HIGHLIGHTS
- Africa’s
hidden gems
- German
colonial architecture
- Flamingos,
Pelicans, and Damara terns
- UNESCO
World Heritage sites
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
Rates are listed per person
ITINERARY
Day
1
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
2
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
3
Luderitz,
Namibia
The
scorched desert that surrounds Luderitz means the city’s
collection of German art nouveau architecture couldn't look more
unusually placed along the Namibian coastline. This quirkiness is what
gives the destination its charm. See gangs of playful penguins skipping
across the waves, pink flamingos wading by the coast, and dolphins
leaping into the air near Penguin Island and Seal Island. A much more
haunting location, with an incredibly dark past, is Shark Island -
which witnessed the deaths of between 1,000 and 3,000 people when it
was the location of a German concentration camp, between 1905 and 1907.
Inland from Luderitz is Kolmanskop, the site of a famous diamond mine
and ghost town.
Days
4, 5
Walvis
Bay, Namibia
Home
to a beautiful lagoon, washed pale pink by a colony of resident
flamingos, Walvis Bay is a colourful African call, where you can meet
some of the continent’s most flamboyant wildlife. A small
Namibian city on the Atlantic coast of southern Africa, the city takes
its name from Whale Bay - which gives a clue as to the wonderful
wildlife watching opportunities available here. The deep-water blossoms
with rich levels of plankton, drawing curious marine mammals in large
numbers to feast. As Namibia’s only deep-water harbour,
Walvis Bay is an important fishing centre for the country, and its
sunny shores and natural wonders make it a popular spot for
holidaymakers. Walvis Bay is a bird lover's paradise, and hundreds of
thousands of birds assemble here, to make the most of the tidal lagoon.
Boat tours can take you out amongst the preening crowds, or you can
admire the flamingos, herons and carefully treading wading bird species
from afar. Meet the pelicans at nearby Pelican Point – a
sandy spit, which calms the waves heading for the waterfront. With
whales and dolphins frolicking offshore too, there’s a wide
variety of wildlife to see here. On the cusp of the sun-scorched Namib
Desert beyond, Dune 7 rises up to form the highest sand dune in the
country, with sands piling up 380 metres. Perfect for a picnic, or a
pulse-raising desert sport, like sand skiing or sandboarding. Climb to
the top for views from its heights, or you can take a flight tour to
see further afield and spot some of the extraordinary land animals who
roam the landscapes. See the natural drama of Sandwich Harbour, where
the golden sand dunes plummet directly into the ocean’s waves.
Days
6, 7
Day
at sea
International
Waters
Day
8
Luanda,
Angola
A
study in contrasting economies, Luanda is a boisterous coastal city of
haves and have-nots. As capital of Africa’s second-largest
oil-producing country, it has been deemed the world’s most
expensive city, and since independence in 2002, everyone seems to be
gunning for a piece of the post-civil war economy. Its renaissance
offers a range of experiences, from cushy hotels to a restaurant-lined
oceanfront promenade to locals hawking handmade goods at crowded public
markets.
Days
9, 10, 11
Day
at sea
International
Waters
Day
12
Tema
(Accra), Ghana
From
a modest fishing port to the biggest in Ghana, Tema’s
industrial activity has all but tarnished the charming, postcard
scenery of the region. The neighbouring white-sanded beaches remain
immaculate, still serving as a testimony of the rich variety of birds
that can be found in the area.In the way Mother Nature intended it,
gannets, boobies and kingfishers amongst other species fish in and
around the cerulean waters of the coast. A light breeze tickles the
inflamed, iron-filled soil of the mainland on which the railway linking
Tema to Accra lures hundreds of visitors each day. On board one of the
carriages to Accra, distinctively noticeable by their painted coats of
red, yellow and green that echo Ghana’s national flag, a peek
out of the window will offer scenic views of the harbour and coast, as
well as the fields that separate Tema from the capital.
Day
13
Takoradi,
Ghana
Ghana's
fourth-largest city plays serene beaches against a bustling commercial
centre. People from around the world visit the shore, both for its
beauty and to enjoy the fresh seafood served right on the sands.
Frantic city life awaits a short distance inland, where an economy
fuelled by Ghana’s oil industry is most apparent in the maze
of vendors at Market Circle. Takoradi is also the gateway to the UNESCO
World Heritage sites of Elmina and Cape Coast Castle.
Days
13, 14, 15
Day
at sea
International
Waters
Day
16
Banjul,
Gambia
Emerging
from The Gambia’s wild mangrove swamps, Banjul sits at the
spot where the River Gambia’s yawning mouth opens up to meet
the salty tang of the Atlantic. Punctuated by a soaring 35-metre arched
gateway, constructed following the coup d’etat that broke out
in 1994, The Gambia’s capital is a place of scorched sunlight
and faded colonial history, which provides flavours of laidback
beachside relaxation mixed with exotic old-world African seaport charm.
Despite its capital status, Banjul, with its soft lyrical name, often
has more of a village feel to it. You’ll feel it most acutely
as you explore the tight-knit labyrinth of Albert Market. The
orchestral sounds of bartering rise to a pitched crescendo in the early
morning – the perfect time to plunge in for a dizzying hit of
sensory overload. A beloved gathering spot since the 19th century, the
market is a riot of colour, with spit and nail stalls buckling below
the weight of print fabrics, salt-crusted fish and colourful textiles.
While the market can be a disorientating whir of activity, the city as
a whole tends to move at a more lackadaisical, laidback pace. Visit
Oyster Creek, to let an afternoon float by fishing rod in hand, as the
sunlight slants across the water, and you treasure the hint of an
afternoon breeze. Cormorants and pelicans step gingerly across the
sinking mudflats that line the riverbank. Those craving cultural
immersion can visit a local home for a cooking experience, helping to
descale fresh red snapper, sipping baobab juice, and mixing spices into
an authentic benachin pot.
