With the importance of food in Italian culture you would expect dining to be a high priority at Silversea. And it most assuredly is. Moreover, gastronomic excellence is a given, thanks to our recipes that reflect heritage and revamp tradition. No matter where you dine, destination influence is readily apparent in the great diversity and freshness of your selections. And every ship also features an array of dining venues. The main dining room, The Restaurant, is an open-seating venue where you can dine whenever you please, and where impromptu dinners with new-found friends is a matter of course. After all, with our worldly crowd of international travellers, socialising is one of the things people love most about our luxury cruise ships. Per guest reservation fee for specialty restaurants. Please visit MySilversea to make your reservations.
Instantly recalling images of the sea in all her watery majesty, the Atlantides are the seven nymph daughters of Atlas. Creative muses, known for their wisdom and beauty, the sisters were granted immortality in the form of stars and can be seen today in the constellation of Taurus. Pivotal to Silver Muse dining experience, this elegant bar and grill incorporates the best that the sea has to offer. Created to temper your taste buds, designer dishes such as royal crab, blue lobster and Verbena infused red snapper in a sea salt crust are showcased alongside the best steaks offshore.
Evoking a sense of exotic mystery, the Asian-accented Indochine embarks you on an exquisite journey of culinary discovery. Unlock the hidden treasures of the spice markets of Mumbai, whet your appetite with the exoticism of Thailand and temper your taste buds with the cuisine of Vietnam. Elegant and exquisite dishes bursting with Asian essence awaken your gastronomic senses and immerse you in an expansive tapestry of the palate. Savour the fusion of flavours of a vast continent that defies definition — in a stylish restaurant that pays homage to its delectable cuisine.
Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady (Photo: Virgin Voyages)
Cruise Critic has released its highlighting the best in cruising and cruise travel as selected by Cruise Critic’s international editorial team.
Credit: Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady claimed top honors this year as Best New Ship. The line’s first vessel, Scarlet Lady, charmed Cruise Critic’s editors enough that the vessel was awarded Best New Ship in 2021. Now, sister-ship Resilient Lady, which has just arrived Down Under for the season, sweeps to victory for the line once again.
“This was a banner year for the cruise industry,” said Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic. “On Cruise Critic, we saw demand for cruises surpass pre-pandemic times, and a number of lines reported ships sailing at over 100% capacity. Cruising has always been a high-value vacation, but with costs of land- and air-based travel through the roof, the true value of a cruise really hit home this year.
“The value of a cruise doesn’t stop with mainstream sailings. From the fare inclusions on river and luxury sailings, to those on expedition sailings to farther-flung destinations like Antarctica and the Galapagos, you’d be hard-pressed to find a land-based vacation that delivers the experience and value that a cruise offers,” McDaniel said.
Cruise Critic has been releasing its highly anticipated Editors’ Picks Awards for 15 years. This year’s awards are the most thorough to date, naming winners across four key areas – Ocean, River, Luxury and Expedition.
This Year’s Awards Saw the Return of Best Ship Refurbishment
Main Atrium on Carnival Venezia (Photo: Adam Coulter)
Cruise Critic also brought back a heralded category in 2023: Best Ship Refurbishment, which went to the gorgeously decorated Carnival Venezia. The former Costa Venezia was refitted prior to entering service with Carnival Cruise Line, leaving it with a fascinating blend of Italian-style interior décor courtesy of the line’s longtime design guru Joe Farcus, along with a blend of Carnival favorites tweaked ever-so slightly.
Port Miami was named best North American Homeport thanks to an abundance of innovation and investment that has come out of the new and improved terminal structure and growing improvements to the passenger experience.
Cruise Critic’s 2023 Editors’ Picks Awards Include New Categories, a Return of Awards for River Cruises
American Serenade docked in Paducah, KY (Photo: Aaron Saunders)
Cruise Critic’s 2023 Editors’ Picks Awards is noteworthy for the return of the River Cruise awards for the first time since the global health pandemic shut down travel three years ago. In that category, river cruising giant Viking took top honors as the Best River Cruise Line, while the Best New River Cruise Ship was awarded, for the first time, to an American river cruise ship – American Cruise Lines’ American Serenade.
