The coolest rooms at sea? This cruise line is converting a helicopter hangar into super suites
They will be suites with such commanding views that being in one will feel like being in a helicopter.
Which is fitting, since the space they will occupy originally was designed for a helicopter.
Luxury line Silversea Cruises on Thursday announced that it would add six super suites to the top of its new luxury expedition ship, Silver Endeavour, in a soaring space with a prime location that until now has housed a helicopter hangar.
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To be installed during an overhaul of the vessel at a shipyard in April, the new accommodations will include two giant new master suites that measure more than 1,000 square feet and four slightly smaller signature suites — all with sweeping views.
New master suites
Facing the ship's wake with views in several directions, the two new master suites will measure a whopping 1,163 square feet. This doesn't include the massive balconies that measure 312 square feet.
The sprawling complexes will boast panoramic, vaulted glass walls that allow for stunning views in almost every direction. Interior space will include expansive living and dining areas, bedrooms with twin beds that convert into a king bed, a roomy bathroom with a walk-in shower and a separate whirlpool bath.
New signature suites
The four new signature suites will measure from 721 to 850 square feet and feature floor-to-ceiling windows with incredible views. Each suite will also feature a living room with more epic vistas, a dining area, and an adjoining bathroom with a large walk-in shower and whirlpool bath.
Each complex will have a balcony measuring from 167 to 269 square feet.
Both categories of suites are new for the ship, which was originally built with 100 cabins. In addition to single bedrooms designed to hold up to two passengers, suites will have convertible sofas in their living rooms to fit a third passenger.
Silver Endeavour originally was built as Crystal Endeavor, the first expedition ship for the ultra-luxury line Crystal Cruises. Debuting in 2021, Crystal Endeavor garnered praise from travel sites, including TPG, which called it the most luxurious ship ever for off-the-beaten-path cruising.
However, it only sailed for a few months before Crystal Cruises collapsed along with its parent company Genting Hong Kong after revenues plummeted. Revenues were massively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the related cruise industry shutdown.
Silversea bought the almost-unused vessel at a liquidation sale and has operated it for the last few months in Antarctica without major structural changes. With the Antarctica season now winding down, the line is moving forward with a significant overhaul of the vessel designed to make it even more luxurious than it was before.
In addition to the suites mentioned above — which will be at the top of the ship on Deck 8 — the overhaul will bring four new, 356-square-foot Classic Verandah Suites on Deck 5, where the ship's medical center is currently.
The medical center will move to a space on Deck 4 that housed a small casino when Crystal operated the ship. Silversea has not used the casino on the ship.
Removing the casino will also allow for the addition of four new crew cabins that will accommodate seven additional crew members. The additional crew members will include specialists for the ship's expedition team that will serve as guides and lecturers during visits to exotic locales, Silversea says.
In all, the additions will increase the number of passenger cabins on the ship from 100 to 110. The vessel's passenger capacity will rise from 200 to 220, and its crew cohort will rise from 200 to 207.
Crystal had designed the ship with hangars for two helicopters that would offer passengers epic tours above the ice in Antarctica and the Arctic. The ice-class ship was intended to spend most of its time in these two destinations.
However, the line never added the helicopters to the vessel because of financial troubles, and the hangars and an adjacent helicopter pad were never used.
Related: It's back! Iconic luxury line Crystal to restart sailings in July
Silversea executives said early on after buying the ship that they didn't plan to offer helicopter tours from the ship.
In addition to the new suites, the overhaul of Silver Endeavour will include the installation of handcrafted Lalique crystal panels in La Dame — the ship's signature French restaurant.
The ship's makeover will take place at a shipyard in Genoa, Italy, starting April 3 before the vessel's inaugural season in the Arctic. The ship's first Arctic sailing is scheduled to begin on June 3.
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Why We Chose It
Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip.Pros
- The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
- This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. (Enrollment required for select benefits.)
- The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.
Cons
- The high annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
- Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
- The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and other participating providers. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back each year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
- $189 CLEAR® Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees