The luxury line's newest ship offers state of the art adventure cruising in a comfortable luxury setting.

Is it possible to use the words "adventure" and "luxury" in reference to the same vessel? It is if you are referring to the new Polar expedition vessel from Silversea Cruises, Prince Albert II.

Widely lauded as one of the world's finest cruise lines, a Silversea voyage is an adventure in luxury and a luxurious adventure. The line goes beyond great accommodations and service. It takes its guests to the world's most alluring destinations and gives them memories to last a lifetime. As a Silverseas guest, you are always handled with the utmost attention to detail and virtually assured that nothing will go wrong.

It is for that reason that we are so excited about Silversea's newest cruiser, the Lloyd's Register 1A ice-class vessel Prince Albert II, named after the esteemed prince of Monaco who founded the world-renowned Oceanographic Institute.

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Silversea Prince Albert II in Monaco		Sailing under London's Tower Bridge

Following a June 12 naming ceremony in Monte Carlo. Prince Albert II has begun its inaugural year of cruises to the world's most remote north and the south Polar Regions. But first, the ship had to complete an extensive multimillion-dollar renovation at the Fincantieri shipyard in Trieste, Italy including exterior design modifications, state-of-the-art technological enhancements and a comprehensive upgrade of all guest accommodations and public spaces.

Accommodations

Fresh from its multimillion-dollar renovation, the Prince Albert II boasts the largest average size accommodations of any expedition ship in the world. A selection of 20 premium suites, from 350 to 675 square feet of luxurious living space, has been created especially for the discriminating traveler. Select suites have double private French balconies or large private verandas, and additional elite amenities including butler service.

Prince Albert II weighs just 6,072 gross tons and will accommodate a maximum of 132 guests in 66 ocean-view accommodations, many featuring private verandas. The staterooms and suites range from 180 to over 600 square feet, providing some of the largest accommodations of any expedition ship. With a 1:1.2 crew-to-guest ratio, All accommodations are tastefully appointed and have private marble bathrooms with bathtubs.

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Silver Suite		Bathrrom

All suites and staterooms feature flat screen monitors offering interactive TV and video options. In the ship's lounges, the latest audio-visual equipment, complete with high-definition video screens, display live lectures hosted by the ship's world-class expedition and lecture staff as well as visiting destination experts.

Onboard Amenities

Guests enjoy many amenities also found on larger ships, such as an elegant single-seating main dining room, the library (with computers and Internet access), boutique, beauty salon, fitness center, full-service spa and two Jacuzzi pools. The ship also features several lounges for drinks, music and entertainment, including a cigar lounge like the Humidor on the line's other ships.

The Prince Albert II has state-of-the-art satellite communication systems, providing bow-to-stern wireless Internet access. Guests with Wi-Fi-enabled laptops and PDAs can surf the web and check e-mail from the comfort of their suites as well as public areas. Cellular phone service is also available.

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Library		Observation room		Theater & Lecture Hall

The ship is also outfitted with eight of the latest-model Zodiac boats with Yamaha four-stroke engines. These Zodiacs will take guests up-close to the wildlife and landscapes of some of the world's most remote destinations.

Destinations

Prince Albert II set sail from London on its inaugural season of 10 to 21 day voyages focusing on polar adventures. Sailing first to the Arctic Circle, Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland for the summer, the ship will then reposition to South America and Antarctica for autumn and winter voyages.

From mid-August to November 2008, the Prince Albert II will journey from the east coast of North America through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles before heading south to Antarctica. Along this special repositioning route are opportunities to explore the Sea of Cortez (with an extension to Copper Canyon), Chilean fjords, Falklands and South Georgia Island.

Guests can sail for up to 48 days on back-to-back voyages without repeating a Zodiac landing site.

Special Guests Lecturers

When the ship is in the northern regions, the main onboard regional expert is Jon Vidar Sigurdsson. Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, and with a degree in geology, Jon has led 20 summer and winter expeditions to this Arctic nation. His zeal for the outdoors also fuels his mountain climbing hobby. He has reached the highest peaks on two continents including Russia's Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Sigurdsson will headline the enrichment program aboard the "Svalbard and Iceland" expedition, departing July 12 for 18 days from Tromso to Reykjavik. He will also host the "Greenland Exploration," departing Reykjavik July 30 on a 16-day journey to St. John's, Newfoundland.

Jon Bowermaster is slated to host Prince Albert II's "Journey to South America," departing October 12 on a 22-day expedition from Acapulco to Santiago. He will also host the already-sold-out "Chilean Fjords Highlights" voyage, sailing November 3 from Santiago to Ushuaia.

Jon has spent more than 20 years exploring, researching and documenting regions all over the world. His Oceans 8 project, designed to explore the world by kayak, has taken him to the Aleutian Islands, Vietnam, French Polynesia, South America's Altiplano, the Antarctic Peninsula and the wild coasts of Gabon, Croatia and Tasmania. He has written of his adventures for a variety of publications, ranging from National Geographic to The New York Times.

Prince Albert II Voyage List: