Arts Club Tour 2019 Cruising Cape Town to Lisbon A 34 day Expedition Cruise on the Silver Cloud Expedition
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Arts Club
Tour 2019
Cruising
Cape Town to Lisbon
A 34 day Expedition Cruise on the
Silver Cloud Expedition
Join us on this memorable,
imaginative cruise along the west
coast of Africa, available as a 34
day combined itinerary or in one
of two segments (segment 1 of 18
days or segment 2 of 16 days
embarking Tema). This is a true
expedition experience of exciting
cultures while traveling from the
beautiful Skeleton Coast to the
Gold Coast and beyond to the
deserts of the Sahara and the
wine-making land of Morocco.
Follow the trading routes of Henry
the Navigator from the west coast
of Africa into the Atlantic to see
some of the least visited places on
Earth with countries almost
untouched by tourism. This is
expedition cruising at its source: a
rare look at a complex continent
with a unique blend of beauty,
nature, culture and history that
offers truly one-of-a-kind
experiences and lifelong memories.
Depart Cape Town,
South Africa
March 28, 2019
Arrive Lisbon,
Portugal
May 1, 2019
Day 1, Thursday, 28 March 2019: Cape Town, South Africa: (Embarkation for cruise segment 1) If you visit only one place in South Africa, make it Cape Town. Whether you're partaking in the Capetonian inclination for alfresco fine dining (the so-called Mother City is home to many of the country's best restaurants) or sipping wine atop Table Mountain, you will sense, correctly, that this is South Africa's most urbane, civilized city. Here elegant Cape Dutch buildings abut ornate Victorian architecture and imposing British monuments. In the Bo-Kaap neighborhood, the call to prayer echoes through cobbled streets lined with houses painted in bright pastels while the sweet tang of Malay curry wafts through the air.
Day 2, Friday 29 March 2019: Day at Sea
While we're at sea enjoy wine tastings, designer boutiques and language and dance classes. Take in a
matinee movie, check the market or your e-mail in the Internet Point, slip away with a novel from the
library, enjoy a sunny chaise, lounge with a movie in your suite or just take in the sun pool side. The
choice is yours. Or, you might choose to explore the culinary adventures on board:
The Restaurant
Sparkling with tales of adventure, bonhomie and like-
minded friends, The Restaurant offers contemporary,
international cuisine created by our most talented
chefs. Menus feature regional specialities unique to
the destinations guests visit on their cruise. During
days at sea, choose something from La Collection du
Monde, a series of signature dishes created exclusively
for Silversea cruises by the Grand Chefs Relais &
Châteaux.
Le Champagne
This Relais & Châteaux restaurant is just the place to be
after a day of expedition, where you can indulge in an
evening of palette pampering where fine wines are
complemented by a set tasting menu of regionally-
inspired dishes in an intimate, elegant setting. An
extraordinary six-course experience celebrating the
world’s most distinguished wine regions complete what
is surely the finest dining at sea. A surcharge applies in
this restaurant.
La Terrazza
Offering the very best of Italian cuisine, La Terrazza’s
freshly made authentic a la carte dishes are
complimented by a wide range of complimentary wines,
even in the most remote of destinations. Using only the
best seasonal produce, La Terrazza offers buffet
restaurant for breakfast and lunch with indoor or al
fresco seating and is transformed into an intimate Italian
restaurant for dinner.
The Pool Grill
In the evenings The Grill features lava stone cooking at its
finest, where guests are invited to cook their meat, fish or
veggies directly at their table on top of the grill stone or
inside a soup bowl, and then simply cook to your very own
taste. Every bite is cooked to your perfection, time after
time. During daytime, The Grill becomes a rotisserie and
gourmet salad and burger bar, offering build your own
burgers from the best selections of meat.
Day 3, Saturday, 20 March 2019: Luderitz, Namibia The scorched desert that surrounds Luderitz means the city’s collection of German art nouveau architecture couldn't look more unusually placed along the Namibian coastline. This quirkiness is what gives the destination its charm, however, along with undeniably fantastic wildlife spotting opportunities. See gangs of playful penguins skipping across the waves, pink flamingos wading by the coast and dolphins leaping into the air as you visit a city that boasts some of the most incredible wildlife in Africa. Take a boat tour across the waves to drop in on Penguin Island and Seal Island, where friendly seals flop about and bark out welcomes in your direction.
