Two Silversea Ships Meet as Silver Whisper Becomes First-Ever Ship to Visit Antarctica on a World Cruise

(Miami, FL -- February 10, 2020) Guests traveling aboard Silversea’s Silver Cloud and Silver Whisper enjoyed a rare moment in the cruise line’s history when the two ships met in Antarctica's Wilhelmina Bay on February 4, 2020.

The rendezvous was a pioneering moment in more ways than one, as Silver Whisper became the first-ever ship to visit Antarctica on a World Cruise: Silversea’s ultra-luxury ship embarked upon the seven-continent ‘Legends of Cruising’ on January 6, 2020, and guests spent a total of four days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula between February 4 and February 7. During the four-day Antarctica experience, travelers enjoyed many immersive expedition activities, including expert-led Zodiac tours and adventures ashore, as well as enriching onboard lectures and workshops from the cruise line’s Expedition Team.

"The meeting of Silver Cloud and Silver Whisper in Antarctica is truly an incredible moment for Silversea Cruises," said Conrad Combrink, Silversea's Senior Vice President of Expeditions and Experiences Development. "It signifies the range of experiences on offer with our cruise line: whether traveling on the first-ever seven-continent World Cruise or journeying deep into the White Continent on the most luxurious ice-class ship afloat, our guests can enjoy a wealth of unforgettable experiences in ultimate comfort."

From mid-November through February each year, Silversea’s guests travel deeper into Antarctica in ultimate comfort, exploring the region’s ice-dappled waters, glaciers and geothermal beaches, and admiring the continent’s unique wildlife. Starting in December 2021, Silversea is making it easier than ever to explore the White Continent with its revolutionary Antarctica Bridge—an ultra-luxury fly-cruise service that enables guests to fly over the Drake Passage in business-class comfort in approximately two hours each way.

Travelers seeking the ultimate expedition experience will be attracted to Silversea’s ‘Uncharted World Tour’—the first-ever Expedition World Cruise. Departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, on January 30, 2021, guests traveling on this 167-day odyssey will enjoy an immersive exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, before tracing a path through the South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and, ultimately, the Norwegian Arctic.

Windstar Cruises Announces Transformative New Spa Concept That Takes Wellness and Travel to New Levels

An updated spa treatment room aboard Wind Surf

Seattle, WA, February 4, 2020 — With Windstar’s launch of its new World Spa by Windstar, the leading small ship cruise line is taking wellness to new places. Windstar Cruises, which operates six small ships sailing to 80 countries around the globe, features regional spa treatments and destination-themed therapies to enhance guests’ travel experience.

World Spa by Windstar debuted first on Wind Surf which emerged from a major renovation in December 2019. The spa will be included on the three all-suite Star Class ships—Star Breeze, Star Legend and Star Pride—as part of the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative. The three reimagined ships will debut in May, September and December 2020. The look of these new spaces will be calm and serene, providing the perfect backdrop for a transformative experience.

“We’re delighted to expand upon Windstar’s partnership with One Spa World,” says Peter Tobler, Director of Hotel Operations for Windstar Cruises. “Now with the unveiling of World Spa by Windstar, our guests will be able to take wellness to a deeper level and partake in destination-inspired treatments with locally sourced ingredients.”

Travel on its own is a kind of therapy, but with the introduction of its innovative line of destination-themed treatments, the World Spa by Windstar will offer guests an even more profound sense of place. Natural elements are sourced from Windstar’s global destinations for use by spa therapists in a collection of Wanderlust treatments that will vary by region.

