As head of expeditions for Silversea, Conrad Combrink oversees a product range that spans the two polar regions, and virtually every key expedition destination in between.
The line is currently preparing for the launch of its 12th ship, Silver Nova, on August 14. It will accommodate up to 728 guests and debut a new, asymmetrical design, and has been billed as "the most environmentally conscious ultra-luxury cruise ship ever built". It’s expected to achieve a 40% overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per double occupancy when compared to the brand’s previous class of ships.
Here, Combrink discusses the new vessel, alongside sharing his itinerary suggestions and insights into expedition cruising.
How are you ensuring Silversea’s expedition offering stands out, and what makes you unique?
Silversea has been offering expedition cruising for over 16 years and continues to unlock a broad range of deep travel experiences for guests which push the boundaries in ultra-luxury expedition travel.
Highlights from our upgraded expedition offerings include pioneering itineraries in the Galapagos aboard Silver Origin, the unprecedented Deep Antarctica expedition and the first-ever ultra-luxury fly-cruise to Antarctica, a 51-port Arctic grand voyage, and ultra-luxury expedition experiences to the High Canadian Arctic, among other immersive experiences.
Which itinerary would you suggest for a client looking for a really special, once-in-a-lifetime expedition?
There is truly nowhere like the Arctic, guests are in constant awe of the extraordinary region of extremes stretching across areas with breath-taking landscapes and rare wildlife. The expedition cruise from Longyearbyen to Reykjavik is particularly breathtaking, highlights from the itinerary include Longyearbyen, the biggest settlement in Svalbard, Scoresby Sund, the largest and longest fjord system in the world and the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik.
The Arctic and Greenland are a big focus for Silversea, what are your highlights?
The Arctic and Greenland offer some of the most spectacular landscapes you’re ever likely to see. A major lure to the Arctic is the polar bear, so your best bet for an up-close polar bear viewing is through a long lens and most likely in Svalbard or Canada. Other wildlife highlights include musk ox, reindeer, seals, walrus, Arctic hares and the fast-darting Arctic fox. Guests also love the opportunity to take a Zodiac cruise to access an Inuit community or learn of the Viking history, which can be experienced in Southern Greenland.
What impact will Silver Nova have?
Silver Nova marks a commitment to innovate and push the boundaries of shipbuilding and sustainability, and provides an unparalleled cruise experience. The ship will become the largest and most spacious when it joins the Silversea fleet, thanks to a horizontal design. This breakthrough in layout means more square footage to accommodate the plush lounges and extraordinary bars and restaurants. Below deck, revolutionary design also applies to technology and engineering; Silver Nova is designed to achieve low-emission operation.
Who is a typical Silversea expedition client, and is there much cross-over between your ocean cruise clients and expedition clients?
Our typical Silversea Expedition clients are high-net-worth, very well-travelled but are particularly looking for once in a lifetime experiences that can only be delivered on an expedition voyage. While they are eager to explore, they also have high expectation in terms of the level of service and delivery from beginning to end.
For many expeditions, especially to remote regions, this includes Silversea’s chartered flights to take care of all of the complicated logistics and ensure a seamless experience for our guests from beginning to end.
Increasingly, our ocean (or “classic”) cruise guests are experiencing our expedition cruises. This transition has been happening for more than 16 years since we introduced the Silver Explorer and as we grow and increase our fleet of expeditions even more so. Of course, the level of service and amenity on board is consistent, however, it is very important that they understand the differences in the off-ship experience. While it isn’t for all cruisers, it is increasingly popular for our more intrepid cruise guests.
What can luxury agents bring to expedition cruising for their clients, and why are these agents so important to Silversea?
Luxury travel, and luxury expedition cruising in particular, is very complex and not typically a product that is often purchased “off the shelf” or directly online. It does require research, and full alignment with guest’s expectations.
There is also tremendous growth and various product in the expedition cruise space. This is exactly where the experienced luxury travel agent can play an important role to ask all the right questions and align the preferences and expectations for the guest with the right product. For Silversea, our key luxury travel advisors are extremely important and exactly for this reason, as it is important as well that guests that come on board Silversea Expeditions understand fully the product and that it aligns with their expectation.
Do you have any top tips for luxury agents who are new to expedition cruising and looking to get into the sector?
Again, ask a lot of questions of your clients. What are the things of key importance for what they expect in terms of accommodation, level of service, service amenities and then also what do they want to experience off the ship: such as activities, anticipated time ashore and what is important for them to encounter. There is a wide range of product from “basic” to luxury and everything in between. The level of activities, size of vessel and numbers of passengers also vary so it is important that agents understand these key differences.
And what’s next for Silversea’s expedition team?
With the acquisition in 2022 of the new Silver Endeavour, Silversea’s PC (Polar Class) 6 vessel we now have the combination of a luxury expedition platform that can push the boundaries of exploration even further.
For example, in August 2023 for the first time for any expedition cruise company, we are operating a number of our voyages from the small hamlet of Pond Inlet, which is located on the Northern end of Baffin Island and will be our embarkation point to explore even further into the high Canadian Arctic. These programs are planned again for 2024 and we continue to look for new exciting programs which will showcase the capabilities of this purpose built polar expedition vessel.
