Silversea presents the Executive Officers who will organize the company’s 2020 World Cruise, Legends of Cruising, the first-ever global cruise to visit all seven continents. The magnificent 140-day journey aboard the Silver Whisper will take guests on a journey to discover a deeper beauty of the world, offering incredible experiences and destinations between Fort Lauderdale and Amsterdam, from January 6 to May 25, 2020.
An expert team of maritime, hospitality, and entertainment professionals will organize the pioneering 62-port voyage, which will feature exclusive events, immersive land-based experiences, and a variety of other enhancements:
Captain (until April 7): Vincent Taillard
Captain Taillard, born in France, began his maritime service as a deck and engine cadet aboard ferries between France and England in 1996. He attended the French Maritime School in Marseille and has sailed on several ships. He became a captain in 2008 and has sailed to many destinations over the years. An experienced expedition captain, Taillard joined Silversea in late 2015.
Captain (from April 7): Michele Macarone Palmieri
Michele was born in Sorrento, Italy. In 1987, he joined a passenger ship for the first time as a Second Officer, a position he held until 1989. Two years later, he was promoted to Director, a role he held until 1994 when Silversea offered him the position of First Officer on the Silver Wind. For his second contract, on the Silver Cloud, he was promoted to Navigation Director and, from 1998, to Chief of Staff. Captain Macarone Palmieri was appointed Captain of the Silver Cloud in early 2002.
Hotel Director: Norman Rafelson
Norman Rafelson built his career in the hotel industry and has developed extensive experience working around the world. In January 2009, over a decade ago, Rafelson joined Silversea and has since served as hotel director on many ships in the company's fleet. Alongside his responsibilities as hotel director, Rafelson was recently appointed as Silversea's delegate to the Venetian Society.
Cruise Director: Fernando Barroso de Oliveira
Fernando Barroso de Oliveira joined Silversea in 1994, the same year the cruise line launched, and today holds the valuable role of President's Ambassador to the Venetian Society, having developed strong relationships with many of the company's guests over the past 25 years. He is the regular host on Silversea's world cruises as Cruise Director.
Expedition Leader (until February 15): Stefan Kredel
Stefan Kredel grew up in southern Germany. After training as a paramedic, he embarked on several solo bicycle trips through India, Nepal, New Zealand, and South America. He studied Geology and Paleontology at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, where he received his Master's degree in 1999. He has been an expedition cruise instructor since 1998; his first trip was to Antarctica, and he has visited the region several times each year since.
Expedition Leader (starting February 15): Brad Siviour
Growing up in South Australia, Brad developed a love for the natural world. He studied at Flinders University, where he earned degrees in marine biology and ecotourism. Brad has been working on expedition vessels for the past two years. He also works as a naturalist, guiding people throughout Northern Australia and in Southeast Asia. Since then, he has developed a keen interest in wildlife photography and is always happy to share tips and advice.
All staff members sailing aboard the Silver Whisper for the Legends of Cruising World Cruise 2020 have been hand-picked to ensure an extraordinary cruise experience. While not all will be on board for the entire voyage, key team members who will be onboard when guests embark on January 6 include:
- Financial Officer: Gabriela Zekan
- Staff Captain: Oleksandr Dynega (until February 15), then Dion Notman
- Chief Engineer: Konstantin Kolpakov (until February 15), then Giovanni Santafemia
- Guest Relations Manager: Marcus Wittman
- Onboard Cruise Consultant and Venetian Society Representative: Barrie Dodgson
- Coastal concierge: Leandro Ponte
- Executive Chef: Jeremic Ratko
- Food and Beverage Manager: Oliver D'Souza
- Restaurant Manager: Gilbert Lanza
- Rooms Division Manager: Royden Pereira
“Silversea’s Legends of Cruising 2020 will be the first global cruise to take guests to all seven continents,” says Barbara Muckermann, Silversea’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Such an incredible journey requires an extraordinary team of experienced professionals. Fostering a friendly and welcoming atmosphere among guests while on board, our industry-leading team will work to ensure an enriching travel experience for our guests as they journey closer to the authentic beauty of the world.”.
“I am honored to be part of this fantastic leadership team for this innovative world cruise,” says Norman Rafelson, Hotel Director for the 2020 World Cruise. “I am especially looking forward to reconnecting with my friends from our Venetian Society, meeting and interacting with new guests to foster a genuine sense of camaraderie on board. This will undoubtedly be a special voyage!”
THE World Cruise Collection: New and Exclusive Experiences
To enhance the experience exclusively for guests on World Cruises, Silversea proudly presents a collection of 33 new and exclusive shore experiences, now available only to World Cruise guests before Legends of Cruising 2020, at an additional cost. Whether showcasing distant cultures or revealing mysterious monuments and landscapes, each experience is thoughtfully designed to immerse guests in the authentic beauty of the world.
Guests can embark on a musical and culinary journey in San Juan hosted by an acclaimed artist; attend a private performance by a world-renowned folk ballet company in Salvador de Bahia; delve into Polynesian culture with a famous anthropologist in Moorea; savor a four-course lunch prepared by a celebrity chef in Singapore; enjoy a candlelit dinner under the stars in the Red Sea desert; marvel at Caravaggio's masterpieces in the churches and museums of Rome; and tour Edinburgh on the Royal Yacht Britannia with the last admiral, among other special experiences.
“Each bespoke shore experience in our new World Cruise Collection is designed to take guests deep into the heart of the destination,” says Adria Bono, Silversea’s Senior Destination Director. “From an exclusive night at the famed Bloody Mary’s in Bora Bora to a candlelit dinner in the Red Sea desert, each experience will offer personal enrichment through cultural discovery and showcase the unique beauty of the world’s most remarkable destinations.”.
AROUND THE WORLD 2021
Two round-the-world cruises will set the stage for unforgettable global discoveries in 2021:
The Finest World Tour 2021, a 150-day voyage designed to offer guests unusual and immersive experiences, will visit 34 countries across six continents. Departing from Fort Lauderdale on January 7, 2021, the Silver Whisper will host an onboard reception and gala dinner before circumnavigating the globe to reach New York City via Central and South America, the South Pacific, Australia, the Far East, India, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Mediterranean. Among the many immersive travel experiences are two days on Easter Island to marvel at the mysterious Moai statues, two days exploring sacred temples and colonial treasures in Myanmar, and two days discovering the palaces and piazzas of Venice.
Silversea’s Uncharted World Tour 2021 will be the first-ever expedition world cruise. This remarkable voyage promises an incredible selection of in-depth travel experiences in 107 of the world’s most amazing destinations. On January 30, 2021, the Silver Cloud will depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, for a 167-day journey exploring 30 countries across six continents, culminating in Tromsø, Norway. An unprecedented array of expedition experiences includes exploring the natural wonders of Antarctica in Zodiacs; meeting the descendants of the famous Bounty mutineers on Pitcairn; going behind the scenes to delve deeper into the temples of Luxor, Egypt; and reflecting on the history of World War II on the D-Day landing beaches of Normandy.
Onboard all Silversea voyages, guests enjoy spacious suites with ocean views, sumptuous cuisine, personalized butler service, and a generous selection of all-inclusive onboard amenities, including a complimentary selection of wines, premium spirits, specialty coffees, bottled water, juices, and soft drinks; an in-suite bar stocked according to guests' preferences; 24-hour room service; and onboard gratuities (excluding spa treatments).
