Silver Explorer

The 1989-built MS Silver Explorer cruise ship is operated by Silversea via the company's “Silversea Expeditions” division. The vessel's fleetmates (in Silversea Expeditions) are Silver Cloud (1994), Silver Galapagos (2013) and Silver Origin (2021).

History - construction and ownership

Silversea Cruises is a Monaco-based privately-owned cruise company and top-luxury travel brand. It was established in 1994 as joint venture of V-Ships Monaco (fka Vlasov Group) and Lefebvre Family of Rome Italy. In 2018, RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd acquired 2/3rd of the company. Silversea now has a fleet of smaller-sized boutique cruise vessels with passenger capacity between 100-700. The company's business model is to operate yacht-like vessels in the industry's ultra-luxury-all-suite ship category. Silversea's all-inclusive fares include beverages (also selected wines), gratuities (none are allowed), travel insurance, port charges, one or more shore excursions (per voyage).

The 132-passenger ship Silver Explorer has been operated under different names before being acquired by Society Expeditions. The last names she operated under were World Discoverer and World Adventurer. In 2007 the ship was purchased by Silversea and underwent a refit at Fincantieri (Trieste) that cost a multi-million pound. In June 2008 in Monte Carlo, the ship was re-christened as “ms Prince Albert II”, and later in 2011 renamed Silver Explorer in order to align with fleet’s other vessels.

The Silversea Explorer ship has been designed for navigating waters in the most remote destinations – both polar regions as well. The strengthened 1A ice-class notation hull (Lloyd’s Register) enables the ship to safely push through floes with ease. Ship's Zodiac boats fleet allows passengers to visit distant locations along the coast and on inland waterways.

Decks and Cabins

Silver Explorer staterooms (66 total, in 10 categories, all outside) allow capacity 132 passengers. During World Discoverer II ship's drydock refit, the cabins’ number was reduced from 112 to only 66 in order to create larger staterooms. A total of 50x staterooms have French balconies, and 3x are with step-out verandahs. Upon arrival, all passengers will find flowers and a fruit basket, the beverage cabinet will be stocked to their preferences. The largest accommodations are the two Owner's Suites (570 ft2 / 53 m2 plus 160 ft2 / 15 m2 terrace).

The boat has 7 decks, of which 5 are passenger-accessible and 4 with cabins.

Gratuities are included in fares and no other tips are needed. Other staterooms’ amenities include binoculars, personalized stationery, personal safe, flat-screen television, satellite news reception, music channels, complimentary movies and documentaries. All cabins are Wi-Fi accessible. The bathrooms are marbled and have separate shower and tub, as well as oversized wash basin (the best option for babies). Passengers may choose from Bvlgari, Neutrogena or Ferragamo bath products.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Silver Explorer's Restaurant offers contemporary, international cuisine with impeccable service and sophisticated elegance. Menus feature regional specialities that are unique to the cruise destination, for example, while cruising the Chilean fjords passengers can try Roasted Chilean Sea Bass. During days at sea, guests are pampered by La Collection du Monde, which is a series of signature dishes designed exclusively for the line by the Grands Chefs of Relais and Châteaux. The Restaurant provides open-seating dining, with no assigned times and tables. Guests are free to dine where, when and with whom they please.

Follows the complete list of Silver Explorer restaurants and food bars.

• "The Restaurant" MDR (open-seating)
• Outdoor Grill.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Silver Explorer cruise ship has an Expedition Team of experts to provide guests with understanding and insight to each adventure voyage. Schedules vary from the first announced times, and it is important to be on short notice ready for getting into Zodiacs if weather conditions or wildlife sightings dictate changes. When a polar bear is first seen in the Arctic, an announcement is made, though it may be 2:00 a.m.

On Silver Explorer cruises, Silversea sends packing recommendations to passengers for the polar expeditions. Lists include items like boots, waterproof pants, gloves, thermal underwear. The Explorer’s passengers are well-travelled and well-heeled Europeans (many of them Germans) and Americans, couples mostly in their 40’s-60’s.

The Silver Explorer cruise entertainment options include martini and wine tastings, culinary demonstration and outdoor afternoon tea parties served on deck. No casino is featured onboard. Different board games are available in the lounges for play. Four Internet access stations are provided at the internet centre, as well as Wi-Fi, fully equipped library and lecture theatre.

After the Explorer’s transformation, the swimming pool was removed, as it was rarely used during ship’s polar expeditions. The ship has two whirlpools used occasionally. Fitness options include Fitness Centre and jogging track. Numerous spa facilities are offered – sauna, steam room, a treatment room for facials, massages, and wraps. The treatments include Elemis Cleanse men’s facial ($129), deep-tissue massage ($116); Swedish massage ($110), and Elemis Stone Aromatherapy ($159), all great after the long hikes.

