Silversea sailing to Cuba

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Departing from the United States for the first time in Silversea's history, the voyages are now available for reservation.

Ultra-luxury cruise leader Silversea has launched a new collection of voyages to Cuba, enabling guests of all nationalities to discover the remarkable destination. Departing for Cuba from the United States for the first time in the cruise line's history, the 17 voyages will unlock authentic experiences for Silversea's guests, showcasing the best of the country through immersive land excursions in various destinations.

Available to book now, five voyages will immerse Silversea's guests in the country's delights in 2019:

·        Silver Wind will inaugurate the collection of voyages to Cuba when she sets sail on 14 February 2019, on a 7-night voyage from San Juan to Fort Lauderdale. The itinerary will include visits to the Cuban cities of Havana and Santiago de Cuba, and the Bahamian island of Bimini.

·        Silversea's recently lengthened Silver Spirit will depart San Juan on a 10-night voyage on 22 February 2019. An overnight in Santiago de Cuba will be complemented by calls in Cienfuegos and Havana, as well as stops in George Town, Key West and Bimini, before finishing in Fort Lauderdale.

·        Departing San Juan on 31 March 2019, Silver Wind will unlock Santiago de Cuba and Havana on overnight calls, as well as Cienfuegos, on a 10-night voyage. The itinerary will also incorporate George Town in the Cayman Islands and Bimini.

·        Also aboard Silver Wind, a 9-night round-trip voyage from Fort Lauderdale - departing 10 April 2019 - will call in Santiago de Cuba overnight and Havana, in addition to Bimini, Nassau and Port Canaveral.

·        Concluding the selection for 2019, a 14-night sailing aboard Silver Whisper will depart Fort Lauderdale on 22 November 2019. The round-trip voyage will feature a visit to Cienfuegos, plus overnight stays in Santiago de Cuba and Havana, offering ample time for guests to experiences the local way of life. The itinerary also includes calls in Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize City and Key West.

In 2020, another 12 voyages are scheduled to unlock authentic Cuban culture for Silversea guests. These voyages will be opened for bookings in the near future.

Silversea guests will be treated to a host of carefully curated people-to-people experiences, designed to enable travellers to delve deeper into Cuba's stunning natural beauty and a number of the country's cultural and historical highlights. Following is a small sampling of shore excursions in each of the offered destinations, with additional bespoke experiences to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Havana

In the Cuban capital, guests will have the chance to learn about key landmarks on a panoramic driving tour, escorted by a knowledgeable local guide. They will be able to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Havana on a walking tour, with rum and cigar demonstrations and tastings. They'll also be able to cruise along the waterfront in vintage 1950s American cars; be enchanted by the Latin rhythms and captivating dancers of the iconic Tropicana Cabaret; savor inspired musical performances at La Zorra y El Cuervo, the city's legendary jazz club; and travel beyond the city to the World Heritage-listed Viñales Valley, renowned for its stunning landscape and tobacco cultivation.

Santiago de Cuba  

Often described as Cuba's cultural capital, Santiago de Cuba impresses with its wealth of interesting attractions, from colorful colonial buildings, churches and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed fortress to eclectic museums, and charming parks, gardens and UNESCO World Heritage-listed old French coffee plantations. Guests will have opportunities to connect with local culture at historic sites of interest, gaining insight into the Cuban Revolution and the Spanish-American War. They'll also be able to delve into the Cuban traditions surrounding tobacco and rum, and much more.

Cienfuegos

Situated on a gorgeous natural bay, the breathtaking beauty of Cuba is on full display in Cienfuegos. Originally home to French settlers, the city offers a culturally diverse charm, highlighted by a World Heritage-listed city center that brims with elegant, neoclassical buildings. From here, guests can embark on an exploration of UNESCO World Heritage-listed colonial Trinidad, with its cobbled lanes and striking architecture; experience a local cultural community project and the first and only art gallery in the mountains; or marvel at the cascading waterfalls, natural pools and lush mountains of El Nicho, a pristine park named after its signature waterfalls.

"Since opportunities have opened for Americans to enjoy travel to Cuba, we have eagerly awaited this moment," said Roberto Martinoli, Silversea's CEO. "Cuba is a remarkable island and we are delighted to offer our guests the opportunity to discover the most authentic sights, sounds and flavours of its culture, as they connect with its people on thoughtfully orchestrated voyages."

