Peru's fabled Machu Picchu.

If you're among those travellers who have little time to spare for an extended holiday, you'll be pleased to hear that we are now offering 8 Galápagos expedition voyages of just 3 and 4 days.

And these new voyages have been combined with pre- and post-cruise South America land adventures to create a collection of enticing holiday packages of 8, 10 or 11 days.

Our new cruise and land packages are convenient options for the luxury traveller who wants to experience a Galápagos cruise adventure and also explore some of the most intriguing regions of South America -- but who may not have time for a lengthy vacation.

NEW 2013 GALÁPAGOS EXPEDITION CRUISES

The new 4-day, Baltra-to-San Cristóbal expedition voyages, encompassing the islands of Santa Cruz, Genovesa, and Seymour Norte, are:

8301A: 28 September - 2 October
8307A: 9 - 13 November
8309A: 23 - 27 November
8311A: 7 - 11 December

The new 3-day, San Cristóbal-to-Baltra voyages, tracing a route through the islands of Española, Santa Cruz, and Plazas Sur, are:

8303B: 16 - 19 October
8307B: 13 - 16 November
8309B: 27 - 30 November
8311B: 11 - 14 December

Blue-footed boobies of the Galápagos Islands.

Silver Galapagos expedition cruises offer adventurous travellers the life-enriching chance to discover a wild, pristine paradise that has long been regarded as a natural laboratory of evolution. On complimentary expeditions ashore guided by an experienced expedition team (certified by the Galápagos National Park Service), Silversea's guests may experience up-close encounters with an abundance of wildlife that includes sun-basking land iguanas, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, colourful marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins and Darwin's famous finches.

The cruise and land packages include an expedition voyage aboard the luxurious, all-suite Silver Galapagos, Silversea's Galápagos air package (between Quito or Guayaquil and Galápagos), the Galápagos National Park entrance fee, plus pre- or post-cruise South America land extensions. The land programmes include deluxe hotel accommodation, all transportation, transfers, guided sightseeing and some meals. While air travel between guest's home and Lima, Quito or Guayaquil is not included, optional roundtrip air packages from select UK, US and Canadian gateways to South America are available through Silversea.

GALÁPAGOS CRUISE & LAND PACKAGES

Below is a sampling of the new Galápagos cruise and land package options (prices are per person, based on double occupancy):

8-Day Machu Picchu & Galápagos Package
Guests will enjoy 2 days surrounded by the history and culture of Ecuador's vibrant capital on the "Quito Discovery" land extension before embarking on their 3-day Galápagos expedition cruise. After witnessing the natural treasures of the Galápagos Islands from their base of luxury aboard Silver Galapagos, guests will then journey to Peru to spend 3 days exploring the glorious Lost City of the Incas on an exciting "Machu Picchu Explorer" land adventure, highlighted by a scenic journey in Peru's Vistadome train. This 8-day package is priced from USD$6,713.

10-Day Puno, Lake Titicaca & Galápagos Package
The magnificent Andes and Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, are the setting for an exciting 4-day "Puno & Lake Titicaca" pre-cruise adventure. Highlights include a visit to the Sillustani tombs, a cruise to the floating reed islands of the Uros people with their centuries-old way of life, and a visit to Taquile Island to admire ancient weaving traditions. Guests then embark Silver Galapagos for an unforgettable 4-day expedition voyage through the Galápagos Islands, followed by 2 days absorbing the fascinating sights and attractions of Ecuador's capital on the "Quito Discovery" post-cruise land extension. This 10-day package is priced from $7,503.

11-Day Amazon Explorer & Galápagos Package
Guests enjoy 2 days taking in the artistic, cultural and historic attractions of Ecuador's capital on the "Quito Discovery" land extension before embarking on their 3-day expedition voyage aboard the elegant Silver Galapagos. Following the Galápagos programme is a unique 6-day journey to Peru's Amazon basin where it's possible to witness pygmy marmosets, howler monkeys, colourful toucans and other exotic wildlife that inhabit the region's lowland forests. Participants will cruise the Amazon in all-suite luxury aboard m/v Aqua, dining on perhaps the finest Amazonian-Peruvian gourmet cuisine on the river. Expert naturalists will be on hand to share insights about this amazing and fragile ecosystem. This 11-day package is priced from $9,513.

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Will you be one of the few people to follow in the footsteps of Roald Amundsen -- the first person to successfully sail through the legendary Northwest Passage?

You will if you join our adventurous Silver Explorer next year on her first-ever expedition cruise through this famous sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Canadian Arctic.

