Called the Couture Collection, the new programme means Silversea will now be able to take its guests into some of the world’s most remote places, via nine pre- and post-cruise land itineraries ranging from five to 11 days.
Prices for the collection will start from £27,500 and range up to £62,500 per guest for the White Desert and South Pole itinerary, which includes a stay at Whichaway Camp and flights in and out of Antarctica on a Gulfstream business jet.
Other experiences include the eight or 10-day Bolivia: A Short Walk onto Another Universe itinerary, which includes a stay at the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, in a camp of geodesic dome tents set up just for Silversea’s guests.
Other options include Rwanda and the Serengeti; Namibia and South Africa; India; Australia’s Northern Territory and Western Australia; and Iceland. Also featuring are Tibet: Standing on the Rooftop of the World, which includes a meditation class led by a monk and a picnic at Yamdrok Yumtso Lake, while the Mongolia: Echoes of Genghis Khan trip includes a visit with the Tsaatan community, one of the country’s last remaining groups of reindeer herders.
“The world is a big place with many undiscovered gems, many of which are difficult to get to, and that’s what we have been looking for,” said Jannie Cloete, director of Silversea Experiences. “Through the general growth in interest in expedition cruising, it has been becoming clear that people are seeking remoteness and access to unique experiences. This is what Couture Collection does.
“These are also experiences that are diminishing as time goes by – there is an urgency among people to see them before their essence changes or disappears for good.”
Silversea has been working on the programme for a year, Cloete said, with the “custom-curated ocean and land adventures for elite travellers” said to be an “industry first”.
“Silversea has always been a leader and we are pushing the limit here again, by being able to offer such a range of unique land experiences for our guests,” said Cloete.
The Couture Collection tours are limited to small groups, only ever having a maximum of around 12 guests in each to maintain the exclusive nature and to minimize impact on the destinations visited, Cloete added.
Prices include most meals, beverages and exclusive culinary events along with accommodation in boutique hotels, lodges or private tents. Each trip is fully escorted by a member of the Silversea team to ensure consistency in service.
The programme launches this week, with roadshows planned for the trade in November, covering Scotland, the north and the south-west, head of marketing Erin Johnson said.
“This really shows where we are going with the brand, adding another layer into the whole experience,” said Johnson. “The Couture Collection unlocks deeper experiences, but still with the level of luxury Silversea guests expect. We hope this will excite existing customers looking for something new and unique as well as attracting a new audience.”
Silversea will also continue its relationship with Steve McCurry - the American photographer renowned for his 1984 front cover photograph "Afghan Girl" in National Geographic - who will now shoot some of the destinations featured in Couture Collection.
