On October 17th, 2014, we boarded the Silver Spirit for a 38-day cruise from Athens to Rome to Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale. A few months before embarking the cruise, we heard there will be a 20th anniversary celebration of the founding of Silversea, with the owners and their family, onboard, when overnight in Livorno. It was also announced there will be a performance by a special guest, Andrea Bocelli, accompanied by the Silversea orchestra. All the guests were invited and comfortably accommodated in the show lounge. The crowd was so excited, and there such a 'buzz' in the air. What a spectacular performance it was. After the concert, all the passengers were invited to a gala dinner, together with Andrea Bocelli and his family, hosted by the Silversea owners, who brought their own chefs onboard, together with a selection of premium wines from their private cellars. The dinner was also one of the most delicious gourmet meals we ever had the privilege to enjoy. The excitement continued throughout the night as well as the remainder of the voyage. This event was the most memorable of the many wonderful times we have enjoyed on our 350-plus days of cruising with Silversea.

The Silver Spirit cruise ship arrived at Port Kusadasi (Turkey) on Friday, 18th July 2014, at dawn. We embarked on a 4-hour tour to explore Ephesus and the Basilica of St. John. Multiple large cruise ships docked simultaneously, bringing approximately 6,000 visitors to the area. By 6pm all cruise ships left the Port of Kusadasi, only our cruise ship stayed until 10pm. Silversea organized an exclusive evening concert at Ephesus for the cruise ship's guests who basically have the whole Ephesus for themselves that evening. We enjoyed the concert at Ephesus under twilight. It was a unique, awesome and truly unforgettable experience.

Our most memorable time with Silversea was a transatlantic passage on Silver Cloud when we crossed the North Atlantic, eager to retrace the voyages taken by the Norse over a 1000 years ago. En route to Greenland we spotted two ships which we thought looked odd and then realized that these apparitions were actually majestic icebergs. Over the next few days we were awestruck as the steadfast Silver Cloud ploughed through the sea of calved iceberg pieces. One day we boarded Zodiacs and meandered through a stunning icefield. The weather was warm, the sea calm, and the sun ablaze. We were immediately summoned to another Zodiac that had left before us. As we approached, we realized that the Zodiac was not occupied by guests but by crew. We crept slowly over and positioned ourselves alongside to be greeted by jolly crew members who passed us glasses of Champagne and plates of chocolates to enjoy while sight-seeing. These treats were savored as we floated among the spectacular icebergs each one unique in size, color and contour. All the while our guide captivated us with myriad facts about the area and we listened with the wonder of children. We were filled with gratitude.

Some years ago we were on the Silver Spirit. We were at the Hot Rocks for dinner. A waiter spilled an entire glass of red wine all over my husband. The first words out of the waiter’s mouth were "I'm so sorry, I'll call your butler". The butler got to our suite before my husband. He took complete care of him, changing out his clothes, taking the dirty clothes to be cleaned, cleaning his shoes and even combing his hair. My husband was back with our group at the restaurant within ten minutes. That's a truly great butler and that is what Silversea is known for.

In 2011, we were on the Silver Wind from Cape Town to Las Palmas. Our fellow guests were entertaining company and each port of call was a new adventure for us. Whilst in Walvis Bay, Silversea had organized a private dinner in the Namibian desert. All the guests were taken in 4+4 vehicles into the desert where a marquee had been set up. On arrival we were greeted by local women who washed our hands and we were entertained by a local school choir. The more adventurous could go camel riding. As the sun began to set the sand kept changing color. We were served a delicious three course dinner, including lots of local dishes. After dinner the lights were extinguished and we were entertained by local fire dancers. It was a magical experience. Our return journey was completed in total darkness under a sky filled with so many stars. The lead jeep led us back to the port where the ship’s waitstaff was assembled, carrying letters which spelled out “Welcome home”. On boarding the ship, others waiters provided us with warm cloths to wash our hands and glasses of chilled champagne. It was a truly magical experience and one that still lives on in our hearts.