But you'll need to act quickly to make your reservation, as the voyage is almost sold out.

Silver Explorer in Skoldungen Fjord, Greenland

Departing 9 August 2014 from Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland, Silver Explorer will spend 23 days exploring this remarkable region before concluding her historic journey in Nome, Alaska.

For inquisitive travellers with a passion for adventure, this unique voyage (#7418) offers the chance of a lifetime to:

• Discover the cultures of remote Greenlandic towns
• Meet a sled dog team and their owners
• Cruise alongside spectacular icebergs and see one of the world’s fastest moving glaciers
• See the winter camp and final resting place of the Franklin Expedition
• Learn about the native Inuit and Pre-Dorset peoples
• Look for polar bears, musk ox, caribou and bears, as well as lemmings and Arctic hares
• Observe large colonies of nesting seabirds and hopefully sight snowy owls, rough-legged hawks, gyrfalcons, and
  Peregrine falcons
• Search the seas for whales and the shore for walrus haul-outs
• Hunt for million-year-old fossils
• Hike across barren tundra landscapes

And, of course, the guests of Silver Explorer will enjoy full-scale exploring from an enclave of luxury at sea that includes spacious, ocean-view accommodation, sumptuous gourmet cuisine, the personalised service of a butler, and a generous selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities, including complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship and stocked in-suite beverage cabinet.

We hope you'll be among Silver Explorer's 132 privileged guests for this fascinating journey!

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Pinnacle Rock, Bartolomé Island, Galápagos

Are you an inquisitive traveller? Are you fascinated by nature? Then be sure to join us on an exceptional adventure in learning aboard the Premiere Voyage of Silver Galapagos on 25 January 2014.

On this unique sailing, Voyage 8404, you'll witness the wonders of nature through the award-winning lens of Dr Paul Stewart, a renowned Oxford-educated zoologist and cameraman who has written and photographed for wildlife magazines throughout the world.

Plus, you'll get the "inside view" from Richard Wollocombe, a naturalist and acclaimed wildlife cameraman who lives in the Galápagos Islands and has photographed their incredible beauty on land and under the sea.

Share your thoughts with these masters of natural history who have explored this remote archipelago time and again and still marvel at its abundant wildlife found nowhere else on earth. The knowledge and insights you'll gain from these special guest lecturers* will be remembered for years to come.

DR PAUL STEWART, Award-winning Zoologist, Writer, Producer and Photographer
Having earned his doctorate from Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Stewart has won the national Prince Philip Zoology prize. He has written and photographed for wildlife magazines around the world, including his book Galapagos -- Islands That Changed the World. He is also a multiple Primetime Emmy and BAFTA award-winning cameraman and producer across 40 countries.

RICHARD WOLLOCOMBE, Renowned Wildlife Cameraman, Naturalist and Galápagos Resident
Wollocombe is an Emmy and RTS award-winning cameraman with 15 years' experience filming on land and underwater. His natural history filmmaking credentials include extensive work for BBC/Discovery Channel in the South Pacific, as well as his award-winning Galápagos, voted best film at the Jackson Hole Film Festival. As a resident of the Galápagos, Wollocombe knows first-hand the natural riches the islands possess.

Both Stewart and Wollocombe recently finished filming the Discovery Channel's landmark seven-episode series North America, which will start airing in the US on 19 May. Here's a sneak preview:

Other highlights of the Premiere Voyage of Silver Galapagos include:

--Premiere Lecture Programme supported by Royal Geographical Society

--A memorable cultural experience at a local Ecuadorian school

--Voyage hosted by senior executives of Silversea

--Commemorative Silver Galapagos logo apparel

--Commemorative Old World chart of the Galápagos Islands

--Hand-crafted sculpture by a local Ecuadorian artisan

Itinerary highlights:

• Walk across spectacular lava fields

• Explore tidal pools, lush mangroves and scalesia forests

• See pelicans and penguins along the beach

• Swim and snorkel with green sea turtles, sea lions and manta rays

• Hike through fragrant forests of Palo Santo “Incense” trees

• Encounter the largest colony of marine iguanas

• Watch for a unique species of flightless cormorant

• Visit one of the most volcanically active places on Earth

• Discover a saltwater lagoon within a volcanic tuff cone

• Read cave inscriptions from the 1800s

• Learn of the islands’ whaling history and early Norwegian settlers

• See wild flamingos (in season) and nesting sea turtles

• Observe giant tortoises and sea lion colonies

• Photograph iconic Pinnacle Rock

Click here for complete list of upcoming expedition cruises aboard Silver Galapagos.

