By
Alex Smith |
Silver Nova, the first of two Nova-class ships from luxury cruise brand Silversea, is to sail in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time from the end of September 2024 until April 2025.
The ship will arrive in Kushiro, Japan, on 27 September, sailing two voyages in the region before crossing over to Australia and New Zealand in November. Guests will then be able to visit destinations across Australia and New Zealand on seven sailings – ranging from 16 to 18 days – between 18 November 2024 and 24 February 2025. Silver Nova will then return to Asia until April 2025.
“We are thrilled to finally be celebrating the arrival of the beautiful Silver Nova in Asia-Pacific,” said Bert Hernandez, president of Silversea. “Anticipation has been building among our valued guests and travel advisors in the region, and we're delighted to be able to introduce them to one of the most pioneering ships in experiential luxury cruise travel at long last. Silver Nova will be the most luxurious ship sailing in Asia-Pacific until she leaves the region in April 2025, with her striking architectural innovations, advanced energy efficiency standards, and unprecedented range of suites and public venues.”
Silver Nova’s inaugural season in Asia-Pacific will also mark the introduction of Silversea’s culinary programme, S.A.L.T (Sea and Land Taste) in Australia and New Zealand, while S.A.L.T. shore excursions will be available in Japan for the first time. A range of destination-inspired culinary experiences will be hosted both onboard and onshore.
These experiences will include a culinary workshop and lunch with a renowned local chef at a farm on Awaji Island in Japan, where guests will participate in a fermentation workshop before sampling and eight-course lunch accompanies by sake pairings. In Australia, meanwhile, Chef Tom Tilbury will host guests for a seasonal foraging tour through the Adelaide Botanical Gardens before serving up a four-course lunch, while Chef Analiese Gregory will conduct an interactive cooking class at The Bowmont on the banks of the Huon River in Hobart. Other experiences will be available in New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and more.
Dedicated venues onboard Silver Nova will also offer opportunities to experience local flavours. In the S.A.L.T. Kitchen, the menu will change daily to reflect the specialty dishes of the destination, while the S.A.L.T. Bar will offer cocktails made with local botanicals each night. In the S.A.L.T. Lab test kitchen, guests will be able to create regional dishes using local ingredients under the guidance of a culinary expert, before the venue transforms into S.A.L.T. Chef’s table, an interactive dining experience exploring the landscape and flavours of the region, at night.
“We're excited to be bringing S.A.L.T (Sea and Land Taste) to Asia-Pacific in 2024, including Australia and New Zealand for the first time,” said Hernandez. “S.A.L.T. is all about discovering the soul of a place through its food and culture — and where better to taste and explore than these countries so rich in heritage and celebrated for their diverse cuisines? There are so many great food stories to tell in this part of the world and we can't wait to share them with our guests.”