Silversea Cruises offers 50 specially tailored overland excursions to compliment their 2012 cruise calendar. Just when you thought you could not … explore the sand dunes of the Namib Desert, climb the steps of the Potala Palace in Tibet, or observe a passing herd of elephants while on a cruise vacation, think again. In 2012, [...]
Silversea Cruises offers 50 specially tailored overland excursions to compliment their 2012 cruise calendar.
Just when you thought you could not … explore the sand dunes of the Namib Desert, climb the steps of the Potala Palace in Tibet, or observe a passing herd of elephants while on a cruise vacation, think again.
Get off-the-beaten path on a Silversea cruise. Photo by Silversea Cruises.
In 2012, luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises is adding 19 new mid-voyage land adventures. These overland trips are designed to get the cruise visitor off the ship and deeper into the surrounding areas.
The optional mid-voyage land programs feature deluxe accommodations (if overnight stays are required), all transportation, transfers, guided sightseeing and some meals. The optional tours are at an additional expense to the cruise guest.
When a day in port is not enough…
Silversea is offering these adventures to travelers who want more time off-the-beaten path to explore territories that are either inaccessible by ship or when a ship
Like everything Silversea Cruises does, there has been a lot of thought put into the development of the expanded overland excursion program. Here is a roundup of some of the overland adventures:
- “Ayers Rock & The Red Centre” — Get into the interior of Australia during a four-and-a-half-day adventure. Priced at $7,199 per guest, particpants on Silver Shadow‘s December 20 sailing (#3237) from Singapore to Sydney will depart from Darwin and rejoin the ship Cairns.
- “Venture into Amazonia” — Immerse yourself for 5 days in the Amazon jungle. Visit Manaus and see the Meeting of the Waters, the point where the dark-colored waters of the Rio Negro converge with the sandy-colored Solimoes River. Priced at $3,899 per guest, two nights at the Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge are included for cruisers on Silver Whisper‘s January 7 voyage (#4202), sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Rio de Janeiro (a segment of World Cruise 2012).
Elephant camp in South Africa. Photo by Silversea Cruises.
- “Gorah Elephant Camp” in South Africa — Experience an authentic safari adventure during your stay at the exclusive Gorah Elephant Camp, The three-day package, priced at $3,199 per guest, is offered on Silver Wind voyages of January 14, 24 and February 3.
- “Perito Moreno & El Calafate” — See the glaciers in Patagonia. Silver Spirit‘s January 27 voyage (#5203), Santiago to Buenos Aires, offers guests the chance to embark from Punta Arenas on this eleven-and-a-half-hour adventure, priced at $2,157.
- “Sossusvlei Desert Lodge” — Discover Namibia — the sand dunes of Sossusvlei (pronounced SOSS-oo-vlay) in the Namib Desert with an overnight stay at the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. Priced at $1,599 per guest, this two-day adventure is offered during the overnight stay in Walvis Bay on Silver Wind’s February 13 voyage (#2205), sailing Cape Town to Las Palmas.
- “Chengdu Pandas & Tibet” — See China’s giant pandas at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center. Then fly to Lhasa, capital of the Himalayan Kingdom of Tibet. This five-day package, priced at $3,999 per guest, is offered from Hong Kong to in-transit guests on Silver Whisper‘s March 3 sailing (#4206), Hong Kong to Shanghai. Guests depart from Hong Kong and rejoin the ship in Shanghai to continue on the following voyage (#4207), all part of World Cruise 2012.
- “Greeks, Romans & The Pharaohs” in Egypt. Get indepth immersion into ancient and modern Egypt during a two-day package, priced at $999 per guest. Silver Wind guests on March 27, October 19 and 31 (#2208, 2233 and 2234) can participate.
- “A Tale of Three Cities” — Explore three of Germany’s most historical and celebrated cities – Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig. Priced at $2,799 per guest, the three-day program is offered on Silver Cloud‘s July 10 voyage (#1218), sailing Copenhagen to London.
Have you ever done an overland trip while on a cruise? Let us know what you thought.