Adam Armstrong, Silversea's managing director for Australia and New Zealand says: "We are thrilled to announce the addition of Cuba to our 2019 and 2020 voyage collections. Cuba is arguably the fastest growing destination in the Caribbean, and one that many luxury travellers are eager to explore, knowing that they can be uniquely enriched by a fresh perspective on the people, traditions and natural wonders of this island nation."

Aboard Silversea ships, guests enjoy ocean-view suites, sumptuous cuisine, and the personalised service of a butler. Enriching the experience are such all-inclusive amenities as complimentary premium wines and spirits, specialty coffees, bottled water, juices and soft drinks served throughout the ship; an in-suite bar, stocked with guests' preferences; an in-suite 24-hour dining service; and unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi.

For more information, please visit: https://www.silversea.com/cuba-cruises.html

Four new ships for MSC - but smaller

The first of this highly-innovative new generation of ships will come into service in Spring 2023

MSC Cruises and Fincantieri today announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of four ultra-luxury cruise ships for a total value in excess of EUR 2 billion.

The ships, the first of which will be delivered in Spring 2023, will have gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 GT and will feature 500 cabins. The remaining three ships will come into service one per year over the following three years.

The ships will feature the best and latest environmental technology and other cutting-edge maritime solutions at sea. They will also showcase highly-innovative design as well as introduce ground-breaking options for guest comfort and relaxation.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said: “It is off the back of the great success of our ship-within-a-ship luxury concept that our guests asked us to enter into the ultra-luxury segment, as a natural evolution of the MSC Yacht Club. These ships will be able to offer unique itineraries, thanks to their size, and the guest services will be taken to another level, including our personalised MSC Yacht Club butler service, available 24/7.”

Mr Vago continued, “I am especially pleased to be able to further extend our partnership with Fincantieri through this new order. The award-winning Seaside and Seaside-Evo class have already been recognised as ground-breaking and innovative designs. We are now introducing another new class, which will establish a new standard of ultra-luxury at sea with ships that will showcase the quality and highest standards that are associated with Made in Italy.”

Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated: “It is with pride that two great brands – an Italian one and one with a strong Italian DNA -, well-known all over the world, today announce an important construction program. We are extremely satisfied that, to launch a new class of ships in the luxury segment, MSC Cruises has recognized that our design will help them create a new generation of ships that will be cutting edge both in terms of safety and technological content and with particular attention paid to passenger comfort. With this project Fincantieri can count on 53 cruise ships in its order book, confirming its position as absolute market leader”.

Silversea opens 2020-21 bookings with Silver Moon

Highlights of the new itineraries include complimentary flights & transfers on most voyages, the debut of Silver Moon, and greater variation in remarkable destinations around the world.




Silversea Cruises opens bookings to the general public for 191 remarkable new voyages, which will unlock 572 destinations in 84 countries from summer 2020 into winter 2021. Complimentary air and transfers will be included on virtually all of the newly announced itineraries, while a number of other highlights will enable Silversea's guests to travel deeper like never before.

Included for most voyages in the new collection, complimentary round-trip economy-class flights and transfers will simplify the travel experience for guests. The new addition will enable guests to travel the world with complete peace of mind: a smooth end-to-end service will make for a seamless connection; full protection covers guests against unforeseen mishaps; and reservations can be made with ease via my.silversea.com or by calling the reservation team. Also available are business-class air upgrades from as low as AU$699 each way. For guests not utilising the air offer, a generous air credit is available. Exceptions and market-specific conditions may apply.

The new collection of itineraries will enable guests to get closer to the authentic beauty of the world with unprecedented variety, increasing the cruise line's ultra-luxury offering in a number of remarkable destinations. Highlights of the collection will include:

Enhanced options in Northern Europe will comprise four ships and 29 voyages: in Iceland, Silversea will offer more immersive experiences on both classic and expedition voyages, including a 9-day circumnavigation aboard Silver Wind, departing Reykjavik on 29 June, 2020; in the British Isles, extended programs will unlock more incredible experiences, with voyages departing from the iconic Tower Bridge; while an exciting new North Sea Capitals voyage will offer overnights in Oslo, Hamburg, Amsterdam, and London.

