Silversea Cruises surpassed a momentous milestone in 2019: 25 years as the industry's premier luxury cruise line. Since first setting sail in 1994, Silversea has offered the authentic beauty of the world to nearly half a million people on approximately 4,100 voyages. Silversea ships have completed a cumulative total of more than 47,800 cruise days, while the company's passengers have traveled a total of more than 9.4 million days on Silversea cruises.
When it launched in 1994, Silversea brought innovation to the industry with a truly pioneering concept: it was the world's first all-inclusive luxury cruise line. The Silver Cloud, the first ship in the line's fleet, featured a balcony in nearly every suite. It was christened in Monaco on May 30, 1994, in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco. Since then, Silversea guests have traveled to the world's most prestigious destinations in unparalleled comfort, enjoying personalized service and an intimate onboard atmosphere. Many aspects of the cruise line have evolved over the past 25 years, but these core principles have remained and continue to make a Silversea cruise unique.
When Silversea was founded by the Lefebvre family 25 years ago, the vision was to launch a cruise company with a truly global reach, meaning that guests would discover the world's most remote and iconic regions in exceptional comfort and with a wide range of destination options. This vision has been successfully realized, as Silversea today offers immersive travel experiences for guests in more than 900 destinations, from pole to pole—more than any other cruise line.
Destination expertise has long been Silversea's distinguishing feature, but it was the launch of Silversea Expeditions in 2008 that pushed the boundaries of discovery beyond anything the ultra-luxury industry had previously seen. Key voyages include Antarctica in 2008; the West African coast and the Russian Arctic in 2012; Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia in 2013; the Galapagos Islands, the Russian Far East, the Kimberley Coast, and the first-ever Northwest Passage crossing in 2014; and Bangladesh in 2017. In 2019, Silversea guests will sail the Northeast Passage for the first time, and the first-ever World Expedition Cruise is set to take place in 2021. Silversea's destination leadership in iconic regions such as the Mediterranean and the Caribbean remains as strong as ever and is also built on profound travel experiences.
From a single ship in 1994, Silversea guests now enjoy a fleet of nine intimate, ultra-luxury ships, with five more on the way. Following the launch of Silver Cloud in 1994, Silver Wind doubled its capacity in 1995. Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper were launched in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Silver Explorer, the cruise line’s first ice-class ship, has offered guests expedition experiences around the world since 2008. Silver Spirit joined the fleet in 2009, followed by Silver Galapagos in 2013 and Silver Discoverer in 2014. The cruise line’s flagship, Silver Muse, launched in 2017 and inspired a fleet-wide “Museification”—the systematic refurbishment of Silversea ships—which is still ongoing. In 2020, the Silver Origin, the most elegant ship ever to sail in the Galapagos, and the Silver Moon will join the fleet, followed by the Silver Dawn in 2021 and the first of the two Evolution Class ships in 2022.
High-quality cuisine from around the world, complimentary beverages throughout the ship, and a butler for every suite are just a few of the many luxurious amenities Silversea guests have enjoyed since the cruise line launched in 1994. Since Silversea's acquisition by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in 2018, these icons of luxury, and many others, have been further enhanced through Project Invictus, a long-term plan to expand and improve the Silversea fleet. Guests enjoy complimentary champagne in their suites upon arrival and throughout their cruise; complimentary caviar available 24 hours a day; an enriched selection of canapés, seafood, and berries; and an enhanced wine list, already the largest offered at sea.
Silversea Cruises prides itself on fostering a family-friendly environment and is taking this opportunity on its 25th anniversary to recognize its most loyal guests and crew, each of whom has made this significant milestone possible. Silversea's most devoted guests, the members of the Venetian Society, have already accumulated more than 2,300 cruise days, equivalent to nearly seven years aboard Silversea ships. At its launch, Silversea started with just 25 shore-based employees in Fort Lauderdale; by the end of 2018, it had grown to 2,571 employees, including both onboard and shore-based staff in offices around the world.
“I feel incredibly proud when I consider what we have achieved in 25 years,” says Manfredi Lefebvre, Executive Chairman of Silversea. “From having just one ship in 1994 to a fleet of nine ships with at least five more on the way, we will soon realize the vision set by my father when he introduced innovation to our industry and founded our cruise company. I am grateful to our loyal guests, travel advisors, crew, and employees, who have made this great achievement possible. We continually strive to push the boundaries of travel. Rest assured, this is just the beginning.”.
“I joined Silversea Cruises in 1994, almost 25 years ago, when the company was six months old and had only one ship. I’ve been here ever since,” says Fernando Barroso de Oliveira, Silversea Chairman’s Ambassador to the Venetian Society. “I feel at home. And our guests feel the same way: we’re a family. We want our guests to feel like they’re part of something special. Our ships are their home away from home, as we’ve managed to create a wonderful atmosphere on board. A very important part of my job is socializing with our guests, and I’ve developed strong bonds. In fact, many guests have come to stay with my family and me in Portugal over the past 25 years. Now, when guests come aboard, they ask if certain team members, from waiters to stewards to pool attendants, will also be working on the ship, as our people are just as important as the destinations we visit. For me, it’s easy to understand why Silversea is so special to so many people: friendliness, luxury, and service.”.
“I met a captain at Silversea; he came looking for me. Now I’m in my twentieth year with the company,” says Captain Alessandro Zanello, who joined Silversea Cruises in 1999. “At that time, Silversea had a fleet of only two ships, but the feeling on board was different from other cruise lines. There was a strong sense of family, both among the guests and with the crew, because the ships were so intimate. This remains unchanged today. In fact, I met my wife on the Silver Spirit in 2009, so I attach great sentimental value to the company; it’s very special. One of my proudest moments at Silversea was when I captained the Silver Muse on its maiden voyage in 2017. I’ll never forget that achievement.”
