More luxury cruise options are setting sail from Port Everglades.
On Thursday, Silver Muse, the newest vessel for ultra-luxury operator Silversea Cruises arrived at the Broward County seaport where it will operate a schedule of South America and Caribbean sailings this fall and winter season.
The all-suite, 596-passenger ship’s first revenue cruise from Port Everglades is scheduled to depart Friday on an 18-night South America itinerary with stops planned in Costa Rica, Panama Canal, Peru and Chile.
The ship will return to Port Everglades on Dec 18 for a 16-day round-trip voyage that will visit several ports in the Caribbean including Antigua, St. Kitts, Grenada, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.
In all, Silver Muse will make calls in 34 countries and 130 ports in 2017 alone.
Silver Muse offers spacious ocean-view suites with butler service and its eight dining venues include three that are new to Silversea. They are Atlantide, a seafood and grill concept; Asian-accented eatery Indochine; and Italian-themed poolside restaurant, Spaccanapoli.
The luxury liner also features a casino, spa, library and entertainment and social gathering venues called the Venetian Lounge, ArtsCafe and Silver Note jazz joint.
Guests have access to complimentary wines, premium spirits, specialty coffees, bottled water, juices and soft drinks. In-suite bars are stocked to each traveler’s preferences and 24-hour in-suite dining service is available. Included also are onboard lecture and enrichment programs and at least one hour of Wi-Fi access daily.
Silver Muse has the highest number of large suites in Silversea’s fleet.
“Passengers on Silver Muse are generally in the baby boomer category, which Silversea unabashedly targets,” wrote Colleen McDaniel, senior executive editor of cruise review and news website, Cruise Critic, following its debut. “Expect fellow cruisers to be 55 and older.”
On Jan. 3, Silver Muse will also operate a 69-day round-trip “Grand Voyage” from Fort Lauderdale that’s expected to circumnavigate South America, visiting 34 ports in 14 countries.
Fares for the South American odyssey started at $36,955 per person, based on double occupancy when it was announced in August.
“Grand Voyage 2018 is perfectly tailored to travelers who have the time and passion to indulge in travel on a grand scale,” said Mark Conroy, Silversea’s managing director for the Americas, in a statement.
Following its seasonal stint in South Florida, Silver Muse, will then depart Port Everglades on April 22 on a repositioning cruise to Dublin, Ireland on April 22, Silversea spokesman Brad Ball said.
The 40,700-gross-ton luxury ship, which officially entered service this spring in Europe is Silversea’s flagship and ninth vessel. It was built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
Silversea is headquartered in Monaco but operates its Americas office from Miami.
Port Everglades will continue to serve as cruise line’s winter homeport for the next two years, port officials have said. In addition to Silver Muse, the line’s other ships Silver Spirit, Silver Whisper and Silver Wind will also sail from Port Everglades during the fiscal 2017-18 year.
“Silversea Cruises has been a valued customer of Port Everglades for many years, and with the agreement in place, we look forward to welcoming Silversea’s newest flagship Silver Muse when it makes its U.S. debut this fall,” said Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director Steven Cernak.
Silversea has been sailing from Port Everglades since October 2000.
Two ships from luxury lifestyle and hospitality brand Crystal will also have alternating deployments from Port Everglades in the coming months.
Initially, Crystal Serenity is slated to offer a series of Caribbean sailings from the seaport starting in late October, while Crystal Symphony will arrive next year for a similar deployment.
asatchell@sun-sentinel.com, 954-356-4209 or Twitter@TheSatchreport
