AUSTRALIA is on the cusp of becoming the second largest global market for Silversea Cruises, according to the company’s CEO Roberto Martinoli who is in Sydney this week to help celebrate the inaugural visit of flagship Silver Muse.
Speaking at an event aboard the ship on Sun evening, Martinoli (pictured inset with his wife, Silversea Chief Marketing Officer Barbara Muckermann) confirmed that Muse would return next year, along with Silver Explorer which would cruise out of Dunedin to the Ross Sea in the 2020-21 Antarctic season.
Martinoli and Muckermann have been holidaying in Australia prior to Muse’s arrival, taking in Adelaide, Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln.
The company’s CEO noted the strong support provided by Silversea’s new majority owner, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, which has enabled significant investment across the fleet.
Five new ships will be added to the fleet between now and 2023, with Muckermann noting the growth will see Silversea expand its destination portfolio to more than 1,050 ports globally.
The ship was welcomed to Sydney’s White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal by the Australian Girls’ Choir singing on the pier, while Adam Armstrong, Silversea MD Australia/NZ highlighted a gift to Rural Aid in lieu of a fireworks display to welcome the vessel.
A gift exchange included the acceptance by Destination NSW GM Stephen Mahoney of a print of a 1744 Royal Geographical Society map of Australia, considered to be the first map published in England wholly devoted to Australia.
Some of the Silversea Australasia team are pictured above on board Muse, from left: Adam Armstrong, Megan Peterie, Jessica England, Leanne Fonagy, Anne Weinert and Julian Perri.
Source: traveldaily