Hello and welcome to the White Star Cruises blog.
This blog will be an informal arena for luxury cruise comment, news in the luxury cruise industry and general chat about the wonderful world of luxury cruising. My name is Scott, and I am General Manager at www.WhiteStarCruises.com
The 540-guest Silver Spirit made her debut on December 23rd 2009, and will be christened in Fort Lauderdale on January 21, 2010. Her inaugural voyage will be sailing for 91 days from Fort Lauderdale around South America, north to Los Angeles, and back through the Panama Canal to New York.
Silversea Silver Spirit
She will then sail to the Mediterranean for a season of cruises, starting from May until October The 36,000-ton ship is the largest member of the Silversea fleet, however despite her size, she will have the intimate, familiar and luxury feel of all Silversea ships, and offers the largest suites at sea, 95 per cent of which will have a private verandah.
Silver Spirit recently hosted a casual three-day preview cruise for trade and media before embarking on the maiden voyage. Trudy Redfern, Silversea’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for UK, Ireland and Middle East Markets, was on board this special sailing and you can view her video and tour of Silver Spirit below
The onboard decor of Silver Spirit has a 1930s Art Deco look and feel in the public areas, highlights of which include an indoor/outdoor spa measuring 8,300 square feet, three whirlpools, The Show Lounge, a choice of six dining venues including a Japanese restaurant called Seishin, and the Stars Supper Club, featuring live music, dancing and nightclub-style entertainment.
Silver Spirit Silver Suite
The accommodation onboard is of course all-suite and the Silver Spirit features the largest suites in the Silversea fleet. Suites range in size from Vista Suites at 312 sq feet up to the amazing Owners Suites that exceed 1,600 sq feet. Each is a sumptuous ocean-view retreat, and 95% of all suites have a private teak veranda. Suite features include a separate sitting area, a walk-in closet, and a marbled bathroom with a double vanity and full-size tub. Silversea’s in-suite dining option invites you to enjoy breakfast in bed, a late lunch or a romantic dinner served course by course. With unobtrusive, attentive skill, your suite stewardess or butler anticipates your every wish – a level of service motivated only by a desire to see you smile, as Silversea fares cover all onboard gratuities.
Silver Sprit will appeal to Silversea past guests by keeping traditional signature features and public areas that they are familiar with, whilst at the same time attracting new-to-Silversea clients – and possibly a slighter younger crowd too, as Silver Spirit has more public rooms and dining options than her fleet sisters, and she certainly has a young-at-heart ambiance onboard.
View more Silversea Silver Spirit images
Here at White Star Cruises we have selected our pick of the top 20 luxury cruise offers – hurry these won’t be around for long. Click below for the full list.
Dubai’s department of tourism has unveiled details of a new cruise terminal. The new building will be located in the emirate’s Port Rashid complex, and is due to be inaugurated in February 2010.
The new cruise terminal will be able to dock up to four ships at the same time, and its facilities will include retail outlets, money exchange and a business centre with WiFi access. It will be able to handle 325,000 cruise passengers.
Dubai is an up and coming cruise port and one that the luxury cruise lines are using more and more.
I hope to see Dubai on Crystal Cruises “Singapore to Dubai” cruise – link here
White Star Cruises MD, Steve Allen, is onboard the new Silversea ship Silver Spirit – read his updates from this brand new luxury cruise ship. They eventually arrived at Nice after waiting at Gatwick for the plane to be de-iced – for 3 hours!
“Scott – initial impressions of their new ship – a class apart, with many thoughtful touches. Will be a true winner with our White Star Cruises VIP’s, whether Silversea afficionados or first timers. Quite what they will make of the enriched spa with the opportunity to botox and whiten those teeth remains to be seen! And a great window panorama from the sauna.”
Pool Deck on Silversea’s Silver Spirit. Thank you ACE for the photo.
Silver Spirit - Pool area on deck 9
Stay tuned for more soon
Friday 13th Aswan
We embarked the MS Nile Premium at 12 noon and were welcomed by the hotel manager with a welcome drink and our keys. After quickly locating our cabins, we had a quick buffet lunch and then joined the tour minibus for the short drive to the Temple of Philae for our tour. You first have to embark a small-motorised riverboat that takes you the island where the relocated temple is now situated. It was moved in the 1970’s as it would have been lost forever when the Aswan High dam was built and the valley flooded.
We arrived in the afternoon and the place was virtually deserted – excellent for photo opportunities and for our guide to clearly explain about the temple dedicated to the mother of all Egyptian gods, Isis. Our guide gave detailed and interesting history and thorough explanation about the temple whilst he guided us around. After the tour there was plenty of time for walking around and exploring on your own as well as taking photos.