Now is a great time to deposit your 2011 World Cruise. Full World Cruise Savings & Amenities include: 2-for-1 Full World Cruise fares (must book by April 30, 2010) “Save Now. Save Later.” - Book 2011 Full World Cruise or its segments (must book by April 30, 2010) and save 20% off a future 2011 or 2012 voyage when booked by [...]
Now is a great time to deposit your 2011 World Cruise.
Full World Cruise Savings & Amenities include:
- 2-for-1 Full World Cruise fares (must book by April 30, 2010)
- “Save Now. Save Later.” - Book 2011 Full World Cruise or its segments (must book by April 30, 2010) and save 20% off a future 2011 or 2012 voyage when booked by May 27, 2011
- World Cruise Gala and overnight luxury hotel accommodations on eve of departure in Los Angeles
- Free First Class or Business Class Air
- Chauffeured private car/minivan transfers between the guest’s home and airport, airport to ship and back within 100 miles of the port city
- Two exclusive shoreside events
- Special onboard events exclusive to Full World Cruise guests
- Specially selected gifts
- Pre-paid shipboard gratuities
- “All-Inclusive. As You Wish.” CruiseBank spending credits of $10,000 per couple ($5,000 per person)
- Crystal Society Members receive additional savings of up to $20,000 per couple (up to $10,000 per person)
- New-to-Crystal Full World Cruise guests receive up to $8,000 per couple savings (up to $4,000 per person)
If you’re looking for a new cruise experience, consider an itinerary that includes port calls on the subcontinent of India. Ornate temples, bustling bazaars, Victorian-era museums, the smell of spices in the air – India’s ports offer all this and more. India’s main cruise ship ports, Mumbai and Kochi, are both on the country’s Arabian [...]
If you’re looking for a new cruise experience, consider an itinerary that includes port calls on the subcontinent of India. Ornate temples, bustling bazaars, Victorian-era museums, the smell of spices in the air – India’s ports offer all this and more.
India’s main cruise ship ports, Mumbai and Kochi, are both on the country’s Arabian Sea coast. Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is a massive and populous city. One of its signature sights is the Gateway of India, an ornate arch built to celebrate a visit from King George V when India was still a British colony. Across the street is the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, a prestigious and historic building where the most important visitors to India stay.
Mumbai is a center of business and is home to India’s television and movie industry, commonly known as “Bollywood.” There are museums, art galleries, an incredible mix of colonial European architecture and some great shopping. There is often a festival going on as well, celebrating an Indian tradition or a Western holiday.
A few of Mumbai’s many noteworthy temples are the Jain Temple, which has an ornate domed ceiling; the Mahalakshmi Temple, dedicated to the goddess of wealth and beauty; and the Shri Siddhivinayak Temple, dedicated to Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god.
Just off the east coast of Mumbai, the Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The caves form a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Sculptures of Hindu deities, including a 20-foot high, three-headed image of Shiva, are carved into the rock.
Near the southern tip of India, Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) has been a trading port for at least 2,000 years. It’s also the gateway to the Kerala Backwaters, a beautiful area of peaceful canals, lagoons, lakes and rivers that twist and turn around low barrier islands.
Kochi is famous for spices, and little shops along Bazaar Road on the north side of the city offer fragrant ginger, red chilies, cinnamon, turmeric and many other spices for sale.
Like Mumbai, Kochi has plenty of colonial architecture to view, as well as Vasco House, a 16th-Century structure believed to be the home of the explorer Vasco de Gama, the first European to reach India by sailing around Africa. The Santa Cruz Basilica, the Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue are all uniquely, ornately decorated and well worth a visit. You can also explore Fort Kochi, the first European colonial settlement in India. Be sure to watch the crews catching fish right off shore using huge Chinese fishing nets.
Other emerging ports in India include Goa, on the Arabian Sea, and Chennai (formerly known as Madras), on the Bay of Bengal.Some cruise lines include port calls in India as part of a world cruise or a longer Asian itinerary. To find out more about how you can explore India via cruise ship, talk with your personal cruise expert.
