Silversea’s Newest Ship Departs on First Grand Voyage

Silver Ray, the newest ship in the Silversea fleet, departed Fort Lauderdale on January 20^th to mark the start of its first-ever Grand Voyage — a 71-day circumnavigation of South America. Kicking off the celebrations with a curated gastronomic showcase of South American specialties, guests were welcomed at an exclusive Bon Voyage dinner among the exotic flora and art-filled halls of Bonnet House Museum & Gardens in Fort Lauderdale on January 19^th.

“The entire Silversea team bids bon voyage to our guests traveling aboard Silver Ray – our newest ship – for the Grand Voyage South America 2025,” said Bert Hernandez, president, Silversea. “As the leading experiential luxury travel brand, we pride ourselves on creating unique moments for our guests. This 71-day voyage will incorporate four once-in-a-lifetime events, curated by our team exclusively for guests on our Grand Voyage, to showcase the authentic soul of the destinations they’re visiting, including winetasting among the vines in Valparaiso, front row seats at the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and a sophisticated evening spent celebrating Bajan culture in Bridgetown.”    

38 DESTINATIONS, 17 COUNTRIES, 71 DAYS, 11 OVERNIGHTS

Guests will explore a mix of 38 remote and iconic destinations in 17 countries during the extended sailing. Passing through the Panama Canal, this immersive voyage will take in South America’s diverse highlights, from the iconic cities of Lima, Valparaiso, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Rio de Janeiro to natural wonders including Chile’s fjords, the Garibaldi Glacier, and the verdant Amazon Rainforest. Connecting travelers with the vibrant Latin American culture, Silver Ray will spend three overnights in Rio de Janeiro, where guests will witness the greatest show on earth – the famous Carnival. Ahead of arriving in Fort Lauderdale on April 1, 2025, travelers will discover some of the Eastern Caribbean’s most captivating destinations, with calls in Bequia, Castries (St. Lucia), St. John’s, St. Kitts (Basseterre), St. Thomas, and San Juan.     

FOUR EXCLUSIVE SILVERSEA EVENTS FOR DEEPER IMMERSION

Festivities for the Grand Voyage South America 2025 kicked off at the dedicated Bon Voyage event in Fort Lauderdale on January 19^th, hosted exclusively for Silversea’s guests on the sprawling 35-acre beachfront estate of Bonnet House. Evoking the romance of bygone days, guests sipped on cocktails once served on the estate by heiress, socialite, and avid traveler Evelyn Bartlett, before sitting down to an elegant dinner of South American specialties for a taste of the cuisines to come: smoked butternut squash and sage soup with nasturtium (a medicinal herb native to South America), aji verde marinated beef tenderloin with beef jus, Chilean sea bass with salsa verde, bizcocho de vainilla, and regionally inspired beverages.

In addition to the Bon Voyage reception, travelers joining the Grand Voyage South America 2025 will enjoy tailored access to a selection of curated, once-in-a-lifetime events that will showcase the customs and traditions of the local culture:

• VINEYARDS & VINES: VALPARAISO, CHILE – FEBRUARY 8^th, 2025 

Guests will embark on an exclusive journey to the illustrious Kingston Family Winery in Chile’s renowned Casablanca Valley, which was founded in the early 1900s by Carl John Kingston. While enjoying this breathtaking estate, guests will sample exquisite organic wine blends, hosted by Carl’s descendants, savoring canapés of local flavors and enjoying music from local musicians. A traditional Chilean feast will round out the evening, before guests rejoin Silver Ray.

• THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – MARCH 2^nd & 3^rd, 2025 

Guests will experience the unparalleled spectacle of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, a breathtaking celebration of culture, creativity, and passion that erupts onto the streets every year, as elite Samba schools compete alongside larger-than-life floats. Savoring local delicacies, travelers can experience the exhilarating energy and immerse themselves in the rhythm of Carnival from Silversea’s preferential seating in the exclusive Frisas section, perfectly situated along the Sambadrome’s Parade runway. Guests will revel in the festivities at their own pace, ensuring a truly unforgettable Carnival experience.

• A BAJAN AFFAIR: BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS – MARCH 23^rd, 2025 

Travelers will step into the enchanting allure of Barbados with an exclusive al fresco evening at St. Nicholas Abbey, an historic plantation that dates back to 1658. As one of the only three Jacobean Great Houses remaining in the Western Hemisphere, this meticulously restored estate provides a magnificent setting for a celebration of Bajan cuisine and culture. Guests will indulge in a delicious meal paired with the island’s quintessential rum, produced on site. They will enjoy the captivating ambiance as they sway to the rhythmic beats of local music.

  A BROAD OFFERING IN THE CARIBBEAN

After circumnavigating South America, Silver Ray will join Silver Moon and Silver Shadow in the Caribbean, beginning March 23^rd, completing Silversea’s three-ship line-up in the region. Between March and May 2025, 9 voyages will immerse guests into the Caribbean’s rich cultures, idyllic natural beauty, and welcoming communities. Silversea will host guests on 13 Caribbean voyages aboard four ships in November and December 2025, and 19 more sailings on three ships in January and February 2026. Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Soufriere, St. Lucia; Little Bay, Montserrat; and St. John feature among the destinations most anticipated by guests.

SILVER RAY: AN IDEAL SHIP FOR SOUTH AMERICA’S DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTS

The perfect ship for cruising such varied ecosystems as the Chilean Fjords and the Amazon River, Silver Ray’s innovative design immerses guests into destinations from virtually all venues and suites, with far-reaching views at every turn. This is most notable from the asymmetrical pool decks, which overlook the water on the starboard side. Among the most spacious cruise ships ever built, Silver Ray offers guests a space-to-guest ratio of 75 GRT-per-guest with one of the most personalized levels of service at sea, with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.3, including butler service for all suites. Further enriching the onboard experience for guests on the Grand Voyage South America 2025 is the largest selection of bars, restaurants, and lounges in luxury cruising; Otium, the travel brand’s Roman lifestyle-inspired spa and wellness program; and the immersive culinary program, Sea and Land Taste (S.A.L.T.).

Complementing culinary enrichments in the S.A.L.T. venues on board, Silversea’s guests can experience the following S.A.L.T. shore excursions, among others, on the Grand Voyage South America 2025:

• Manta, Ecuador: an eco-adventure to a stunning sustainable farm, fishing, foraging and cooking with one of Ecuador’s most celebrated chefs
• Arica, Chile: a deep dive into Chile’s northern cuisine with a market visit, an olive oil farm visit, and meze tasting
• Ushuaia, Argentina: an end-of-the-world gourmet journey through picturesque fishing villages to a sustainable farm to taste local specialties
• Buenos Aires, Argentina: a masterclass in Argentinian asado grilling with an unbeatable view
• Santarem, Brazil: an exploration of the unique ingredients and flavors of the Amazon Rainforest, plus a barbecue of spectacular local seafood
• Valparaiso, Chile: hiking and foraging on the seaside for local treasures, followed by a guided tasting menu in a fairytale 1920s restaurant

 For more information on Silversea’s global range of Grand Voyages, please visit: https://www.silversea.com/destinations/grand-voyages-cruise.html