The Silver Galapagos

To most Silversea is a 6 star cruise line offering small ships with first class service, dining and fine wines. As a company they was founded in 1994 and their ships hold no more than 600 passengers, giving their guests the ultimate in luxury.  But did you know that they also have some of the best educational cruises around? Of course, these cruises are still based on the 6 star service that guests have come to expect but the ships are built for specific itineraries and explorations.

They have a fleet of 5 ships with a 6th due in 2017 for their standard cruise itineraries such as the Med or the Caribbean and 3 ships for the various expedition cruises that they offer throughout the world.

Earlier this year I was invited to a lunch seminar with Silversea Expeditions and we got to sit and listen to the fantastic team that have the best job in the world, whom put together itineraries for the guests to experience once in a life time trips with this 6 star cruise line. It was great to see first hand how these guys put together a trip that takes months and months of research and organisation to give the cruisers the best experience ever and to hear their fascinating stories of their own travels whilst doing so.

One of the expeditions that Silversea are very proud to have is the Galapagos Islands. In fact the ship they use is called the Silver Galapagos. They offer itineraries to one of the most isolated places in the world to encounter an abundant variety of wildlife species that is incredibly unique and found nowhere else on earth. 

blue-footed boobies, galapagos islands, ecuador

The ship itself was built in 1990 for the sole purpose of being used around the Galapagos Islands. Silversea acquired the ship in 2013 and gave it two (yes I said 2) full refurbishments (the 1st in 2013 and the 2nd in 2014), to bring it up to the standard of this 6 star company. At 4077 tonnes and holding just 100 guests, with a crew of 75, you will experience nothing but pure luxury and attention whilst fulfilling a life ambition to see this fabulous place on earth.

The Silver Galapagos offers year round 7 night itineraries and try to vary the itineraries, so if guests wish to do back to back sailings to encounter the full offerings of these islands they can. Silversea employ a team of staff from Ecuador whom are all highly experienced  guides certified by the National Park of the Galápagos. This team is there to take the groups on the complimentary exploration activities which include Zodiac tours, snorkeling, kayaking and nature hikes and to give talks and as much information as possible. They take in certain areas of the islands at certain times of the year to make sure that you see what you are meant to see. For example, having specialists on board they know when specific species of animals will be in abundance on the islands for breeding and rearing young so that you get to observe this first hand. There is certainly no point in going there unless you are going to see what you came to see.

View of two beaches on Bartolome Island in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador

So if like me the Galapagos Islands are on your bucket list, please give me a call and lets get you booked.

‘to travel is to live’ – Hans Christian Anderson.

Dawn

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