Silver Explorer

Silver Explorer is an expedition ship operated by Silversea Cruises. The ship typically hosts cruises to Norway, the South Pacific, and Antarctica. It is the first ship of Silversea involved in expedition cruising.

Silver Explorer in the Arctic in July 2015
History
Name
  • 1989–1990: MS Delfin Clipper
  • 1990–1992: MS Sally Clipper
  • 1992: MS Baltic Clipper
  • 1992–1997: MS Delfin Star
  • 1997–2002: MS Dream 21
  • 2002–2004: MS World Discoverer
  • 2004–2008: MS World Adventurer
  • 2008-2011: MS Prince Albert II
  • 2011–present: Silver Explorer
Owner
  • 2002?–2007: Society Expeditions
  • 2007-2011: Silversea Cruises
  • 2011-present: Filipino Owner
Operator
Port of registryBahamas
BuilderRauma-Repola, Rauma, Finland
Yard number304
Launched3 February 1989
CompletedJune 1989
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Tonnage6,072 GT
Displacement1905 MT
Length
  • 107.9 m (354 ft 0 in) (overall)
  • 96.99 m (318 ft 3 in) (pp)
Beam15.8 m (51 ft 10 in)
Draught4.38 m (14 ft 4 in)
Depth6.9 m (22 ft 8 in)
Decks7 (5 passenger)
Ice classSwedish/Finnish Ice Class 1A (DNV)
Installed powerWärtsilä diesel engines (2 × 2250 kW)
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Capacity144 passengers
Crew118 crew

Design and construction
Silver Explorer at Antarctica.

Silver Explorer is a 1A ice-rated vessel.[1] She carries up to 144 passengers in 72 cabins. The ship was built by the yards of Rauma-Repola, of Rauma, Finland, and launched on 3 February 1989. She operated under several names before being acquired by Society Expeditions, who operated her under the names World Adventurer and World Discoverer.[2] the ship was launched service in 1994, and it was the first luxury to branch off in the expedition market in 2008 with the Silver Explorer.[3]

She was purchased by Silversea Cruises in autumn 2007, and underwent a multimillion-pound refit at Fincantieri, Trieste. In June 2008, at a ceremony in Monte Carlo attended by Prince Albert II of Monaco, she was re-christened Prince Albert II.[4] She then sailed to London to embark passengers for an inaugural cruise.[5] Silver Explorer was refurbished in 2017, expanding its passenger capacity to 144 in 72 cabins,[6] While on 21 April 2020, Silversea launched a new measures for the ship to offer unprecedented flexibility to the passengers.[7]

Prince Albert II was renamed Silver Explorer in late April 2011 in order to align with the fleet's other vessels which all have the word Silver in their name.[8]

Silversea launched an event Sell and Sail Free promotion, inviting also U.S. and Canada travel agents in February 2020.[9]

Service

Silver Explorer operates polar adventure cruises lasting between 10 and 27 days.[5] In the summer she cruises in the Arctic Circle and the Northeast Passage with calls at the Svalbard archipelago, Iceland and Greenland. During the northern hemisphere autumn and winter, she cruises off South America and Antarctica.[10] She is the world's first ultra-luxury cruise ship to sail to Antarctica.[11]

In 2018, the ship anchored at Coos Bay and docked in North Bend, chartered by a group of 130 golfers.[12] In 2019, the ship was successful for crossing the Northwest Passage for the first time in Arctic pack ice, being also accompanied by a Russian icebreaker.[13] In December 2019, the ship made a maiden voyage to Sokcho, South Korea as the first Silversea ship to visit the port.[14]

In January 2022, the ship was sold to the expedition cruising company Exploris.[15] It will be transferred to Exploris in September 2023 to begin sailing in December 2023.[16]

Incidents

In June 2019, after the ship was sailing into Bering Sea it entangled in a fishing net which caused propeller damage, forcing them way to drydock for repairs.[17] On 15 March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships, the ship docked in Castro, Chile, with 111 passengers and 120 crew, after an 83-year-old man fell ill and tested positive for COVID-19.[18]

References
  1. "Allin Interactive Television Selected by Silversea Cruises for Prince Albert II". Reuters Press Release. 7 March 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  2. "2008 News". Scottsdale Luxury Cruises. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  3. Staff, C. I. N. (April 19, 2019). "Silversea Sets Aggressive Growth Course". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
  4. "Silversea's first expedition ship departs London on her maiden voyage". Travel Lists. 13 June 2008. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  5. "New expedition ship Prince Albert II begins first voyage". Monsters and Critics. 9 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  6. Anderson, Scott. "FIRST LOOK AT REDESIGNED SILVER EXPLORER". Cruise News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  7. "Silversea Cruises launches new measures to offer unprecedented flexibility to travelers – Famagusta Gazette".
  8. Garrison, Linda (20 April 2011). "What's in a Name? Silversea Prince Albert II Gets a New Name". About.com Guide. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  9. Staff, C. I. N. (February 25, 2020). "Silversea: 'Sell and Sail Free' Program for Expedition Cruises". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
  10. "More than half of Silversea Cruises guests are newcomers". Travel Blackboard. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  11. "Silversea: World's First Ultra-Luxury Fly-Cruise to Antarctica - Modern Diplomacy". moderndiplomacy.eu. 22 December 2019.
  12. World, NICHOLAS A. JOHNSON The. "Cruise ship Silver Explorer finds its way to Coos Bay". The Coos Bay World.
  13. "WATCH: Silversea crosses Northwest Passage for first time in cruise line's history". Cruise Trade News. September 23, 2019.
  14. Staff, C. I. N. (May 21, 2019). "Silver Explorer Makes Maiden Call to Sokcho". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
  15. "Exploris: des anciens de Ponant lancent une nouvelle compagnie de croisière française". meretmarine. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  16. "Silver Explorer to Sail for New Cruise Line Exploris From 2023". cruiseindustrynews.com. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  17. "Fishing net sends Silver Explorer into drydock for repairs: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com.
  18. Zdanowicz, Christine (17 March 2020). "Multiple cruise ships are left stranded as coronavirus cases increase". CNN. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
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