Aboard Silver Cloud with Silversea
Cruise Overview
North of Nadi through sugarcane plantations and past the Sabeto Mountains is Lautoka, nicknamed the Sugar City for the local agriculture and its big processing mill.
With a population of around 50,000, it's the only city besides Suva and, like the capital, has a pleasant waterfront.
It's the sailing point for Blue Lagoon and Beachcomber Cruises but is otherwise unremarkable for tourists, itself having few hotels and fewer good restaurants.
Locals recommend the city as a less-expensive place to shop for clothing, but note that it can take as long as 45 minutes to drive here.
Legend has it that Lautoka acquired its name when two chiefs engaged in combat and one hit the other with a spear.
He proclaimed "lau toka" (spear hit) and thus the future town was named.
Unlike Espiritu Santo with its raised coral reefs and white sand, Ambrym is a volcanically active island with dark sand beaches.
Ambrym is known as the island of magic and is the source of five local languages that all evolved on Ambrym.
This handful of languages contributes to the well over 100 languages of Vanuatu.
Some of Ambrym’s magic takes place in the lush greenery of the local community of Ranon.
Here the people perform a very special and traditional ‘Rom’ dance.
Participants prepare their masks and costumes in secrecy and the dance is reserved for special occasions.
Pentecost Island is a lush mountainous, tropical island stretching over 37 miles from north to south.
It was named after the day on which the first European, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, sighted it on 22 May 1768.
There are no towns on Pentecost - most of the islanders live in small villages and grow their own food in small gardens.
Local traditions are strong, including the age-old ritual of land diving.
This unique ritual was first given international exposure by David Attenborough in the 1950’s.
Later, in the 1980’s, New Zealander AJ Hackett used the idea to invent bungee jumping.
Every harvest season, the people of Pentecost construct the tower using saplings and branches held together with forest vines.
It can take more five weeks to complete.
Each young man who jumps must carefully select his own liana vine.
Men and boys as young as seven jump from 60 -90 feet with only those vines attached to their ankles.
This ceremony is believed to ensure a good yam harvest.
It is also a fertility rite for men.
With a population of around 50,000, it's the only city besides Suva and, like the capital, has a pleasant waterfront.
It's the sailing point for Blue Lagoon and Beachcomber Cruises but is otherwise unremarkable for tourists, itself having few hotels and fewer good restaurants.
Locals recommend the city as a less-expensive place to shop for clothing, but note that it can take as long as 45 minutes to drive here.
Legend has it that Lautoka acquired its name when two chiefs engaged in combat and one hit the other with a spear.
He proclaimed "lau toka" (spear hit) and thus the future town was named.
Unlike Espiritu Santo with its raised coral reefs and white sand, Ambrym is a volcanically active island with dark sand beaches.
Ambrym is known as the island of magic and is the source of five local languages that all evolved on Ambrym.
This handful of languages contributes to the well over 100 languages of Vanuatu.
Some of Ambrym’s magic takes place in the lush greenery of the local community of Ranon.
Here the people perform a very special and traditional ‘Rom’ dance.
Participants prepare their masks and costumes in secrecy and the dance is reserved for special occasions.
Pentecost Island is a lush mountainous, tropical island stretching over 37 miles from north to south.
It was named after the day on which the first European, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, sighted it on 22 May 1768.
There are no towns on Pentecost - most of the islanders live in small villages and grow their own food in small gardens.
Local traditions are strong, including the age-old ritual of land diving.
This unique ritual was first given international exposure by David Attenborough in the 1950’s.
Later, in the 1980’s, New Zealander AJ Hackett used the idea to invent bungee jumping.
Every harvest season, the people of Pentecost construct the tower using saplings and branches held together with forest vines.
It can take more five weeks to complete.
Each young man who jumps must carefully select his own liana vine.
Men and boys as young as seven jump from 60 -90 feet with only those vines attached to their ankles.
This ceremony is believed to ensure a good yam harvest.
It is also a fertility rite for men.
Cruise Itinerary
Aboard Silver Cloud
Launch Year: 1994 Length: 155 Width: 21 Currency: USD Capacity: 254 Crew Count: 212 Deck Count: 7 Cabin Count: 126
With 20-brand new Zodiacs, four superlative restaurants in Antarctica and a pole-to-pole expedition itinerary, Silver Cloud breaks the ice between expedition and luxury.
Silver Cloud is the first hybrid ship in our fleet and brings the remote and remarkable to you in ultra-luxurious comfort. Her large suites, destination itineraries and unparalleled service make her truly special. Four dining options will tantalise your taste buds, and as 80% of her suites include a veranda, watching a breaching whale from the comfort of your balcony never been so personal. A limited number of guests in polar waters (240 vs. 254), mean that Silver Cloud has one of the highest crew to guest and space to guest ratios in expedition cruising. With her 20 zodiacs, 10 kayaks, possibilities are almost limitless with ship-wide simultaneous explorations.
4 dining options, 20 Zodiacs and 10 kayaks equal almost limitless possibilities aboard Silver Cloud. Explore her large suites and spacious public areas by viewing her deck plan here.
Silver Cloud Facilities
Silver Cloud Includes
Cabin Details
Silversea’s suites offer one of the highest space-per-guest ratios of any luxury cruise accommodations. All Silversea suites have ocean views, and most include a private teak veranda so that you can breathe in the fresh sea air simply by stepping outside your door. And regardless of the ship or suite category, all guests will be pampered with the personalised services of an attentive butler.
For a truly personal experience, customise your suite with an abundance of thoughtful options and luxurious amenities from Bulgari toiletries and personalised stationery to a bar with your favourite wines and liquors. Settle in with a complimentary movie or choose instead to simply watch the ocean swim by. You can even have dinner in-suite served course by course by your butler. Then, when it’s time to retire, curl up beneath Egyptian cotton linens and a fluffy duvet, with your choice of nine different pillow types. The ultimate in luxury cruise accommodations, Silversea’s suites are your home away from home.