Additional amenities include a Medical centre, Boutique, complimentary 24-hour Room Service, Butler Service, Internet/WiFi Access.

Follows the complete list of Silver Explorer lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• The Theatre (Seminars and lectures are presented by educated experts in various scientific fields throughout the voyage. Guests can hear tales of adventure or learn about the region’s remarkable nature and endemic wildlife)
• Internet Cafe (Email family and friends or surf the web for a nominal fee. Complimentary black and white printing and headphones are also available)
• The Connoisseur’s Corner (serves exceptional cognacs and offers a premium selection of cigars)
• The Observation Lounge; The Panorama Lounge 
• The Library (with audio listening stations and on-demand movies)
• Expedition Boutique (offers the highest quality products: logo items, jewellery, perfumes, souvenirs)
• The Spa at Silversea (features spa therapies including body wraps, massages and facials; sauna and steam rooms)
• Beauty Salon (provides a full range of services: hairstyling, manicures, pedicures)
• Fitness Centre (offers a treadmill, stationary bike, weight machine, elliptical trainer).

Itineraries

Silver Explorer itinerary program is based on top luxury adventure polar cruises that last from 10 to 21 days. Silver Explorer cruises the Arctic Circle in summer with calls on Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard archipelago. During northern hemisphere winter and autumn, the Silversea’s Explorer sails off Antarctica and South America. The ports of departure include Ushuaia, Cape Town, Dakar, Lisbon, Tromso, Reykjavik.

For winter 2021-2022 season (November 2021 through March 2022) Silversea homeported Silver Explorer in Puerto Williams (Navarino Island, Chilean Antarctica). The homeporting season (ever-first for the Silversea brand) was based on fly-cruise deals inclusive of private jet flights (between Puerto Williams and Santiago de Chile) and 10- or 12-day cruisetours (5-6-9-day cruise itineraries) visiting the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia Island, South Shetland Islands, The Falklands, Elephant Island.

Silver Explorer cruise ship was built as "World Discoverer II" at Rauma Shipyard Finland. In 2007, the vessel was bought by Silversea from Society Expeditions (1932-1992 defunct) and received an extensive drydock renovation at Fincantieri Shipyard in Trieste Italy.

Silver Explorer is a 1A ice-rated expedition ship - the highest Lloyds Register rating. The vessel is part of the company's Silversea Expeditions fleet (together with Silver Cloud, Silver Galapagos and Silver Origin). Its shallow draft allows navigating closer to shore.

Silversea Silver Explorer ship is equipped with 8 Zodiacs (high-speed motorized boats for near-shore cruising and landings). Since schedules usually vary from the announced times, it's important to be able to get into the Zodiacs on short notice if weather conditions and wildlife sightings dictate changes. When the first polar bear is noticed in the Arctic, an announcement is immediately made - even if it's 3:00 a.m. Guests put their parkas on and come out to the viewing areas. This Silversea ship is not suitable for children (no kids' facilities or babysitting service).

Silversea's "flight and cruise" package deals (by the Silver Sky program) are inclusive of the cruise fare, discount roundtrip airfare (Economy-Class) and airport-pier-airport transfers. Silversea's "hotel and cruise" package "Silver Shore Simply Hotel" offers overnight 5-star luxury hotel stays with the option of adding transfers or upgrades. The upgraded cruise and hotel package ("Silver Shore Grande Hotel") offers 1-3-nights landmark hotel stays (or at a boutique property) and is inclusive of private transfers (airport-hotel and hotel-pier).

In summer 2014, Silver Explorer completed Silversea's first Northwest Passage Cruise crossing. The 23-days long itinerary started in Kangerlussuaq Greenland (on August 9) and ended in Nome Alaska (on September 2), covering a distance of 4000+ mi (6480 km).

In 2019 (August 10 through September 5), Silver Explorer completed a 26-day Northwest Passage cruise from Alaska (Nome AK) to Europe (Tromso Norway). The voyage included ~9260 km of sea navigation and visiting 27 ports and destinations on 2 continents and in 3 countries. During the passage through the Canadian Arctic, the cruise ship was escorted by a CCG icebreaker. On the ship were 15 expedition team crew (including historians, geologist, botanist, marine biologist, ornithologist, professional photographer) presenting ~50 itinerary-themed onboard lectures.

