MANILA, Philippines – As I journey eastward, I realize all the more I am a child of the universe and the pursuit of joy is my birthright. To find and embrace inner bliss, peace and lasting joy in a place where loving kindness abounds is the natural order of things, of life. Intrinsically, there is a natural order to everything — all man has to do is to follow and heed that call.
An invitation from my dear friend Melvyn Yap, aboard the luxurious Silversea Cruise on a traveling journalist’s program from Seychelles, Maldives and Chennai in India allowed me the opportunity to joyously explore the region in the finest manner possible.
The moment you step onboard, you are awed by the most sophisticated and uncompromising commitment to service. You are welcomed with the ceremonious white-gloved greeting, a flute of chilled Moet et Chandon, a prelude to every single detail of life onboard. The Silversea ethos declares its obsession with service as the core of its heart and soul. On the Silver Wind, you are mesmerized as though you are held captive in spellbound fantasy, for you cruise aboard a microcosm of only the best, the finest of unrivaled luxury.
This cruise liner is a glorious destination in itself.
To take a voyage aboard the Silver Wind — out of land and solely responsible for your own destiny — is regarded by devotees as the epitome of pleasure, while the joy of a safe harbor on a new coastline is the ultimate in exhilarating satisfaction. Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury segment, whose fleet includes the Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, and the regal expedition ship Prince Albert II. The company’s itineraries encompass all seven continents.
Silver Wind master captain Ignazio Tatulli, cruise director David Lawton and hotel director Norman Rafelson were such gracious hosts that they ensured all valued passengers were pampered like royalty. Many thanks to them and the entire crew of 212, of which 70 were Filipinos, whose genuine desire to please their guests was truly heartwarming. With the very accommodating crew of the Silver Wind onboard, one feels that home is truly where the heart is.
Indeed it was a dream cruise, a personal odyssey that made me declare: “There is no finer way to experience the world than on this six-star floating haven of privileged luxury where the destination changes for you while you relax in sheer comfort.”
Take a peek at life aboard the Silver Wind: Breakfast al fresco is exhilarating to start the day. Check out the spa or take a power walk on the deck for that energizing oxygen fix. Get connected with your family and friends at the Internet lounge. Laze under the golden sun on the pool deck and meet new friends from the world over. Listen to the interesting talk of guest lecturer Hugo Vickers, the biographer of the royal family of England who shared so many inspiring stories about culture, royalty and history. Hone your dancing skills as you take lessons onboard. Watch the ice carving competitions or enjoy the ice cream party or the shore excursions in fabulous ports of call. For this particular cruise, the ports of call were the tropical paradise of Mahe and Praslin in Seychelles, Male and Olhahali in Maldives and Tuticorin and Madras/ Chennai in India.
Dining certainly is taken to a splendid dimension as the Silversea has an exclusive partnership with the renowned Relais and Chateax—Relais Gourmands Association. Guests can savor “La Collection du Monde” — 30 signature dishes created exclusively by Relais and Chateaux chefs complemented by the finest wines. There is also the less formal Terrace Café, where you can enjoy regional cuisine or dine in the privacy and comfort of your own suite. The cuisine on Silver Wind is simply an epicurean’s delight. For the health conscious, there are always wellness options and vegetarian cuisine to choose from.
As the sun goes down, entertainment fervor sizzles at the show lounge. Try your luck at the casino. Or better yet, watch the latest movies on the deck or in the privacy of your suite. You may also want to try the Davidoff and Cuban cigars at the humidor cigar lounge accompanied by an exceptional cognac or rare vintage from the connoisseurs list.
After watching the Fiesta Latina, a musical journey from Mozart to Gershwin and Broadway night shows, we converged at the bar and met the most charming people who have made cruising aboard the Silversea lines a significant part of their lifestyles. Many of them cruise every year and look forward to spending many weeks or months cruising in luxury.
Onboard the Silver Wind, everything is as beautiful as it could possibly be and nothing stays the same — the evolution, innovation of such beauty, for an appreciation of the finer things in life is never ending. No matter where you’re from, you will certainly find your home here and say, “This is exactly where I want to be.”
Silversea, voted the world’s best cruise liner year after year, is simply the most intimate in Italian cruising. It is known that the Italians embrace the best life has to offer and it is in this tradition that the Lefebvre family of Rome conceived of a pioneering company to offer a personal style of unrivalled cruising. Their rationale boiled down to the cruise liner being customized, complementary, embracing and based on each guest’s unique discriminating desire.
Accommodating 298 guests, Silver Wind has 149 ocean-view suites with some as big as 122 square meters and most with private teakwood verandas. The gorgeous owners’ suite has a second bedroom suite. All suites have 24-hour complimentary room service and beverages, a connoisseur’s assortment of wines, champagnes and spirits is stocked in the best cellars at sea. The suite is equipped with a flat-screen TV, state-of-the art furniture, toiletries from Bulgari, Acqua di Parma and Neutrogena among other superb amenities. The new spa has a beauty salon and fitness center, massage rooms, sauna, steam, and aerobics room with a panoramic view of the ocean.
Worshipers of the Silversea Cruises are always in for a treat at every port of call. In Mykonos, a village street was blocked off for a street party replete with buffet, dancing and music. In Norway, guests were invited to go fishing well above the Arctic Circle. In St. Petersberg, passengers sipped champagne and savored caviar in lovely turn of the century rooms of the Army Palace. Our group was delighted to have experienced a well-planned beach party on the exotic island of Olhahali in the Maldives with a buffet of salads, a barbecue feast of freshest catch from the sea, hamburgers and all the wine and spirits and champagne you can consume.
Gracious Filipino headwaiter Ronnie Isagon and his charming team composed of Dario Sagpang, Ariston Bautista, Rudolfo Salvador and chef Alberto Fetalvero truly outdid themselves in this event.
In this day and age, we attempt to seek that which we feel will complete us. This is the real purpose of travel, to take time off from what we deem sacred only to discover something far more sacred — ourselves. We make quality time for contemplation on life and the One who gives it.
The last night on the ship, I walked by the deck, the indigo sky strewn with stars, like goblets of bright candles. The rising crescent moon illumined with silver light as fireflies lit the ebony night. I will never forget the dinners, the dancing, the bonding, the friendships.
It was a dream one can only wish for.
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For more information, call Rajah Travel Tours at 523-8801 to 07 or 894-0886 local 1517. You may also log on to www.silversea.com.
E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.