Inside Silver Endeavour, world’s most expensive cruise ship

No expense was spared in the creation of Silver Endeavour, one of the world’s the most luxurious – and capable – passenger vessels.

Silversea's Silver Endeavour at Petermann Island, Antarctica.

These are the voyages of the cruise ship Silver Endeavour. Its mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no man has gone before. Star Trek fans will recognise this paraphrasing from the opening sequence of each episode. They also would have enjoyed the unintentional joke at the blessing ceremony of the Silversea Endeavour, in Chile, when a Spanish interpreter referred to Captain Cook as Captain Kirk. And with that starship slip-up, the ice was broken.

The godmother of Silversea’s new ship, polar explorer Felicity Aston MBE, had been saying the vessel’s name was “already steeped in expedition history” from Cook’s first voyage on the HMS Endeavour. Her amused correction of the interpreter’s error echoed the cruise line’s subtle tweak to its ship’s name. Silver Endeavour was formerly known as Crystal Endeavor when it was acquired this year from Crystal Cruises. The amendment is a tribute to its legendary maritime heritage.

Much like Captain Kirk’s Enterprise of the 24th century, Captain Peterstam’s Endeavour of the 21st boldly goes where few have gone before. Modern explorers can sail around Cape Horn and to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands; or Greenland, the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, and the Canadian High Arctic’s Hudson Bay and Ellesmere Island. Two new itineraries combine Iceland and the British Isles, visiting lesser-known ports such as Loch Eynort in the Outer Hebrides and Klaksvik in the Faroe Islands, as well as St Kilda, Iona, Isle of Man, Isle of Skye and Guernsey.

No expense was spared to ensure this vessel launched as one of the world’s most luxurious expedition ships. At a reported cost of $US385m ($556m), it’s officially the most expensive cruise passenger vessel ever built on a per-berth basis ($US1.9m per berth), which is about 10 times more than is spent proportionately on a large, mainstream cruise ship.

Grand Suite bathroom on Silver Endeavour.

So, what’s a berth worth? My premium veranda suite is like a balcony cabin on a luxury cruise ship and, at 33sqm, it’s twice as spacious as the average accommodation on other expedition ships. Down the corridor are the Owner’s suite, a whopping 173sqm, and the huge two-bedroom Grand suite.

The decor is elegant, the bathroom marbled, and my king bed is supremely comfortable. A minibar is stocked and replenished daily with free drinks and snacks, and a welcome bottle of Champagne awaits. Thoughtful touches include a ventilation closet for drying wet clothing after an excursion on snow or sea, and a walk-in wardrobe with ample storage for a couple.

Silver Endeavour’s spacious verandah suite.

Every suite is assigned a butler; Alam is on call to serve my breakfast or a cheeky caviar and accoutrements. He tops up the water in my coffee machine, brings more milk, collects my laundry, and quietly replaces the packs of truffled cashews that become a delicious addiction. This level of service is provided by the entire team, with an impressive crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1 and an industry-leading ratio of Zodiacs to guests (18 boats for 200 passengers).

On a Zodiac excursion from Silver Endeavour in Antarctica.

Other little touches make a big difference. By the bed are outlets for US, British and European plugs (alas, none for Australian appliances) as well as USB and USB-C outlets to charge phones and iPads. Curiously, there’s a charging outlet next to the toilet, which reveals too much about modern habits. For those middle-of-the-night bathroom runs, a bedside switch turns on subtle floor lighting; alternatively, tiptoeing past the wardrobe triggers enough light to find your way.

The Silver Endeavour at Cuverville Island in the Antarctic.

Not only is Silver Endeavour one of the world’s most comfortable cruisers, it’s among the most capable. The PC6 ice-class rating means it can safely handle “medium, first-year ice”, which enables Silversea to extend its polar seasons. Advanced navigation and exploration technology includes a remote gimbal camera system, which captures high-quality images from 5km away. When not out on the open decks spotting whales and seabirds, passengers can watch a live view from the bridge-cam broadcast to in-suite TVs.

