Silversea Cruises announced today that it has purchased the expedition ship World Discoverer. The company took delivery of the vessel in Singapore on September 17. The ship will undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment before it begins service in spring 2008.

ExpertCruiser first reported on August 27 that Silversea had been looking to acquire an expedition vessel.

With the addition of World Discoverer, Silversea’s fleet increases to five ships and to six in 2009, with the line’s new build vessel.  Additionally, the line will be one of the few cruise lines offering voyages to all seven continents. Silversea will be unveiling more details about World Discoverer, including the new name, in the coming weeks. The line’s executives did say that the vessel’s refurbishment will extend to virtually every area of the ship to bring World Discoverer in line with Silversea’s ultra-luxury standards.

After the planned refurbishment, World Discoverer will accommodate around 140 guests (reduced from current 175) in ocean-view staterooms, including Owner’s Suites, Grand Suites, and 12 yet-unnamed suites that will be similar to the line’s popular Silver Suites — offering an intimate club-like ambiance that will deliver an expedition cruise experience consistent with the line’s reputation for intimate yet spacious ships. Additionally the vessel’s crew complement of 106 will continue to ensure the highest level of service with a crew-to-guest ratio that will equal or exceed that of Silver Cloud and Silver Wind , thus being among the highest in this niche market.

World Discoverer will be equipped with state-of-the-art satellite communication systems, providing bow-to-stern wireless Internet access, enabling guests with Wi-Fi-enabled laptops and PDAs to surf the Internet and check e-mails from the comfort of their suites as well as public areas. Cellular phone service will also allow guests to stay in touch using their own cell phones even when the ship is miles away from land. The vessel will also feature flat screen TVs in all suites and staterooms. In the ship’s lounges, the latest audio-visual equipment, complete with high-definition video screens, will display live lectures hosted by visiting destination experts.

The 6,072-ton vessel also boasts a strengthened hull with the highest Lloyd’s Register ice-class notation (1A), appropriate for navigating waters, without an escort, in some of the world’s most remote regions, including Antarctica.

Prior to being acquired by Silversea, World Discoverer was operated by Seattle-based Society Expeditions until the company went bankrupt in June 2004.

Click here to read more about Silversea Cruises.