Day 4, Sunday, 31 March 2019: Walvis Bay, Namibia One of Southern Africa's most important harbor towns, the once industrial Walvis Bay has recently developed into a seaside holiday destination with a number of pleasant lagoon front guesthouses and several good restaurants, including one of Namibia's best, Lyon des Sables. The majority of water activities advertised in Swakopmund actually depart from Walvis's small waterfront area, and there's an amazing flamingo colony residing in the bay's 3,000 year old lagoon.
Day 5, Tuesday, 02 April 2019: Day at Sea
During your second day at sea savour your leisure and perhaps participate in some of the activities on
board. If, by chance, you have been too busy to discover the lounges on board, perhaps this day at sea
would be the ideal to time to enjoy some time sipping your favourite drink while socialize with friends
old and new:
The Bar
With complimentary cocktails and
engaging conversation, live music and a
dance floor, The Bar on board Silver
Cloud welcomes guests to mix and mingle.
When living such unique experiences as
these, there is never a dull moment!
Panorama Lounge
The Panorama Lounge is specially designed to provide
an uninterrupted view of the day’s destination from the
comfort of the luxury cruise ship’s interior. This is an
ideal place to unwind on
your cruise, enjoy
afternoon tea, listen to the
pianist and watch the
setting sun. The drinks are
complimentary, the music live and inviting. Enjoy dancing to a range
of musical styles for every taste from standards to the latest club mixes.
Tor’s Observation Lounge
The ideal place for scenic days at sea, this vantage point
far forward and high atop this luxury cruise ship is perfect
for that king of the world feeling.
Connoisseur’s Corner
The Connoisseur’s Corner offers exceptional cognacs
along with a premium selection of cigars for purchase.
Day 6, Wednesday, 03 April 2019: Namibe, Angola Namibe is a coastal city of baroque architecture and stately churches in southwestern Angola. The city was founded in 1840 by the colonial Portuguese administration. Namibe is perched between the edge of the expansive Namib Desert and the cold waters of the Benguela Current offshore flowing to the north. Thanks to the blend of cool water and the proximity to the desert, Namibe has a cool, dry climate and desert vegetation. The most famous of these desert plants is the Welwitschia mirabilis, a rare plant found only in the Namibe Province of South Angola and the Namib Desert.
Day 7, Thursday, 04 April 2019: Lobito, Angola About equidistant from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia on Angola’s stunning coastline lies Lobito, a small town in the Benguala Province. Long under Portuguese colonisation, the city suffered somewhat, albeit it less than the country’s capital Luanda, during the long, drawn out civil war of 1975 - 2002. However, Lobito has begun the rehabilitation process (primarily through funding from both China, which is building a railway system throughout the country, and Brazil) and the grass roots of restoration have very definitely started.
Day 8, Friday, 05 April 2019: Luanda, Angola A study in contrasting economies, Luanda is a boisterous coastal city of haves and have-nots. As capital of Africa’s second largest oil-producing country, it has been deemed the world’s most expensive city, and since independence in 2002 everyone seems to be gunning for a piece of the post-civil war economy. Its renaissance offers a range of experiences from cushy hotels to a restaurant-lined oceanfront promenade, as well as locals hawking handmade goods at crowded public markets.
Days 9 and 10, Saturday, 06 April, to Sunday, 07 April 2019: Days at Sea
After a week of exploring, a two day rest at sea is likely what your body really needs. So, in addition to
the many activities on board, not to mention just vegging in your stateroom, lounging around the pool in
the sun might be just what you need, unless you are the kind of person who wants to burn up some
calories in the gym
The Pool Deck
Imagine chaise lounges arranged in the sun or shade, bubbling whirlpools, the pool water refreshing in
warmer climates, heated for cooler weather, attentive staff at the ready with an oversized towel as you
emerge from the pool, with your favourite beverage at just the right moment. This is expedition
cruising as you have never experienced it before. What better way to relax after exploring?
Fitness Centre and Jogging Track
The Fitness Centre on board this luxury cruise ship is equipped with free weights, weight machines,
state-of-the-art treadmills, elliptical trainers and recumbent and upright bicycles. Classes in aerobics,
yoga, Pilates and circuit training are led by the onboard fitness trainer and are always complimentary.
As well, the jogging track on the top deck is available for everything from walking to running.
Personal training, body composition analysis and specialty classes are available at an additional
charge.Day 11, Monday, 08 April 2019: São Tomé, São Tomé and Principe São Tomé seems to embody a kind of lush tropical paradise usually associated with the South Pacific. The atmosphere here is palpable luxury and it is an intoxicating blend of sunlight, sea, air and fantastically abundant vegetation. São Tomé and Príncipe is a Portuguese speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea off the western equatorial coast of Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe located about 140 kilometres apart and about 240 kilometres off the northwestern coast of Gabon. Both islands are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range. São Tomé, the sizable southern island, is situated just north of the equator.
