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Cruise Guide: Prince Albert II ushers in new cruise era

By Michael Coleman

Cruise passengers with a taste for adventure and a penchant for luxury take note: Your ship has come in.

Silversea Cruises, renowned for exceptional onboard service aboard its fleet of four ships has just unveiled its newest vessel, Prince Albert II, the worlds first ultra-luxurious expedition ship.

The 132-guest 6,072-ton vessel, launched this month from Monte Carlo, ushers in a bold new era of adventure and exploration for the lines discerning, well-traveled clientele.

It is our aim that this ship will not only offer guests the highest level of comfort and service, but also enlighten them to the rarity and beauty of the most remote places on earth,” said Silversea Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre.

Fresh from a multi-million dollar renovation, Prince Albert II features 66 ocean-view accommodations, luxurious living space and private marble bathrooms with bathtubs. Select suites offer double private French balconies or large private verandas and additional elite amenities aboun,  including butler service and a Silversea hallmark: gourmet cuisine.

Recognizing an expedition cruise to the world’s most remote and fascinating realms is as much a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience as it is an adventure, Silversea will tap some of the worlds leading experts in a host of disciplines to guide guests through respective voyages..

“All of our expedition cruises feature a distinguished team of four or five experts ranging from biologists and ornithologists to historians and naturalists, carefully chosen to present a multi-faceted view of the natural wildlife, scenery and cultures that we will visit,” said Conrad Combrink, Silversea’s director of expeditions.

Two special guest lecturers, geologist Jon Vidar Sigurdsson and adventurer Jon Bowermaster, have already been tapped to host some inaugural season voyages.

Sigurdsson has led some 20 summer and winter expeditions and field tours to Greenland and has also organized an open-university course about the island for the University of Iceland.  Hell host a “Svalbard and Iceland” expedition, departing July 12 for 18 days from Tromso to Reykjavik and he will be on hand for “Greenland Exploration,” departing Reykjavik July 30 on a 16-day journey to St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Bowermaster, meanwhile, has made a career out of descending upon some of the worlds most remote, exotic locales. The author and filmmaker has explored much of the planet by kayak, counting the Aleutian Islands, Vietnam, French Polynesia, South America’s Altiplano, the Antarctic Peninsula and the wild coasts of Gabon, Croatia and Tasmania among his conquests. Hell host “Journey to South America,” departing October 12 on a 22-day expedition from Acapulco to Santiago. 

As a testament to Silverseas bold new stride, the lines Chilean Fjords Highlights voyage hosted by Bowermaster departing Nov. 3 from Santiago to Ushuaia the worlds most southernmost city has already sold out.

It is our hope that by educating and connecting people with distant cultures and wildlife, the Prince Albert II can open eyes and foster respect and greater care for our planet and its inhabitants, said Silversea President and CEO, Amerigo Perasso.

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