Silversea to visit 690 Destinations of 280 Voyages in 2023/24
Silversea will make 60 maiden calls in 2023 and 2024, as part of its portfolio of 690 destinations, 280 voyages and 125 countries. These maiden calls include some of the most extraordinary locations on earth. In this special coverage with feature a handful to get you dreaming.
Muscat to Jeddah Djibouti, Djibouti It’s as exotic as it sounds, and is practically untouched by tourism. Modern day Djibouti has a diverse cultural heritage thanks to its trading history, it boasts sun-drenched beaches and some of the most surreal geological landscapes imaginable. Silversea travellers can snorkel and scuba dive a short distance from the capital, on Moucha island. There is more adventure to be had in the interior, at the northern end of the Great Rift Valley. Here the ground seems to open up in the impressively deep Edayle Canyon on the southern shores of Ghoubbet Lagoon. Then there’s Lake Assal, situated where the Somali, African and Arabian tectonic plates diverge, creating the lowest point in Africa and the third lowest point on earth. The salt-crusted shore and salt pans give it a lunar feel, and contrast strongly to the milky-turquoise waters, all amid desert surroundings that are some of the harshest on the planet. Experience the intense heat, and the expanse of salt as far as the eye can see in striking contrast with the black lava of the surrounding volcanoes. Take in the lake's colorful appearance - green, white, black, brown, and blue. Silversea’s 13-day Muscat to Jeddah voyage departs April 20, 2023 and visits Djibouti on Day 9. The cruise is on board Silver Cloud and is priced from AU$15,600 per person (door-to-door). Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is often thought of for its desert but its ocean boasts some incredible marine opportunities. Farasan Islands is off the coast from the city of Jazan, and is a protected marine sanctuary of 84 coral islands. While the diving is world-renowned for its coral reefs and iridescent fish species as well as larger animals like manta rays, whale sharks and turtles, the wildlife above the warm waters is just as enchanting. Mangrove forests offer a tangled maze of channels to explore by boat in a search for exotic water birds. Look for the Goliath Heron with its rust-coloured neck and belly, the Pink-backed Pelican, the Greater Flamingo and the dazzling white Crab Plover. Exploring inland offers the visitor the chance to see the endemic Farasan Island gazelle. The island boosts a history fix too. At Al-Qassar one can wander the narrow streets lined with stone-walled and palm-thatched buildings that form part of a summer resort that dates back thousands of years. Look for Roman era inscribed stones as you complete your Farasan Island experience. Silversea’s 13-day Muscat to Jeddah voyage departs April 20, 2023 and visits Farasan Islands on Day 12. The cruise is on board Silver Cloud and is priced from AU$15,600 per person (door-to-door). See more here: https://www.silversea.com/destinations/africa-indian-ocean-cruise/muscat-to-jeddah-e4230420013.html Vancouver to Yokohama Muroran, Japan Undiluted Japan, with hot springs, snow monkeys and seafood gastronomy? That is Muroran, found in the unexplored southwestern Hokkaido, about 130km south of Sapporo, Muroran is a maiden call for Silversea and the peninsula has huge 100 m cliffs with a large, deepwater port. Natural splendour abounds, with places like Cape Chikyu and the Jigoku-Dani Hot Springs. Known as “Hell Valley” because of the bubbling, sulphuric, waters, the 24-acre natural park is also home to the famous Jacuzzi loving snow monkeys. Lake Toya said to be 110,000 years old is also a must for nature lovers, with its lava domes and pyroclastic cones that make up the Nakajima islands at the centre of the Lake. So lovely is the lake that it is considered one of the 100 Most Beautiful Scenes of Japan. Silversea guests can also experience Noboribetsu, one of the most popular spa towns in Hokkaido (even in whole of Japan). Referred to as the "department store of onsen," Noboribetsu offers eleven different thermal waters, each with specific therapeutic properties believed to address a variety of ailments. Muroran is a maiden call on Silversea’s 17-day Vancouver to Yokohama cruise departing 7 September 2023 on board Silver Muse. This trip is priced from $10,100 per person (door-to-door). See more here: https://www.silversea.com/destinations/transoceanic-cruise/vancouver-to-yokohama-tokyo-sm230907017.html Athens (Piraeus) to Venice Paphos, Cyprus Paphos is the birthplace of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, and it is no wonder, given the stunning scenery of this Cypriot island. The mountains meet the sea and it is steeped in myth and history. Ktima Paphos is a very local town with colonial style buildings, a great market and a postcard view of the harbour. Kato Paphos with its palm tree lined promenade offers delicious local cuisine, meze platters and seafood. The castle on the harbour, is a former Byzantine fortress, and is used by locals for festivals and by tourists for perfect photos. Aphrodite’s Rock, her alleged birthplace, is a popular spot at sunset. Overlooking the seafront is the fascinating Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, a vast and important historical site still under excavation. Large scale remains of an ancient Greek – Roman city have been unearthed including some of the world’s best preserved, exquisite Roman floor mosaics. Depicting both mythical tales and everyday Roman life, they bring together Paphos’s past and present. Just down the road is the Tombs of the Kings, a burial site dating from the 4th century. Visit the elaborate underground chambers, where history is palpable in the air. Silversea’s 24-day Athens to Venice cruise makes its maiden call to Paphos on Day 8 of its May 9, 2023 departure. The voyage is priced from $15,900. See more here: https://www.silversea.com/destinations/mediterranean-cruise/athens-piraeus-to-venice-sl230509c24.html |
Thriving waters of Djibouti
Farasan Islands
Muroran, Japan
Dramatic Cyprus mountains
Way north to Finland
London (Tower Bridge) to Helsinki
Kalajoki, Finland Endless days, thanks to the Arctic summer, lends a holiday feeling to the town, with locals sunbathing, picnicking and enjoying water sports. Found in northern Finland, Kalajoki has a strong history of fishing. The old town of Plassi has traditional wooden houses that transport you to another time. The standard Finnish pastime of swims and saunas are here to be discovered. Linnakallio, a short distance out of town, boasts romantic log churches of Riihikirkko and Pahkakirkko, which are a pilgrimage of sorts for those getting married. Kalajoki is enticing for nature lovers with trails through birch and spruce forests. The Rahja archipelago draws the attention of birdwatchers, with many breeding bird species such as Arctic Tern, Ruddy Turnstone and Ringed Plover utilising the beaches as nesting sites. There is kayaking and zodiac excursions to explore the coastline. Silversea’s London to Helsinki 24-day cruise on Silver Wind stops in at Kalojoki on Day 21 and is priced from $17,800 per person. See more here: https://www.silversea.com/destinations/northern-europe-british-isles-cruise/london-tower-bridge-to-helsinki-wi230511c24.html |