The Italian-owned, US based, Silversea cruise line was launched in 1984 as an innovative European style of all-inclusive, small scale, luxury cruising. For the past eight years, Silversea has been voted the world's best small ship cruise line by Conde Nast Traveller magazine, amongst numerous accolades and awards. Their four ships, Silver Cloud and and Silver Wind (maximum 296 guests) and Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper (382) offer the intimacy and luxury of a private yacht with 6 star hospitality and service. My partner Ken and I have already experienced two previous cruises on board Silver Whisper - in 2004 for a culture-rich tropical adventure around central and south America - Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia - and again in January 2007 for an exotic journey around South East Asia from Singapore to Bangkok visiting Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand on the way. To experience all these cities and countries day by day was simply magical.
Having fallen in love with the Silversea concept of 6 star travel by sea, Ken and I were keen to book another cruise. In August 2007, an Emirates Tours brochure arrives in the post, combining Emirates flights with Silversea. The Sublime Seychelles vacation departing November 23rd is rather enticing. This all- inclusive package features Emirates business class flights from the UK via Dubai to the Seychelles, a 7 night island hopping cruise on Silver Cloud as well as three nights at the Banyan Tree Resort, Mahe. It sounds like the perfect winter sun holiday before Christmas. We book up and soon begin packing our swimsuits, evening gowns and tuxedo for another glamorously romantic Silversea cruise.
In 1985, Emirates was launched as the new international airline of the United Arab Emirates, owned by the government of Dubai. Now flying to more than 90 destinations worldwide (with new routes to Toronto and Houston), the aim is to provide a truly 'top flight' experience, entertainment and comfort. First and Business class passengers are offered a complimentary chauffeur drive from home to airport (depending on mileage) and exemplary hospitality. The route from Glasgow, Scotland to Dubai (with connecting flights across Asia, far east and Australia), has proved extremely popular and profitable and an ideal route for Scottish travellers to avoid a domestic flight to Heathrow for an onward flight.