Setting Sail: The remarkable Evolution of Luxury Ocean Travel
Jessica Martyn
After a long and winding history, the latest iteration of the ocean cruise delivers a full-bodied adventure accompanied by intellectual and gastronomic pleasures.
With a history stretching back millennia, sea travel represents well-charted territory in the tourism space.
Leisure cruising, on the other hand, is still relatively new, first introduced in 1822 when eager adventurers from London would buy tickets to ride around the Mediterranean on mail delivery ships.
Once travellers had dipped their toes in the water, a rapid growth trajectory began with the introduction of new fleets throughout the 1830s, many of which were built to cater to Europe’s wealthy upper class.
These leisure vehicles were ample evidence of innovation within themselves, but the advent of air travel left the cruising industry scrambling for new points of attraction to keep the guests coming.
Then, as cutting-edge technology gradually entered the mainstream, cruise liners followed suit, implementing an array of systems and devices designed to streamline guests’ experience in their lounges, restaurants, shopping centres and beyond.
From cutting-edge hospitality software, robot-powered bars and gaming rooms to virtual balconies, high-tech viewing pods and even skydiving simulators, it seems that the scope for technological advancement stretches as far as the horizon, and then some.
Cruise operators at the head of the pack have gone so far as to invest in in-room AI and wearable technology for guests (waterproofed, of course), all with the aim of further enhancing and personalising the experience.
Of course, technology is not the be-all and end-all of a fabulous onboard experience, and some operators are recognising this by creating more holistic experiences – expedition cruises being a perfect example.
A concept established and named by Silversea circa 1995, the expedition cruise is a foray into new experiences designed to expand guests’ perspectives, world views, palates, and overall experiential capital.
For these immersive cruise experiences, vessels are often custom-built with the region and planned experience in mind, ready for anything from stargazing to wildlife spotting.
The newest ships in the Silversea fleet include Silver Nova and Silver Endeavour, launched in August 2023 and November 2022 respectively – and plans are already in motion to launch Silver Ray in mid-2024.
One of the most spacious cruise ships on the water, Silver Nova boasts an innovative asymmetrical design that offers an immersive destination experience for up to 728 guests.
Silver Endeavour is similarly well endowed, branded the most luxurious (and expensive) expedition ship ever built.
Onboard these luxury vehicles, guests can expect a wide array of enriching activities and experiences, including fascinating on-land side trips with highly regarded lecturers ready to impart oceans of knowledge on everything from exploring ancient rock art to kayaking around Antarctic glaciers.
When the brain is full, expedition cruises also treat the stomach, often with revolutionary culinary concepts such as Silversea’s S.A.L.T. – Sea And Land Taste – delivering the best produce of sea and land, from the French Riviera to authentic Italian eateries.
The experience then takes a practical turn in the S.A.L.T. Lab, an interactive cooking laboratory that teaches guests how to recreate local recipes and understand the food heritage of each ingredient, and finally to the S.A.L.T. Chef’s Table – a bespoke experience for a maximum of 18 guests, including a thoughtfully choreographed, locally oriented menu of small plates with wine and cocktail pairings.
One thing’s for sure – if it’s the taste of leisure you’re after, an expedition cruise will leave you both satisfied and hungry for more.
