Silversea delays season

SILVERSEA Cruises has overnight advised travel agents and clients that several upcoming Australian voyages aboard Silver Muse will not operate - but has not given up on its overall local summer deployment.

The season had been scheduled to kick off on 21 Dec with the arrival of the 596-guest Muse in Cairns, with Silversea MD Asia Pacific, Adam Radwanski, confirming today that the first three departures had now been cancelled.

He said the move was necessitated “in light of ongoing ambiguity from State and Federal governments on the return of cruising in Australia”.

“While the Government has made positive indications about cruising’s return, including verbal commitment to end the cruise ban on 17 Dec, no concrete decision has been made.

“Also, the lead time required to bring a ship into Australia requires 60-90 days minimum,” Radwanski added.

“Silversea is still committed to delivering a domestic season in Australia, and eagerly anticipates the green light from the relevant authorities in the coming weeks,” he said, with Silversea now making plans to operate its first local voyage on 05 Feb 2022.

“The economic contribution of Silversea’s domestic cruise season is incredibly high, and well into the millions of dollars,” he said.

“We hope to support the local economy when the season is permitted to operate.”

Silversea will continue to work with Federal and State Governments, with the cruise line hoping for firm commitments about the restart “imminently”.

Passengers disrupted by the voyage cancellations are being offered a 15% saving on public fares if they switch to any voyage in 2022/23/24 apart from a Silversea World Cruise.

Alternatively a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) worth 110% of the total booking amount can be used to reserve a cruise within 24 months for all open sailings.

Silversea’s FCCs are fully transferrable to family and friends, can be used partially and applied to more than one new booking, the company said.

Members of the line’s Venetian Society loyalty program will accumulate days on both the cancelled voyage as well as any new booking if they select the FCC or voyage switch option.

A cash refund option is also available, Silversea noted.