Day 12, Tuesday, 09 April 2019: Bom Bom Island, São Tome and Principe The two West African islands of São Tomé & Principe form the smallest nation in Africa and are probably the least known country in the world. Located in the Gulf of Guinea and straddling the equator, the islands cover an area of 1,000 square kilometers, roughly five times the size of Washington, D.C. Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands’ sugar based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century grown with plantation slave labor, a practice that continued into the 20th century. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were delayed until the late 1980s.
Day 13, Wednesday, 10 April 2019: Limbe, Cameroon Limbe is located on a beautiful bay against the backdrop of a major mountain range. Cameroon is world famous for its tea and agriculture production and Limbe is the centre of its oil industry. Formerly known as Victoria, Limbe is on the southwest coast of the Republic of Cameroon between West and Central Africa. Victoria was founded by Alfred Saker (Baptist Missionary Society of London) in 1858 during his missionary work to Cameroon. Colonised by Germany in 1884 and then divided into French and British zones after World War I, Cameroon became a republic in 1972. Limbe got its name from the small river called Limbe, which itself was named after the German architect Limburg, who constructed the bridge at the entrance to the town.
Day 14, Thursday, 11 April 2019: Day at Sea
After almost two weeks of arduous exploring, you may feel a bit ragged at the edges, and what better way
to revitalize yourself than to visit the Salon for some fine tuning, or the Spa for some deep relaxation, or
perhaps the Boutique to fulfill a special need. If you haven’t yet discovered these venues, they are just
waiting for you.
Beauty Salon
A full range of Beauty Salon services
is available for both men and women
including hairstyling, manicures and
pedicures.
Appointments for these chargeable
services may be made on board the
ship.
The Spa at Silversea
Relax your body and mind in the ship’s
soothing spa sanctuary. Indulge yourself in a
wide range of invigorating therapies including
facials, body wraps and massages. Men’s and
women’s saunas and steam rooms are perfect
for relaxing before your spa treatment, after
your workout or just because they are there.
Boutique
Silversea’s striking new shipboard boutiques,
reimagined and redesigned by famed Italian
architect Tiziano Vudafieri and his team at
Vudafieri & Saverino Studio, are stunning
modern design spaces befitting the finest
creations from legendary designers
including: Buccellati, Damiani, Le Vian,
Tag Heuer, Bulgari, Gucci, Paul & Shark,
Sisley, Swarovski and more. Guests are
offered a carefully curated selection of
cutting edge fashions, jewelry, accessories,
fine perfumes and cosmetics from iconic
brands renowned for blending tradition,
innovation and exceptional quality.Day 15, Friday, 12 April 2019: Cotonou, Benin Tucked between Nigeria and Togo in Benin is the busy trading port of Cotonou. Named a market town for its coastal placement and lucrative palm oil and textile trades, Cotonou is a sprawling amorphous city, swaddled between the Atlantic coast and Lake Nakoué. Because of its special geographical situation, Cotonou is bursting with life. Visitors disembarking here will find a colourful port alive with economic activity and very much the capital of the trading industry (although not capital in name since the official capital is Porto-Novo to the east).
Days 16 and 17, Saturday, 13 April, to Sunday, 14 April: Lomé, Togo If you are sick of the usual beach resorts, then zesty Lomé will welcome you to a coastal destination that oozes with inimitable character. The former Jewel of West Africa offers some wonderful beaches, and exports its delicious bounty of cocoa, coffee and pine kernels far and wide. A disorientating place, where stuttering engines and whizzing motorbikes add a chaotic essence to the city's streets, you will see vendors strolling with supplies balanced improbably on their heads, along with a healthy supply of intrigue, adventure and buzzing markets.
Day 18, Monday, 15 April 2019: Tema (Accra), Ghana (Disembarkation for cruise segment 1) Guests leaving the Silver Cloud Expedition will disembark after breakfast at the latest. Guests remaining on board will have a morning and afternoon in Tema. From a modest fishing port to the biggest in Ghana, Tema’s industrial activity has all but tarnished the charming, postcard scenery of the region. The neighbouring white sand beaches remain immaculate, still serving as a testimony to the rich variety of fishing birds that can be found in the area, including gannets, boobies and kingfishers along with many species of fish in and around the cerulean waters of the coast. A light breeze tickles the inflamed, iron-filled soil of the mainland on which the railway linking Tema to Accra lures hundreds of visitors each day. Day 18, Monday, 15 April 2019: Tema (Accra), Ghana (Embarkation for cruise segment 2) Guests joining the Silver Cloud Expedition for the cruise from Tema to Lisbon will board starting at approximately 3 p.m.
Day 19, Tuesday, 16 April 2019: Takoradi, Ghana Ghana's fourth largest city plays serene beaches against a bustling commercial centre. People from around the world visit the shore both for its beauty and to enjoy the fresh seafood served right on the sands. Frantic city life awaits a short distance inland where an economy fuelled by Ghana’s oil industry is most apparent in the maze of vendors at Market Circle.
Day 20, Wednesday, 17 April, 2019: Abidjan, Ivory Coast Three hours south of Yamoussoukro, nestled in between the canals and waterways, is Abidjan the economic capital of the Ivory Coast and is considered by many to be the most beautiful city in West Africa. Considered the crossroads of West Africa both economically and culturally, Abidjan benefits from year round clement temperatures reaching average highs of around 30˚ Celsius. Abidjan is the largest French speaking country in West Africa. Like much of West Africa, this city has cachet and soul and enjoys a diversity of cultures, traditions and people, notably through the French influence but also through the steady stream of tourists that make the city both vibrant and cosmopolitan.
Day 21, Thursday, 18 April 2019: Day at Sea Day 22, Friday, 19 April 2019: Tokeh, Sierra Leone Tokeh, or Tokeh Town as it is also known, is a coastal resort town that relies mainly on fishing and tourism. Only about 30 kilometers outside Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, this town is nestled in an area of beautiful scenery surrounded by mountains, forests and beaches. The Tokeh Beach is considered one of the largest and most attractive beaches in West Arica. This town was first founded by a Sherbo fisherman who settled along the river bank. Much later, in 1968, a prominent barrister from Sierra Leone purchased the land and, in partnership with a French company, developed the village. Today it is a thriving town with a resort, church, mosque, community center, school and about 6000 residents.
Day 23, Saturday, 20 April 2019: Aberdeen, Sierra Leone The coastal neighborhood of Aberdeen, a part of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown, is located on the tip of the Aberdeen Peninsula. It was established in 1829 to provide accommodation for liberated enslaved Africans who had been left in Freetown by the British Royal Navy. Today it is a vibrant neighborhood with several up-scale restaurants and hotels. It is also known as a good surf spot. Day 24, Sunday, 21 April 2019: Day at Sea
Day 25, Monday, 22 April 2019: Banjul, Gambia A British Army captain created Gambia’s capital city in 1816 as a means to stop the European and American slave trade in the area. Barracks were the first residences, but the post grew quickly. Today, the King Fahad Mosque’s twin minarets mark the large city’s skyline. Shopping at the public market is a main attraction. Banjul is also a popular base from which to head out for tropical bird watching trips. Daily life is colorful here, and you should expect beggars, hagglers and lots of unsolicited hellos from bumsters, young men who hang around tourists a little too much.
Day 26, Tuesday, 23 April 2019: Dakar, Senegal Big, crowded and chaotic, Dakar can seem like a dirty mess not worth the effort, but relax and dig in because this is emerging Africa. The city is progressing quickly as the country develops, and already Dakar is home to many worthy restaurants and thumping nightlife. Historic sights are here, as well as nice beaches. Keep your eyes open, though, especially at markets, in shopping areas, and at top tourist attractions where pickpockets, muggers, and hustlers work the streets.
Day 27: Wednesday, 24 April 2019 (morning): Joal Fadiout, Senegal Joal Fadiout is a picturesque village located southeast of Dakar in Senegal. It is an island but is connected to the mainland with a wooden foot bridge. The community living on Fadiout Island is a mix of Christian and Muslim faiths and live traditional lifestyles based on artesian fishing. The tides are dramatic in this area and on the low tide many people can be seen out on the mangrove mudflats collecting cockles, oysters, murex snails and conch and fishing with seine nets from their pirogues and swimming in the shallows. The island is entirely comprised of shell piled up by the people living here for thousands of years. The streets are clean, neat and narrow and beg for photography
Day 27, Wednesday, 24 April (afternoon): Saly, Senegal Saly is a picturesque seaside resort village on the la Petite Côte (the Little Coast), about 80 kilometers south of Dakar. It was originally a Portuguese trading post but over time developed into a resort town after the first resort was built in 1984. Today its main industry is tourism and there are several modern hotels, tea houses playing traditional Wolof music, restaurants and shops. Its main attractions are the sandy beaches lined with coconut palm trees, idyllic climate and watersports. Day 28, Thursday, 25 April 2019: Day at Sea
Day 29, Friday, 26 April 2019: Dakhla, Morocco Dakhla is a fishing city located at the tip of a thin peninsula. Apart from modern fishing fleets, simple, rustic boats are clustered together along the shores while the whitewashed buildings, chaotic streets and fabrics woven in colorful patterns make for interesting images. Historically, this was a stronghold of Berbers and was at one time a Spanish colony named Villa Cisneros. An Old Spanish lighthouse still stands on the outskirts of town as a testament to this segment of the region’s past. Thanks to a steady wind that blows over 300 days of the year, modern Dakhla is a hotspot for watersports like kite and wind surfing.