There is a small café here and restrooms, and of course a souvenir shop.
After we returned to shore it was back on the bus for the short ride to the top of the Aswan High Dam. We had about 10 minutes here to look over Lake Nasser, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, and to marvel at the incredible feat of modern engineering.
After the trip to the dam, we returned to the banks of the Nile for a trip on a Felucca up the Nile at sunset and returned to our river cruise boat. The steps from the felucca to the bank were quite steep and a bit rickety – not recommended for those who are not sure-footed.
Back on board MS Nile Premium and it was time for a quick wash and then down to dinner.
Saturday 14th Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna Lock
At about 6am the ship prepared to dock, and pulling back the curtains on the picture window revealed a wonderful scene of the banks of the river Nile bathed in the warm orange glow of the morning sun. After a leisurely breakfast we arrived at Kom Ombo to visit the temple dedicated to two Gods, Haroeris and Sobek, the crocodile Nile God. At this location crocodiles used to sunbathe on the banks of the river Nile, however since the dam was built they are no longer found here. There is a Crocodile Museum here but we did not visit it. Kom Ombo is just a short walk from where the ships are docked and in the November sunshine very pleasant. It’s a great time of year to visit as the temperatures are bearable and not at all over whelming (unlike in the height of summer) and there are less crowds. Our guide gave us a thorough and informative talk, and the coloured carvings that remained were particularly impressive. After our visit it was back to the boat for sail away and lunch.
Cruising up the Nile at his time of year there was quite a breeze on the top deck which made it very enjoyable to watch the scenery pass by.
We arrived at Edfu in the late afternoon and our tour left at 5.15pm. After a short bus ride we arrived at the Temple of Horus, the falcon God, whose battle with his evil uncle, Seth, is told in vivid pictures inscribed on the well-preserved walls. There was virtually no-one there. The afternoon sun lit the massive monument perfectly with warm golden rays that highlighted the carvings and showed off the reliefs.
After our tour we retuned to our boat for the evening meal. We passed through the Esna lock in the early evening, just before the Galibeya party with optional traditional dress and games and dancing in the main lounge.
Sunday 15th Luxor
An early start at 7am saw us driving to the Valley of the Kings, about 20 minutes away after a short boat ride to the other side of the river. The valley stands on the west bank of the Nile, opposite Luxor, and is a collection of over 60 tombs all hand carved into the rock with some extending many feet into the ground. This area was fascinating, but no photo were allowed to be taken inside. The preservation of the colours of the hieroglyphics in the tombs was amazing and still as bright and vivid as the day they were painted, some 4000 years ago. We visited 3 tombs and the queues were not too bad, about 10 minutes for each. The last one was very steep with large steps and was very warm and stuffy inside, however well worth it for the engravings and paintings seen inside. You could also visit Tutankhamen’s tomb for additional cost.
After the Valley of the Kings we were transported to see the Temple of Hatshepsut – a magnificent temple carved out the rock face that looks over the valley and faces the Temple of Karnak far in the distance. The Temple of Hatshepsut is the final resting place of the only female Pharaoh, who had to disguise herself as a man to be accepted.
After this visit we drove to the Collossi of Memnon, which are two gigantic statues which are all that remains of the temple of Amenophis III. Just a short stop here for photos, then back to the ship for lunch and a bit of a rest.
After lunch we visited the Temple of Karnak, which is the largest of the Nile temples and is its most impressive, comprising three separate temple enclosures and a sacred lake. This is the largest ancient religious site in the world, dating back to 2000 BC and takes its name from the village of Al-Karnak. The three distinct temples are the Precinct of Amun-Re, the largest, which is dedicated to the god Amon, the Precinct of Montu and the Precinct of Mut, which is now a dismantled building. The famous Notre Dam cathedral in Paris is based on the layout of his temple, but nowhere near as big of course. Plenty of time here for exploring this vast area, then it was back on the bus for the short ride to Temple of Luxor.
Dating from the time of Amenhotep and Ramses II, The Temple of Luxor is dedicated to the god Amon Ra and his wife Mut. You enter it from an entrance facing north, at the point where at one time it would have been connected to the Karnak Temples via a causeway. The causeway is currently under excavation and renovation, and once completed with it’s Sphinx’s lining both sides, will be one of Luxor’s major attractions.
As we arrived the light was fading and it was great to see the temple lit up with the floodlights, highlighting the hieroglyphics and the two remaining 25-metre high obelisks. A third obelisk is on display at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. After our tour and free time to explore, it was back to the ship for our final night on board.
