YEAR 2009

Silversea pops its cork with
11 new Wine Series voyages

December 18, 2008 - Silversea Cruises is toasting the New Year with an enticing new collection of 11 Wine Series voyages for 2009.

On each wine-themed cruise, guests with a passion for fine wines will enjoy sampling great vintages and learning about the tradition and art of winemaking in special tastings and lectures conducted by wine professionals, vineyard owners, winemakers and other epicurean specialists from renowned establishments, including California's Justin and Wente wineries, Italy's Castello Banfi and Chile's Santa Alicia Winery, to name a few.

On many voyages, guests will also have the chance to explore some of the world's most celebrated wine regions on guided shore excursions.

Of special note is the participation of Salvatore Ferragamo, grandson of the Italian fashion visionary. Renowned for their signature handbags and footwear, the Ferragamo family also owns Il Borro, an acclaimed wine-producing estate in Tuscany. Ferragamo is slated to host Silver Wind's July 6 wine-themed sailing from Lisbon to Monte Carlo.

Says executive vice president David Morris: "Our Wine Series cruises are a great way for guests to broaden their understanding and appreciation for one of life's most cherished luxuries - fine wine. We've invited experts from some of the world's most acclaimed vineyards and wineries to visit and interact with our guests, guiding them through entertaining tastings and lectures that add a unique and enriching dimension to their cruise experience."

Listed here are the 2009 Wine Series cruises (rates are per person, double occupancy and include port charges):

Alaska & Pacific Coast

• Silver Shadow departs July 20 on a 12-day, roundtrip voyage rom San Francisco with calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Wrangell and Victoria. Hosts: Eric and Arel Wente, owners of California's Wente Vineyards. Silver Sailing fares start at £3,576.
• Silver Shadow departs August 25 on a 9-day, roundtrip voyage (#3921) from Vancouver with calls in Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Wrangell and Victoria. Host ÊMaster Sommelier Joe Spellman of California's Justin Vineyards and Winery. Early Booking Incentive fares start at £3,010.

Mediterranean

• Silver Wind departs May 28 on a 9-day voyage from Monte Carlo to Athens with calls in Livorno, Sorrento, Crete, Santorini, Rhodes, Kusadasi and Bodrum. Host: Stanislas Marchal, public relations representative for Vranken-Pommery Monopole. Early Booking Incentive fares start at £3,945.
• Silver Whisper departs July 4 on a 7-day voyage from Venice to Athens with calls in Split, Kotor, Corfu and Itea. Host: Georges Muller of Riedel Crystal (the wine glass company), expert on pairing wines with stemware. Silver Sailing fares start at £2,546.
• Silver Wind departs July 6 on a 12-day voyage from Lisbon to Monte Carlo with calls in Cadiz, Malaga, Ibiza, Barcelona (overnight), Cannes, Menton, Livorno and Corsica. Host: Salvatore Ferragamo, owner and managing director of Il Borro estate, Tuscany, Italy. Silver Sailing fares start at £3,122.
• Silver Wind departs August 14 on a 7-day voyage from Venice to Athens with calls in Hvar, Sibenik, Dubrovnik and Santorini. Host: Philip di Belardino, Castello Banfi Vineyard Estate &am; Winery, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy. Early Booking Incentive fares start at £3,240.

Northern Europe & The Baltic

• Silver Cloud departs June 25 on a 9-day, roundtrip voyage from Stockholm with calls in Helsinki, St. Petersburg (3 days, 2 nights), Tallinn and Gdansk. Host: Gary Eberle, owner of California's Eberle Winery (will co-host with a European winery, exploring Old and New World wines). Silver Sailing fares start at £3,551.
• Silver Cloud departs August 26 on a 10-day, roundtrip voyage from London with calls in Edinburgh (overnight), Invergordon, Oban, Dublin, Cork and Fowey. Host: Gordon Bell, brand ambassador and master of Scotch whisky. Silver Sailing fares start at £3,996.

South America

• Silver Cloud departs January 4 on a 16-day voyage from Santiago to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Puerto Chacabuco, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas (overnight), Falkland Islands, Puerto Madryn, Punta del Este and Montevideo. Host: Daniel Soto, Santa Alicia Winery, Santiago, Chile. Silver Sailing fares start at £4,656.
• Silver Cloud departs February 5 on a 16-day voyage from Santiago to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas (overnight), Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn and Montevideo. Hosts: Silvina Barros of Trivento Winery and Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina; Fernando Mediano of Emiliana Vineyards, Casablanca Valley, Chile; and Jofre Duran of Concha y Toro Vineyards, Maipo Valley, Chile. Early Booking Incentive fares start at £5,600.

Transoceanic

• Silver Cloud departs April 15 on a 15-day voyage from Barbados to London with calls in St Lucia, Antigua, La Horta, Ponta Delgada, Falmouth and Cherbourg. Host: Trevor Burnett, brand ambassador for Grey Goose Vodka. Silver Sailing fares start at £2,882.

For further information or a brochure call Silversea on 0844 770 9030 or visit their website.