Days 30 and 31, Saturday, 27 April, to Sunday, 28 April 2019: Laâyoune, Morocco Laâyoune is the largest city and capital, of Western Sahara. It has a population of about 200,000, which is more than half the population of the territory. It is literally a city in the middle of the desert, about 16 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, with nothing else around it for a thousand miles. The name means the water springs or water source. The Spaniards developed the city in 1938 as the administrative, military and European centre. In 1940, Spain designated it as the capital of the Spanish Sahara. Since 1976 it has been the capital of the Laâyoune province of Morocco. The population of Laâyoune is largely Moroccan with a substantial number of indigenous Sahrawis.
Day 32, Monday, 29 April 2019: Safi, Morocco Safi’s natural harbor lies on the Atlantic in western Morocco and was once used by the Roman and the Phoenicians. By the 11th century gold, slaves and ivory were the hot commodities being traded between Marrakesh and Guinea. Evolving through the ages to cater to the popular trade of the day, the major industry here today is fishing connected to the country's sardine industry, but there is also an economy based on exported phosphates, textiles and ceramics. The city was overseen by the Portuguese Empire in the 1500s and a fortress built to safeguard the city by these Portuguese influences still stands today. Safi sits near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains where Bedouins once camped. Day 33, Tuesday, 30 April 2019: Day at Sea
Day 34, Wednesday, 01 May 2019: Lisbon, Portugal (Disembarkation) Spread over a string of seven hills north of the Rio Tejo (Tagus River) estuary, Lisbon presents an intriguing variety of faces to those who negotiate its switchback streets. In the oldest neighborhoods stepped alleys whose street pattern dates back to Moorish times are lined with pastel-color houses decked with laundry; here and there vantage points afford spectacular river or city views. In the grand 18th century center, black-and-white mosaic cobblestone sidewalks border wide boulevards. Trams clank through the streets, and blue-and-white painted and glazed ceramic tiles adorn churches, restaurants, and fountains.
Included in the cruise fare:
Highly qualified expedition team with experts in their fields (marine
biologists, ornithologists, historians and more)
Excursions and activities, including explorations by Zodiac®
Complimentary expedition gear: backpack and water bottle on every voyage
Personalised service with a butler for all suites
The highest crew to guest ratio in the industry
Fine dining even in the most remote places of the planet
Comfortable amenities with the largest expedition suites at sea
Inclusive room service, select wines, spirits and soft drinks throughout the
ship
Free WIFI* throughout the ship
Onboard gratuities
Exclusive partnership with The Royal Geographical Society
* Unlimited Internet access for guests in Silver, Royal, Grand, and Owner’s Suites with
one hour of Internet access per guest/per day for guests in all Veranda Suites.
All Silver Cloud Expedition suites
Feature the following included in all cruise fares:
Butler service A choice of pillow
Refrigerator and bar setup stocked with Plush robes and slippers
your preferences Personalised stationery
European bath amenities Binoculars
®
Pratesi fine bed linens and down duvet Umbrella
covers Complimentary WiFi Internet access
Premium mattresses Complimentary Interactive mobile contentVeranda Suite and Deluxe Veranda Suites Some Veranda Suites accommodate three guests. The Deluxe Veranda Suite offers preferred central location with identical accommodation to a Veranda Suite. Both measure 295 sq. feet including veranda at 49 sq. feet. In addition to the features mentioned above, Veranda Suites also include: Teak veranda with patio furniture and Walk-in wardrobe with personal safe floor-to-ceiling glass doors Vanity table with hair dryer Sitting area Writing desk Twin beds or queen-sized bed Flat screen television with satellite reception Marbled bathroom with shower (some Direct-dial telephone with tub/shower combination) One hour complimentary WiFi access per guest/per day
Suite Categories*
Deluxe Veranda Suite
Veranda Suite
* Larger suites are available on request
Single supplements available from only 25%For further information please contact:
Geoff Clydesdale
Geoff.clydesdale@visiontravel.ca
Direct line: 604.685.6756
Consumer Protection BC License
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