54 INTERVIEW Silver surfers Bert Hernandez of Silversea tells Rebecca Barnes how the brand is enhancing its onshore and onboard offering to ensure it continues to drive innovation in the ever-growing luxury market When Bert Hernandez joined Silversea as president in 2024, his initial remit was to develop an intimate understanding of the product, its many nuances and the 12 classic and expedition cruise ships in the all-suite, luxury fleet. Having held various positions within Royal Caribbean Group, Hernandez knows the importance of guest feedback in building a successful cruise brand. Together with his team, he took a datadriven approach to analyse their needs and what they value most. “I read all surveys and guest comments to understand opportunities to enhance our offerings,” he says. “Based on this, we identified several areas in which we could make meaningful changes.” These areas spanned everything from cuisine to pricing and deployment. A stronger food and beverage leadership team now focus on driving culinary innovation, including the S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) programme, which is designed to be enjoyed by both casual diners and connoisseurs. It allows guests to explore a destination’s cultural identity through its cuisine, local ingredients and time-honoured techniques. Onboard improvements include ‘The Silversea Way’ – a more personalised service with new standards and initiatives, from the Champagne Welcome to afternoon tea, elevated service in venues like La Terrazza and the Arts Café, and evenings under the stars. New wellness, entertainment and sports offerings include pickleball courts and two industry firsts: amp, an artificial intelligence-powered strength training system, and Off the Deck’s SeaDrivePro, a portable golf simulator designed for superyachts. Beyond the ships, one of the biggest projects for Silversea in 2026 is opening The Cormorant at 55 South. Located in Puerto Williams in Chile, it is both the “ A Silversea cruise is not just a way to see the world, but a unique way to experience it” Silversea’s all-suite, luxury vessels are some of the newest in the cruise industry
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