WHAT’S IT LIKE ABOARD SILVER ORIGIN?

The Galapagos Islands is one of the best destinations in the world for active, hearty explorations to very remote places with few, if any, other people – represents the kind of journey that, as a pal notes, “requires a vacation after your vacation.” After all, who wants to miss out on a minute of admiring Blue-footed Boobies, hiking along lava trails, snorkeling in search of the Galapagos Penguin, or spying nesting sites for East Pacific green sea turtles and a huge colony of marine iguanas that happens to sun on black lava?

And yet, with the debut of Silver Origin, Silversea Cruise’s first-ever ultra-luxury vessel designed for Galapagos itineraries, guests may well be tempted to linger onboard. “Silver Origin is going to be a yin and yang experience,” says Fernando Delgado, the Silversea’s vice president of Galapagos Expeditions. “It’s about waking up in a beautiful bed, having a great breakfast and then taking a Zodiac many years back in time.”

Since Silversea accepted delivery of the 100-guest Silver Origin in July, we’ve told the story of how the ship was successfully completed in the midst of a pandemic. We’ve taken you on a tour of the vessel, still at DeHoop shipyard, just after we raised the Silversea flag, marking the moment she became part of the fleet. And we’ve shared details about the newbuild, about aspects of the ship that have most intrigued us as we’ve followed its progress, from a state-of-the-art marina for easy on-off access to its dynamic positioning system, which allows the ship to get closer than ever to the most eye-popping areas of the Galapagos Islands. And, of course, the Silver Origin experience parallels Silversea’s ultra-luxe standards, with all-suite accommodations, cuisine made with Ecuador’s freshest foodstuffs along with traditional Silversea favorites, and butler service for every suite.

Now it’s your turn, for the moment anyway, to virtually experience what it feels like to be onboard Silver Origin. Today we’re sharing four videos, filmed while the ship was en route from Europe to Ecuador. Take a look.

First Impressions: Basecamp and the Marina

Did you know that Silver Origin never actually docks in the Galapagos?

When it’s time to go ashore – or return aboard – the Marina’s fold-out stern, with hydraulic doors, hatches and cranes, is designed with boarding facilities that can

accommodate the launching of two Zodiacs at a time. The Marina also has big tanks where you can rinse off your snorkeling gear and racks for equipment and wet suits. Nearby is a large garage. It stores the Zodiacs.

And adjacent to the Marina is Basecamp, a comfortable gathering hub that is the heart of Silver Origin. It’s an elegant space with regional art, comfortable couches and deep armchairs and it’s where you’ll gather for talks by Silversea’s naturalist guides, all of whom are Ecuadorian. In 15 – 20 minute presentations before every outing, they’ll share the mission of your upcoming adventure. Sometimes there will be two or three of these in a day, so Basecamp is definitely a space you’ll spend time in.

When there’s downtime in Basecamp, you can, with a touch of a button, pull up all videos, from historical contexts from the Royal Geographic Society to custom-created nature photography.

Relax and Chill: The Famous Firepit

Out on deck, a gas-lit firepit offer a great opportunity to wind down from a busy day ashore.

For Delgado, who had just recently been to visit Silver Origin in Manta, “the fire pit is something you won’t find on other ships.” In this ancient destination, the fire pit takes you back to a place of coming together, where he says “we’ve been gathering around a fire for years.”

“It’s not like you’re going to have long hours on the ship,” Fernando adds, “we don’t have days at sea. But you will have those times, at sunset, after dark with no light pollution, just the incredible stars. You’ll have mornings, wake up early and just look around.”

Breathe and Reboot: Out on the Open Deck.

Where to find bliss on Silver Origin in the Galapagos? Head to the ship’s open deck where the views, as they morph throughout the week, give you such a great scope of one of the world’s most ancient natural places. Watching this video, I feel as if I’m literally leaning over the rail, feeling the wonder of the place, and, yes, tasting a salt tang on my lips.

I think back to something Silversea’s Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio has said about the Galapagos. “Anybody who has been to the Galapagos knows the archipelago’s unique beauty. From its endemic animal species to the ancient lava formations, there is simply no place like it on Earth.”

Stay tuned for more on our series of stories about the experience of being onboard Silver Origin, the first-ever ultra-luxe cruise ship to be designed around the Galapagos archipelago. We can’t wait to bring you more experiences, including features on Ecuadorian culinary specialties, first-looks at suite accommodations, and intimate discussions with Silversea’s team of marvelous expedition guides. And in the meantime, if you need more inspiration about visiting the Galapagos, don’t miss our regional series of destination-focused articles on Silversea’s blog, Discover.

Wake up to the sound of the waves coming into shore. Stay in bed and absorb the peace. Or, if you’re feeling motivated, get up for an early morning workout before breakfast – a light jog around the bay, a yoga practice or perhaps one of our outdoor boot camp fitness sessions.

Head back to your apartment for breakfast on your private terrace or stop by the promenade bakery for your favourite pastry and you are good to go.

But where to go? The beach, of course! Head out onto the Chedi beach in front of your apartment. Spend the morning soaking up the sunshine, enjoying your first coffee at The Rok beach bar and cooling off in the azure waters. If you’re feeling adventurous, put your skills to the test and take out a kayak or a stand up paddle board.

After all that sun, it’s time for a relaxing lunch. Head to 21 Seaview Bistro, in the heart of the marina promenade, with an array of light starters and plentiful mains to choose from.

It’s siesta time. There’s no need to rush, life in the Marina Village is all about taking it easy and taking time for yourself. Head back to your apartment or chill out on the beach.

Afternoons are ripe for exploration. Take a walk along our new lungo mare until you reach the legendary Almara Beach Club with its all-day party vibe. Swim, sunbathe, grab a cocktail and sink your toes into the gorgeous sandy beach.

You might well stay until the sun goes down or you can chase the sunset and take a gentle hike to the golf area for a spectacular panorama of the whole bay. Once there, you can take a few swings at the driving range before you call it a day and head back to your apartment to get ready for the evening ahead.

Dinnertime is down time in Lustica Bay. Take it slow and enjoy every bite. Let our international team at The Spot restaurant spoil you. The menu emphasises local suppliers pairing fresh dishes and seafood (you might have spotted the fishing boat that caught your dinner out on the waters earlier in the day!) with a superb wine list.

If you’re not quite done with the day there’s one last treat in store. If you haven’t yet visited our waterfront landmark, why not head over for a late night cocktail at The Lighthouse, our newly opened bar at the end of our breakwater? The views are sublime and will bring the day to an end on a perfect, peaceful note – just as it started.

If you want the Luštica life to become your way of life, book your stay with Lustica Bay!