*Guest lecturers are subject to change.

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Headquarters of the Royal Geographical Society, London. (Wikimedia Commons)

We are thrilled to announce that the renowned Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) and Silversea have started on a partnership journey together.

Founded in 1830, this British institution, whose Royal Patron is Queen Elizabeth II, will share some of the world's most important geographical material with Silversea Expeditions guests.

Charles Robert Darwin, 1809-1882. Portrait photograph by Eilliot, 1880. © RGS-IBG

Darwin, Livingstone, Shackleton, Scott of the Antarctic … some of the most celebrated names in the history of exploration have set sail or have been supported under the Royal Geographical Society's banner.

Today the Society maintains an archive of over two million historical items, including over one million maps, 500,000 photographs, 250,000 books and journals, manuscripts, and iconic artefacts which date back as far as 1482.

One of the first animals Darwin encountered upon his arrival to the Galápagos Islands was
the San Cristóbal mockingbird (Mimus melanotis), depicted above in an illustration from
Zoology of the Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle, edited by Charles Darwin (London, 1840-43).
Image courtesy of RGS-IBG.

Charles Darwin's pocket sextant carried on the voyage of HMS Beagle, 1831-1836 © RGS-IBG

Silversea's onboard enrichment programme aims to bring to life the remarkable history, fascinating people and amazing discoveries that have shaped our understanding of our world and the regions we explore. And now through our exclusive partnership with the Royal Geographical Society, we'll be sharing some of the world's most important geographical research and archive material with our guests travelling on Silver Explorer and Silver Galapagos.

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Machu Picchu

If you're considering a Silver Galapagos expedition voyage to explore the remarkable natural wonders of the Galápagos Islands, and looking to gain an even richer experience, you now have the opportunity to extend your expedition cruise holiday with extraordinary journeys to South America.

These 4 new optional land extensions have been carefully curated to showcase the breathtaking landscapes and intriguing cultures of the Andes and the Amazon, while delivering the signature comfort and style that Silversea guests expect.

Each of the new programmes features deluxe accommodation, all transportation, transfers, guided sightseeing and some meals.

AMAZON EXPLORER -- Travellers on this unique journey to Peru's Amazon basin may witness pygmy marmosets, howler monkeys, colourful toucans and other exotic wildlife that inhabit the region's lowland forests. Participants will cruise the Amazon in all-suite luxury aboard m/v Aqua, dining on perhaps the finest Amazonian-Peruvian gourmet cuisine on the river. Expert naturalists will be on hand to share insights about this amazing and fragile ecosystem. This six-night, post-cruise programme departs from Lima. 

Floating Uros Islands, Lake Titicaca

PUNO & LAKE TITICACA -- The magnificent Andes and Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, are the setting for this four-night, pre-cruise adventure from Lima. Highlights include a visit to the Sillustani tombs, a cruise to the floating reed islands of the Uros people with their centuries-old way of life, and a visit to Taquile Island to admire ancient weaving traditions.

MACHU PICCHU EXPLORER -- Set high in the Peruvian Andes, amid craggy peaks and billowing clouds, is the glorious Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. In addition to exploring this spectacular monument of human achievement, participants will enjoy a scenic roundtrip journey in Peru's Vistadome train. Departing from Lima, the programme is available as a pre- or post-cruise option of 3 or 4 nights.

MACHU PICCHU GRANDE EXPLORER -- Similar to Machu Picchu Explorer, this three- or four-night land programme features a journey to Machu Picchu aboard the legendary Hiram Bingham, one of the world's top ten rail journeys. Travellers will enjoy brunch with live music as they journey through the dramatic Andean scenery. Also included is an overnight stay at the famed Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel just steps away from the ancient Inca citadel. Departing from Lima, the programme is available as a pre- or post-cruise option.

Silver Galapagos sails Saturday to Saturday on seven-day roundtrip voyages from Baltra Island, following either a western or north central route. These expedition cruises offer adventurous travellers the life-enriching chance to discover a wild, pristine paradise that has long been regarded as a natural laboratory of evolution. On complimentary expeditions ashore guided by an experienced expedition team (certified by the Galápagos National Park Service), Silversea's guests may experience up-close encounters with an abundance of wildlife that includes sun-basking land iguanas, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, colourful marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins and Darwin's famous finches.

Click here for a list of upcoming Silver Galapagos voyages.

