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SILVERSEA BUYS EXPEDITION SHIP WORLD DISCOVERER
Acquisition Opens Door to Antarctic Explorations

(Monaco -- September 25, 2007) Silversea Cruises' parent company, Silversea Cruises Group Ltd., announced today that it has purchased the expedition ship World Discoverer. The company took delivery of the vessel in Singapore on September 17. The ship will undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment before it begins service in spring 2008.

"We're very excited about this acquisition, as it means we'll be able to further tap that segment of the luxury travel market that is adventure driven," said Manfredi Lefebvre, Silversea's chairman. "We have been looking into this segment for quite some time. When we were informed about the opportunity to buy World Discoverer, we took immediate action in a matter of days. We believe that exploration cruises can combine extremely well with an utterly exclusive product. With the addition of World Discoverer, our current fleet increases to five ships and to six in 2009, offering a more-expansive cruise schedule that encompasses all seven continents."

Amerigo Perasso, Silversea president, added, "We will be unveiling more details about World Discoverer, including the new name, in the next few weeks, when all the elements of the project will be finalized. However, at this time, I can advise that the refurbishment will extend to virtually every area of the ship. Although we will maintain much of the vessel's current configuration, which features all ocean-view accommodations, we will dramatically enhance and redesign a number of public spaces, as well as some of the accommodations, and even some aspects of the ship's external appearance. This will bring World Discoverer in line with our usual high standards, but with some modifications to better adapt the ship for the special needs of expedition cruises."

Perasso further elaborated, "The mix of innovative land programs, top-quality lecturers, enrichment programs and exotic destinations will enable us to offer a very special experience that will appeal to the most discerning world travelers. It just made good sense to grow our company with the addition of a vessel purpose-built for in-depth exploration and adventure in places far off the beaten path. World Discoverer is well suited to become the "best in class" for this type of operation."

After the planned refurbishment, World Discoverer will accommodate around 140 guests (reduced from current 175) in ocean-view staterooms, including Owner's Suites, Grand Suites, and 12 yet-unnamed suites that will be similar to the line's popular Silver Suites -- offering an intimate club-like ambiance that will deliver an expedition cruise experience consistent with Silversea's award-winning luxury standards.

Guests will also enjoy many amenities found on larger ships, such as an elegant single-seating main dining room, a specialty restaurant, library (with desktop computers and Internet access), boutique, beauty salon, fitness center, sauna and whirlpools. The ship will also feature several lounges for enjoying drinks, music and entertainment, including a cigar lounge like the Humidor on the line's other ships.

World Discoverer will be equipped with state-of-the-art satellite communication systems, providing bow-to-stern wireless Internet access, enabling guests with Wi-Fi-enabled laptops and PDAs to surf the Internet and check e-mails from the comfort of their suites as well as public areas. Cellular phone service will also allow guests to stay in touch using their own cell phones even when the ship is miles away from land. The vessel will also feature flat screen TVs in all suites and staterooms. In the ship's lounges, the latest audio-visual equipment, complete with high-definition video screens, will display live lectures hosted by visiting destination experts.

The ship will maintain the line's reputation for intimate yet spacious ships. And the vessel's crew complement of 106 will continue to ensure the highest level of service with a crew-to-guest ratio that will equal or exceed that of Silver Cloud and Silver Wind, thus being among the highest in this niche market.

The 6,072-ton vessel also boasts a strengthened hull with the highest Lloyd's Register ice-class notation (1A), appropriate for navigating waters, without an escort, in some of the world's most remote regions, including Antarctica.

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I am looking forward to seeing their intineries.

She looks a sturdy little ship, interestingly the bridge windows seem to be reinforced glass ? Externally she may well look really attraxctive depending what Silversea does to her - they have said they are to make external changes. But boy do they have their work cut out internally, she is very far from Silversea standard, it would appear that the bulkheads and even deckheaeds will need new treatments, it is not a cosmetic change she needs but probably galleys, bathrooms etc, the entire vessel may well end up with major works.

The only names I could come up with that keeps the Silver and also links her with her destinations are "Silver Explorer", or "Silver Voyager", Of course they could just give her a Silver name such as

Sky
Star
Breeze
Phantom
Dawn
Vista
etc

but a name that reflects her purpose is more difficult.

I was wondering why there is what appears to be protective covering over the flooring. Surely this must all need replacing anyway?

I'm sure the protective covering has been applied by her former owners, Sembawang, in an effort to keep her as spotless as possible during lay-up.

Best,

Raoul

Perhaps they will use them on the new build/s. Nice to have an expedition type name for this baby though.

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Originally posted by mike sa:
Silversea officially announced that the naming criteria is nothing to do with RR mainly after threats of legal suit from RR

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Well done Mike sa! One of your suggestions!

After a season in the Arctic and then Antarctic, she is to be based out of Papeete, Tahiti in 2009. Her pax capacity is being reduced from 175 to 132.

Silver Dawn to operate from Tahiti in '09
17/12/2007
Silversea Cruises president Amerigo Perasso has signed an agreement with the government of French Polynesia to position a ship in Papeete, as foreshadowed by Seatrade Insider.
The company’s recently acquired expedition ship, the 6,072gt Silver Dawn, is expected to operate an inaugural season of cruises from the French Polynesian capital in 2009. Itineraries will include the Marquesas islands, the Australes and Tuamotu.

Silver Dawn, which was most recently operated as World Discoverer by Society Expeditions, is undergoing a multimillion-dollar conversion and upgrade at Fincantieri’s Trieste shipyard (details in the Refurb Review of this month’s Seatrade Cruise Review).

Her capacity is being reduced from 175 to 132 passengers and improvements will include large veranda suites, a speciality restaurant and cigar room.

You would think if they were sailing in May that they would have by now at least published itinaries etc and done some marketing for her, 5 months and no tickets sold as yet !

Really looking forward to what they do with her.