When my father passed away just before the pandemic, at nearly 94 years of age, one of his unfilled dreams was to travel to Australia and New Zealand. Once the pandemic was over, I booked a cruise (on the Silver Muse) to the region…in his memory. I brought along his favorite baseball cap and wore it on every excursion. A native New Yorker, my father’s favorite song was Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.” You can imagine my surprise when on Christmas Eve, the singer in Silver Note took exception to her set of holiday songs to sing that song. And then when, the next time we dined in Silver Note, she sang his favorite vacation song, “Quando, Quando, Quando,” followed by my parent’s wedding song, “Strangers in the Night.” Or when, while dining in The Grill, at the time we toasted to my father, the band set up on the pool deck played “Tears in Heaven.” On the anniversary of his death, the crew was kind enough to provide me with an electric candle for our suite. Needless to say, this cruise vacation was as meaningful as it was memorable.

My first voyage was on the Wind in 2011 for 29 days. The first week I had a delicious brownie for dessert. The second week I asked the maître de if the brownie might appear again on the menu. He told me I would definitely see it again. The next night (and every night after that for the rest of the voyage) a brownie appeared every evening in my cabin!

My Husband and I traveled on the Silver Spirit from Rome to Barcelona in 2010 and after a full day tour in the warm sun we returned to our suite to find a trail of flower petals leading to the bath filled with warm water and flower petals. What a wonderful sight, and an unforgettable moment shared by us both.

The butler knocked on the door of our suite. When we opened it we were greeted with a very broad smile, a very ceremonious greeting and a request to ask him for anything we desired. After greeting him, I asked him to bring to the room a good whisky and a tray of assorted fruit that necessarily included papaya and custard apple. I thought that he would not know what those fruits were, but he, without flinching, nodded and disappeared. A long time passed and the butler did not return and I decided to call him on the phone he had given us. He did not answer, but after five minutes he appeared again and knocked on the door. He was carrying a tray of fruit on a silver and covered plate and also a bottle of my favorite whisky. With a smile he opened the tray and there were the custard apple and papaya together with the largest variety of fruit I had ever seen. He apologized for the delay, which had been caused by someone leaving the ship to buy the missing custard apple and had taken a while to return because there were none ripe enough until the last store he visited.

During November of 2017 aboard Silver Explorer we travelled up the West Coast of Africa. The voyage was a highlight of the many cruises we have completed with Silversea. The trip was from Cape Town and was to terminate in Morocco. Unfortunately, this itinerary was interrupted in the final stages as Silver Explorer was placed in dry dock in the Canary Islands. Instead of cruising to Morocco a charter flight was organized to fly us to that destination. My husband and I had recently spent two weeks in Morocco and believed that we had well and truly seen the highlights; how wrong we were! With Silversea we visited Agadir, Taroudant, Marrakech and Casablanca. Our accommodation was excellent, and we were blown away by the tours that were organized, it was a whole new experience. In Casablanca, Silversea out did everyone's expectations, a fabulous dinner was organized with wonderful food and the entertainment was second to none. Please see the photographs attached which show the horsemen completing their charge with guns firing and horse's eyes ablaze. The other photographs depict the great food and the Silversea name highlighted with fireworks.

We were on Silver Explorer in the Arctic. Breaking through ice in Svalbard is a great experience. And yet when a polar bear arrives, well, that’s magic! One of our expedition guides had spotted a polar bear on the ice, way in the distance. Of course we all rushed to put on our thick red jackets and hats and went to the bow of the ship. The engine was stopped and everything was quiet. The bear was walking steadily across the ice, coming closer. We probably all looked like tasty morsels hanging over the rails, almost within touching distance – but not quite - but I think the main attraction was the smell of the burgers cooking that was coming from the back of the ship (good thinking by the chef!). All the crew and passengers were lining the ship’s deck as the magnificent bear walked steadily alongside the ship from the bow to the stern, glancing up at us frequently. At the stern it then realized that those burgers were not within his reach, and with what looked like a last glance of disgust, he walked away. We took lots of photos and the CD of shots taken by the onboard photographer are just amazing and still cherished.

