"IT IS IN OUR NATURE to explore, to reach out into the unknown," said Anglo-Irish explorer Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton who led three expeditions to the Antarctic in the early 1900s. Today, the desire for discovery is just as enduring. But instead of those arduous expeditions, adventurers now have a more relaxing, luxurious way to explore these less-travelled, polar regions. Expedition cruises and cruise journeys to locations such as Antarctica, Alaska and the Arctic continue to grow in demand, and luxury liner Silversea has been on the forefront of creating unique, immersive "expeditions" to these wondrous ports of call.

Unveiling new worlds

Over the last few years, Silversea's expedition teams have been on the hunt for interesting new ports that offer gateways to unspoiled nature and remote communities, expanding the liner's itinerary repertoire well beyond imagination. The best part? You get to enjoy these amazing journeys in luxury and convenience on board one of Silversea's magnificent ships, while taking in some of nature's best offerings.

For example, on an expedition from Puerto Williams in Chile to the Antarctic on the Silver Cloud, you will traverse the legendary Drake Passage - also known as the "End of the World" - via two-day sail, before arriving at Antarctica proper, where icebergs are the size of skyscrapers and frolicking whales and seals are a common sight.

Over the next few days, you'll get to thoroughly uncover the secrets of the seemingly inhospitable Antarctic Sound and Peninsula through hikes, kayak tours or expedition cruises. End off the trip with a visit to the South Shetland Islands, home to many research bases and penguins and seals, residing in harmony. Your adventures end on a high note with one last expedition cruise to explore the islands, including sailing directly into the centre of a submerged caldera at Deception Island.

Those who like a mix of city life with nature exploration will enjoy the trip from Vancouver to Anchorage, Alaska on the Silver Nova. Here, the ship sails from Vancouver past the Alaskan coastline dotted with glaciers and where mountain peaks rise up in the distance, to your first port of call, Ketchikan, Alaska, the salmon capital of the world.

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Choose from an extensive array of shore excursions, ranging from private fishing and crabbing trips and fjords flightseeing tours to an exhilarating land and seafood safari that is capped off with a tasting of local beers and seafood.

As the cruise takes you from one remote village to another, get acquainted with the best that nature has to offer through whale watching trips, seaplane expeditions and a helicopter ride paired with a glacier walk. There is even an option to visit a sled dog summer camp, where local mushers and their teams of Alaskan huskies reside, and go on a sled tour.

The Silver Endeavour, recently converted into ice-class and now equipped to navigate through sea ice, is specially designed for polar exploration and for journeying to the world's most remote destinations. One such trip begins from Churchill, one of the most remote towns in Canada, and continues on to a slew of islands inhabited solely by the local wildlife. Here, you'll get to see roaming bears, nesting seabirds on jagged cliffs and groups of curious harp seals. For the safety of guests and to ensure the protection of wildlife, these encounters are always observed from a distance. The 15-day trip also takes you to the quaint towns of Greenland, where you can experience the town's ancient history and get a taste of rare local delicacies.

Guests short on time can embark on a voyage to experience the best of the Northwest Passage in just 10 days. This includes a journey to Greenland's spectacular Disko Bay and an exploration of the Unesco-listed Ilulissat Icefjord; as well as an excursion to the world's largest national park Northeast Greenland National Park.

Where nature and luxury meet

No matter the expedition that you return from, the iconic five-star experience onboard every Silversea liner is something to look forward to. This includes a round-the-clock butler service, available to every guest in every suite and category; and the almost one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio which promises a level of attention-to-detail that will help transform the ship to your home away from home.

In particular, for expedition cruises like Silver Cloud and Silver Endeavour, Silversea has created a luxurious end-to-end experience that provides an unprecedented level of comfort and convenience. For guests, this means a bespoke journey to and from the ship, with a schedule optimised for your travels, as well as private charter flights when embarking and disembarking in remote turnaround ports, transfers, and hotel nights pre- and post-cruise.

Conrad Combrink, Silversea's senior vice president of expeditions, destination and itinerary management, says of the Silversea experience journeying to the far ends of the globe: "Travellers will enjoy seamless connections, complete comfort, and unparalleled service from the start of their journeys to the end, facilitated by Silversea's unique partnerships, wealth of research, and destination expertise."

From now to November 30, guests can also take advantage of Silversea's limited time promotion 'Suites Upgrades' on over 560 new voyages sailing across the world, and enjoy up to a two-category suite upgrade for select suite categories. The cherry on top: a US$1,000 shipboard credit per suite, which guests can use for spa treatments, laundry services, optional shore excursions - including curated S.A.L.T. experiences - and more.

Visit silversea.com for more information.