Other winners in the River Category included AmaWaterways for Best for Active Cruisers, Avalon for Best Cabins, Riverside for Dining and Tauck for Enrichment.
Silversea Scoops Best Luxury Cruise Line
Silver Nova sails under a blue sky. (Photo: Silversea)
In the Luxury Cruise category, Silversea Cruises was named Best Luxury Cruise Line, thanks to its tireless dedication to service, its modern fleet, and continually innovative offerings. Its Silver Nova was Cruise Critic’s pick for Best New Luxury Ship, while Oceania snapped up Best Dining. The luxury category even held a bit of nostalgia, as restarted (and beloved) brand Crystal took two categories: Best Service and Best for Solo Travelers.
Finally, the Expedition Cruise market continues to expand and mature at a rapid pace. Some of the most hotly deliberated categories were found here, but Cruise Critic’s editors came to consensus: Scenic Eclipse II was named
Best New Expedition Ship, while Quark, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking and UnCruise Adventures, among others, walked away with honors this year.
One thing that was apparent for the entire editorial team in selecting this year’s winners was how close many of these categories were for the ships and lines in the running. Few were easy choices – and that’s good for cruisers. With cruise lines of all shapes and sizes delivering stellar experiences across the oceans and rivers of the world, it’s never been a better time to take a cruise.
The Full 2023 Cruise Critic Editor’s Picks Awards List
Best New Ship: Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady
Best Ship Refurbishment: Carnival Venezia
Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises
Best Dining: Virgin Voyages
Best Entertainment: Virgin Voyages
Best for Families: Disney Cruise Line
Best Innovation/Tech: Princess Cruises
Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Virgin Voyages
Best Nightlife: MSC Cruises
Best Service: Holland America Line
Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Spa: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Specialty Dining: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
Best Suite Complex: MSC Cruises
Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line
Best App: Royal Caribbean International
Best North American Homeport: Miami
Luxury Category
Best Luxury Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises
Best New Luxury Ship: Silver Nova
Best Cabins: Viking Cruises
Best Dining: Oceania
Best Enrichment: Windstar Cruises
Best Itineraries: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Best Service: Crystal
Best Shore Excursions: Oceania Cruises
Best for Solo Travelers: Crystal
Best Spa: Viking Cruises
Best Value for Money: Emerald Yacht Cruises
Expedition Category
Best New Expedition Ship: Scenic Eclipse II
Best for Adventure: Quark Expeditions
Best Cabins: Seabourn Cruise Line
Best Dining: Scenic
Best for Light Expedition: Viking Cruises
Best for Luxury: Silversea Expeditions
Best Science Offerings: Hurtigruten
Best Service: Silversea Expeditions
Best Spa: Viking Cruises
Best Value for Money: Atlas
Best in Alaska: UnCruise Adventures
Best in Antarctica: Scenic
Best in the Arctic: Ponant Cruises
Best in the Galapagos: Lindblad Expeditions
River Category
Best River Cruise Line: Viking Cruises
Best New River Cruise Ship: American Cruise Lines’ American Serenade
Best for Active Cruisers: AmaWaterways
Best Cabins: Avalon Waterways
Best Dining: Riverside Luxury Cruises
Best Enrichment: Tauck River Cruising
Best for Families: Adventures by Disney/AmaWaterways
Best for First-Timers: Viking Cruises
Best for Luxury: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Free to be. Free to see. Jump ship to the liberating world of Avalon Waterways river cruises.
As you set sail down the world’s most legendary waters, we’ve curated a collection of the most intriguing experiences to immerse yourself in – both on board and off. With the wind in your hair, whim in your heart and the excursions on your cruising itinerary, the compass is in the palm of your hand to choose any direction you desire. Here’s your window of opportunity on some featured cruise deals and offers!
Long overdue for a trip and open to booking a cruise adventure? Avalon Waterways is enticing travelers to start planning by offering discounts on European cruises. In addition to savings on 2024 cruises, travelers can also get free roundtrip airfare. This sale is an excellent way to save on your travel costs and get your trip plans set well in advance.