My most memorable Silversea experience was on Silver Wind's transatlantic crossing from New York to London. The highlight was undoubtedly sailing up the River Thames! As we passed through the Thames Barrier you could sense the excitement mounting as the ship made its majestic progress towards the Millenium Dome on the port side and Canary Wharf on the starboard. As the river made a gentle curve around these two modern constructions we were treated to an amazing view of the Old Greenwich Naval College and Maritime Museum fittingly commemorating ships and sailors from times past. Continuing slowly round the graceful sweep of the Thames we made our stately progress towards Tower Bridge which appeared as if by magic in the distance. There was an audible gasp from all on board as the bridge began to open its "arms" as if to welcome us into the heart of London. As we raised our champagne glasses, we sailed under this stunning Victorian Bridge and caught our first glimpse of the beautiful 11th century Tower of London - a truly awesome spectacle. As we berthed alongside HMS Belfast at the end of our cruise our journey had ended but the memory will linger forever.

My wife and I were on an Eastern Mediterranean cruise and on this day we called in at the port of Crete. We joined an excursion to a farm and winery. There was an eight-course lunch but what really stays with me is the moment I took to gaze across the countryside. To my left, one group of trees that had been planted were two thousand years old and nearing the end. Planted at the time of Christ. To my right, were newly planted trees that would live for two thousand years. I stood in the middle, one moment in time, in the crossroads of two fields that will span four thousand years together. The powerfully spiritual significance that exemplified yet another memorable Silversea contribution to those who pursue the zest of life!

Greenland--beautiful icy fjords, glaciers, floating icebergs--tiny communities, friendly people, choirs singing for us, tundra walks with expert scientists, a natural hot pool amidst snowy peaks. But even better was companionship we found onboard. We were invited by an officer to dinner with two other couples that we just “clicked” with. The seven of us ended up closing the restaurant, probably disturbing other tables with our laughter! After that, our “Group of 7” ate together at Hot Rocks, La Terrazza, The Restaurant... always the last to leave and maybe a little rambunctious and loud. We were from New York, Texas, California, Peru, from different backgrounds and occupations, but found much in common --schools attended, places we had lived, previous Silversea adventures -- and we enjoyed laughing with and at ourselves and each other. It was a beautiful itinerary but what made the voyage great was the experience of meeting and being with such compatible people.

I'm 82. My wife of 59 years died in January 2024 and left my children and myself in a new venue of healing. I decided to book a seven-day Alaska cruise from Vancouver Seward for my son and daughter and their spouses. All are in their mid-50's. The cruise was absolutely spectacular. The ship, food, entertainment, and ship's crew made a great home from home. But let me tell you about a thank you note from my son-in-law.

“Dear Frank, I'm sorry for not writing to you sooner. It's a bit for me to get used to being back on land, in the real world. Thank you so much for hosting Beth and me on that lovely Alaskan Cruise. It was a wonderful relaxing time, with beautiful scenery. I won't soon forget. I passed several late-night hours just watching the mountains float past the ship in the twilight. I have never traveled in such comfort before, and I expect it will be a while until I do so again. For several nights after our return, I'd wake up disoriented, thinking I was still on the ship. It seemed that the waves were still rocking me to sleep. Thank you so much.”

We all had the best vacation ever and felt better about our lives and future.

On 14 February 2010 my wife and I flew from Madrid to Hong Kong for a Vietnam cruise on Silver Whisper. We made it to the ship, but our luggage didn’t, being lost in transit by the airline. We felt some trepidation about embarking on a nine-day cruise without our clothing and other essentials. Upon hearing of our mishap, several passengers got together to help us out, sharing some of their clothing with us. A couple from Chile was especially helpful and to this day we are amazing friends, and have cruised several times with them since (fortunately there has been no repeat of the airline-lost-luggage fiasco). The camaraderie among passengers is what makes a Silversea voyage so special.

