(Monaco – June 12, 2019) Silver Whisper arrived in London on May 19, 2019, marking the final chapter in the Tale of Tales and the conclusion of another hugely successful World Cruise for Silversea. The cruise line’s guests travelled deeper into a total of 31 countries across five continents on the 133-day voyage, enjoying immersive shore experiences and a number of enriching events—both on board and ashore.
Nine celebrated creatives – the Tale Tellers – each boarded the ship for one segment of the circumnavigation, enhancing guests’ experiences with fascinating talks and producing an excerpt of text or a selection of images inspired by their journeys. Pico Iyer, Saroo Brierley, Harold Koda, Laksmi Pamuntjak, Steve McCurry, Jeremiah Tower, Paul Theroux, Sophy Roberts, and Tahir Shah each joined the voyage, merging the power of storytelling with the beauty of travel to produce a perfect compendium of discovery, which will be gifted to world-cruising guests. Guests’ feedback on the Tale Tellers’ participation was exceptional, indicating the success of the Tale of Tales concept.
“It’s hard to imagine an experience that is both more stimulating and more relaxing than a cruise on Silver Whisper,” says acclaimed travel writer and Silversea Tale Teller, Paul Theroux. “The shipboard activities, the experiences ashore, the pleasures of a luxurious ship, and the attention of a dedicated crew. I have seldom felt such enlightenment amid such comfort.”
Throughout the Tale of Tales, Silversea’s world-cruising guests travelled closer to the world’s authentic beauty through a number of bespoke events. The Tale of Tales began at an exclusive bon voyage gala dinner on January 5, held at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco; champagne and cocktails were followed by an elegant dinner, as like-minded travellers socialized ahead of this journey of a lifetime. At Papeete’s Musee de Tahiti, guests enjoyed a private celebration of authentic Tahitian culture, to the rhythmic beat of traditional drums. Guests attended a highly charged performance of La Bohème at the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia’s capital, arriving and departing by boat under the city’s glittering lights. Between Osaka and Tokyo in Japan, Silversea’s guests travelled deeper on a 3-day overland tour, immersing in both the country’s enchanting history and its captivating modernity through a traditional tea ceremony, a journey on the famous bullet train, and various other experiences.
Subsequently, the sights and sounds of Sri Lanka were perfectly showcased at an exclusive event on the lawns of the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo, while the history of South Africa was captured for guests at two bespoke events in Cape Town, including a ride on a classic locomotive through the sweeping Cape Winelands and a trip to the historic Robben Island. On Goree Island in Senegal, the Tale of Tales’ guests discovered the region’s history, before sipping cocktails, admiring local entertainment and dining on authentic cuisine inside the island’s fortifications. An immersive experience at Seville’s most famous feria preceded an emphatic farewell banquet at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
As part of an enhanced offering, Silversea’s guests also enjoyed a number of local shows on board Silver Whisper, in addition to many other culturally immersive enhancements. In Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands, five local performers enthralled guests with an indigenous cultural show; in New Zealand, ten performers showcased a staple ofMāori culture—the Kapa Haka; while in Darwin, talented dancers brought guests closer to the alluring local culture through an energetic display. Guests enjoyed additional local performances in Manila, Shanghai, Richards Bay, Lome, and Seville.
“The Tale of Tales 2019 was a huge success,” says Barbara Muckermann, Silversea’s Chief Marketing Officer. “In many ways, great storytelling is an essential component of immersive travel. Each carefully crafted aspect of our 133-day World Cruise – from the presence of our esteemed Tale Tellers to the captivating local shows – played an important role in the narrative of our guests; the resulting stories will last a lifetime, and beyond.”
While the cruise line’s onboard enrichments brought guests closer to local culture throughout the World Cruise, there were also a number of informal activities held among guests, resulting from the ship’s intimate atmosphere. One such activity was the formation of the onboard Knit-a-Square community: between 12 and 16 guests met each morning in the Panorama Lounge to knit for a charitable cause, producing 8-inch squares that would later form blankets for orphaned children in South Africa. Ladies and gentlemen from countries across the world participated in the project, socializing with like-minded travellers while knitting for the benefit of those in need.
“We are so grateful for this truly wonderful contribution of almost 700 squares, hats and hand puppets to our project,” says Ronda Lowrie of Knit-a-Square. “We will bring love, warmth and encouragement to vulnerable children who are living in poverty and deprivation in and around South Africa.”
In 2020, Silversea’s guests will undertake a circumnavigation that will rival the Tale of Tales for the range and depth of experiences on offer: over 140 days, Silversea’s Silver Whisper will unlock 32 countries on the Legends of Cruising. In 2021, a pioneering world first, Silversea’s guests will undertake an Expedition World Cruise, as well as the Finest World Tour.