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Sailing the high seas
Explore the world to experience a once-in-a-lifetime journey that spans six continents and offers an immersion in local life and culture
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149 days, 35 countries, 1 epic adventure
The crown jewel of global adventures
For seasoned travellers who’ve satisfied their dream cruising list – from the farthest Norwegian fjords to spectacular islands of Thailand to frigid Antarctica – there’s one ultimate itinerary left to complete: the World Cruise.
Launched in 2002, Silversea’s annual World Cruise has become the jewel in the company crown – a voyage of discovery filled with unexpected surprises and one-off special events that are only available to its passengers – and only for that one fleeting moment in time. After past successful voyages that have sailed to Sydney, Shanghai, South Africa and beyond, planning is now focused on the next several years ahead – and in particular, on World Cruise 2027 – a comprehensive 149-day, 35-country epic journey from Los Angeles to Copenhagen.
Curated experiences and impactful community support to delight the senses
A journey of discovery,community and impact
Coined The Three Oceans, this voyage will visit the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and promises to include a series of highly curated experiences, such as a two-night overland experience to Victoria Falls, visits to 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a musical feast beneath the Spire of Hope at Belfast’s St. Anne’s Cathedral, just to name a few of the planned events designed to engage and delight the senses.
Itineraries may include a strong community engagement component so that the areas of greatest need at the moment – from local schools to wildlife preservation to arts programmes – are supported by the luxury cruise line to create lasting infrastructure long after the ship departs. “We are living in a dynamic time, and so the needs are constantly evolving. We try to respond with event concepts that are entertaining and impactful, always encouraging guests to ‘travel deeper’,” says Kevin McKeon, Silversea’s Experience and Events Manager, of the company’s philanthropic ethos.
Commitment to community and culture – from Cape Town to Cochin
Such impactful touches are felt from Cape Town to Cochin, India, to Kalanggaman Island, in the Philippines “where we helped the community build a jetty to get our guests safely onto the island and to further tourism for the region’s future,” explains Jannie Cloete, Director of Events and Experiences at Silversea. “We worked further with the municipality to build showers and bathrooms so that they can continue to welcome guests and support their local economy. Further, we trained hospitality students at a five-star level, so they gained valuable skills and earned a fair wage. Working with locals is a real point of pride for us.”
In South Africa, the luxury cruise line’s support of promising young vocal students can be seen – and heard – at the Cape Town Opera through its Foundation Studio programme. “The arts play a huge role in quality of life and the empowerment of young people,” says the programme’s Head of Development, Jennifer Renner. “Through Silversea’s support of our Foundation Studio, talented high school learners living in the surrounding townships receive meals and transportation to our Artscape Theatre Centre for lessons in everything from music theory to voice to piano.” And the student’s talent doesn’t go unnoticed: in 2022, the Foundation Studio won the Equal Opportunities and Impact category at the International Opera Awards held at the prestigious theatre and opera house Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain.
Embracing unique local valuesand important traditions
Looking ahead, events and surprise experiences for the World Cruises are being finalised, but several programmes are set. “For 2025, we are focused on initiatives like supporting small, privately owned restaurants in rural Vietnam,” explains McKeon. “This has great economic impact on the local economy and is the perfect way to highlight local cuisines and important traditions. In 2026, we’ll see the rehabilitation of Mystery Island in Vanuatu – a Pacific island project where we’ll work with Indigenous tribes to showcase their music, masked dancing and local cuisines with the highlight being the freshly caught fish that’s grilled and served on the island’s pristine beach.”
Further plans are afoot for a day of traditional exotic marigold snake boat racing in Cochin, India, where locals will welcome World Cruise guests for a multi-course, authentic vegetarian meal followed by Kerala drumming and dramatic boat races with each traditional canoe manned by up to 100 rowers. “We aren’t creating anything fake or inauthentic,” says McKeon of such colourful celebrations on the water. “These kinds of events are all about one-off, unexpected experiences that money can’t buy,” he adds.
Elevated celebrations to honourlocal communities
In addition, an authentic celebration of food and spiritual dancing in Hawaii is being planned for the cruise line’s 2027 embarkment. “This will not be a touristic luau, but a proper celebration of Hawaiian heritage,” says McKeon of the dazzling event that will require two years of planning to execute. The former royal residence – ‘Iolani Palace in Honolulu – will be the setting for an evening that promises to celebrate Hawaii’s Polynesian roots and seafaring heritage. A magical backdrop for the magnificent feast is followed by traditional song and festive hula dancing late into the evening.
From a curated dinner at an Indonesian temple, to a cave feast in Halong Bay in Vietnam, to a Freddie Mercury musical tribute in Stone Town, Zanzibar (the artist’s hometown), World Cruise experiences are singular and seriously creative. “Wherever we visit, we leave the infrastructure behind,” says Cloete of the luxury cruise line’s operating philosophy of empowerment. “We’re committed to operating as environmentally sensitively as possible, with no food waste, and all furniture is left behind for local use.” The results are itineraries filled with unique moments in iconic places – all perfect for world travellers who want to delve deeper.
We are living in a dynamic time, and so the needs are constantly evolving. We try to respond with event concepts that are entertaining and impactful, always encouraging guests to ‘travel deeper’.
Embark on an unforgettable voyage across 35 countries
To learn more about Silversea’s World Cruise voyages click below
