days before or days after a cruise begins, but they must sail a minimum of five nights. The onboard time is charged on a daily rate that varies depending on the ports visited and the category of suite accommodation.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Hutcheon, Helen (3 November 2013). "The fab four". The Australian. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Plowman 2004, pp. 273–274.
  3. 1 2 Slater, Shirley; Basch, Harry (October 3, 1993). "Four New Lines Set Sail for 'Niche' Markets". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Cruz, Georgina (April 17, 1994). "Sitmar's 'Silver Cloud'". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Stieghorst, Tom (April 11, 1994). "New Kid On The Dock". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  6. ↑ Stieghorst, Tom (January 30, 1995). "Luxury Cruise Line Testing New Water". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Ship Details Query » Cruise Specialists Information". cruise-holidays.info. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Silversea Acquires Canodros - Galapagos Cruise Line with One Ship". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  9. ↑ David Fitzpatrick and Drew Griffin, CNN Special Investigations Unit (25 July 2013). "Luxury cruise fails surprise health inspection". CNN. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  10. ↑ "Silversea Adds Another Expedition Ship". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Find your cruise. Luxury Cruise. Silversea Cruises". silversea.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  12. ↑ Garrison, Linda (20 April 2011). "What's in a Name? Silversea Prince Albert II Gets a New Name". About.com Guide. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  13. ↑ "SILVER DISCOVERER - 8800195 - PASSENGERS SHIP - Maritime-Connector.com". maritime-connector.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  14. ↑ "Awards & Accolades. Silversea Cruises.". silversea.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.

Bibliography

Media related to Silversea Cruises at Wikimedia Commons

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