One of the world’s most luxurious new cruise ships, Silversea’s flagship Silver Spirit, which joined the fleet just over 12 months ago, is set to visit Bangkok for the first time this month, as part of her inaugural 119-day World Cruise, began in Los Angeles, USA.

Sailing from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the 540-guest, all-suite Silver Spirit will arrive in Bangkok on 30 March 2011, docking at Laem Chabang at 08.00.

Guests will spend two days exploring the sights and cultural attractions of Bangkok, before departing at 20.00 the following day for Koh Samui, Thailand, as part of a longer voyage returning the ship to Southampton, UK.

Thailand has a long and fascinating history and the frantic, modern metropolis embraces the latest trends, both Eastern and Western. Bangkok is not only the biggest city in Thailand, but also the most mesmerizing, with some of the country's most beautiful temples and shrines. The city's energy is palpable, especially at night, when its famous markets get going, and everything seems lit up.

The Grand Palace is Thailand's most revered spot and one of its most visited. King Rama I built this walled city in 1782, when he moved the capital across the river from Thonburi. The palace and adjoining structures only got more opulent as subsequent monarchs added their own touches. The Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) is the city's largest wat (or temple), and has perhaps the most unusual representation of the Buddha in Bangkok. The 150-foot sculpture, covered with gold, is so large it fills an entire viharn (temple assembly hall).

The city's most popular shopping areas are Silom Road and Surawong Road, where you can find quality silk; Sukhumvit Road, which is rich in leather goods; Yaowarat Road in Chinatown, where gold trinkets abound; and along Oriental Lane and Charoen Krung Road, which have many antique shops. The shops around Siam Square and at the World Trade Center attract both Thais and foreigners.

Steve Odell, Silversea’s Senior Vice President Asia Pacific commented: “We are delighted to be introducing our beautiful new flagship to Bangkok. The Art Deco-inspired Silver Spirit sets new standards in luxury cruising and guests onboard will enjoy an unmatched level of pampering and personalised service. Bangkok is one of the port highlights of this sector of the World Cruise and we know that our guests will relish the chance to explore this beautiful city.”

Built in the Fincantieri Shipyard in Ancona, Italy, Silver Spirit was designed by architect Giacomo Mortola of Genoa, Italy. At 36,000 tons, the vessel has a length of 198.5 metres, a width of 26.2 metres and a draft of 6.2 metres. 376 European officers and European-trained international staff are onboard, providing a guest-to-crew ratio of 1.4 to 1, and guests enjoy one of the highest space-to-guest ratios in the industry today, with 6700 cubic feet of space per guest.

Over its eight decks, Silver Spirit offers the distinctive luxuries and celebrated lifestyle of other Silversea ships, plus new enhancements including glamorous Stars Supper Club dishing up tapas-style cuisine and live jazz; Asian-fusion restaurant Seishin; a 8,300-square-foot spa offering pampering and the latest Medi-Spa treatments; a resort-style pool with four whirlpools, and the largest suites in the Silversea fleet, 95 per cent with private teak verandas.

Guests enjoy the personalised service of a butler assigned to every suite; complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship; 24 hour room service; stocked in-suite beverage cabinet, and all gratuities.  There are numerous onboard activities to enjoy including an enrichment programme with fascinating speakers, from marine biologists and archaeologists to art historians and eminent broadcast journalists.

This second leg of the full World Cruise takes in ports in the Far East, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, finishing in Southampton, UK on 19 May. As well as Bangkok, Silver Spirit’s inaugural world tour will include calls at Koh Samui (1 April);  Singapore (3 April); Malaysia (4-5 April); Phuket in Southern Thailand (6 April); Sri Lanka (9 April); India (11-14 April); Oman (20 April); Egypt (26 April- 1 May); Greece (3 May); Italy (5-7 May); Monaco (8 May); Spain (9-12 May); Portugal (14 May); Channel Islands (18 May). 

About Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises is recognised as an innovator in the luxury cruise line industry, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit – all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the inclusion of the regal expedition ship Prince Albert II, Silversea Cruises’ itineraries encompass all seven continents and feature worldwide luxury cruises to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia, Caribbean, Antarctica and the Arctic and over 400 fascinating destinations in between.

In the U.S., Silversea has been voted "World's Best" by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (nine times) and Travel + Leisure (seven times), and rated Number-One luxury cruise line by high-net-worth consumers in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI). International awards include "Best Innovation in Products and Services" from the Italian Innovazione Marketing Oggi Awards (2009); "World's Leading Small Ships Cruise Line" from World Travel Awards (2009); "Five Star Diamond Award" from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (2010); "Number One" small-ship line in the Readers' Choice survey conducted by Britain's Condé Nast Traveller magazine (2010); "Best Luxury Cruise Line" Excellence Award by Spain's Cruise News Media Group (2009); "Best Luxury Cruise Line" by Australia's Luxury Travel & Style Magazine (2010); and "Best Luxury Cruise Operator" according to Travel Weekly China (2010).

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Distributed on behalf of Silversea Cruises by Grebstad Hicks Communications.

Media Contact

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HONG KONG / CHINA / TAIWAN

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