There are many benefits to planning your travels ahead of time. You can avoid procrastination and give yourself something to look forward to in the coming months. You may also be able to save on travel costs by planning your trip details now. Avalon Waterways is a company known for its exciting, luxury river cruises.
Credit: Avalon WaterwaysTo take advantage of this deal, travelers must book a qualifying 2024vcruise. By doing this, you will be able to receive a $250 per person discount on the cruise price. You can also take advantage of free roundtrip airfare for each traveler, which adds more value! This promotion allows you to enjoy a fantastic vacation at a much lower cost.
If you’e wondering where to cruise, you have many options since Avalon Waterways cruises to some of the best cities in Europe.
Here are some qualifying cruises that can be booked with this promotion:
Start dreaming up your next European adventure! All of these cruises promise plenty of excitement and fun. This summer promotion is the perfect excuse to think ahead about your next cruise.
Be sure to check the offer details and terms and conditions before making a booking.
If you’re in need of a phenomenal island getaway, there’s no better place to head than to the Seychelles islands. You can find plenty of adventure at this fantastic destination, and of course breathtaking scenery everywhere you look. Are you dreaming of an adventurous trip full of luxurious touches? Check out some of our favorite luxury trips to the Seychelles.
Explore our list of 17 cruises
Considered to be heaven on earth, the Seychelles archipelago actually contains 115 dots of land, some of which remain totally unspoilt and devoid of human activity. With tropical forests, white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, breathtaking sea beds and giant tortoises, the Seychelles ecosystem delights travellers looking to spend time in the last-remaining earthly paradises.
Seychelles: Jewel of the Indian Ocean
The softness of the trade winds, the turquoise of the ocean, the shimmer of the verdant vegetation… the incredible beauty of the islands in the Indian Ocean is striking. During anall-new14-day expedition cruise aboard Le Jacques-Cartier, time stands still and, between the island country of Madagascar and the Mascarene Archipelago, nature will plunge you into a dream.
Create Your Own Luxury Seychelles Adventure
You don’t have to do a guided tour if that’s not your style. If you want to explore on your own, there is plenty of fun to be had on the islands. If you love hiking, be sure to visit Spiagge di Anse Marron to explore the quiet beach and hike the challenging but fun trail. While in the capital of Victoria, head to Morne Seychelles National Park to take in all of the incredible beauty. If you want to do some diving while in Seychelles, Aldabra Atoll is one of the best spots.
Trade in your sunscreen and sandals for icebergs and adventures when you head for the untouched beauty of the White Continent. With less crowded ports, unprecedented expeditions, and the natural beauty of icy waters and wildlife, Antarctica is quickly becoming a top cruise destination. Check out the top three luxury liners that will sail you to the South Pole.
Silversea Cruises: Silver Cloud
Credit: Silversea
With the highest space-to-guest and crew-to-guest ratios in expedition cruising, Silver Cloud offers unprecedented comfort to travelers looking to explore Antarctica and beyond. Upon arrival, guests are met by Silversea’s attentive staff and a flute of champagne as they are escorted to their suite by their butler. Onboard, guests enjoy four world-class restaurants. At The Grill, guests dine under the moonlit sky and have the opportunity to cook their food on sourced volcanic rock right at the table. Aside from adventure and aperitifs, the ship boasts the serene Zagara Spa, industry-leading service (be met with a towel as you emerge from the pool), and – unique to Silver Cloud – a state-of-the-art photo studio where budding photographers can transform prints from their cameras.
Abercrombie & Kent’s Le Lyrial
Credit: Ambercrombie & Kent
Abercrombie & Kent’s newest charter ship from Ponant is an expeditioner’s dream. Aside from the sleek style and sophistication of the ship itself, and of course the balcony staterooms and suites, the real distinction of traveling on an A&K charter of Le Lyrial is the award-winning team of experts. Akin to an education at sea, A&K’s expeditions are led by the most experienced marine biologists, ornithologists and geologists, along with a shipboard historian who shares tales from Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. When you’re done exploring, your private butler will tend to your every need, from cocktails on your balcony to arranging for your personal hairstylist.
