Silversea Cruises’ Silver Whisper started her 116-day 2017 world cruise last Friday from the Port of San Francisco, marking the first time in the company’s history that a world cruise started from San Francisco, according to a statement. 

The occasion was celebrated by a plaque exchange between port officials and Mark Conroy, Silversea’s managing director for the Americas, and Silver Whisper’s staff captain, Zbigniew Jaszewski. 

The ship will sail to Rome, first heading to Hawaii, then China and the Middle East. 

“World Cruise 2017 was designed to be an extraordinary global adventure, and we’re delighted to have the voyage depart from such an extraordinary and incredibly beautiful city as San Francisco,” said Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s CEO. “Silver Whisper’s guests, about 80 percent of whom are members of our Venetian Society loyalty club, will visit 62 ports in 25 countries, while enjoying an onboard experience completely revitalized by the ship’s recent major renovation.”