Zodiacs and kayaks are available to get a closer look in areas such as the Lemaire Channel.

Silversea’s fares also include sea kayaking (not recommended for beginners), using its on-board fleet of 14. Paddling closer to the wildlife and shoreline scenery, kayakers see and feel nature on a deeper level. However, the company chose to remove the ship’s mini-submarine and two helicopters, apparently to avoid disappointment when these “toys” are unavailable or banned in polar regions.

While most other expedition ships have one dining venue, Silver Endeavour has five. The main restaurant is beautifully furnished, with waiter service and an a la carte menu, which changes daily. A typical three-course dinner starts with a choice of crab cakes, prawn bisque or lemon couscous salad, followed by grilled squid, steak, coconut seafood curry or kale and mushroom quiche, and finished with a simple dessert, gelato or cheese.

Il Terrazzino is one of the ship’s five restaurants.

The more intimate Il Terrazzino serves Italian cuisine. Smaller still is La Dame, a fine dining experience with white-gloved silver service and a six-course, wine-paired banquet ($US60 surcharge). The Grill is casual but boasts the best views through two-storey, floor-to-ceiling, wraparound windows. In the centre is an indoor pool and hot tub, which can be used between meals (or even during dining, if anyone feels the urge). For coffee, sandwiches or an aperitif, the Arts Cafe is a friendly hub where passengers mingle; 24-hour room service is also available.

The Grill boasts the best views onboard, beside the indoor pool and hot tub.

Complimentary beverages can be enjoyed all over the ship or in-suite. On cold days, a warm glass of mulled wine might also be offered within a minute of returning from an afternoon excursion. The Explorer Lounge, used for lectures and expedition briefings, has a full bar and plenty of seating. For smokers, cognac and cigars can be ordered at Connoisseur’s Corner in the cosy ambience of a country club.

The Observation Lounge is my top pick for cocktails, music and 270-degree views. I recommend all the martinis – dirty, espresso and various flavours of gin (clementine, pink grapefruit or rhubarb and ginger). I can also confirm that in a 4m swell in this deck 9 location, not a drop was spilt. Peckish night owls can order midnight snacks to the table, as I witness when a passenger requests hot dogs and caviar, which arrive with a flourish on silver trays.

The Observation Lounge is a top pick for cocktails.

Other public spaces include a library, rarely found on ships any more, where guests can read or borrow a book. The spacious Otium Spa has a gym, steam room and sauna with ocean views. Beauty therapists offer massages, facials, make-up application, hair styling and barber services.

On the lower deck are two mudrooms, equipped with lockers and boot heaters, where passengers put on the provided waterproof gear before heading ashore on a hike, kayak or Zodiac ride. Up to 28 expedition crew are on hand to provide assistance, information and guided tours.

The most adventurous passenger on my pre-inaugural sailing was the godmother, Felicity Aston, the only woman to have skied across Antarctica alone and the first person to have traversed the continent purely by muscle power, without any help from kites, machines, dogs or butlers.

“As the world faces new and ever more complicated problems, exploration has never been more vital than it is today,” she says. “Silver Endeavour will allow more people to become explorers and return home with that all-important new perspective.”

In the know

This year, the 200-passenger Silver Endeavour will operate cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands; the British Isles and Iceland; Greenland, Svalbard and the Canadian Arctic. The 2024-25 season adds nine more sailings to the Arctic and 14 voyages to Antarctica, ranging from six to 21 days. Silversea’s Antarctic Bridge itineraries offer the option to skip sailing across the Drake Passage, with private charter flights available from Chile to the ship at King George Island.

For a seamless journey, door-to-door fares include private return transfers from your home, pre/post-cruise hotel accommodation and airfares. For those who prefer to make their own travel arrangements, port-to-port fares are discounted by up to 30 per cent on select itineraries. All fares include dining, drinks, minibar, butler service, daily shore excursions, unlimited Wi-Fi and gratuities.

Louise Goldsbury was a guest of Silversea.