First Glimpse Prince Albert II was named in Monaco on June 3, 2008, following a multi-million-dollar renovation at the Fincantieri shipyard in Trieste. Silversea acquired the expedition ship last October -- the 6,072-ton vessel previously sailed for the now-defunct Society Expeditions company under the name World Discoverer. This will be Silversea's first expedition ship and its smallest vessel, as well as the first not to have "Silver" in its name. Prince Albert II will head out on its maiden voyage on June 12. Here's what we know about the ship so far: The ship will carry 132 guests in 66 oceanview cabins (down from the 175 guests accommodated on the World Discoverer). Many of the staterooms will feature private verandahs, and all will have flat-screen TVs. Accommodations will range from 180 to 675 square feet, and the ship will offer some of the largest cabins on any expedition ship. Ship amenities will include a single-seating dining room, a full-service spa, a fitness center, a beauty salon, Jacuzzi pools, a boutique, a library and an Internet center. Among the several onboard lounges will be a cigar lounge as is found on Silversea's other ships. State-of-the-art satellite communications systems will provide Wi-Fi and cell phone service throughout the ship. Prince Albert II will carry a fleet of eight latest-model Zodiac boats for up-close explorations. The ship is itself a Lloyd's Register 1A ice-rated vessel. Maiden-season itineraries will focus on Arctic and Antarctic explorations. The inaugural season begins with an 18-night voyage to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, lying north of the Arctic Circle. The ship will spend time in Svalbard, Iceland, and Greenland through mid-August when it will cross the Panama Canal and head down the west coasts of Central and South America. From mid-November 2008 through February 2009, the expedition ship will visit Antarctica, South Georgia Island, and the Falklands. The ship will then head to the Norwegian Fjords for summer 2009, before returning to lower South America and Antarctica for a series of late 2009/early 2010 cruises. Fares will be all-inclusive in keeping with Silversea's other ships. --by Erica Silverstein, Associate Editor --Photo appears courtesy of Peter Riley.
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