Today I was lucky enough to experience one of Silversea’s “Silver Collection” shore excursions in St. Lucia. The Silver Collection tours are exclusive and unique and are only available to a handful of guests. For example, my “Best of St. Lucia” tour was only open to just 20 guests that allowed for a truly enjoyable experience.

From the pier in Castries we boarded a small bus for the hour and half drive up St. Lucia’s scenic coast. Our destination was the Dasheene Restaurant at the Ladera resort that was voted the “Best Hotel in the Caribbean” by Condé Nast Traveler readers. With a birds-eye view of the famous Pitons the resort and the Dasheene Restaurant is the ultimate feast for the eyes and palate. An exotic lunch was prepared by renowned chef Orlando Satchell and consisted of canapés, green mango and heart of palm salad, white carrot soup, plantain crusted mahi-mahi, roasted roulette with allspice jus, capped off with a slice of pumpkin and coconut cream pie.

After lunch a tour of one of the resort’s villas showcased the good life by guests fortunate enough to stay at Ladera. Then it was off to Soufrière to board a catamaran back to the ship. What a relaxing way to enjoy the scenery – sun shining, wind blowing it was paradise. The crew served drinks and snacks and even anchored at gorgeous Marigot Bay to allow everyone to take a quick dip in the water. This seven hour tour was only $130 – a bargain considering all that was included.

Next blog – dining at Silver Wind’s Relais & Chateaux inspired Saletta wine restaurant.

What is ultra-luxury? Simply defined it is the exceptional service and exquisite surroundings. If you seek a small ship setting that is elegant and luxurious, with gourmet food, and fine European-style service Silversea Cruises is for you.

Italian-built and -decorated, the Silver Wind has 7 passenger decks and is designed so that all public rooms lie aft and all cabins are forward to ensure a very peaceful setting. The only sound may come from the anchor being lowered or raised in tender ports. Public rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated in soft pastels with some colorful Murano glass fixtures. The show lounge is a multi-tiered show room for party gatherings, films, special-interest and enrichment programs, and low-key cabaret entertainment.

The casino has blackjack and roulette tables and half-dozen slot machines. The Bar, one deck above the dining room, is the primary rendezvous at any time of day, and side passages lead forward directly to the show lounge’s lowest level. Live music is available before and after dinner. The Panorama Lounge serves drinks from 11 am on, hosting tea accompanied by unobtrusive music in the afternoon. A card and conference room, a smart boutique and jewelry shop, a library with books, DVDs and videos, and a separate six-position computer center are onboard. Internet access rates are moderate if hours are bought in bulk.

The Lido Deck has a fairly spacious heated swimming pool and sunbathing deck, with teak/aluminum deck furniture (little “Silversea” touches such as cold towels, water sprays and fresh fruit provide poolside pampering on hot days). There is a Fitness Centre on Deck 9 that has great views and is of course equipped with the latest state-of-the-art workout equipment. The Spa at Silversea on Deck 7 offers a soothing white-themed ambiance and is also the area where the men’s and women’s steam and sauna rooms remain. There’s also a great little outdoor deck area and Tranquility Room adjacent to the — a great place to relax after a spa treatment.

The main dining area is The Restaurant, which can accommodate all passengers at once for three meals a day with open seating. The menus are creative and poured wines are complimentary. The 40-seat Saletta Wine Restaurant by Relais & Chateaux is located in a separate space next to the main dining room. It is open for dinner only with reservations required. La Terrazza is a sophisticated buffet alternative for breakfast and lunch, with ample seating indoors and out under an awning with views over the wake. At night, the venue transforms into a candle-lit trattoria offering spectacular regional Italian fare.

All accommodations on Silver Wind (and all Silversea Cruises) are classified as suites and of the 148 total, 110 have private balconies with comfortable deck chairs and tables. Suites range from the smallest 240 square foot Vista Suites all the way up to the 1,314 square foot Owner’s Suites. All accommodations have sitting areas with full-size sofas, two comfortable chairs, and cocktail tables that can be raised for in-room service. All furnish desks, vanity tables, TVs with VCR or DVD players, personalized stationery, stocked minibars, fresh fruit, walk-in closets, and marble baths with hair dryers, robes and slippers. Why would anyone want to leave?

Next blog read about Silversea’s Silver Collection shore excursions.

I am aboard the lovely Silver Wind for a quick hop around the Caribbean. For the next three days I’ll be blogging from the ship. I boarded the vessel in St. George, Grenada and will sail to St. Lucia and Barbados.

Silversea Cruises is Italian-family owned and got its start with the Silver Cloud in 1994. The Silver Wind followed two years later and the larger Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper in 2000 and 2001. Larger tonnage is under construction and the line recently announced its new expedition ship, HSH Prince Albert.

The 16,800-ton Silver Wind is the epitome of boutique ambiance holding just 296 passengers and 210 crew members. This ultra-luxury vessel has the highest passenger-to-crew ratio of any ship making service personable and impeccable – clearly the best afloat!

The ship received a major update during the winter 2002-2003 season and was updated with all new soft furnishings and some added amenities to bring her in line with her newer and larger sisters. The Silver Wind will have its biggest ever refit sometime during the winter 2009 season with some exciting soon to be announced additions. Stay tuned for more…

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced today that they are assigning the Norwegian Jade (formerly the Pride of Hawaii) to be deployed in Europe year round until the spring of 2010. This is the second deployment change in two weeks for the line. NCL recently announced that the Pride of Aloha would be transferred to parent company Star Cruises.

The 2,400-passenger Jade will sail a variety of itineraries, extending its inaugural season in Europe that begins on March 30.

As part of the year-round schedule, NCL is introducing three new itineraries – a series of 12-day Eastern Mediterranean sailings and nine-day Canary Islands and Morocco sailings, along with a 14-day Eastern Mediterranean holiday cruise, all round-trip from Barcelona.

Unfortunately the deployment change will disrupt many passengers booked on voyages to and from New York City for the upcoming winter season. NCL is offering guests that were booked on Jade’s 12-day transatlantic sailing or seven-, 10- or 11-day sailings from New York from mid-December through April 2008, the opportunity to move their reservations to comparable sailings on Norwegian Gem. Guests who make the change will receive full price protection and a $100 on-board credit per person (maximum $200 per stateroom). Additionally, NCL will pay for air changes fees (up to $100 per person) or hotel cancellations fees (up to $50 per room) for guests who booked air or hotels on their own. Air and hotel booked through NCL will be protected at the original rate. Guests who choose to sail on a different NCL sailing (other than the one offered) will receive a $50 on-board credit per person (maximum $100 per stateroom) on another voyage. Guests who instead wish to cancel will receive a full refund.