Jetsettersblog

Silversea Cruises’ latest addition, the Prince Albert II, which was originally scheduled to reposition from Antarctica to French Polynesia for the 2009 spring and summer seasons, will now sail back to its inaugural destination — the Arctic — on June 1.

The ship will operate nine expeditions in the Arctic before heading south to spend fall and winter exploring Antarctica as well as the remote islands of South Georgia and the Falklands.

 “We believe there is a strong market demand for this type of product and we are encouraged by the extremely positive response of our guests who visited the region this past summer during the Prince Albert II’s inaugural season,” said Amerigo Perasso, Silversea’s president and CEO.

“With an ice-strengthened hull, the ship is well-suited for polar explorations. Operating our vessel in close reach of our three leading markets (United States, United Kingdom and Continental Europe) is all the more justified given the present economic environment.”

The Arctic region, which comprises parts of Canada, Norway, Greenland and Iceland, has become a sought-after destination. The Prince Albert II features an expedition team, as well as a panel of lecturers and naturalists, including geologists, ornithologists, biologists, and historians. On its “Far Side of Svalbard” expedition, the Prince Albert II is set to circumnavigate the archipelago;

on its “Frozen Worlds” expedition, plans call for a return visit to the volcanic island of Jan Mayen, whose access was granted to just three vessels in 2008, including Silversea’s. Prior to this Arctic deployment, the Prince Albert II will explore British waters with a journey across the Channel Islands, with stopovers in Cornwall, Brittany and Normandy; on to Scotland and Ireland, taking in “Britain in Bloom.” Central and South American expeditions are scheduled in autumn, some of which may be combined.