ritten By: Ronan O'Connell | For summer 2025, Silversea has increased the number of cruises in the popular Mediterranean, says Justin Poulsen, Silversea Vice President of Itinerary Planning and Destination Development. Silversea will boast 84 voyages to the Mediterranean, up from 69. Silversea will also take guests to Mediterranean destinations new to the line, such as Porto Carras and Mt. Athos in Greece, the entrance to which is pictured in photo at top, Crotone and Pantelleria in Italy, and Vlore in Albania. “With an increased deployment, we are able to dedicate more time to exploring regions in ways we’ve never been able to before with a smaller Med program,” Poulsen says.
These include new “connoisseur” itineraries on the Silver Whisper. With a capacity of 392 passengers, the Whisper can dock at some of the Mediterranean’s smallest ports. That will include Spain’s historic Sevilla, where Silversea guests can disembark directly into the city center, compared to other cruises, which must stop at Cádiz, 60 miles south.
SMALLER PORTS, HUGE ATTRACTION
Smaller ports tend to offer cruise guests a more satisfying experience, says Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director of Frommer’s Guidebooks. “Overtourism has become a huge problem, one that’s especially concentrated in the major port cities,” she says. “In response, many [cruise] companies are branching out to include smaller ports and destinations.”
This has coincided, Frommer says, with a recent trend of cruises visiting locations far removed from the tourist trail. “Expedition cruises to places that used to be open only to scientists and a few lucky travelers are becoming far more common,” she says.
Several such remote destinations are new additions on Silversea’s 2025 summer itinerary. They include the serene Bathurst, one of the Tiwi Islands, 40 miles off Australia’s wilderness-rich Northern Territory. Farther north, amid the sparkling oceans of Indonesia, Silversea has added the ports of Pulau Hoga, Pulau Momon and Pulau Penumu.
In its summer 2025 itinerary, Silversea is also launching two new calls in what UNESCO describes as a “living museum and showcase of evolution,” the Galápagos Islands. For almost 200 years, scientists have studied the diverse flora and fauna of this archipelago of 19 islands, 600 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean.
Silver Origin, which serves the Galápagos, in 2025 will dock on its seven-day itineraries at new-to-Silversea ports Bahía Bowditch and Isla Lobos. Passengers can alight to snorkel, paddleboard, bird watch, fish and glimpse species found nowhere else on Earth, including the massive Galápagos tortoise, the Galápagos penguin and the marine iguana.
MAKING ITINERARY MAGIC
To create the summer 2025 itinerary, Poulsen says, a huge team of destination experts collaborated for about 12 months. They identified the stories from each port that would “bring the destination to life for our guests and create transformational experiences,” Poulsen adds.
“The challenge is finding the right intersection between this artistic, creative process and the science of operational ability and efficiency,” he says of this balancing act that can “develop cohesive itineraries that can take a guest on a journey of personal discovery through beautiful destinations, via carefully sequenced collection of ports and curated shore excursions.”
Foodies will daydream about the new S.A.L.T. activities in the 2025 itinerary. From neighboring ports of Piran (Slovenia) or Trieste (Italy), both Silversea ports, passengers will be driven about 30 minutes inland to Belajevi Farm, amid the forested hills of Slovenia’s Karst area. Adrejka Cerkvenik will explain how her family’s herbal farm uses ancient, sustainable techniques, after which a brunch will feature such local specialties as Saturej pâté, Karst prosciutto and spiced cookies.
Such seamless, memorable experiences are the result of hard work by Silversea staff. Crafting an itinerary that’s alluring, memorable and illuminating is one thing. But making it a reality requires vast knowledge of each destination, Poulsen explains.
“We are deployed across…many different geographies, regulation schemes and jurisdictions,” he says. “We have to stay knowledgeable and informed about various compliance matters so that we operate responsibly and continue to be good partners with the destinations we visit.”
Beyond adhering to a port’s rules, Silversea also confers with officials at each destination to find a way to manage the environmental and social impact of their cruise service. “We put the welfare and success of destinations first,” Poulsen says.
“The challenge is that no two destinations are similar, and as such, no two approaches to community-first tourism development can be the same. While challenging, this presents a tremendous opportunity to learn about destinations, form close relationships and develop a product that is unique, experiential and also a lever for good.”
In the summer of 2025, then, Silversea’s new itineraries will attempt to blend neatly into dozens of far-flung settings. From old favorites, such as Monte Carlo, to Silversea’s new ports, passengers will enjoy onboard luxuries, savor unique culinary experiences, explore remote wilderness or even meet unique animals, All thanks to the craft and inspiration of an army of behind-the-scenes Silversea experts who create something extraordinary.
THE SILVERSEA DIFFERENCE
- Unparalleled onboard experience for your clients means that they will want to come back. Our 1 to 1.15 staff to guest ratio, means dedicated attention, always.
- At the forefront of product innovation, with our S.A.L.T. immersive culinary program and OTIUM spa and in-suite experiences of wellness.
- Our broad product offerings. Our Expedition ships cruise to unique regions including Antarctica, the Arctic and Greenland, the Galápagos islands and beyond.The four ships in our Expedition fleet are purpose-built for navigating waters in the most remote realms of the world – from pole to pole, the Galápagos, and beyond – in supreme comfort, safety, and all-inclusive luxury.
- Agent reward incentive program gives you a chance to earn additional incentives per booking (available in select markets).
TRAVEL DEEPER
We exist to unlock deeper travel experiences – allowing our guests to become immersed in the authentic beauty of their destinations. Our voyages hold a wealth of rare, personalised and unforgettable opportunities to see your world as never before.
INTIMATE SMALL SHIPS
Our ships are designed to create space for fewer, select travellers. They are big on creature comforts and luxuries, yet small enough to remain inviting and intimate. Our ships range in size from 51 to 364 suites to ensure your clients feel this is their home away from home.
OVER 900 DESTINATIONS
Lauded many times over, we believe our itineraries are the best in the world. Your guests can visit every continent and a huge range of destinations – from iconic, sophisticated world cities to remote islands; from the tropical equator to the polar extremes.
SUPERIOR SERVICE
With nearly one staff member available to every guest and around-the-clock, dedicated butler service in all suites, the levels of personal service on our ships is unparalleled. Our devoted, discreet and experienced Silversea onboard team takes pride in playing a key role in your guests complete satisfaction.
ENRICHING CUISINE
Our gourmet excellence will always be a jewel in our crown. Our newest ships also offer destination-focused restaurants, bars and hands-on experiences – allowing your guests to enrich their travels with deep-dives into local culinary flavours, heritage and techniques.
MORE ALL-INCLUSIVE THAN EVER
Now more all-inclusive than ever, we have become the first cruise line to introduce private executive transfers for your clients’ convenience and peace of mind. In addition to roundtrip economy airfare, reduced business class air (or air credit), inclusive shore excursions and renowned onboard amenities and services.
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