Silversea's New Flagship, Silver Spirit, Arrives in Port Everglades

Silversea Cruises' brand new flagship, Silver Spirit, arrived yesterday morning at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, completing her maiden crossing of the Atlantic, a 16-day voyage which began in Lisbon on Jan 3. As the first new cruise ship to arrive in Port Everglades in 2010, Silver Spirit was greeted in grand style with escorting fireboats providing a glistening water salute, while a plane circled overhead towing a large banner that read "WELCOME SILVER SPIRIT."

Silver Spirit will host several days of inaugural activities while in Fort Lauderdale, including an exclusive evening event tonight featuring acclaimed singer and pianist Michael Feinstein. In a first for the cruise company, the invitation-only Christening Ceremony taking place tomorrow morning will be broadcast live on the Silver Spirit Blog on the company's Internet site, starting at 10:00 am EST. Following the event, during which Silver Spirit's Godmother Silvia Lefebvre D’Ovidio, the sister of Silversea Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre D’Ovidio, will christen the ship with a balthazar of Moët & Chandon champagne, a replay of the webcast will also be available on the line's website.

"It's a great honor for us to welcome our beautiful new Silver Spirit to the Americas," said Kenneth W. Watson, Silversea's chief operating officer. "This ship is the perfect expression of the graceful elegance and comfortable ambiance found aboard our ships fleetwide, plus her 1930s Art Deco-inspired features recall the glamour of ocean travel's grandest era."

Tomorrow evening, Silver Spirit will set sail on a 91-day Grand Inaugural Voyage aptly themed "The Spirit of South America." During this expansive journey, Silver Spirit is set to explore over 20 countries and 45 ports. The ship will follow a southward course to Rio , sail around Cape Horn and through the Chilean Fjords before heading to the Mexican Riviera. Guests have the option to personalize their voyage by disembarking in Los Angeles, or sailing through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale, or continuing up America's colonial coast to New York City.

Following the Grand Inaugural Voyage, Silver Spirit will spend the summer in the Mediterranean and then reposition to the Caribbean for fall and winter cruises. At 36,000 tons, and accommodating just 540 guests, this intimate ship has the largest suites in the Silversea fleet, with 95% featuring a private veranda, and one of the highest space-to-guest ratios at sea today. The onboard decor lends a sophisticated 1930s Art Deco ambiance to the public spaces, highlights of which include an indoor/outdoor spa measuring over 8,300 square feet, a resort-style pool, four whirlpools, and a choice of six dining venues including Seishin, showcasing Asian-fusion cuisine, and Stars Supper Club, offering trendsetting menus and all-night entertainment.