Quark Expeditions
Credit: Quark Expeditions
Set for sail in 2024Quark Expeditions unveiled its newest ship in polar explorations. Cutting edge technology, advanced safety measures and a vastly experienced expedition team are just a few reasons to set your sights on this ship. Think of it as a 5-star hotel on the sea. Leaving no stone unturned, guests will have access to dual helicopters, indoor / outdoor dining, spa and fitness, and a rapid Zodiac.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an ice-strengthened ship and an icebreaker ship?
An ice-strengthened ship is a ship made of steel. These ships are made to get through the ice at Antarctica and the Arctic. Nowadays, most of the ships that cruise to Antarctica and the Arctic are ice-strengthened ships. Ortelius and Plancius Read more »
What kind of clothing should I take during my expedition cruise?
We require you to bring a waterproof jacket and pants (minimum 15,000mm rating) for Zodiac cruises to shore. You will also need high rubber boots for trips on Rembrandt van Rijn. Apart from that, our advice is to take warm, windproof, waterproofRead more »
You must be in good general health, and you should be able to walk several hours per day. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible on shore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship i
21 photos of Oceanwide Expeditions About Oceanwide Expeditions
Passionate
Taking you closer to the heart of the polar regions has been our driving passion at Oceanwide Expeditions for over twenty years. Our knowledgeable cruise leaders, committed staff, and thoroughly outfitted vessels are our way of expressing what we care about most: making your cruise to the Arctic and Antarctic truly unforgettable. When you sail with us, you experience a part of the world that is unlike any other. Mountainous glaciers, snow-swept shores, whales and polar bears and vast colonies of penguins make up this world, and they are all part of the surreal ecosystem you can watch unfold before you on your future Oceanwide expedition.
Adventurous
Providing you a travel experience that inspires (and is inspired by) you, that’s what taking you closer to the heart of the polar regions means to us. We get you away from the vessel and into the action as fast as possible: up to two landings per day in the morning and afternoon, with a fleet of inflatable Zodiacs ready to shuttle you past the ice floes and onto the shore. We keep our programs flexible so that you get the most out of whatever surprises nature has in mind. When you sail with us, the cruise is just the tip of the iceberg.
Pioneering
So what exactly is beneath the tip of that iceberg? The pioneering spirit, which all travelers to the polar regions (regardless of age and background) have in common. Guiding our expeditions with passion, tapping into the desire for inspiration and beauty, and always taking you closer to the heart of the Arctic and Antarctic – at Oceanwide Expeditions, that is our promise to you.
Ponant is offering 10 percent additional savings on top of Ponant Bonus rates on select 2023, 2024, and 2025 sailings. The holiday offering was announced by the company in a press release.
Travelers can take advantage of the discounts to explore the fjords of Norway, the subtropical islands of Japan, the snow-covered mountains of Alaska, among other destinations, Ponant said.
While certain restrictions apply, the offer is valid for all new deposited bookings from November 30, 2023, through January 2, 2024.
Several new itineraries are included in the holiday incentive, including expeditions to Japan, Ponant said.
One such adventure will see Ponant teaming up with The Explorers Club, a not-for-profit organization made up of explorers devoted to scientific expeditions of all disciplines, on a seven-night journey to the islands of southern Japan, with stops in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Iriomotejima as well as a remote area home to the largest concentration of blue coral in the world.
Also new is a weeklong “Kyushu’s Secret Islands and Ancestral Heritage” itinerary, which combines the wildlife-rich islands of Jeju and Yaushima, historic coastal villages, and five new ports of call including the island region of Amakusa.
The offer is also applicable to bucket-list itineraries to the polar regions, including a 23-day adventure through the Northwest Passage, a springtime voyage along the East coast of Greenland aboard Le Commandant Charcot, and a weeklong expedition to discover Svalbard.
The complete list of eligible sailings can be found on Ponant’s website. Starting rates range from $4,450 per person, based on double occupancy, exclusive of the ten percent discount. To unlock the savings at time of booking, guests must use discount count XMAS10.
According to Ponant, the offering is subject to availability and may be change
(Credit: Scenic Cruises) 
