Silversea is to send its expedition ship, Silver Discoverer, to the Seychelles to coincide with the cruise season there, which lasts from October to April.

CEO of Seychelles Tourism Board, Sherin Francis, said the addition of the Silver Discoverer would be a boost for the tourism sector.  She said the various cruise ship calls give the Seychelles the chance to showcase itself to potential visitors, with the hope that their short experience would whet their appetite for future visits. “That is why it is of paramount importance that their short stays are as real and enriching as possible.”

Vincent Didon, Business Manager of the Seychelles Port Authority (SPA), said the arrival of Silversea would boost the Seychelles economy, adding: “More cruise lines want to position their vessels in the Indian Ocean region and include Seychelles on their cruise schedule. Costa Crosier and AIDA Cruises, which are two brands operated by one of the world’s largest cruise lines – the Carnival Group – have confirmed that they will be sending a bigger vessel to Seychelles for the 2018-2019 cruise seasons.”

According to SPA, the 2017-2018 cruise season brought 41 cruise ships to Seychelles. Recently, marketing efforts have aimed to introduce more cruise companies to the Vanilla Islands – an affiliation of Indian Ocean islands set up as a travel destination brand. They include Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, Réunion, Mayotte and the Maldives.

Francis concluded: “Silversea is a renowned company, and its increased presence in the Indian Ocean will definitely benefit all of the islands.”