In a world of multi-national conglomerates, Silversea Cruises is family-owned and operated. This means pride and passion for the best of life. An expedition with them is thrilling, awe-inspiring and humbling, taking you to some of the most remote regions on the planet. It's about immersing yourself in the culture, landscape and habitat of a region with the help of experts to illuminate all you see. You can sample all this on the Silver Cloud, an elite ice-class expedition ship sailing to Antarctica and the Arctic. Discover the signature features - spacious all-suite accommodations with butler service, open bars, award-winning cuisine and five dining options.
The service ratio of virtually one crew member per guest is the best in expedition cruising. And the ship is superbly designed to capture the magnificent scenery with panoramic public rooms, broad decks and verandas in most suites, so seductive seascapes are never far from view. The Silver Cloud can carry up to 260 guests. But when in polar waters, Silversea Cruises has chosen to limit the number of guests to 200. And with 18 new Zodiacs and a team of 19 expedition guides, all guests can go exploring at the same time.
As a taster, we have chosen two Silver Cloud polar adventures to share with you.
Revel in the power of nature. Admire the staggering abundance of wildlife. Meet the personal challenge of reaching Earth’s last great wilderness frontier. You’ll cruise across seas of glass, passing giant prisms of ice riding an ink-blue sea. And you’ll share the landscape with bellowing elephant seals and raucous rookeries of penguins, unafraid and unperturbed by your presence. Silversea's luxury Antarctica cruises offer the highest standards of comfort, style and safety.
Ushuaia to Ushuaia (10 days, on board the Silver Cloud) Departing 11 December 2017 Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is the capital of Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina. Its stark physical beauty is striking. Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina Departing from Buenos Aires, fly to Ushuaia and transfer to embark the Silver Cloud Days 2 - 3: Drake Passage Drake Passage is the body of water between South America's Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. It has a reputation for turbulent seas and you will encounter the Antarctic Convergence, a natural boundary between cold polar water flowing northward and warmer equatorial water moving southward. Familiarise yourself with the elegant Silver Cloud and attend wildlife, geography and history discussions hosted by expert naturalists and guest lecturers to prepare you for the days ahead. Days 4 - 8: Antarctic Peninsula Remote and otherworldly, Antarctica is irresistible for its spectacular iceberg sculptures and calving glaciers, and for the possibility of close encounters with marine mammals. Watch for seals sunbathing on slow-moving ice floes and for humpback, Minke and orca whales to surface from below the frigid waters.
Each day Zodiac departures will be arranged, and, if conditions permit, you will cruise amidst colourful icebergs or step ashore to visit a variety of penguin rookeries and perhaps scientific research stations on complimentary excursions led by natural history experts. Each day the Expedition Leader and Captain will determine the best course depending on weather, ice conditions and wildlife you may encounter. Days 9 - 10: Drake Passage Return Navigating a return through the Drake Passage, watch for seabirds and wildlife you may have missed on the first leg. Take the opportunity to attend additional presentations and to swap photos with new friends as you travel towards Ushuaia. The Captain invites you for a farewell cocktail and the on-board photographer/ videographer will present a voyage DVD permitting you to re-live all the otherworldly experiences in this pristine and magical continent. Day 11 — Ushuaia, Argentina After breakfast, disembark the Silver Cloud and transfer to Ushuaia International Airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires.
Alternatively (or additionally), cruise to the Arctic and Greenland. From abundant wildlife and dramatic landscapes to the Midnight Sun, follow in the wake of the Vikings to Greenland and Iceland. Explore Svalbard where the polar bear roams freely. Hike and Zodiac amid the icebergs and tundra. Vast colonies of birds pocket the rugged cliffs. Seals and walrus haul out on rocky outcrops. Whales spout and breach before your eyes. This is a trip to awaken the soul.
Longyearbyen/ Oslo to Tromsø (9 days, on board the Silver Cloud) Departing 18 July 2018 Day 1: Longyearbyen, Norway Embark the Silver Cloud, familiarise yourself with the elegant ship, meet some of your fellow travellers and enjoy the first of many memorable meals. Days 2 - 6: Cruise & Explore Svalbard The flexible itinerary allows you to take advantage of favourable ice and weather conditions. It may include cruising by Zodiac amongst ice floes and icebergs or heading ashore for a guided walk. Travel to see animals - perhaps reindeer, and Arctic fox or a bearded seal. Northern Fulmars will be your constant companions. You might even encounter a few whales. Several species frequent the area, in particular Minke and beluga. The strengthened hull of the Silver Cloud is the perfect platform to search for walrus and polar bears as at least one day will be devoted to exploring the pack ice north of Spitsbergen. Conditions permitting, your Expedition Leader may choose to take you out in the Zodiacs for an even closer look. Day 7: Bear Island (Bjørnøya), Norway As the Silver Cloud nears the southern tip of this arctic island, now a nature reserve, see thousands of seabirds diving into and out of the island’s steep cliffs. With the Zodiacs and favourable weather conditions, you will explore the rugged coastline. Close to 9km of cliffs are home to some of the largest bird colonies of the Northern Hemisphere. Common Guillemots, Brünnich’s Guillemots, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Northern Fulmars and Glaucous Gulls are all found along the cliff. Of the more than 120 species registered, slightly more than 30 actually breed on the island. Day 8: Kirkenes, Norway As you sail through the Barents Sea, a series of lectures will emphasise the special history and natural history of Norway’s Far North. On arrival in Kirkenes, one option will be to drive southward into the Pasvik Valley sitting between Russia and Finland. Another option might be to head west along Munkefjord to visit Neiden, a small village near the Finnish/ Norwegian border, and even cross into Finland at Näätämö. Day 9: Skarsvag (for Nordkapp) and Gjesværstappan Islands, Norway The Silver Cloud will round the North Cape, the northernmost point of Europe. Adventurous guests can join the Expedition Team for a challenging hike to Nordkapp, retracing the original route to the cape up a winding path. For those who prefer comfort, the ship anchors off Skarsvag, the “most northerly fishing village in the world”, and, weather conditions permitting, you can head ashore via Zodiac. Day 10: Tromsø, Norway After breakfast, disembark the Silver Cloud.
To make a booking, or for further details on these or any other Silversea holiday, contact info@abbottstravel.com, book an appointment online, call 0208 989 9445 or visit the shop at 134 George Lane, South Woodford, E18 1BA.
