Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises opened the books today on its World Cruise 2016, an extraordinary 115-day sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Venice, departing January 5, 2016. This far-reaching cultural exploration will be hosted aboard the elegant, all-suite Silver Whisper, enabling travelers to journey in unsurpassed luxury across six continents as they visit 51 destinations in 31 countries, enjoying 13 multi-day port calls along the way, plus many late-night departures.

Named “Venetian World Odyssey 2016,” the epic voyage will follow a westward path from Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canal to South America and the Pacific. Guests will explore the island paradises of the South Seas, including Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, Tahiti, and Bora Bora before sailing to the most desirable destinations of New Zealand, Australia, and Asia, including vibrant Hong Kong and Singapore, the enticing resorts of Bali and Phuket, and mysterious Myanmar. The odyssey will continue to exotic India, Arabia, and timeless Mediterranean hideaways before concluding with two nights in magnificent Venice.

“A world cruise is an experienced traveler’s dream,” said Kristian Anderson, Silversea’s senior vice president and general manager for the Americas. “Our intimate Silver Whisper offers the perfect setting for guests to mingle and form long-lasting friendships as they traverse our planet, discovering its ancient cultures, cosmopolitan cities, rainforests, golden beaches, coral wonders, and so much more. It truly is the voyage of a lifetime.”

Guests will enjoy an exceptional onboard enrichment program featuring distinguished destination experts, academics, journalists, diplomats and other specialists. Local entertainment, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and regional specialties will provide further immersion in each global destination.