HIGHLIGHTS
- Blissful
Beaches
- Curious
Creatures
- Incredible
Biodiversity
- Urban
and Traditional Cultures
- Historic
Sites
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
Rates are listed per person
ITINERARY
Days
1 and 2
Cape
Town, South Africa
Sprawling
across endless, staggeringly blue coastline, and watched over by the
iconic plane of Table Mountain, Cape Town is without doubt one of the
world’s most beautiful cities. A blend of spectacular
mountain scenery, multiculturalism and relaxed ocean charm awaits in
the Mother City, where you can venture out to rolling vineyards, dine
in laid back sea suburbs, or spend days exploring cool urban culture.
Cape Town’s natural splendour fully reveals itself as the
cable car rears sharply to the top of Table Mountain. From the summit,
3,500 feet above sea level, you can let the scale of the panoramic
vistas of the city rolling down towards the ocean wash over you.
Another heavenly perspective waits at the top of Lion's
Head’s tapering peak. A sharp hike and an early start is
required, but the views of the morning sun painting Table Mountain
honey-gold are some of Cape Town’s finest. Cape
Town’s glorious sunshine and inviting blue rollers can be a
little deceiving - these oceans are anything but warm at times, with
nothing between the peninsula’s end and
Antarctica’s icy chill. This cool water has upsides though,
bringing a colony of adorably cute African penguins to Boulders Beach.
Boarded walkways offer the perfect vantage point to see the cute
creatures dipping into the sea and lounging in the sun. Nearby, journey
to the end of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, where you can stand at
the bottom of this mighty continent, watching out over the merging
waves of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Cape Town’s beauty
is counterpointed by the ominous island form, which sits four miles
offshore from the bustling restaurants and lazy seals of the lively
V&A Waterfront. A living history lesson, you can sail in the
ships that transported prisoners out to Robben Island, before a former
prisoner tells of the traumas of life on this offshore prison. Your
guide will show you the cramped cells, and render Mandela’s
long walk to freedom in heartbreaking, visceral clarity.
Day
3
Day
at sea
International
Waters
Days
at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with
what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to
the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading
or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect
balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.
Day
4
Mossel
Bay, South Africa
Halfway
between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth lies the sunny, shallow waters of
Mossel Bay. As you sink your toes into the pristine sands of Santos
beach and watch the warm waters of the Indian Ocean lap the shore, the
only decision to make is just how active you want to be. For the
adventurous the list is longer than your adrenalin supply, from shark
cage diving, wreck diving surfing and snorkeling, bungee jumping to
skydiving. Around the Point, the rocky tip of the peninsular, there are
some top surfing spots.
To
unwind and relax explore the golden sandy coast that’s
stretches for over 60kms, refresh yourself with a swim in the clear
blue ocean or at low tide try the wide natural rock pool, complete with
a diving board on the Point. Stretch your legs on the St Blaize trail
on a visit the old lighthouse which gives stupendous views of the bay.
Mossel
Bay has a fascinating history, learn about the emergence of the
earliest humans, which happened here some 164,000 years ago at the
Point of Human Origins archeological site.
The
Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex centres on modern history, the exploits
of Portuguese explorer Bartolmeu Dias, who landed in and named the bay
in 1488 whilst looking for India. Seeing an exact replica of the tiny
boat that Dias sailed in makes you realise what an adrenalin junkie he
must have been.
Outside
the museum, find the Post Office Tree, South Africa’s very
first post office that’s functioned one way or another since
1500, where you can still send a postcard or two.
Days
5 and 6
Days
at sea
International
Waters
Day
7
Maputo,
Mozambique
Maputo
is not known for being the capital of Mozambique, but also for the
buzzing vitality that is unfound elsewhere in Africa. The end of 15
years of civil war in 1992 saw an economic uprising and visitors to
Maputo today are just as likely to come for the busy bars and
restaurants as they are to enjoy colonial architecture worthy of the
Mediterranean. Maputo is different from other cities in the region.
It’s magical. There is a story book quality to the city, an
almost palpable belief that someday Maputo will be recognised as the
leading city it is. And nothing – not the floods nor the
drought that plagues so many other parts of Africa will be able to stop
it. Glimpses of this self-confidence are everywhere, from the lively
music that spills out onto the street to the eccentric belief that
building a cast iron house in Africa was a good idea. Head for the town
square to see the latter for yourself. Formerly known as Lourenco
Marques, the city was named after a Portuguese explorer who landed here
in 1544. Most of the city’s infrastructure (and architecture)
was destroyed during the war years, but thankfully a few must see
places remain. The train station – often incorrectly
attributed to Gustave Eiffel, is one of the world’s most
beautiful buildings, a large-domed, green and white steel structure
that would look more at home in Lisbon. The gleaming white Roman
Catholic cathedral, the neo-classical City Hall and the
French-Mozambican cultural centre are all also top of sightseers lists.