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Except for the occasional computer-animated emperor penguin who makes it on to the big screen to entertain millions of moviegoers (who could ever forget the adorable tap-dancing hero of Happy Feet?), it's a very rare event when humans come face to face with an emperor penguin. That's because emperors -- the largest of all the penguins -- make their home on the remote Antarctic ice.

But last Thursday, guests aboard Silver Explorer had the exceptional privilege of witnessing a lone emperor penguin trek across the ice to greet the ship, which was positioned at 67 degrees south (near Crystal Bay, at the entrance to the Gullet passage) -- the farthest south the expedition ship has ever ventured.

This incredible bird spent most of the morning putting on an amazing display, vocally calling out as he walked around the bow of the ship.

From the photos, it's hard to say who was more impressed with the view -- Silver Explorer's guests or a seemingly curious bird that is accustomed to seeing mostly ice … and snow … and, well, other penguins.

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Silver Galapagos

There's definitely a buzz in the air here at Silversea Expeditions, as the excitement and anticipation grow with each new day that brings us closer to the debut of our second expedition ship, Silver Galapagos, on 28 September -- a mere 7 months and 3 weeks from today!

That's when we launch year-round voyages of discovery to the intriguing islands of the Galápagos, introducing 100 privileged travellers each week to one of nature's most remote wonderlands, where few humans have ever set foot.

The intimate, all-suite Silver Galapagos will offer two alternating 7-day itineraries:

WESTERN ITINERARY

Sailing Saturday to Saturday roundtrip from Baltra Island, Silver Galapagos
will trace a path across the western, southern and eastern islands, including
Santiago, Bartolomé, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, San Cristóbal, and Santa Cruz.

NORTH CENTRAL ITINERARY

Sailing Saturday to Saturday roundtrip from Baltra Island, this itinerary encompasses
the northeast, central and southeast islands of Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Seymour
Norte, San Cristóbal, Española, and Plazas Sur.

These itineraries offer adventurous travellers the life-enriching chance to discover a wild, pristine paradise that has long been regarded as a natural laboratory of evolution. On complimentary expeditions ashore guided by an experienced expedition team (certified by the Galápagos National Park Service), you may experience up-close encounters with an abundance of wildlife that includes sun-basking land iguanas, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, colourful marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins and Darwin's famous finches.

Blue-footed boobies

Sea lions

You'll also have the opportunity to swim and snorkel in tranquil clear waters, witness unique highland ecosystems, hike through lush mangrove forests and across volcanic fields, explore natural lava tunnels, watch for wild flamingos (in season), read cave inscriptions from the 1800s, and learn about conservation efforts at the Charles Darwin Research Station.

The guests of Silver Galapagos will enjoy full-scale exploring from an enclave of luxury at sea that includes spacious, ocean-view accommodation, sumptuous gourmet cuisine, the personalised service of a butler, and a generous selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities, including complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, stocked in-suite beverage cabinet, and all gratuities.

If you have an affinity for nature and a passion for adventure, we hope you'll be among the first to experience the Galápagos in true Silversea Expeditions style.

Click here for a list of upcoming voyages.

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The view from atop the 14th of July Glacier.

Far off the beaten path is a destination so pristine and timeless that it literally leaves seasoned travellers at a loss for words. Its geographic coordinates are roughly 79°N, 11°E -- but don't ask your car's navigation system to set a course for this location. It sits pretty much at the top of the world, and the best way to get there involves navigating through some rather chilly waterways.

If you're looking for travel amazement, you need look no farther than Krossfjorden, located on the west coast of Spitsbergen, an island in Norway's Svalbard archipelago. With its dramatic alpine landscape, Krossfjorden is known to be one of the most beautiful fjord areas in Svalbard. On the south side of Krossfjorden, there is a small bay called Fjortende Julibukta (14th of July Bay), named after the French national holiday Bastille Day. And at the head of the bay sits a glacier called, not surprisingly, 14th of July.

Every summer, here in the 14th of July Bay, Silver Explorer guests are ferried by Zodiac craft to a sandy beach where they embark on a guided trek to the top of the glacier. Should you have the privilege of participating in such an expedition, you'll join a very exclusive group of adventurers who have stood atop a living, moving glacier, atop the world, and come face to face with a majesty so impressive -- so beyond words -- all attempts to describe it must surely fail. We can only hope the images on this page manage to convey some inkling of the remarkable grandeur that awaits travellers.

Interested in exploring the Arctic? Click here for a list of future expedition cruises to the region.

