Silver Origin is a new expedition vessel built by Dutch shipbuilder Shipyard De Hoop for Silversea Cruises. The cruise ship will replace the existing Silver Galapagos vessel.
The announcement to build the ship was made in October 2018. The vessel was launched in December 2019, while its sea trials were conducted off the coast of Goeree-Overflakkee in April 2020.
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The ship is expected to embark on its maiden voyage in August 2020, giving its guests the chance to explore Darwin’s ‘Living Laboratory of Evolution’ with chance to spot several rare species such as blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, Galapagos hawks and Galapagos penguins.
Silver Origin will alternate two seven-night itineraries between Baltra and San Cristobal.
The excursions will be guided by expert local naturalists, with the ratio of one guide for every ten guests.
Silver Origin features
The ship has an overall length of 101m and a beam of 16m, while its gross tonnage is 5,800t.
The ship’s interiors are influenced by the Galapagos’ environment and also reflect Italian elegance. It also incorporates bright, colourful motifs and regional materials to accentuate the design.
It will create an Ecuadorian experience on board by providing lectures, daily briefings, videos and scientific information regarding the Galapagos.
It will also offer the highest Zodiac-to-guest ratio of 1:12.5 in the region along with a luxurious outpost for providing personalised experiences throughout the Islands. Guests will also be provided with eight Zodiac crafts and kayaks for on-water exploration activities.
The ship will feature a lounge called Basecamp, which allows guests to gather before and after excursions. It can host educational activities for the guests to interact with the Expedition Team and learn about the wildlife, landscapes and history of the region.
The Basecamp is connected with the ship’s Zodiac embarkation area. It is also equipped with a large, interactive digital wall for showing destination-related content such as videos, excursion previews and scientific presentations.
The Explorer Lounge will feature floor-to-ceiling windows to be used to host daily briefings and lectures by the Expedition Team. It will also have a large video wall along with wide HD screens across the lounge, as well as a bar and piano for relaxation.
Located at the front of the ship with views of the destination, the Observation Lounge will feature a library curated by Silversea’s destination experts and will contain the widest collection of destination-focused books by the cruise line.
Accommodation on Silver Origin
The Silver Origin ship is designed to accommodate 100 guests along with a crew of 90.
It will feature all-suite accommodations with sophisticated interiors, horizon balconies and will be the only ship in the Galapagos to provide butler service for all suites.
The suites will be available in eight categories, including four top-tier suites with the largest being the Owner’s suite that wraps around the ship’s rear section on deck six to provide a panoramic view.
The connecting suites, Grand suite and Royal suite, on deck five, will be ideal for families and friends.Two silver suites located forward on deck five will provide the most spacious accommodation options. These can also be combined with an adjacent Classic Veranda suite to accommodate groups.
All the top-tier suites will offer outdoor furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass doors. The Owner’s and Royal suites will feature a whirlpool bath with an ocean-view and separate shower, accessible from the veranda.
The rest of the suite categories will include a Medallion suite, seven Deluxe Veranda suites and sixteen Superior Veranda suites. Located on deck six, these accommodations will feature Horizon Balcony that transforms into an indoor living area with a floor-to-ceiling window.
Deck five will also house 22 Classic Veranda suites with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors opening onto the veranda and with an option for a third-guest and several connecting suites.
Each suite on the ship will feature a private veranda called the Horizon Balcony, which will provide views of the island landscape.
Dining and amenities
The ship will house two dining venues, The Restaurant and The Grill, each with the capacity to accommodate all the guests.
The Restaurant is designed to allow ample natural light with far-reaching views, while The Grill will be an open-air venue with the option to partially close it. The Grill will also include Silversea’s signature Hot Rocks for an enhanced experience.
The ship will offer luxury amenities such as a minibar, fresh water purification system, large flat-screen television, eco-friendly bath amenities, and unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi.
The cruise ship will also provide plush robes and slippers, choice of pillows, 24-hour room service, in-suite dining, and complimentary expedition gear, including a waterproof backpack and raincoat.
The guests can enjoy a variety of soft and alcoholic beverage options and local snacks at the minibar.
Sustainability features of Silver Origin
Silversea Origin is Silversea’s most environmentally conscious ship and is designed to meet highest energy efficiency standards in the segment.
A dynamic positioning system is installed on the ship to position the ship over delicate seabed ecosystems without causing any disturbance to the marine habitats.
Guests will be provided with a reusable metallic bottle and reverse osmosis refilling stations to ensure the ship is plastic-free.
Silversea’s Expedition Team, certified by the Galapagos National Park, will lead the on-shore activities for the guests.
Contractors involved
HBA Miami designed the public spaces of the ship, while GEM provided the interior design of the suites.
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