Days
8, 9 and 10
Days
at sea
International
Waters
Days
11 and 12
Nosy
Be, Madagascar
If
you have ever wanted to go to somewhere that is remote and exotic, then
you have come to the right place. The two right places in fact, as the
islands of Nosy Be and Nosy Komba offer a chance to revel in nature
that is uncommon, even in the Indian Ocean. There is a saying in
Madagascar “same, same but different” and nothing
could be more illustrative when describing Nosy Be and Nosy Komba. Both
feature fertile forests sheltering endemic species but while Nosy Be
(meaning Big Island) attracts holiday makers in search of a rustic,
unhurried destination, Nosy Komba literally translates as Lemur Island,
leaving nothing to the imagination when considering its main
attractions. The aforementioned forests are without a doubt the jewel
in both the islands’ crowns. The heady scent of ylang-ylang
trees, vanilla and pepper gave Madagascar its moniker of the perfumed
isle, and exports of spices and scents continue to be a pivotal part of
the island’s economy. The island is essentially French
speaking, after the queen of the Boina Sakalava tribe called upon the
French from the nearby Reunion (thus inviting colonial rule) in 1841.
If making the 20-minute boat trip to Nosy Komba (actual name Nosy
Ambariovato) and the lemur park, then be prepared to be enchanted. The
arboreal primates, with their enormous eyes, soft fur and long curling
tails are both charismatic and friendly. Add cheeky to the list too,
especially if you have any fruit in your hands. They’ll jump
right out of the trees and take it from you.
Day
13
Antisiranana,
Madagascar
Originally
named Diego Suarez after a 16th century Portuguese navigator,
Antisiranana was renamed in 1975 when independence from Portuguese rule
was declared in Madagascar. The Bay of Diego is one of the largest
natural bays in the world, and both bay and city are full of history.
The bay was a battleground for the French in the 1880s, a depot for
Russia in 1896, and again a point of focus for capture during World War
II. In 1942, the Allies launched Operation Ironclad and landed forces
at Courrier Bay and Ambararata Bay, just west of Antisiranana. Hundreds
of British soldiers fell in the Battle of Madagascar, and most of them
were buried in the special British cemetery in the center of town.
Antisiranana leads to the Montagne d'Ambre (Amber Mountain) National
Park, an isolated patch of mountain forest that rises from the
surrounding dry region. The park is famous for its waterfalls, crater
lakes, and wildlife, especially chameleons.
Days
14 and 15
Day
at sea
International
Waters
Day
16
Praslin,
Seychelles
Loved
by those who like their paradise just as nature intended, Praslin is
one the Seychelles’ most beautiful islands. And why? Anse
Lazio – the island’s beach is a repeated winner for
world’s best, making the island is a pull for travellers who
want to go the extra mile to find an unblemished island nirvana.
Praslin might be the second largest of the Seychelles islands but at
just 11 kilometres long and 4 kilometres wide, it is still very small.
The difficulty in getting to it (other than arrival by sea there is a
small airport that only flies to and from Mahe) means there are no
modern attractions – on the contrary, entertainment comes
very much in the flora and fauna of the land and surrounding sea. The
island’s original name is Isle de Palmes and it’s
not hard to see why. The lush jungle that makes up the
island’s interior has it all; bubbling brooks, winding paths
and towering trees that provide welcome respite from the sun. This is
the true heart of the island; not only is the jungle home to the
endemic Black Parrot (fewer than 1,000 of these birds are in existence)
but also the famous Coco de Mer, the world's heaviest nut, grows
abundantly in the wild. The nut is the stuff of legends. Early beliefs
were that the palm grew under the Indian Ocean and that its fruit held
healing powers. Even when it emerged that the tree did in fact grow on
dry land, it still held mystique; the new folklore was that in order
for the 25 kilo nut to grow, male and female trees had to embrace on a
stormy night.
Day
16
La
Digue, Seychelles
Urbanites
look away. You’ll find no bright lights or big cities here.
The attraction of La Digue is that there are no none. Instead
it’s just long ribbons of perfect beach, lush inland forests
and enough kaleidoscopic coral reef to make any diver weak at the
knees. Because of La Digue’s proximity to both Praslin and
Mahe, it is considered part of the holy trinity of the Seychelles. But
that is not to say that it’s a hot spot. On the contrary,
life is taken at a slow pace here – transport is by bicycle
or ox-cart (there are rumours that motor taxis exist but for now
that’s just hearsay), entertainment is a slow walk on paths
shaded by tropical flowers, and life hums to the rhythm of bygone days.