Shortly after we started dating, my boyfriend, Marshall Eudy, moved from Austin to Orlando for work. After many flights to visit Marshall, he thanked me with a trip to Palm Beach, where he gave me a scrapbook revealing we were going on a Silversea cruise! He had previously asked me the cruise line I'd like most to try (allegedly for a family member and of course it was Silversea) and he planned a celebratory birthday voyage. A month later, we were in the Mediterranean on the Silver Muse! On the morning of my birthday, Silver Muse was anchored off the coast of Cannes, France. Eating breakfast on our balcony, Marshall gave me a gift, a beautiful Rolex watch (with blue accents to mirror the sea). I enthusiastically put the stunning piece on my wrist. Then Marshall, (looking a bit puzzled), asked me, "Did you read the back?" And I'm thinking, "To look for the serial number for authenticity?" And yet, the back was engraved with this: "will you marry me?" To this, I quickly said, "Yes!" We married in Austin about 15 months after our onboard engagement. On November 9, we will celebrate five years happily married.

My parents are incredible people. Instead of keeping me at home, they took me on vacations all over the world. Travel creates memories and the bond we forged as family was, in large part, due to cruises. When Covid hit, I knew there might not ever get to cruise with my parents again. The pandemic was tough and I had been through a difficult time. In 2002, my parents surprised me by revealing we were taking our first Silversea Cruise to Alaska for my birthday. To say that I was overjoyed was an understatement. The first night onboard, tears welled up in my eyes because I was getting to experience a cruise, with the two most special people in my life once more, something I thought would never happen again. Silversea took our expectations and blew them out of the water. The shore excursions were insightful. The service was the best I had experienced in my lifetime. Every restaurant was more delicious than the previous. Most importantly, the Muse was the perfect setting for us to appreciate the fact that we could be together, sailing throughout Alaska and getting the chance to create more memories together.

On my second Silversea cruise to New Zealand, I was travelling alone. On the first night I joined the Solo Meet group. Our hostess was lovely and so welcoming. We took a vote who wanted to dine where and I ended up with a table of three other ladies, from the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Australia. Very shortly after settling in to our dinner together I thought – wow -- this is my tribe. We instantly connected on so many levels, we chatted, ate, drank and laughed a lot. Every night thereafter we dined together in different restaurants. We took turns in hosting pre-dinner cocktails & caviar in our suites. We named ourselves the FAB5 and had so much fun together. We have since kept in contact with Zoom calls and have planned more trips together; the next one is to Cape Town South Africa -Silver Spirit in February 2025. Thank you Silversea for helping us create this great life long friendship.

We have been sailing with Silversea for 29 years, travelling to 6 continents, numerous countries, on 9 of your ships. Our most treasured memory, out of many, was on Silver Explorer in Antarctica, a very different Silversea experience. Awe-inspiring scenery and amazing wildlife as we followed the route of Shackleton's voyage on the Endurance. Our journey included the New Year and, at midnight, we went on deck, Champagne glass in hand, to celebrate. It was snowing with the sun going down on one side of the ship and at the same time, rising on the other. The sky was a kaleidoscope of color with the crimson and gold reflecting off the icebergs around us. The glory of the natural world at its most spectacular. A magic moment, never to be forgotten. Thank you Silversea for giving us so many memories and worldwide friends.

I was on the Silver Discoverer, visiting a speck in the Pacific Ocean, the island of Niue. There was an option of cave diving and normal diving, which I chose as I was claustrophobic. As we approached, I was told the name of the dive site was called Snake Alley! We dived with the most poisonous black and yellow sea snakes swirling all around us. My dive master told me not to worry, as their mouths were very small and they couldn’t get a bite off of me! It was one of the many memorable dives I had with my wonderful dive masters. I miss the Silver Discoverer so very much, not only the dives, but also all the experts who taught me so much about the ocean.

We’re cruising Antarctica. After leaving Port Lockroy we sailed in perfect conditions through the Lemaire Channel, black and white mountains raising on both sides into lowering cloud. The icebergs bumping and scraping down the hull. Passengers in their red jackets on the bow, cameras in hand. Around the starboard corner we entered the “iceberg grave” yard. We boarded our Zodiac. Bergs ground here and roll, creating fantastic shapes. Total calm conditions, the late afternoon sun giving the low clouds a pink hue. Our driver stopped the motor of the zodiac. The stillness was indescribably peaceful. A moment to treasure. Around another iceberg another zodiac was dispensing champagne while a leopard seal rested on a flat area of ice. The world is perfect and so quiet.

