Silversea Cruises has unveiled a new collection of 14 culinary and wine theme cruises to be offered in 2008.
The popular enrichment cruises will showcase the artistry of award-winning chefs of top dining establishments from around the world, including Relais & Châteaux – Relais Gourmands, the distinguished international association of boutique hotels and restaurants, while wine experts from an array of prestigious estates and wineries will be on hand to host the Wine Series voyages.
“Our culinary and wine theme cruises are enriching lifestyle experiences offering a great way to travel and learn,” said Steve Odell, Silversea’s senior vice president of Asia Pacific. “They continue to grow in popularity with our guests, and this year we’re delighted to add a new dimension with the exciting debut of the Bon Appétit Supper Club.”
Through its exclusive partnership with Bon Appétit magazine, Silversea will host the opening of the first Bon Appétit Supper Club on the high seas. This avant-garde concept of a stylish, limited-time dining experience has also popped up in such places as New York City (in a location that was previously the Hard Rock Café in midtown Manhattan) and the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. With some of the world’s top chefs enlisted to craft menus for VIP dinners, the Bon Appétit Supper Club has attracted a who’s who of elite from the worlds of entertainment, fashion, food and media.
Now Silversea’s guests will have a chance to experience this rare dining event when La Terrazza is transformed into a New York-inspired restaurant. Aboard Silver Shadow’s November 18 sailing from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, renowned California chef and restaurateur Suzanne Tracht will be in residence to bring the Bon Appétit Supper Club to life and offer guests a taste of her dazzling menu of American classics that have made her a favourite chef among locals and travellers to Los Angeles.
Culinary Arts Voyages
On the culinary sailings, Guest Chefs will display their exceptional talents during informative and entertaining cooking demonstrations. Guests will be able to taste and learn firsthand the secrets of enticing signature dishes created by award-winning chefs like Lydia Shire, chef/owner of Boston’s legendary Locke-Ober restaurant and winner of the James Beard Award as “America’s Best Chef — Northeast”; Anne Desjardins, the CAA/AAA Four Diamond chef/owner of L’Eau à La Bouche in Ste-Adèle, Québec; Eyvind Hellstrøm, owner and chef of Michelin Two Star Bagatelle, Oslo, Norway; and Alois Vanlangenaeker, the Michelin Star Chef of Il San Pietro Hotel in Positano, Italy.
The Culinary Arts enrichment voyages also feature escorted provisioning trips to international markets (when the itinerary permits), food and wine pairings, creative regional dishes, and a five-course grand gourmet dinner. Throughout these special voyages, the featured Guest Chef and Silversea’s executive chef are on hand to share their culinary expertise and answer any questions.
Wine Series
Discerning travellers with a passion for fine wines will be able to sample some of the world’s finest vintages and visit world-famous wineries, cellars and vineyards aboard Silversea’s wine-themed cruises. Top experts like Virginie Coutou, managing director of Spain’s Diva Wines, and John Shafer, chairman of Shafer Vineyards, Napa Valley, California, will be on board to provide enriching lectures, conduct special tastings of vintage blends and guide Silversea’s guests on excursions to celebrated wineries and vineyards in select ports of call.
Other epicurean enrichment specialists slated to share their expertise include Gordon Bell, brand ambassador and master of Scotch whisky, who will bring guests a greater appreciation of the nuances of Scotland’s malt whiskies and the art of blending, and Georges Muller, a former consultant for Riedel Crystal, whose presentations will reveal the flavour-enhancing qualities of crystal glassware.
Silversea’s Culinary and Wine Enrichment Cruises 2008
Africa and Indian Ocean — Silver Whisper departs October 23, 2008 on a 15-day voyage (#4834) from Dubai to Singapore. Wine Series Host: Stanislas Marchal, public relations representative for Vranken-Pommery Monopole. Advance Payment Bonus fares start at US $7,196.
Mediterranean — Silver Cloud departs April 17, 2008 on a 10-day voyage (#1811) from Istanbul to Barcelona. Wine Series Host: Virginie Coutou, managing director of Spain’s Diva Wines. Silver Sailing fares start at US $5,276.
— Silver Whisper departs July 26, 2008 on a 7-day voyage (#4823) from Monte Carlo to Barcelona. Guest Chefs: Lydia Shire, chef/owner of Locke-Ober, Boston, Massachusetts; and Renato Piccolotto, executive chef of Cipriani Hotel, Venice, Italy. Silver Sailing fares start at US $4,546.
— Silver Whisper departs August 23, 2008 on a 7-day voyage (#4827) from Rome to Athens. Epicurean Specialist: Georges Muller, former consultant for Riedel Crystal. Early Booking Incentive fares start at US $5,520.
Alaska & Pacific Coast — Silver Shadow departs June 21, 2008 on a 10-day voyage (#3814) from Vancouver to San Francisco. Guest Chef: Anne Desjardins, chef/owner of L’Eau à La Bouche, Ste-Adèle, Québec. Wine Series Host: John Shafer, chairman of Shafer Vineyards, Napa Valley, California. Early Booking Incentive fares start at US $5,690.
— Silver Shadow departs July 1, 2008 on a 12-day voyage (#3815) from San Francisco to San Francisco. Wine Series Host: Rich Arnold, winemaker for Robert Mondavi Winery, Napa Valley, California. Early Booking Incentive fares start at US $7,285.
Northern Europe & The Baltic — Silver Wind departs July 21, 2008 on a 15-day voyage (#2821) from Copenhagen to Copenhagen. Guest Chef: Eyvind Hellstrøm, owner and chef of Bagatelle, Oslo, Norway. Silver Sailing fares start at US $9,796.
— Silver Wind departs August 29, 2008 on a 12-day voyage (#2825) from London to London. Epicurean Specialist: Gordon Bell, brand ambassador and master of Scotch whisky. Early Booking Incentive fares start at US $9,600.
South America — Silver Shadow departs September 28, 2008 on a 12-day voyage (#3824) from Costa Rica to Santiago. Wine Series Host: Daniel Soto, Santa Alicia Winery, Santiago, Chile. Silver Sailing fares start at US $5,036.
— Silver Cloud departs November 26, 2008 on a 15-day voyage (#1834) from Barbados to Rio de Janeiro. Guest Chef: Alois Vanlangenaeker, executive chef of Hotel Il San Pietro Di Positano, Positano, Italy. Silver Sailing fares start at US $5,397.
Caribbean and Mexico — Silver Shadow departs November 18, 2008 on a 15-day voyage (#3828) from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale. Guest Chef: California chef and restaurateur Suzanne Tracht, executive chef of Bon Appétit Supper Club. Advance Payment Bonus fares start at US $6,596.
— Silver Shadow departs December 3, 2008 on a 9-day voyage (#3829) from Fort Lauderdale to Barbados. Wine Series Host: Marc Bourreli, export director for Wente Vineyards, California. Silver Sailing fares start at US $3,237.
Transoceanic — Silver Cloud departs November 3, 2008 on a 16-day voyage (#1832) from Barcelona to Barbados. Epicurean Specialist: Bacardi (expert to be announced). Advance Payment Bonus fares start at US $5,586.