Africa and Arabia to feature prominently on 2026 Silversea World Cruise
Silversea Cruises has unveiled details on its 140-day World Cruise 2026, ‘The Curious and the Sea’— its most diverse and immersive voyage yet, with Africa and Arabia playing a leading role as destinations.
Silver Dawn will depart Fort Lauderdale on January 6th, 2026, cruising to 70 destinations in 37 countries—the most ever on a Silversea World Cruise—including 26 calls that are new for a Silversea World Cruise or unvisited since 2020, and 9 overnights.
Silversea says the voyage will channel the same spirit of discovery that has driven exploration throughout the ages, with bespoke events ashore, onboard activities, regionally inspired culinary experiences, three optional overland tours (Uzbekistan, Luxor, and the Balkans), and more for passengers to enjoy.
Silver Dawn will follow ancient trade routes, sailing the waters that connected the Silk Road, and transiting both the Panama and Suez canals; they will step foot on some of the world’s most remote islands, including those in the South Pacific, with a semi-circumnavigation of Australia also included.
“Calling in more destinations than any voyage in Silversea’s history, our World Cruise 2026, ‘The Curious and the Sea,’ will connect the most enriching experiences across 70 destinations and six continents,” said Barbara Muckermann, President and CEO, Silversea Cruises. “For this World Cruise, we took inspiration from history’s most pioneering explorers, each of whom has sailed to the end of the earth—driven by curiosity and a thirst for discovery.”
Guests will board Silver Dawn in Fort Lauderdale on January 6th, 2026, and cruise through Central America, before transiting the Panama Canal to South America.
Easter Island, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific will follow, leading guests to New Zealand and a semi-circumnavigation of Australia.
Travellers will then explore Southeast Asia, crossing the Bay of Bengal to Sri Lanka, India, and the Red Sea, before passing through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean.
They will delve into European history and culture, before the voyage concludes in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 27th, 2026.
Highlights include:
28 Days in the South Pacific
Following months of extensive scouting by Silversea’s destination experts to unlock new destinations, a 28-day immersion into French Polynesia and the South Pacific will highlight the global voyage.
New calls for a Silversea World Cruise include Nuku Hiva and Atuona in the Marquesas Islands; Fakarava, with its UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve; Tonga’s Nuku’alofa; New Caledonia’s Lifou and Noumea; and Norfolk Island.
Explorations of Bora Bora and Papeete in French Polynesia, Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, and Savusavu in Fiji will also highlight the region. Bespoke World Cruise events will spotlight the South Pacific’s history, traditions, and folklore.
Semi-circumnavigation of Australia
Silver Dawn will sail between Hobart (Tasmania) and Darwin on a 21-day semi-circumnavigation of Australia, journeying off the beaten path along the country’s southern and western coastlines for the first time on a Silversea World Cruise.
Guests will admire some of the world’s clearest night skies, retracing the steps of early explorers who looked to the stars for navigation, as well as the country’s most spectacular landscapes and wildlife species—some of which inspired Charles Darwin’s ‘Theory of Evolution.’
Highlights will include the rarely visited Phillip Island for the chance to see the penguin parade, during which thousands of Little Penguins dash from the sea to the dunes; Port Lincoln, for the Coffin Bay National Park and the Eyre Peninsula; and Esperance, visited for the first time on a Silversea World Cruise, with its pink salt lakes.
Other calls will include Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as Exmouth for the Ningaloo Reef and the chance to swim with whale sharks, and the Kimberley Coast.
North Africa Finale
An emphatic finale to ‘The Curious and the Sea,’ Silver Dawn will unlock the cultures of Northern Africa for the first time on a Silversea World Cruise.
One of the most eagerly anticipated calls on the voyage, La Goulette in Tunisia will provide insight into the bygone eras of the Ancient Carthaginians and the Roman Empire, with its UNESCO-listed medina, the Bardo Museum, and its fascinating cultural offering.
A gateway to Tunisia, La Goulette is an historic port that has long been key for international trade, connecting Africa with Europe.
World Cruise Events
Polynesian Dream in the South Pacific: A bespoke event in French Polynesia, reserved exclusively for world cruising guests, will display the rich, historical seagoing cultures of local communities, with a seafood feast and cultural performances that connect guests with the soul of these spectacular islands. During the event, guests will sample the local flavours, learn the local dances, and bask in the Polynesian sunset.
The Magic of Mystery Island: Collaborating closely with the island’s Chief and the department of tourism, Silversea has curated a special event on Mystery Island in Vanuatu. Dancers from various islands throughout the region will perform a fusion of cultural rituals, while guests dine on catch of the day in a scenic beach setting and snorkel in some of the world’s clearest waters, which teem with marine life.
From Paddy to Plate in Bali: The cruise line’s guests will feast on regional cuisine alongside the stunning rice paddies of the five-star Tanah Gajah resort in Benoa, Bali. Authentic Balinese performances will enrich the occasion, as travellers develop an appreciation for Southeast Asia’s sacred grain, which migrated around the world with the early seafarers.
The Exotic Marigold and More in Cochin: Guests will journey into Alleppey in the backwaters of Cochin for a bespoke afternoon of entertainment. Following a tuk-tuk ride through the urban streets, guests will be greeted with flower garlands and exclusive cultural experiences, including performances from Kerala drummers and martial artists, an authentic Sadhya lunch served on banana leaves, and a traditional houseboat cruise down the Kerala River.
Silver Dawn
Silver Dawn is one of Silversea’s newest all-suite luxury cruise ships featuring personalised butler service and one of the highest space-to-guest ratios at sea.
The latest in the cruise line’s Muse-class, Silver Dawn offers immersive culinary experiences both on board and ashore through Silversea’s S.A.L.T. culinary programme. In the S.A.L.T. Lab, an onboard test kitchen, more than 60 culinary programmes curated by regional food experts will enable travellers to get hands-on with local ingredients during the World Cruise 2026.
In the S.A.L.T. Kitchen, the menu will change daily, inspired by local flavours. The S.A.L.T. Bar will offer approximately 70 custom-designed cocktails related to visited destinations. Exclusively reserved for full world cruising guests, two complimentary S.A.L.T. experiences ashore, designed in collaboration with some of the world’s foremost restaurants, will also enrich guests’ travels.
Moreover, a complimentary treatment and a host of wellness experiences offered through the Roman-inspired Otium wellness programme will indulge guests as they discover the world.
