Monday, March 5, 2012

Won't You Take Me On A Million-Dollar-Plus Silversea World Cruise?

World Cruise. Those two words set many travelers' hearts aflutter. And it's simple to see why. There's no easier way to see a vast swath of the world's most treasured destinations than on a World Cruise. Each of the more than 100 days of a World Cruise with Silversea is an adventure with a plethora of exotic ports of call and on board activities, including wine experts and guest lecturers and chefs, plus the amenities luxury passengers expect.

After spending the final segment of the 2011 Silversea World Cruise aboard Silver Spirit in the Royal Suite, I dreamt of what it would be like to do the entire round-the-globe cruise in that type of suite. Above my pay grade, but a diva can dream.

Sadly, my pockets aren't deep enough and even my husband's platinum card won't cover what a British travel company is billing as "the ultimate cruise holiday"—with a staggering £1 million price tag per couple (that's $1,595,565.68 in US dollars!). Six Star Cruises, the UK’s leading luxury cruise retailer, has created what they term the world's most luxurious 124 day vacation, including the 115-day Silversea 2013 World Cruise aboard Silver Whisper. That one million GB pounds translates to £8,000 per day. A mere $12,752.51 per couple per day.

The exclusive four-month long holiday trip has been packaged for discerning British travelers who are accustomed to living large and have an unlimited budget. The cruise itself departs Los Angeles, California and calls on 28 countries including French Polynesia, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Maldives and Mauritius. But for the million pound price tag, it includes a lot more.

The amazing trip takes care of every detail in high style. First, the globe trotting couple is whisked from home by Sikorsky helicopter to a London airport. In flight they will enjoy a tasty snack of Beluga Caviar and wash it down with Da Hong Pao Tea harvested from rare one thousand year old plants or the king of all champagnes, Dom Perignon Rosé. The tea sounds yucky, but Brits do like their tea. However, the champagne would be a heavenly option for this diva's taste.

Once at the airport, flights to and from the US aren't anything to sneeze at in a privately chartered Boeing Business Jet. With mahogany paneling and gold-plated fixtures, the plane has a spacious lounge, a bedroom, and a dining room. Naturally the meals won't be typical airline fare. A top Michelin star chef will create 10 course tasting menus for both the outbound and return lights. Ground transfers in the US are chauffeur driven in a Rolls Royce Phantom. Once on board the "cruise of a lifetime," the lucky pair will settle into the sumptuous Royal Suite on board Silversea Cruises' Silver Whisper. In over 1,000 square feet, the stately suite features:

Royal Suite Bedroom
• Living room with sitting area; two-bedroom has additional sitting area
• Separate dining area and fully stocked bar
• Twin beds or queen-sized bed: two-bedroom has additional twin beds or queen-sized bed
• Two marbled bathrooms, one with double vanity, separate shower and full-sized whirlpool tub, plus a powder room; two-bedroom has additional marbled bathroom with full-sized bath
• Walk-in wardrobe(s) with personal safe
• Vanity table(s) with hair dryer
• Writing desk(s)
• Bang and Olufsen audio system
• Radio/Alarm with iPod docking station
• Direct-dial telephone(s)
• Flat screen television(s) with DVD and satellite reception
• Large teak veranda with patio furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass doors; two-bedroom has additional veranda
• Butler service

While the package is for two people, the literature indicates the suite will be in the two-bedroom configuration.

Stay with me, the elaborate trip package includes even more. There's a 4 night pre-cruise stay in the top suite of the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, and a 4 night post-cruise stay in an apartment located in the gated community on Sunset Island, Miami, Florida. In the event that they didn't get enough of the spa and other amenities aboard Silver Whisper, the spacious villa in Florida has a rooftop Jacuzzi, private screening room, and the services of a butler.

Six Star Cruises' Director Mal Barritt believes that this air-land-and sea voyage will be a hit with customers. He said, "We have listened to what some of our most discerning customers say they look for in a holiday and have created the most desirable cruise holiday in the world."

Wow. He's certainly got my attention. Not being a Brit with big bucks—make that extra pounds—I guess I don't qualify. However, if you want to book the 2013 Silversea World Cruise and $1.5 million is a tad over your budget as well, you can still take the 115-day voyage aboard Silver Whisper without all the posh extras for about $61,000 per person (cruise only, based on double occupancy). Or, if like Cruise Diva, you don't have that much time or disposable income, you can book one or more World Cruise segments. I promise that once on board you won't miss the helicopter or private jet (or the yucky sounding tea).

Images Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

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