The luxury line is encouraging
Australians to take seven-night
cruises, instead of the traditional
three or four, in the Galapagos.
VISITING Australia last week, Conrad
Combrink, director of expedition cruises for
Silversea, conceded there had been a “mixed
response” to his decision to implement weeklong
itineraries for its new ship, Silver
Galapagos.
“A lot of people see the Galapagos as a short
cruise, but three or four days is not enough
time to make sure you see all the different
species of wildlife,” Combrink told Cruise
Weekly.
“Imagine if you go all that way and don’t see
a Galapagos penguin or a blue-footed booby.”
He said some travel agents were “fighting the
idea” of a cruise that is twice as long as most
operators in the region, but he was confident
that Australians would embrace the extended
adventure.
“I would never put out a bad itinerary as I
truly believe we play with people’s dreams and
it is our responsibility to make those dreams
come true,” said Combrink, who also works
onboard the ship as an expedition leader.
“In seven nights, we visit 14 destinations so
you get to see everything it has to offer, and
you can go hiking, kayaking, swimming,
snorkelling, cruising on a glass-bottomed boat,
as well as photography walks and workshops
and wildlife lectures.”
Combrink said the company had seen “huge
growth” in Australian passenger numbers,
compared to downturns in the US and UK, with
Australia maintaining its position as the
number-two international market.
“I see no reason why Australia can’t be our
number-one market in expeditions,” he said.
According to Combrink, Australians make up
20-25% of passengers on the line’s Antarctica
voyages and 5-10% of non-polar cruises.
“Australians are a perfect fit for Silversea
Expeditions,” he said.
Silversea urges longer expeditions
“We have only 130 guests, it’s all-inclusive
and there’s no tipping.”
Combrink predicted the Russian Far East
would be the “next hot destination”, with
Silversea offering a special trip in 2014.
Other highlights next year include Japan, the
Northwest Passage, South America and a
100th anniversary cruise of the Panama Canal.
Silversea Expeditions is also venturing to the
South Pacific, visiting the Solomon Islands,
Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, Easter Island and
Papua New Guinea.
