Recommend October 2011 - (Page 35)

both open for dinner only with reservations required. Seishin’s specialty is Asian fusion cuisine, either a la carte or with a 9-course degustation menu ($200 with wine pairing, $80 with sake, $40 with complimentary wine and beer). Le Champagne, centered by an eye-catching wine tower—the only Relais & Chateaux Wine Restaurant at sea—is a 6-course epicurean treat that pairs exceptional wines with regionally inspired cuisine ($200 with wine pairing, $30 with complimentary wine and beer). Neither venue disappoints. There’s also the innovative Stars Supper Club (no charge; reservations required), a chic time-trip that combines food and fun in Art Deco surroundings inspired by New York’s beloved Rainbow Room. Think Mad Men martinis. Tasty small-plate selections (lobster avocado, quail breast, tiger prawns) are accompanied by a jazz duo or a velvet-voiced cabaret singer. Poolside fare by day transforms into The Grill under the stars, where fresh seafood and prime meats are grilled tableside on a heated volcanic rock plate (no charge; reservations required). Along with the handsome Show Lounge and its high-energy songand-dance productions—and, of course, the larger-than-ever casino— is a spread of nightlife bars and lounges, some with dance floors. Often overlooked by cruisers is that these same lounge areas, all sexy sizzle by night, can provide peaceful retreats for daytime reading, conversation, and clearing the head. Another area that benefits from Spirit’s extra space is the Library, also home to the Internet Cafe. On Deck 6 awaits arguably the most blissful asset to fill new Spirit space: The Spa’s 8,300 sq. ft. of rooms for sauna, steam and treatments (including one for couple’s massage)—handy to a private deck area with lounge chairs, a beauty salon, an aerobics studio and a wellequipped, always-active fitness center. The Spa’s services range from deep-tissue massage to acupuncture to teeth whitening, and the facility’s CruiseLite dining selections appear on menus daily. Ah...the heavenly suites. First-class all the way and the fleet’s largest (85 percent boast private teak balconies). They come complete with butler service (more about that later); a marble bathroom with separate tub and shower, and Bvlgari or Ferragamo bath amenities; a walk-in closet with safe plus robe and slippers; two flat-screen TVs cleverly concealed in the bedroom and sitting room mirrors; upscale bed linens with down duvet, plush mattress and choice of nine pillow types; a cozy sitting area with coffee table that converts for dining; and ample storage units. Clients will be welcomed with chilled champagne, to be replaced as they wish. A refrigerator and bar are replenished regularly with water, soft drinks, wines and spirits. As for the aforementioned butler, no small measure of credit for the heavenly designation is due the white-gloved wizard who comes with every suite. Formally dressed with manners to match, your client’s solicitous personal butler will appear with genie-like magic to unpack clothes and polish shoes, sew up spa appointments and shore excursions, and arrange their dinner reservations of choice. And to anticipate needs and comforts perhaps before a tired traveler has thought of them. The word “chocolate” comes to mind. Indeed, not only the butler but the polished, professional, and eagerto-please staff (“no,” by all indications, is not a word found in the Silversea lexicon) seems dedicated to the proposition that guests go home with smiles on their faces—a concept reinforced by a staff-to-guest ratio of nearly one to one. Recommend recently joined an international passenger roster on a 7-day cruise from Piraeus to Istanbul, all sampling from a shipload of activities including scouring designer boutiques; splashing in the pool and soaking the working world away in warm whirlpools; and taking in an enrichment lecture...or a dance class, bridge game, or table tennis competition. In port, they embarked on shopping and sightseeing excursions on the storied isles of Crete, Rhodes, Santorini, and Mykonos. Another Silversea signature—one that sets it apart—is the pitch-perfect staging of an uncommon event at a one-of-a-kind location. On this cruise it was a classical concert by the Aegean Chamber Orchestra, set at the foot of the grand amphitheater constructed in the second century at ancient Ephesus near the port of Kusadasi. The famed archaeological site, always thronged with visitors by day, was open only to Spirit passengers in the evening, its treasure-trove of night-lit landmarks a spellbinding sight. Stellar events such as this are entirely complimentary and, in fact, are part of the Silversea experience that agents will want to emphasize when assisting clients in doing the math. Many of the ship’s key offerings are included in the fare—not only unforgettable happenings such as the Ephesus concert, not only personal pampering by the suite’s butler and stocking of cruisers’ chosen beverages, but a generous selection of wines, spirits, soft drinks and specialty coffees made available throughout the ship. Not to mention all gratuities, roundtrip shuttles between the pier and the heart of port towns, and bottles of water piled high as you set out on explorations. Clients should also be encouraged to take a look at the Passport to Luxury promotion, which has been extended to all voyages in 2012 (except the line’s expedition cruises aboard the recently re-named Silver Explorer). The program provides an onboard spending credit of up to $1,500 per suite ($750 pp), depending on the length of the voyage or back-to-back itineraries. Spending credits may be applied to spa treatments, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, boutique purchases, Internet packages and more. Other 2012 newsmakers: 19 new mid-voyage land adventures (total of 50), for the culture-vulture traveler who wants to delve deeper and see more than what can be accomplished during a typical half-day tour. These may last one day or several days and offer such opportunities as a safari stay at the exclusive Gorah Elephant Camp in South Africa (three days), and a look at the sand dunes of the Nabib Desert at the deluxe Sossusvlei Desert Lodge (two days). Twenty Grand Voyages for clients with plenty of vacation time range from the 24-day Grand Asia & Australia Hong Kong-to-Sydney journey with an overnight in Ho Chi Minh City (fares start at $10,787 pp); to the 64-day South America & Rio Carnaval odyssey that visits 18 countries, with two nights in Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval (fares start at $33,658 pp). And as of September, travel agents can book Silversea through Amadeus Cruise Distribution Solutions, offering real-time loading of all Silversea sailings, tariffs and onboard amenities, as well as instant booking confirmation due to a seamless connection to the line’s inhouse reservation system. n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth (August 2011) contact information Silversea Cruises: (877) 215-9986; silversea.com fast facts Passenger capacity: 540 Guest decks: 8 Length: 642 ft. Draft: 20.3 ft. Gross tonnage: 36,000 Speed: 20.3 knots october 2011 35 http://www.recommend.com http://www.silversea.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Coworth Park, London
Tour Talk: Cox & Kings
Paws Up Ups "Glamping" to New Heights
"Alpine" Adventure at Four Seasons Resort Vail
Hotel Beaux Arts Miami
Out & About in New York City
Adventures on Hayman Island
It's the Good Life at The Leela Kovalam Beach
Peninsula Shanghai & Hong Kong
Silversea's Silver Spirit
Thailand Travel Planner
Luxury in the Wilderness, by Best of Patagonia
Savoring St. Vincent & the Grenadines
CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla
Luxurious Egypt
A Good Turn for Bern, Switzerland
Mexico's Luxury Trail

Recommend October 2011