SILVERSEA CRUISES NAMED “WORLD’S BEST” BY TRAVEL + LEISURE (USA) READERS

Silversea Cruises, known for its exotic worldwide itineraries, luxurious all-suite accommodation and gracious service, has been named the winner of Travel + Leisure (USA) magazine’s “World’s Best” award for 2008.  This is the seventh time the ultra-luxury cruise operator has been honoured with the highly coveted award. Achieving an overall score of 88, Silversea topped the “Small-Ship Cruise Line” category, standing out on a list of companies operating the most elite and intimate ships – those accommodating no more than 400 guests.

Earlier this year the line was named the Number-One overall luxury cruise line by high-net-worth consumers in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index survey from the independent New York-based Luxury Institute, topping 19 other well-known cruise companies, including traditional, expedition and river cruise lines.

“It is an honour for us to receive this recognition from the readers of Travel + Leisure (USA) and our valued guests,” said Amerigo Perasso, Silversea president and CEO. “Discerning travellers are seeking unique experiences and adventures without sacrificing the luxuries of life and this is the type of travel lifestyle we make it our mission to deliver.”

Each year Travel + Leisure (USA) asks its subscribers to determine the “World’s Best” awards by rating travel companies and properties based on certain characteristics. Cruise lines are evaluated in the six categories of cabins, food, service, itineraries/ destinations, activities and value. The complete results of this year’s survey appear in the magazine’s August issue.

Travel + Leisure (USA) boasts a readership in the millions and is considered one of the top travel publications in the world.  Since 1996, working in association with independent research firms, the magazine has made available to its subscribers a questionnaire that asks respondents to rate travel providers based on their recent travel experiences.  For more information about the “World’s Best” awards, visit www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest.

For more information please contact Silversea Cruises on +61 2 9255 0600 or toll free 1300 306 872 (Australia) or 0800 701 427 (New Zealand), or visit www.silversea.com

Silversea Cruises is recognised as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard four intimate vessels, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, and Silver Whisper, all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance.  With the addition of the regal expedition ship Prince Albert II in 2008, the company’s itineraries encompass all seven continents.  Silversea has for the past four consecutive years been named Best Cruise Line by readers of Australia’s Luxury Travel and Style magazine.  For nine consecutive years, Silversea has been named “Number One Small Ship Line” in the Readers’ Choice survey conducted by Condé Nast Traveler magazine in the USA and in 2007 was the only cruise line named in the UK edition of Condé Nast Traveller’s “Top 100 Luxury Travel Experiences”, at the same time topping the Small Cruise Line award for the eighth time. Silversea has been selected as “World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” seven times in the Travel + Leisure (USA) readers’ poll and was rated Number-One luxury cruise line by high-net-worth consumers in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index.