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Conrad Combrink

We're pleased to share this special report from guest blogger Conrad Combrink:

As Director of Expeditions, I still enjoy very much the time I spend in the field, travelling with our guests. I have just returned from a three-week period on board the Silver Explorer, where I had the pleasure to lead two voyages as Expedition Leader.

It's been a strange summer for weather in Svalbard. We did not have the usual sunshine that can last for days on end in the Arctic; instead, we had overcast skies for much of the time. This is not necessarily bad news. It makes for a dramatic setting when you encounter wildlife.

And what wildlife we encountered!

Humpback whale emerging through bubble.

From humpback whales bubble-net feeding around the ship to beluga whales near Monacobreen, we witnessed some spectacular sights. Beluga whales are generally not known to hang around the same area, but for a good half hour or so these gentle white whales swam and fed around the Silver Explorer. We also had the privilege to twice see a blue whale. This massive animal (about the size of a Boeing 737!) is the largest animal ever to live on our planet. They are very rare and getting to see them is a real treat.

Polar bear family on ice floe.

Of course most people travel to the Arctic to see ice and polar bears. We had to go farther north than in previous years to get ice. We went as far north as 81 and a half degrees north. That is the farthest north that our ship has ever been. As Captain Bochzek manoeuvred the Silver Explorer in the ice, we were on a constant lookout for bears. And we found them -- from bears feeding on seals, young bears hunting, mothers and cubs roaming the icy waters -- we had it all. Nature put on a spectacular show for our guests. On one occasion a mother polar bear and her cubs were very curious. We stopped the ship about 300 metres or so from where we could see the mother nursing her cubs. After a few minutes she got up and slowly started walking closer to us. It was the most magical moment one could ever have. She and her cubs walked straight up to the ship, and as we had ice all around the ship, she walked around our bow and along the side of the ship to the stern before wandering off. You could hear a pin drop on deck as guests held their breath hardly believing what they had just witnessed.

And of course no trip to the Arctic can be complete without seeing walruses. At the remote islands of Kvitoya , Storøya and Lagoya, we encountered hundreds of these massive animals. What a sight when we came across a group of walruses taking a mud bath. Never have I seen such dirty, mud-covered walruses!

I am really looking forward to leading two expeditions to Svalbard in July 2013. If you're reading this blog now and you've never been there, I hope you'll join us on a future expedition cruise to this remarkable land, one of the last remote wildernesses.

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The emperor penguin is the largest and most southerly species of penguin, making its 
home on continental Antarctica. This lone emperor was spotted by Silver Explorer
guests on pack ice in the Weddell Sea near Snow Hill Island, Antarctica. Click here to
read more in the day's Voyage Journal. 

Were you thinking lizards and snakes? They would never survive in the world's largest desert. That distinction goes to the continent of Antarctica, according to Adam Piore in an article in this month's print issue of Discover magazine. At 14 million square kilometers (5.5 million square miles) Antarctica is roughly twice the size of Australia, and easily qualifies as the world's largest desert. There are no hot sand dunes in Antarctica, but it is considered a desert because it receives very little precipitation. As Piore points out, Antarctica loses more moisture than it gains.

And if you were thinking the next largest deserts might be Africa's Sahara or the Arabian Desert, think again. Coming in at #2 is the Arctic at 13.9 million square kilometers (5.4 million square miles).

Here are some other unconventional desert dwellers, all making their home in the polar regions:

Adélie penguins breed on the Antarctic continent and subantarctic islands. These were spotted in
Kinnes Cove. Click here to read more in the day's Voyage Journal.

Crabeater seals have a misleading name, as their favourite food is krill, found in abundance
in the waters surrounding Antarctica. These two crabeaters were photographed relaxing
on pack ice in Port Charcot. Click here to read more in the day's Voyage Journal.

Among the world's cutest seals, the Weddell seal is named after a British sea commander,
Sir James Weddell, who also has an Antarctic sea named after him. This seal one was spotted
in Kinnes Cove.

Polar bears inhabit the ice, water, islands and continental coastlines of the Arctic, which 
coincidentally is named after the constellation Ursa Major, or the "Great Bear". This bear 
was spotted on a rocky shore in Hornsund, Svalbard (Norway). Click here to read more 
in the day's Voyage Journal.

An expedition cruise offers the best way to travel to the polar regions and experience their magnificent wildlife up close. And Silver Explorer offers the perfect base of comfort and luxury from which you may go exploring accompanied by an expert team of naturalists, scientists, authors, photographers and destination experts.

Click here for details on upcoming Silver Explorer expedition cruises to Antarctica.

Click here for details on upcoming Silver Explorer expedition cruises to the Arctic.

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