By
Rebecca Gibson |
Expedition and luxury cruise operator Silversea has launched Silver Discoverer, its eighth vessel during a christening ceremony at Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore on 25 March.
Elda Turco Bulgherini, professor of navigation law at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, acted as godmother, officially inaugurating Silver Discoverer to the Silversea Expeditions fleet by cutting a ceremonial ribbon.
Attended by local dignitaries, trade members and Silversea’s senior executive team and company chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, the ceremony was followed by a traditional Chinese lion dance performance and bhangra folk dancers.
“This is an exciting and proud moment for Silversea,” said Lefebvre d’Ovidio. “With itineraries encompassing some of the most fascinating and remote regions of the Pacific, Silver Discoverer will take our guests to places where few people have ever set foot. We’ll offer incredible opportunities not just for travel and learning, but for life-enriching cultural experiences.”
The former Clipper Odyssey recently underwent an extensive refurbishment at an Asian shipyard to install a swimming pool, a sun deck, a gym and beauty salon, restaurant and pool grill, a lecture room and a panoramic lounge. Featuring five suite categories and 64 outside staterooms, the cabins on the 120-passenger vessel have also been redecorated with reupholstered furniture, new mattresses, Pratesi bed linen, flat screen TVs, in-suite bars and refrigerators. Each bathroom has also been updated with new walk-in rainforest showers, fixtures and flooring.
Joining Silver Explorer and Silver Galapagos as the line’s third expedition ship, the 5,218 gt Silver Discoverer also has 12 Zodiacs and a glass-bottom boat, which will be used to transport guests during expeditions.
Led by an 11-strong team comprised of divemasters, marine biologists, historians and geologists, the ship’s expeditions will enable passengers to experience remote Pacific destinations including Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia, the Russian Far East, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
Silver Discoverer will embark on her maiden voyage from Broome, western Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory on 2 April, enabling passengers to explore areas of the Kimberley Coast, such as the Montgomery Reef, King George Falls and the Bungle Bungles.