Expedition voyaging in style
Prince Albert II sets a new standard in luxury for the increasingly popular expedition cruising sector.
S
ilversea has announced details of its ‘new’ expedition ship, Prince Albert II. Built in 1989 as Delfin Clipper
and most recently in service as World Discoverer, the 108m long, 6072gt ship will emerge from a major refit at Fincantieri’s Trieste shipyard with 132 berths in 66 suites. She is due to enter service on 12 June 2008. Te ship was previously laid up in Singapore following the bankruptcy of her then operator, Society Expeditions. With Prince Albert II, Silversea said it
aimed to bring the amenities of its larger ships to an expedition ship able to offer itineraries, especially in the polar regions, that conventional cruiseships cannot reach. Among the features that make Prince Albert IIwell-suited for expeditions include her 1A ice class, among the highest of any cruiseship, and a new fleet of eight Zodiac boats for shore landings. Te ship’s interior has been completely
overhauled, with amenities including cabins and suites ranging from 180ſt2 650ſt2
to (the ‘Grand’ suites on deck 7 are
the largest onboard any expedition ships), with 18 suites all told of over 400ſt2
in
size. Public spaces that have been overhauled
include the main reception on deck 3, which also houses a medical centre and changing room. Tere is also a refurbished observation lounge and the 144 seater theatre on deck 6, which will be mainly used for lectures. Tere is a single-seating 148 seater capacity main dining room, boutique and gym on deck 4, a library, Internet centre, and ‘panorama’ lounge with its own dancefloor on deck 5, which connects to the ‘Humidor’ restaurant, and a full-service spa on deck 6. Te spa connects to an outdoor grill and bar area, an area which was thought to be too small for a ‘meaningful’ pool. Instead, the area benefits from two large Jacuzzis. Te vessel will also feature ship-wide
wireless Internet and mobile phone access. Prince Albert II’s inaugural season of 10- to 21-night cruises will encompass cruises
The Naval Architect April 2008
The completely refurbished Prince Albert II is due to enter service on 12 June 2008.
Observation deck onboard Prince Albert II.
to the Arctic Circle, Svalbard, Iceland, and Greenland in the summer, with the ship
then repositioning for winter cruises to Antarctica and South
America.NA
53
Feature 4
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72