From the top of the world to the bottom of the world, I have enjoyed my Silversea adventures, most particularly expedition cruises, which provide what I find to be the perfect balance of adventure and comfort. I’ve met and enjoyed conversations about their lives with local people on tiny, remote islands . . . encountered elephant seals, penguins, bountiful bird colonies. Yet it is what I’ve learned about myself that may be the most valuable. One of my most perfect travel days is “Lost in Desroches”: No roads, only footpaths on this island. Thought I'd go for a walk. Sort of zoned out looking at giant spiders, birds, coconuts. Soon, I have no clue where I am! Well, it's a tiny island; if you go to the edge and circumambulate, you should get back to where you started, right? Not to worry, I have my backpack—water, camera, sunblock, a towel. Woman alone with nature. Play tag with sand crabs. Play tag with the ocean. Find red coral. Whew. Those sand vistas are deceptive. What looks like a short walk takes an hour, then another, and another. Soaked in sweat, covered with sand, exhausted, but I found my way back. It was great.

My wife and I booked a cruise on Silver Spirit in June 2023 which explored the Croatian coast line. The weather was perfect and one Sunday morning we were moored off the small town of Rovinj. The sea was like a mill pond and the morning sunlight was perfect. We decided to have breakfast under the canopy at the rear of the main restaurant and were shown to a table neatly laid out with its crisp white napkins and cutlery sparkling in the sunlight. We ordered our breakfast and as we looked out over the town, only a hundred meters away, I said to Angie, '' Does it get any better than this? We spent all those years working late at the office and bringing work home at the weekend and we had to believe that it was all going to be worthwhile. Well here it is, right now!'' Just at that moment the morning silence was broken by the bells chiming from the church on the promontory. ''Yes'', she said '' The morning church bells just make it perfect!'' And so it was. I have a few memories of cruising but this will stay with me for the rest of my days. Just perfect!

"The world is a book, and those who don't travel only read one page." So said St. Augustine. My wife and I know how blessed we are to have traveled extensively in over 50 countries to date, checking each trip off our ever-diminishing bucket list. At least we thought so when Silversea took us to our final continent of travel, Antarctica, this past January. So many amazing memories there. The stunningly beautiful landscapes. The massive art form icebergs. Glaciers calving. Hiking among the huge penguin and seal colonies. Oh, and the whales! And to be so close to them. But even better for us was to have easy access to the scientists on board who could give us context to what we had actually seen. We thought Antarctica was the end of the bucket. It wasn’t. Next, Silversea took us to Svalbard this past July. I can't even begin to describe it. Other worldly, ethereal, surreal, a place of worship and thanksgiving. One of the most remote and inaccessible places on the planet yet teaming with life. But the absolute highlight of the trip... this is the moment the captain sailed our ship into the North Pole ice pack! Thank you Silversea for adding such an amazing chapter to our travel book.

Almost impossible to pick a most memorable. Was it the gorgeous scenery from the luxury train in Skagway? The fabulous whale sightings in Sitka? Yes, and yes. But cuddling with the sled dogs in Juneau on the glacier had to be my personal favorite. I didn't want to leave!

It was the inaugural 2008–09 season with Prince Albert II (later Silver Explorer) to Antarctica: and we’re on a wet landing at St. Andrews Bay (South Georgia). We waded through the shallow water on the beach. A somewhat penetrating smell wafted around our noses, and we heard noises that we could not identify. The beach went up a bit, and we were curious about what would await us up there on the hilltop. What we saw then took our breath away: We looked into a valley in which a huge colony of King Penguins had settled. There must have been thousands of them who – and now we knew where the noises we had heard on the beach came from – competed for attention. They were full-grown king's penguins in their colored black/white/ gold plumage, many of them with their chicks, like balls of fine brown wool already showing the beauty they were to become one day. This spectacle is deeply etched into our memory and reminds us again and again of the magnificence and beauty of our planet with its flora and fauna, which we are always ready to discover with Silversea – often on expedition voyages.