Silversea Cruises have acquired a new expedition class ship along with a Galapagos travel company.
The cruise line are known to be looking to expand their luxury expedition cruising, and earlier this month announced that they were looking to acquire an expedition ship with an ice-breaker hull. So, it is no surprise to see they have acquired another ship to offer cruises to off-the-beaten-track locations.
The Galapagos Explorer II is a different kettle of fish to the ship mentioned earlier this month, the 100 passenger, 4,077 tonne ship showcases that they are putting a real emphasis on expedition cruising. Silversea also acquired upmarket Ecuadorian tourism company Canodros and will continue to operate their new ship under its current name until September 2013, when she will be given the full Silversea treatment.
The former Renaissance ship already boasts 50 suites, a restaurant, piano bar, main lounge, outdoor bar and two outdoor whirlpools — so anyone cruising onboard her in the next 15 months won't be short changed!
Steve Odell, Silversea's Senior Vice President, UK, Europe and Asia Pacific, told Cruise Critic: —This has been in the making for several months and this is one of the areas that we have been keen to expand into. No one is offering a luxury cruise experience to the Galapagos Islands of the standards of Silversea... ——.
For the time being bookings will continue to be taken by Canodros and it will retain is Ecuadorian crew. Once the ship officially enters the Silversea fleet next year she will be renamed, though its unclear what the plans are for Canodros or her crew as yet.
Source: Cruise Critic
Written by Charlie Hamilton-Beaufort
© Iglucruise