Silver Explorer refurbishments review

The boat's 2017 drydock refurbishment (May 1-21, done in Cadiz Spain) resulted in the following deckplan changes.

• All staterooms were renovated with new carpets, curtains, bed mattresses. Cabin bathrooms received new rainforest showers and granite touches.
• On Deck 3 and Deck 4 were added a total of 16 new suites (Vista and View categories). All these new cabins are with connecting doors making them perfect for families and larger parties travelling together.
• All the ship's lounges were upgraded with new carpeting, furniture, wall treatments.
• On Deck 4, the fitness centre was doubled in size.
• The ship's general color scheme was changed to "blue and beige " (used throughout).

In 2018 (September 16 - October 11) the boat was drydocked in Vancouver BC Canada for maintenance works done by Seaspan (Canadian shipbuilder) and 125 local suppliers and contractors. Among the ship upgrades were the assembly and installation of a new stabilizer (ducktail, on the stern), propeller repairs and polishing, blast painting of the underwater hull.

Silversea Antarctica 2021-2022 program

In early-May 2021, Silversea announced that for winter 2021-2022 (November 2021 through March 2022) will homeport Silver Explorer in Puerto Williams (Navarino Island, Chilean Antarctica). The homeporting season (ever-first for the brand) was based on fly-cruise deals inclusive of private jet flights between Puerto Williams and Santiago de Chile.

As part of Silversea's all-inclusive Antarctica fly-cruise package, the program included departures from a private airport terminal in Santiago (Pudahuel Airport) on a charter flight to Puerto Williams. Aircraft perks included extra baggage allowance and legroom, as well as Silversea representative escort and gourmet lunch to enhance the vacation experience.

Silversea's Antarctica 2021-2022 package included roundtrip Transoceanic flights (economy class or discounted business class airfares) to Santiago, welcome dinner reception, pre-cruise overnight hotel in Santiago, bus transfers and luggage handling (airport-hotel-ship), post-cruise overnight hotel (optional for customers who didn't have to take return flight on the disembarkation day).

Upon arrival in Puerto Williams, travelers were directly bused to the cruise pier (without the need to clear customs) to board the ship. Following the Antarctica cruise, tourists again boarded a private jet for the return flight to Santiago.

Silversea's program included 10- or 12-day cruisetours and 5-6-9-day long cruise itineraries visiting the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia Island, South Shetland Islands, The Falklands, and Elephant Island. Two unique sailings offered the opportunity to witness the Antarctic solar eclipse on December 4, 2021.

Silversea Antarctica Fly-Cruise Package 2021 (canceled/rescheduled)

In December 2019, Silversea announced its first fly-cruise program to Antarctica - "Antarctica Bridge". The ultra-luxury flight+cruise packages was planned to provide travelers with the fastest and most direct travel to Antarctica, starting December 2021, and based on 12 total fly-cruise itineraries scheduled for Silver Explorer. Antarctica Bridge bookings were opened on December 10, 2019, with fares from USD 17500 per person (with double-occupancy). However, due to the Coronavirus crisis in 2020, this program was canceled (replaced by the above-detailed).

The originally planned Silversea Antarctica 2021 packages were inclusive of two direct flights between Punta Arenas Chile and King George Island Antarctica. The 1240 km (770 mi) long flight was over Drake Passage and on a Silversea-chartered plane adapted to land on King George Island. The business-class flight takes 2 hours (each direction), avoiding ~4 days of sea navigation on the return leg of the cruise. An in-flight entertainment program included information briefings on the Zodiacs (cruise ship's high-speed boats used for landings) and IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators). After the first flight were scheduled 5x full Antarctica cruising days.

Silversea's Fly-Cruise Antarctica deals (Antarctica Bridge itineraries) were inclusive of:

• (Day 1) international flight to Santiago, domestic flight (economy-class) from Santiago to Punta Arenas, welcome cocktail reception and gala dinner (in Punta Arenas)
• (Day 2) pre-cruise hotel overnight in Punta Arenas
• (Day 3) private charter flight to Antarctica (King George Island)
• (Days 3-9) Silver Explorer cruise
• (Day 9) private charter flight from Antarctica (King George Island) to Punta Arenas, with post-cruise hotel overnight
• (Day 10) domestic flight (economy-class) from Punta Arenas to Santiago, international flight from Santiago

Traditionally for Silversea, to all cruisers are complimentary provided expedition gear (parkas, waterproof trousers, expedition backpacks, water bottles). For rental are offered rubber boots and walking poles. Airport-hotel transfers and luggage services are complimentary if the international flights are booked through Silversea.