The Northern Lights Manicure and Pedicure, which is inspired by the aurora borealis itself includes a soak using seaweed sourced from the Baltic Sea, and warm LED lights modeled after the color-streaked midnight sky helps lessen signs of aging and improves the texture of the skin while also creating an unforgettable light show. A Remineralizing Glacial Mud Body Wrap from Alaska incorporates mud minerals and botanical extracts harvested directly from the remote waters of the Copper River in the Last Frontier. This wrap uses some of the purest ingredients found anywhere on the planet and will rid the skin of impurities while stimulating healthy cell regeneration. A Rosemary and Thyme Massage from the Mediterranean, which uses some of Italy’s most intoxicating ingredients—honey, rosemary and wine—conditions and calms. Additional regional treatments from Asia, Caribbean, Iceland and the South Pacific are on the menu.

In addition to therapies from some of the richest cultures on earth, World Spa by Windstar will introduce guests to a number of other wellness adventures. A range of facial therapies will fuse technology and high-level ingredients to transform skin on a cellular level. From an Aroma Stone Therapy to an Intensely Cleansing Salt Scrub, massages and body treatments employ the world’s best ingredients and techniques, while kneading out stress and restoring inner peace. The World Spa is also bringing ancient healing remedies from the Far East to the high seas, including acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.

Massage therapists and beauticians will be using products from Elemis, the luxurious British body and skincare line. And in keeping with Windstar’s dedication to providing the best in class in all areas, guests will now have access to a true spa and fitness center, with new and improved gym equipment from Technogym, an Italian company known for its cutting-edge designs.

In an effort to enliven both mind and body, World Spa by Windstar will also tap into fitness and nutrition to further empower guests’ journeys. Onboard fitness experts can design a custom program to help passengers achieve their wellness goals, using body composition analysis, nutritional consultation based on the prize-winning research of Dr. Barry Sears and scientifically backed personal training. Also offered are Body Sculpt Boot Camp, Pure-Form Pilates, Yoga and more.

To learn more about World Spa by Windstar and authentic small ship cruising, contact a travel advisor or Windstar Cruises by phone at 800-258-7245, or visit www.windstarcruises.com.

Silversea Cruises Announces the Godmother of Silver Moon: Gaia Gaja, the ‘Queen of Barbaresco’

@Tim Akin

Rendering of Silver Moon

(Monaco – February 4, 2020) Hailed by many as the ‘Queen of Barbaresco,’ Gaia Gaja has been named as the Godmother of Silversea’s new ultra-luxury ship Silver Moon. Gaja is of the fifth generation to own and manage the renowned Gaja winery in the small Italian town of Barbaresco—a family-run business and iconic producer of fine Italian wine since 1859. As the ship’s Godmother, Gaja will be honored with officially naming Silver Moon at a dedicated ceremony in Trieste on August 5, 2020.

From an early age, Gaja was encouraged to take an interest in all aspects of the winemaking process, and even had a wine named in her honor—Gaia & Rey Chardonnay—before she learned to walk. Today, along with her two siblings, Gaja is a guardian of her family’s illustrious legacy, which has fostered an internationally acclaimed reputation as a leading producer of fine Italian wines. A knowledgeable purveyor of her craft, elegant, and with an unwavering commitment to exceptional quality, Gaia Gaja embodies the core values of Silversea Cruises. Moreover, the success of the Gaja Winery is predicated on a longstanding synergy between traditional knowledge and pioneering innovation, which stands true for the leading ultra-luxury cruise line.

“I feel great pride and honor to have been selected by Silversea Cruises as the Godmother of the beautiful Silver Moon,” says Gaia Gaja. “I passionately believe that food and drink facilitate profound discovery—into destinations, cultures and people—and that guests will nurture strong connections with amazing destinations as a result of S.A.L.T., the ship’s innovative culinary offering. My own experience with wine making has taught me that culinary discovery possesses limitless potential; here’s to the curious travelers who seek to unlock it.”

Gaja’s deeply-rooted connection with Italian culinary culture makes her the perfect choice for Silver Moon’s Godmother, as Silversea’s pioneering new culinary concept, S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste), will launch with the ship on August 6, 2020.

