The appeal of these vessels is that their core of comfort, food and service are overlaid by a depth of knowledge of the area and a deep-rooted authenticity, which means that the destination and the product complement each other and enhance the experience.
Up to now, there has been no Galapagos product combining the best of service and luxury with the best of expedition cruising. Check out the majority of Galapagos cruise companies, and they will tell you everything about the islands and very little about the vessel taking you there. Bearing in mind that travel to the Galapagos is going to be pricey whichever vessel you choose, it seems to us that a supreme combination of great itineraries with fantastic food and service, and an enlightening expedition programme, represents the very best investment.
Delivered in summer 2020 in spite of the pandemic, Silver Origin is the most elegant ship ever to sail the Galapagos, and the first destination-specific ship that Silversea has ever built. In this article, we take a look at the key areas in which this exciting new vessel is set to leapfrog the competition...
Expedition
On board, your experience will be overseen by a team of Ecuadorian expert guides (more per guest than on any other ship) certified by the National Park of the Galapagos, eight Zodiacs to whisk you ashore or take you on fascinating side-trips, plus the interactive Basecamp. This innovative knowledge lounge is a place where you can access information on the fascinating flora and fauna of the island prior to setting forth on an exciting trip ashore.
Opening out directly onto the marina, Basecamp gives easy access to the Zodiac deck. Silver Origin has the highest number of Zodiacs per guest in the region, giving you the best opportunity to see everything.
Sustainability
Silver Origin is Silversea's most environmentally conscious ship to date. To achieve the lowest possible carbon footprint, she was designed to include state-of-the-art technology, a dynamic positioning system that protects the delicate seabed (one of only two ships in the islands to have this), and an advanced propulsion system. There is a fresh water purification system to significantly reduce plastic bottle usage and the ship will be plastic-free - everyone will be given a metallic reusable bottle which they can refill at stations with water created by reverse osmosis (whereby sea water is turned into drinking water).
Destination & Authenticity
The Galapagos islands form the largest National Park in Ecuador and one of the most important protected natural areas in the world. Silversea's Fund for the Galapagos is dedicated to safeguarding the archipelago for generations to come. And even if you are not ashore, the islands are ever present: sweeping views are always available, thanks to large floor-to-ceiling windows that extend throughout the ship from public rooms to your suite, as well as the Observation and Stargazing Platform to enjoy the scenery both day and night.
Just because you are on board Silver Origin, that doesn't mean you will miss out on local customs and cuisine. The ship provides the most authentic culinary experience possible, with Ecuadorian recipes using only the freshest local ingredients, accompanied by the best regional wines. Live gourmet preparation sessions and seminars reveal how to create and recreate all the flavours of Ecuador and the Galapagos.
Onboard comfort, Silversea style
Silver Origin's all-suite accommodations all feature Horizon Balconies, butler service in every suite and sophisticated interiors. The ship has the highest crew-to-guest ratio in the Galapagos, with an astonishing 90 crew members for just 100 guests. Silversea's industry-leading personalised service ensures that every moment of your trip is perfect.
The two restaurants offer delicious local, national and international dishes, with the unforgettable Silversea Hot Rocks experience available each evening under the stars.
And of course, as you would expect from Silversea, it's all-inclusive, so once you have paid the up-front cost, you have nothing more to worry about.