New deep travel experiences in Alaska and the Russian Far East, with three ships and 21 voyages from which guests can choose. As in 2019, the cruise line's flagship, Silver Muse, will spend a full summer deployed in Alaska in 2020. Silversea's Silver Explorer will cruise in the Sea of Okhotsk, one of the least visited areas in the Russian Far East, on an 18-day voyage from June 2020.
A return to the Canary Islands on two voyages (departing 16 April and 25 September, 2020) and Istanbul on two different itineraries (departing 30 May and 2 August, 2020). 

Maiden calls in: El Hierro, Spain; Fishguard, Wales; Nordfjordeid, Norway; Siglufjörður, Iceland; Durres, Albania; Klaksvik, Faroe Islands; and Patreksfjordur, Iceland.

An increased polar offering, with two ships and 10 voyages and 83 destinations in the Arctic, and 11 itineraries and 26 destinations in Antarctica (including East Antarctica and the Ross Sea). Unprecedented voyages to New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands and Australia's Macquarie Island (all UNESCO World Heritage Sites) will enable guests to view vast colonies of penguins and thousands of seals; visits to Churchill and Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada, will take guests to the 'polar bear capital of the world' and the home of the world's largest beluga whale population, respectively; and concurrent crossings of the Northwest and Northeast Passages will unlock unique, life-defining experiences.

Greater variety in the Mediterranean with five ships and 54 voyages on offer, including a 37-day, 28-port grand voyage and an extended Grand Prix voyage.
An extended season in the Galápagos Islands.

More overnights than ever before, which will allow guests to spend longer in some of the most amazing destinations in the world. Every voyage over seven nights in Europe and Canada and New England will benefit from an overnight in strategically selected ports.

An additional highlight of the new summer 2020 itineraries, Silversea's Silver Moon will set sail on her inaugural voyage on 6 August, 2020: the ship will depart Trieste, Italy, for Civitavecchia on an 11-day cruise. The sister ship of Silversea's flagship, Silver Muse, Silver Moon will benefit from a number of onboard enhancements. One of five Silversea ships in the region in the summer of 2020, she will cruise in the Mediterranean for her maiden season, until November, when she will cross the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale.

"For discerning travellers who are in search of rare and authentic moments, these new itineraries offer a unique array of carefully curated, life-enriching experiences," says Adam Armstrong, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand. "With the introduction of free air and transfers on virtually every voyage, visits to over 570 spectacular destinations worldwide, and the debut of our brand-new Silver Moon, this is the perfect time to book a luxury cruise holiday with Silversea to discover the authentic beauty of the world."

Browse Silversea's new collection of voyages for summer 2020/winter 2021: https://www.silversea.com/2020-2021-new-itineraries.html

SeaDream Mediterranean cruises for 2020

SEADREAM Yacht Club has announced a unique new program of sailings in the Mediterranean in 2020 that will mix forever popular major ports of call, together with a fascinating grab-bag of smaller, less-crowded gems on the French and Italian Rivieras, in the Greek Isles, along the Spanish coast and across the Adriatic Sea that are all largely inaccessible to the bigger cruise giants.

And as well sailings range from five to eleven nights, which make them particularly popular in the Australian market, and are designed to also provide SeaDream’s 56-couples (served by 95 crew) with the opportunity of combining two sailings into longer back-to-back voyages without ever visiting the same ports of call twice.

Amongst new ports on these sailings will be Ikaria in Greece that’s one of the world’s “Blue Zones” in which residents enjoy longevity and good health through a diet heavy with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, potatoes, olive oil and antioxidant herbal teas – coupled with a habit of stress-relieving and heart-resting mid-afternoon naps.

Other new Mediterranean ports for both SeaDream I and SeaDream II in 2020 will be Vis in Croatia whose beaches featured in the 2018 movie “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” Santa Maria de Leuca on the southernmost tip of the “heel of Italy’s boot,” and Slovenia’s medieval coastal town of Koper that’s rich in history, culture and classic architecture.

And a new port of embarkation and disembarkation from 2020 will be the Maltese capital of Valletta that is recognised as one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world and often described as “an open-air museum,” together with another first-time for SeaDream the Maltese archipelago island of Gozo with its Xlendi Bay that’s one of the country’s most popular swimming and snorkelling spots.

For full details see your favourite travel agent or visit www.seadream.com; prices include SeaDream’s award-winning cuisine, drinks with meals and from the bars, power and sail water-sports, use of SeaDream onboard golf simulator and fitness centre, port charges and taxes, and even crew gratuities.