Adapting with each sailed region, Silver Moon’s S.A.L.T. program will elevate the role of food and drink as a means to travel deeper into a destination, by showcasing entire ecosystems around the culinary cultures of the world. In the S.A.L.T. Kitchen, the S.A.L.T. Lab, and the S.A.L.T. Bar, guests will develop an appreciation for regional ingredients and culinary customs, before venturing ashore under the guidance of experts to experience food and drink cultures first-hand. As well as foods and flavors, people will define Silversea’s pioneering new culinary program: culinary experts—like Gaja—from around the world will use storytelling to form meaningful connections between Silversea’s curious guests and the world’s most remarkable places, cultures, and communities.

“Our new S.A.L.T. program reflects our commitment to engaging with the places we travel through the lens of food, wine and culinary culture,” says Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Silversea’s Executive Chairman. “Given this culinary focus and Silver Moon’s proud Italian heritage, I can’t think of a better Godmother than Gaia Gaja who personifies Italian elegance, innovation and good taste. Like our cruise line, Gaia represents a lineage of excellence rooted in tradition and propelled by a forward-thinking, restless pursuit of innovation. I’m delighted she’ll be involved as Godmother, sharing her family’s vision of great taste as we begin this new journey aboard Silver Moon.”

Find out more information about Silver Moon and view the ship’s scheduled voyages:
https://www.silversea.com/ships/silver-moon.html

Find out more information about Silversea’s new S.A.L.T. program:
https://www.silversea.com/salt-silver-moon.html

Regent Seven Seas Cruises® Takes Delivery Of The Ship That Perfects Luxury, Seven Seas Splendor

ANCONA, ITALY (Jan. 31, 2020) – Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, the world’s leading luxury ocean cruise line, has welcomed to its fleet the new ship that defines luxury perfected, Seven Seas SplendorTM. Delivered at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy, Regent’s fifth ship builds on the cruise line’s rich 28-year heritage offering guests An Unrivaled Experience TM with every luxury included.

At 55,254 gross tons and 735 feet in length, Seven Seas Splendor is Luxury Perfected. On board, the highest benchmarks of personalized service and comforts will be delivered by 551 professional crew members caring for 750 guests in 375 beautifully appointed suites, ranging from 307- to 4,443-square feet. Lavishly designed public spaces include five exquisite and unique restaurants and three elegant bars and lounges, while a $5 million curated art collection, more than 500 crystal chandeliers, and over an acre of Italian marble complement the ship’s sophistication.

“Wherever you turn on Seven Seas Splendor, you will be surrounded by elegance, comfort and hospitality,” said Jason Montague, president and chief executive officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “Luxury travelers have anticipated this stunning new ship for more than two years. The day she opened for reservations was the busiest booking day in our company’s history. We thank the talented team at Fincantieri for collaborating with Regent to achieve our ambitious vision of creating the ship that perfects luxury. Seven Seas Splendor demonstrates how Regent continues to deliver An Unrivaled Experience for guests across our fleet.”

“Quality is a hallmark of both Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Fincantieri, and it has been our privilege to construct this important and remarkable ship that reflects Fincantieri’s extensive abilities and its reference presence in the luxury cruise segment, a unique and competitive market niche in the shipbuilding industry,” said Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager, Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division.

Helmed by Captain Serena Melani, the first female captain to take charge of a brand-new ocean cruise ship, Seven Seas Splendor sails her first official voyage on February 6, 2020 from Barcelona, Spain to Miami, Florida. The ship will be christened on February 21, 2020 by her Godmother, the legendary supermodel and actress Christie Brinkley, at a glamorous and elegant ceremony at PortMiami. Seven Seas Splendor will also be showcased to global media and travel partners on preview sailings throughout February and March.

Following her christening event, Seven Seas Splendor cruises the tropical paradises of the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera, which includes two crossings of the Panama Canal and one unique Southern Caribbean cruise from Miami to New York City. In spring, Seven Seas Splendor will traverse the Atlantic Ocean once more for its inaugural European season, offering cultural and historically rich ports of call in one of the world’s most popular regions, the Mediterranean.

