Silversea Cruises recently rented an entire island in the Philippines
and collaborating with local stakeholders to create a bespoke event for
some 300 guests travelling on the South Side Story World Cruise 2023.
The immersive cultural experience took place on Kalanggaman Island, which is nestled between Cebu and Leyte in the Visayan Sea.
Upon disembarking Silver Shadow, guests were greeted by traditional
music and dance, cocktails, and Filipino delicacies. They spent the day
relaxing on the island, which is fringed by sandy beaches and clear
waters, before capping the evening with a multi-course dinner featuring
local specialties under the stars and lively dance performance.
Conrad Combrink, Silversea’s senior vice president of expeditions,
destination and itinerary management, said that the bespoke island
experience, which was two years in the making, was planned with the
luxury cruise line's commitment to elevate guests’ enjoyment and connect
them with the planet’s most captivating cultures, communities, and
landscapes.
Not only did the guests gain a deep insight into the local culture on
Kalanggaman Island, Silversea was also able to contribute to the local
economy by helping to rebuild the island’s pontoon jetty and make other
structural renovations that will improve the destination’s tourism
infrastructure.
The South Side Story World Cruise 2023 also features other unique
events such as a bespoke wine-tasting event in Picton, New Zealand; a
spiritual dance performance by the Baining Fire Dancers of Melanesia
perform spiritual dances in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea; an evening of fine
gastronomy and folklore in the Cave of Descending Dragons in Ha Long
Bay, Vietnam; and a private beach party on Mayreau Island in the
Caribbean.
Silversea’s World Cruise 2024, which will sail from San Francisco
aboard Silver Shadow on 15 January 2024, will call in 65 destinations
across 14 countries.
Similarly, Silver Dawn’s World Cruise 2025 will depart Tokyo for New
York on 13 January 2025, sailing to 59 destinations in 30 countries
across four continents.