Day
17
Dakar,
Senegal
Capital
of Senegal, and a major gateway to Western Africa, the former colonial
trading post of Dakar stamps the Cap-Vert peninsular with glorious
surf-fringed beaches. Enjoy the thrum of markets - where colourful
textiles are exchanged - and wander streets where jazz, sambar and
mbalax spill from every ajar door. Offering tropical island-style
beaches in an incongruous urban setting, Dakar is a wild and urgent
experience for the senses. Watch on as surfers revel in consistent
rollers on this, the most westerly peninsula of continental Africa.
Scuba divers can explore worlds below the surface in Dakar's diving
areas, or you can head to sandy beaches like Plage des Mamelles' cove,
which provide endless options for cooling off. Looking for a little
more activity, loosen up and play on golf courses that unroll along the
sun-kissed Senegalese coastline, or visit startling natural sites like
the vivid pink water of the salty pink Lake Retba. Cultural relevance
abounds in Dakar - those wanting to delve a little deeper into the dark
history of Senegal should visit the House of Slaves on the UNESCO World
Heritage Site listed Goree Island, or duck into the Theodore Monod
Museum to pour over an incredible collection of masks, artefacts, and
treasures. Sandaga Market is a full-on experience of choreographed
chaos, sound and flavours. Tear into fish fresh off the boat, and don't
be afraid to get your hands a little greasy while handling Dibi - the
national street food - soft mutton, simmered with onions and zesty
orange spice.
Days
18, 19
Day
at sea
International
Waters
Day
20
Arrecife,
Canary Islands, Spain
Nestled
on the east coast of Lanzarote, Arrecife takes its name from the rocky
reefs and outcrops that dominate its coastline. This pretty working
city has a friendly, authentic feel, and has managed to remain true to
its roots as a historic fishing village. There’s a lot to
explore, and whether you want to lie back on long swathes of opulent
golden sand, or strap on hiking boots to crunch across
Lanzarote’s scorched volcanic scenery, this versatile capital
has so much to offer. With castles, caves, sleepy beaches, and a
glittering saltwater lagoon, Arrecife is the perfect place to get
acquainted with the sun-kissed appeal of the Canary Islands.
Lanzarote’s charcoal desert vistas radiate a remarkable
luna-like quality, but dotted cacti, waving palms, and bursts of
vibrant wildflowers add an accent of colour to the canvas. Arrecife
itself boasts apricot-coloured beaches and labyrinthine lanes of
white-wash buildings within its Old Quarter, where you can smell fresh
fish grilling, and see locals dipping delicious local salty potatoes -
papas arrugadas - into colourful sauces. An evening stroll along El
Charco de san Gines is a must for watching fishing boats bobbing gently
on the lagoon, and watching spectacular sunsets burning across the sky.
Standing tall for more than four centuries, Castillo De San Gabriel is
located on the tiny island of Islote de los Ingleses, and was once a
target for pirates, who would appear menacingly on the
Atlantic’s horison. The stalwart 16th-century fortress now
serves as the History Museum of Arrecife, and exhibitions inside
explore the evolution of the city, and the ancient culture of
Lanzarote. The International Museum of Contemporary Art, meanwhile,
displays modern and abstract works within the 18th-century San
José Castle’s refined setting. See works from
Cesar Manrique - the prominent artist and architect whose slick sixties
style flair can be admired across the island.
Day
21
Day
at sea
International
Waters
Days
22, 23
Lisbon,
Portugal
A
glorious mosaic of beauty, freedom and authenticity,
Portugal’s capital is a stirring artwork of a city. Known for
the seven hills it spreads across, and its stirring fado music, Lisbon
is a pastel-coloured blend of houses and beautiful tile artworks - and
this creative city strikes a perfect harmony between natural and
manmade beauty. Stroll along Alfama's steep, cobbled streets as you
explore one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods - where each
house and door could be its own photograph. Look for the decorative
tiles, with the distinctive blues and whites of Azulejo ceramics, and
visit the dedicated museum to learn more. Afterwards, wind up to
São Jorge Castle, where views out across Lisbon’s
red rooftops unravel. Just one of many majestic viewpoints, you can
also seek out Miradouro da Graça for perhaps Lisbon's finest
panorama, with the copper-coloured suspension bridge stretching over
sparkling water beyond the sea of buildings. The elegant Tower of
Belém rises in the Tagus estuary and is a historic defender
of these shores. The grand, carved cloisters of Jerónimos
Monastery spread out close by, and there's another UNESCO recognised
location close by at Sintra, where a colourful town is set amid thick
gardens and towering mountains - capped by the royal Pena Palace.
Later, relax and take a quick break to drink Ginjinha, a cherry liqueur
made from chocolate cups instead of coffee. Lisboetas have a sweet
tooth, and the famous Pastel de Nata's crumbling pastry and
caramelised-custard topping is the essential accompaniment to any
coffee stop.
Silver Dawn (Luxury Expedition, 596-guests)
Silver Dawn inherits the best features of her sister ships Silver Muse and Silver Moon, but is in a class all of her own. With sumptuous suites, outstanding itineraries, plus cutting-edge design and technology and the outstanding OTIVM wellness concept, Silver Dawn sets new standards of luxury. Wake up to a new dawn with Silversea.
(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.
Thousands of customers served since 1999. We find you the best value and provide exclusive deals at discounted rates.
Submit the form or call us toll free in USA & Canada 1-888-538-8652
North America: Text & Mobile: +1 970 227 9767
Europe & ROW: WhatsApp & Mobile: +372 52 99 832
Required fields *
