Emmy Award-winning former anchor of 20/20 Hugh Downs and bestselling author Bill Bryson are set to join a remarkable array of renowned lecturers slated to host enrichment programs aboard Silver Whisper’s first-ever World Cruise in 2012.

Silversea Cruises’ Silver Shadow has a fresh new look thanks to a major renovation completed during the two weeks that the ultra-luxury ship spent in dry dock in Singapore, before returning to service on March 19.

Silversea Cruises’ Silver Whisper sailed from Rome this week on her first voyage following a successful 14-day dry-dock project in Genoa, where extensive renovations were made to most areas of the ultra-luxury ship.

Silversea continues its commitment to the culinary enrichment of its guests with the creation of Flavors of the Mediterranean, a special program showcasing the talents of its corporate chefs, slated for the May 24, Rome-to-Nice sailing of Silver Whisper.

Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises has tapped motion picture luminaries to host filmmaking discussion panels, screenings and enlightening presentations on the February 20, 2010

Silversea Cruises’ brand new flagship, Silver Spirit, arrived this morning at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, completing her maiden crossing of the Atlantic, a 16-day voyage which began in Lisbon on January 3.