About Seven Seas Splendor

Seven Seas Splendor, the ship that perfects luxury, offers her 750 guests the most luxurious accommodations as she sails to the world’s iconic destinations and less-familiar hidden gems.

The all-suite, all-balcony ship features more than 46,000 square-feet of Italian marble, and her 375 suites include nearly 52,000 square-feet of balcony space – among the largest balconies at sea. The beautifully appointed suites range from the 307 square-foot Veranda Suite to the lavish 4,443 square-foot Regent Suite.

The Regent Suite sets the tone for Seven Seas Splendor’s 14 other astonishing suite categories in offering the most luxurious accommodations at sea. It features the ultimate comfort of a $200,000 Hästens Vividus custom handmade mattress, an in-suite spa retreat featuring a personal sauna, steam room and treatment area with unlimited spa treatments, unobstructed 270-degree views over Seven Seas Splendor’s bow from the 1,300 square-foot wraparound veranda, and a glass-enclosed solarium sitting area on top of the bridge for a Captain’s view to see the world’s most beautiful destinations. Guests in the Regent Suite also enjoy first-class air accommodations, a dedicated personal butler to manage all the details of the guests’ experience, and a personal car with driver and guide in every port.

Seven Seas Splendor features a Culinary Arts Kitchen with 18 stations for hands-on gourmet cooking demonstrations presented by master chef instructors, and Serene Spa & WellnessTM, a new globally inspired spa brand created for Seven Seas Splendor offering exclusive treatments that integrate techniques and ingredients from destinations around the world to soothe both the body and mind.

The ship’s exquisite restaurants include Compass Rose, the largest specialty restaurant at sea; Pacific Rim, a dramatic Pan-Asian restaurant with a mythical dragon greeting guests; Prime 7, an intimate and elegant steakhouse; Chartreuse, featuring classic French fare with a modern twist; and Sette Mari at La Veranda, serving guests authentic Italian specialties and featuring stunning, over-water alcove seating that juts out over the ocean for an even closer connection to the sea, surrounded on three sides by inspiring, magnificent views.

During her inaugural 2020 season, Seven Seas Splendor sails the Caribbean and Mediterranean, helmed by 30-year veteran Captain Serena Melani.

MSC Cruises Takes Additional Precautionary Public Health Measures on All Ships Globally

Geneva, Switzerland (January 30, 2020) – In light of the coronavirus outbreak in China, MSC Cruises is immediately taking further precautionary measures for the health and well-being of its guests and crew on all of its global fleet.

MSC Cruises has undertaken a series of actions since January 24, and due to the latest coronavirus developments, today implemented additional public health measures across its fleet. While there are no cases of coronavirus on board any of MSC Cruises’ ships these measures are additional steps to secure the health and well-being of all guests and crew.

Guests from all nationalities are required to fill out a pre-embarkation questionnaire to ensure no-one boards their ship who has traveled from mainland China or visited mainland China in the past 30 days. Anyone who has traveled from mainland China or visited mainland China in the past 30 days will be denied access to the ship;

Mandatory non-touch thermal scans conducted for all guests and crew prior to embarkation for every cruise operated by the company anywhere in the world, and persons with signs or symptoms of illness such as fever (≥38 C°/100.4 F°) or feverishness, chills, cough or difficulty breathing will be denied embarkation;

Elevated deep-sanitation on every ship in the line’s entire fleet;

Guests who may have fever symptoms will be isolated in their stateroom and the same measure applies for their close contacts, including guests staying in the same stateroom and family members, as well as any crew member who may have served these guests.

These measures follow previous actions that were taken last week. Guests and crew who traveled last week from mainland China were already screened for symptoms upon embarkation, and were requested to report any symptoms of illness to the onboard medical center.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in China, MSC Cruises has been closely monitoring the public health and safety situation in each of the regions its ships sail. The company has been consulting with international and local health authorities to follow their advice and recommendations.