Silversea Cruises
Company type | 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[update], 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 | ![]() |
||
Silver Wind | 1995 | Hull: Francisco Visentini Completion: T. Mariotti |
1995–Present | 16,800 tons | ![]() |
![]() | |
Silver Shadow | 2000 | Hull: Francisco Visentini Completion: T. Mariotti |
2000–Present | 28,258 tons | ![]() |
![]() | |
Silver Whisper | 2001 | Hull: Francisco Visentini Completion: T. Mariotti |
2001–Present | 28,258 tons | ![]() |
![]() | |
Silver Spirit | 2009 | Fincantieri | 2009–Present | 36,000 tons | ![]() |
![]() |
Expeditions fleet
Ship | Built | Builder | In service for Silversea |
Gross Tonnage | Flag | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Silver Explorer | 1989 | Rauma-Repola | 2008–Present | 6,072 tons | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
Previously Galapagos Explorer II | |
Silver Discoverer | 1989 | NK Tsu Works [13] | 2014–Present | 5,218 tons | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
Largest Ship to Be Built for Silversea |
Awards
Recent Travel awards include
- "Best Cruise Line for Romance" 2015 by U.S. News & World Report
- "Best Small Luxury Cruise Line" 2014 by The Daily Telegraph Ultratravel 100 Awards
- "Top 5 Small Ships" 2014 by Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships (Silver Spirit, Silver Whisper, Silver Shadow)
- Among "The 120 Most Trusted Brands" 2014 by Entrepreneur Magazine[14]
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
- ^ a b Hutcheon, Helen (3 November 2013). "The fab four". The Australian. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ^ Plowman 2004, pp. 273–274.
- ^ a b Slater, Shirley; Basch, Harry (October 3, 1993). "Four New Lines Set Sail for 'Niche' Markets". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ a b c Cruz, Georgina (April 17, 1994). "Sitmar's 'Silver Cloud'". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ Stieghorst, Tom (April 11, 1994). "New Kid On The Dock". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ Stieghorst, Tom (January 30, 1995). "Luxury Cruise Line Testing New Water". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ "Ship Details Query » Cruise Specialists Information". cruise-holidays.info. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ "Silversea Acquires Canodros - Galapagos Cruise Line with One Ship". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ David Fitzpatrick and Drew Griffin, CNN Special Investigations Unit (25 July 2013). "Luxury cruise fails surprise health inspection". CNN. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
{{cite web}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - ^ "Silversea Adds Another Expedition Ship". cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ "Find your cruise. Luxury Cruise. Silversea Cruises". silversea.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "SILVER DISCOVERER - 8800195 - PASSENGERS SHIP - Maritime-Connector.com". maritime-connector.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ "Awards & Accolades. Silversea Cruises". silversea.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2010) |
Bibliography
- Plowman, Peter (2004). The SITMAR Liners: Past and Present. Dural, NSW: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 273–282. ISBN 1877058254.
External links
Media related to Silversea Cruises at Wikimedia Commons
- Silversea Cruises – official site