That is the true attraction of La Digue, the very other wordiness of
the island; the feeling that nothing has changed since the 18th
century. In fact, some of the residents (called Digueois) still carry
the names of their forefathers, who arrived as slaves with the French
colonialists in 1789. The island’s beaches are, of course,
legendary. The jewel in La Digue’s crown (and there are so
many) would have to be La Anse Source d’Argent, frequently
considered as one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. This is
truly the Holy Grail - a long string of powdery, white sand, bordered
by the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Scattered around the
beach and shore are smooth granite boulders that form coves and caves
and provide home for some of the most colourful underwater life
you’re ever likely to see.
Day
17
Mahe,
Seychelles
Few
places on Earth can claim to have been as blessed by nature as Mahe.
Set in the remote Seychelles archipelago over 1,500 kilometres east of
Mombasa, Mahe is largest of the 115 islands and is home to so many
stunning attractions you won’t know where to begin. For many
the Seychelles are the destination of a lifetime. Cerulean seas, miles
and miles of beach, lush, tropical jungle and surreal, natural beauty
as far as the eye can see. Not only does Mahe boast 68 pristine
beaches, it is dominated by the towering peaks of the Morne Seychellois
National Park. This splendid National Park takes up over 20% of the
island and is home to a vast amount of endemic flora and fauna,
including the ultra-rare Seychelles Scops-owl. Unsurprisingly, the
crystal clear waters are a diver’s heaven, promising a
colourful cornucopia of underwater life, regardless of how experienced
you are. Despite the island being visited in 1609 by the British, Mahe
did not feature on any maps until 1742, when Frenchman Lazare Picault
explored the as yet unnamed islands. However, it took a further 14
years for the French to lay claim to the islands, with the arrival of
naval ship Le Cerf, captained by Corneille Morphey who christened the
archipelago after Vicomte Moreau de Sechelles. He did this by setting
down a Stone of Possession, which is on display in the National Museum.
The first settlers arrived in 1770 and 15 years later the population
had swelled to 130 – 7 Europeans and 123 slaves. Today, there
are 80,000 Seychellois.
Few
places on Earth can claim to have been as blessed by nature as Mahe.
Set in the remote Seychelles archipelago over 1,500 kilometres east of
Mombasa, Mahe is largest of the 115 islands and is home to so many
stunning attractions you won’t know where to begin. For many
the Seychelles are the destination of a lifetime. Cerulean seas, miles
and miles of beach, lush, tropical jungle and surreal, natural beauty
as far as the eye can see. Not only does Mahe boast 68 pristine
beaches, it is dominated by the towering peaks of the Morne Seychellois
National Park. This splendid National Park takes up over 20% of the
island and is home to a vast amount of endemic flora and fauna,
including the ultra-rare Seychelles Scops-owl. Unsurprisingly, the
crystal clear waters are a diver’s heaven, promising a
colourful cornucopia of underwater life, regardless of how experienced
you are. Despite the island being visited in 1609 by the British, Mahe
did not feature on any maps until 1742, when Frenchman Lazare Picault
explored the as yet unnamed islands. However, it took a further 14
years for the French to lay claim to the islands, with the arrival of
naval ship Le Cerf, captained by Corneille Morphey who christened the
archipelago after Vicomte Moreau de Sechelles. He did this by setting
down a Stone of Possession, which is on display in the National Museum.
The first settlers arrived in 1770 and 15 years later the population
had swelled to 130 – 7 Europeans and 123 slaves. Today, there
are 80,000 Seychellois.
Silver Spirit (Luxury Expedition, 608-guests)
Silver Spirit offers its guests one of the most complete cruise experiences available. With one of the highest space-to-guest ratios in the business and eight superlative luxury dining options, she retains our world-famous service standards and home away from home feel. Spacious decks leave plenty of room for relaxation, yet the cosy niches make sure that there is something for everyone. Meet like-minded friends, enjoy first-class dining and relax on our original Silversea flagship.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
STAFF
& SERVICES
- Butler
services in every suite
- Nearly
one crew member for every guest
- 24-hour
dining service
- Complimentary
transportation into town in most ports
LEISURE
ONBOARD
- Choice
of restaurants, diverse cuisine, open-seating dining
- Beverages
in-suite and throughout the ship, including champagne, select wines and
spirits
- Onboard
entertainment
- Spa
and Fitness Center
Contact Cruise Norway for the best rates.
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