The MS Nile Premium is rated in the brochure as 5 Star Deluxe however I would rate it as a good 4 star. The cabins are furnished in dark woods and creams (like the rest of the boat) and are a good size. The beds are comfy and the AC is particularly good which is great for when you come back from an excursion. The sink is in the main room rather than being in the bathroom which is unusual. The room had a flat screen TV, plenty of wardrobe and drawer space, wall safe and large picture window that cao pen.
The bathroom consists of a toilet and bath with shower over it. The water pressure was excellent and provided a nice refreshing shower. The lighting is quite low in the rooms and bathroom.
The public rooms were spacious and decorated in a contemporary style, with dark woods and the same brown/cream palette displayed in the cabins used here again. The main lounge has a nice bar at one end and a small dance floor at the other – used for the Galibeya parties, belly dancing shows and the Nubian show. At the end of this lounge was an open area looking over the stern, ideal for a drink or to watch the world go by. On the top deck there is a pool with wooden loungers covered in thick cushions covering them. Towels are provided for people that want to use the pool or sunbathe. The deck covering in this area is green astro-turf and needed refreshing as it was looking a bit tired. Also on this deck is the pool bar and a covered area with tables and chairs underneath, again with nice wooden deck furniture with comfy cushions. The dining room was laid out with dark wood tables, with red napkins and looked stylish and sophisticated. Breakfast and lunch is a buffet style with a la carte served on most evenings. The ship was very nice and the front desk staff pleasant and helpful, with a good level of English spoken. The dining room waiters did not seem that fluent in English, and there were a few problems, but none that could not be overcome. Bar service in the main lounge could be improved also.
Overall this is a comfortable ship to visit the Nile and Egypt on, with well-designed rooms and a modern design, with good food. Your fellow guests will be Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese and British, which makes for an international ambiance onboard.
Crystal Cruises has once again been voted the “Worlds Best Large-Ship Cruise Line” – for a record 16th year. The esteemed readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine (U.S. version) have once again awarded Crystal Cruises a top score of 92.7 – which is one of the highest in the history of the survey. Read the full story about Crystal Cruises here
Congratulations to Crystal Cruises – a well deserved award as their ships are simply wonderful! What strikes me about both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity is the amount of space onboard – these are classed as Large Ships but they only carry 900 or so guests – so there is never that crowded feeling onboard – and the service is second to none. And the food – wow- delicious with plenty of choice and alternative dining too. There are many bars, public rooms and entertainment areas – more than on the smaller upmarket ships, as Crystal have the space to accommodate these extra rooms. So why are Crystal not that well known in the UK? In my opinion they are the UK’s best kept cruising secret – and with their All Inclusive As YOU Wish promotion – offer excellent value for money.
Crystal Serenity
Crystal Symphony
Cunard have announced that the sculpture that is to appear onboard the line’s new Queen Elizabeth is to be designed by an amateur artist, rather than a commissioned piece from a professional.
So break out your clay, chicken wire, bits of wood and metal from the garage and get creating – you never know – it could be you! How often have you looked at modern art and thought “I could do better than that”? I know I have – well here is your chance. The winning piece will be set in the Royal Arcade of Queen Elizabeth when she is launched in October next year.
The competition is being run in conjunction with The Daily Telegraph – full story is on our website – Cunard’s New Onboard Sculpture- it could be you!
The Canyon Ranch Spa onboard Cunard’s magnificent Queen Mary 2 has been nominated for an award by the readers of SpaFinder. Congratulations Cunard – the Canyon Ranch Spa Club is well laid-out and a delight to visit. You can easily spend a day there!
Read full article on our website – Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 Earns ‘Top 10 Spa’ Accolade
Download the SpaClub Menu of Services
More about Cunard’s Queen Mary 2
Canyon Ranch Spa on Queen Mary 2
Today we had a day out of the office as we were invited to view one of European Waterways hotel barges – the Magna Carta. Docked handily outside a pub on the Thames at Windsor, we boarded the boat for a tour and presentation. This is no regular barge on a canal, this is a boutique hotel style barge, that sleeps 8 guests in 4 spacious cabins on the lower deck, all en-suite and reminiscent of a country house. On the top deck there is a comfortable lounge area with dining table, plenty of comfortable sofas and a bar. With a crew of 4 you are well looked after. Their fleet of 20 hotel barges ply the canals of France, United Kingdom, Italy and Holland. This has to be the most relaxing style of cruising – you only ever travel at 3mph after all. Travelling during the day and tying up in the early evening, the itinerary gives you plenty of time to explore the villages and small towns you call at on your 6-night trip. On our visit there were a number of past guests all of whom loved these glamorous barges and I think this form of travel is the best-kept secret in river cruising.
European Waterways Magna Carta
Hello – found these great videos on AMA Waterways – 5-star luxury river cruises.
For more information visit White Star Cruises AMA Waterways page
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