Luxury travel innovator Silversea Cruises is raising the bar in personalized service with plans to feature butlers for all guest accommodations aboard its award-winning fleet. The enhanced service will be phased in gradually over the coming months.
The line’s newest all-suite ship, Silver Spirit, will feature butler service in all accommodations when launched in December.
“By expanding the butler service, we’re essentially elevating the qualifications and caliber of our hospitality staff to ensure we continue to deliver a guest experience of unsurpassed quality,” said Christian Sauleau, executive vice president of fleet operations for Silversea. “Our butlers come to us from some of the world’s finest hotels and grandest homes, already highly trained in the art of recognizing guest preferences and anticipating their needs, ever attentive yet in the most unobtrusive manner.”
Sauleau added, “Each butler, assisted by a suite attendant, is empowered to troubleshoot problems and provide special service touches, if desired by the guest — for example unpacking and packing clothing, facilitating a dry cleaning request or preparing a scented Jacuzzi bath — ultimately creating a suite environment where one can relax and feel totally cared for.”
As the complimentary butler service rolls out to all accommodations, it will join an already expansive array of all-inclusive amenities available to Silversea guests, including a premium assortment of wines, champagne and spirits served throughout the ship, all gratuities, and on select sailings, the Silversea Experience®, an exclusive shoreside event. All accommodations are ocean-view (most are suites) and feature Pommery Champagne upon arrival; fresh fruit and flower arrangements; selection of European bath amenities; fine bed linens; premium mattresses; choice of pillow; plush robes and slippers; personalized stationery; 24-hour room service; in-suite beverage cabinet stocked daily on request with guest’s selection of wines, spirits, bottled water and soft drinks; and twice daily suite service with turndown nightly.
Currently, complimentary butler service is available in the top-category accommodations — Royal, Grand and Owner’s Suites. In the coming months, it will be rolled out to Silver and Medallion Suites as follows:
— May 7: Silver Wind
— May 17: Prince Albert II
— May 19: Silver Whisper
— May 30: Silver Cloud
— June 7: Silver Shadow
Butler service will then be extended to all accommodations on all ships as follows:
— September 21: Prince Albert II
— October 9: Silver Cloud
— October 24: Silver Whisper
— November 9: Silver Wind
— December 2: Silver Shadow
Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper — and launching in December, Silver Spirit — all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the addition of the regal expedition ship Prince Albert II, the company’s itineraries encompass all seven continents.
In the U.S., Silversea has been voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (nine times) and Travel + Leisure (seven times), and rated Number-One luxury cruise line by high-net-worth consumers in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI). International awards include “World’s Leading Luxury Cruise Line” from World Travel Awards (2007) ; “Five Star Diamond Award” from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (2009); “Number One” small-ship line in the Readers’ Choice” survey conducted by Britain’s Condé Nast Traveller magazine (2007); “Best Luxury Cruise Line” by Spain’s Cruceros & Destinos magazine (2008); “Best Luxury Cruise Line” by Australia’s Luxury Travel & Style Magazine (2009); and “Best Luxury Cruise Operator” according to Asia’s Travel Weekly (2008).