Silversea’s luxury expedition ship, Silver Explorer, will mark its return to the seas on May 20, sailing from Lisbon to Honfleur.

A comprehensive stem-to-stern refurbishment is scheduled for the end of April and will take place during a nearly three-week dry dock in Las Palmas. Plans call for a complete renovation of Silver Explorer’s interior decoration, creating a revitalised atmosphere throughout the ship. As part of its $170 million fleet-wide refurbishment programme, the company is making a significant investment to ensure that guests enjoy a renewed sense of luxury and comfort when sailing aboard Silver Explorer.

Highlights of the renovation include:

Refreshed public spaces: The ship’s overall colour scheme will shift to an elegant new palette of blue and beige tones, which guests will first notice in the remodelled reception area. The rich new look will be carried throughout the ship with the installation of attractive new carpets and wall treatments in the corridors, staircases and all public spaces.

In addition to new carpets and wall treatments, the Observation Lounge, Panorama Lounge and Connoisseur’s Corner will be updated with all-new furniture. The restaurant’s buffet counters, ceiling and walls will get a makeover and the furniture will be refashioned with new upholstery. The theatre’s bar will be completely redesigned and its banquette seats refreshed with new upholstery. A new boutique will be built in the space previously occupied by the library, while the reference and entertainment materials from the library will be moved to the Observation Lounge. Also set for a spruce-up are the spa and fitness centre, which will double in size by taking over the area occupied by the original boutique. Plus, the Outdoor Grill will be enhanced with a new awning.

Elevated new décor for suites: The ship’s all-suite accommodations will be completely renovated with new carpets, wall treatments, curtains, and furniture, including mattresses, headboards, wardrobes, bedside tables, vanity desks, sofa beds, armchairs, flatscreen TVs and lighting fixtures. In all but the largest suites (i.e., Medallion Suites and higher), the bathrooms will be enhanced with new flooring, granite appointments and rainforest showers (replacing tub-and-shower combinations). Suites with verandas will be outfitted with new veranda furniture. And the eight Expedition Suites on Decks 3 and 4 will be converted into 16 Vista and View Suites, with most featuring a connecting door for the convenience of families and friends travelling together.

The remodelled Silver Explorer will accommodate 144 guests in all-inclusive luxury as she sails to the world’s most remote destinations — from the Arctic, Antarctica and Africa to the Americas, French Polynesia and the Russian Far East.