Silversea Cruises' New Shore Excursions

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(Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- March 27, 2012) Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is rolling out several new shore excursions in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe this summer designed for those travelers whose wanderlust is guided by a passion for fine food and wine.

New options, such as a sunset stroll and wine tasting in one of Croatia's largest vineyards, a hands-on lesson in Ukrainian cookery, and an exquisite lunch at a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Bordeaux, are joining an already expansive collection of shore tours tailored to the traveler who is a gourmet at heart.

"These new tours are a great way for our guests to attend dining events and wine tastings or learn about new cooking techniques in the destinations they visit," said Darius Mehta, Silversea's vice president of air and land programs. "They tap into a growing trend among travelers to seek out unique food and wine experiences as a way to understand and connect with other cultures, traditions and people."

Over the years, Silversea's destination experts have developed dozens of culinary and wine excursions that have become hugely popular with the line's guests. A cooking class covering French provincial cuisine in Marseille, an Italian cooking class with a countess in Venice, a wine tasting at a bodega in Ibiza, and a cooking class focused on Moroccan cuisine in Casablanca are just a few examples.

Some of the NEW tours taking their place alongside these proven epicurean favorites include:

Sunset Wine Tasting (Dubrovnik): In southern Dalmatia, the magic of a setting sun provides the perfect backdrop for a leisurely stroll and wine tasting set amid one of the region's largest vineyards, owned by Dubrovnik Cellars winery. Participants will savor locally produced smoked ham, cheese, olives and bread as they sample fine wines and learn the history of the winery.

Castle to Culinary Delights (Bodrum): Travelers enjoy panoramic views of the Aegean Sea from atop the Castle of St. John before heading to a popular seafood restaurant for a hands-on cooking experience. Participants learn the secrets of Mediterranean cuisine as the chef of the Denizce restaurant shares his techniques, special ingredients and family recipes.

Culinary Gothenburg: Gothenburg's largest indoor market, Saluhallen, with its 40 stores and eateries, and Fiskekyrkan (the Fish Church), an indoor fish and seafood market, are showcased on a city tour that culminates with lunch at the elegant Sjömagasinet restaurant. Originally an 18th-century warehouse of the East India Company, this storied waterfront restaurant offers visitors the freshest fish and seafood delicacies cooked to perfection.

Odessa and its Cuisine: Travelers cap off a tour of Odessa's historical and architectural monuments with a cooking class and lunch at one of Frantsuzsky Boulevard's iconic 19th-century mansions. The Dacha restaurant, housed in a former summer residence of Odessa's nobility, offers a class in Ukrainian cookery that lets participants join in the preparation of a sumptuous lunch that they will enjoy after class, accompanied by a glass of Ukrainian vodka, a local wine, tea or coffee.

Dinner at Classified Wine Château Haut-Bailly (Bordeaux): Sitting majestically overlooking a 30-hectare vineyard in the heart of the Graves and Pessac-Léognan region, Château Haut-Bailly, Grand Cru Classé, stands at the gates of the city of Bordeaux and offers an elegant and intimate setting for a wine tour, tasting and four-course gourmet dinner.

Chocolate Flavors of Dubrovnik: Designed for chocolate lovers, this walking tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town, fabled for its cobbled streets and medieval architecture, culminates with a decadent chocolate tasting at the Dubravka restaurant. Participants will enjoy a rich palate of typical local sweets flavored with a selection of dark and white chocolates, fruit, nuts and Mediterranean herbs.

Médoc & Château Cordeillan-Bages Lunch (Bordeaux): Following a scenic drive through one of France's most famous wine-producing regions, travelers will learn the techniques of winemaking and sample two vintages at the Château Lynch-Bages winery. Afterwards, a three-course lunch is provided next door at Château Cordeillan-Bages, a Relais & Châteaux boutique hotel that has earned two Michelin stars for its cuisine.

About Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury cruise line industry, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit – all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the inclusion of the expedition ship Silver Explorer, Silversea Cruises' itineraries encompass all seven continents and feature worldwide luxury cruises.

In the U.S., Silversea has been voted "World's Best" by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (nine times) and Travel + Leisure (seven times), and awarded "Best Cruise Line for Luxury Small Ships" by Luxury Travel Advisor (2011). International awards include "World's Leading Small Ships Cruise Line" from World Travel Awards (2010); "Five Star Diamond Award" from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (2011); "Number One" small-ship line in the Readers' Choice survey conducted by Britain's Condé Nast Traveller magazine (2010); "Best Luxury Cruise Line" Excellence Award by Spain's Cruise News Media Group (2009); "Best Luxury Cruise Line" by Australia's Luxury Travel & Style Magazine (2011); and "Best Small Luxury Cruise Line" according to China's Travel & Leisure magazine (2011).

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