Silversea Cruises partners with major photographer

Mandalay, Myanmar - February 20, 2011: American photojournalist Steve McCurry leans against the wall of a house in a narrow lane in Mandalay.Mandalay is the second largest city of Myanmar and is not only known for its richness in tradition, culture and spritual teachings but also for its beautiful handicrafts - silk and cotton handwoven embriodery, making gold leaves, wood and stone carvings and bronze sculpturing.

Silversea Cruises has landed one of the world’s most renowned photographers – and you’ll definitely have heard of him.

Or, if you haven’t heard of him, you’ll recognise his work. That’s right folks, it’s Steve McCurry!

McCurry’s most famous piece is a portrait of a green-eyed Afghan refugee girl – published in National Geographic. Recognise it?

Jog your memory a bit?

McCurry has travelled the world for four decades, photographing and capturing different cultures and human experiences.

His work has appeared on international magazines and book covers and in major gallery and museum exhibitions – not to mention in permanent and private collections all over the world. Pretty impressive.

Silversea announced the exclusive partnership at its first of many media launches, with Sydney media the first to hear about it.

“Australia is an extremely important market to us,” Silversea’s CEO Roberto Martinoli, who was in town for the announcement, told trade media at a plush lunch at ARIA.

Martinoli revealed that Australia, while currently the third biggest market for Silversea behind the US and UK, was wildly close to overtaking the UK as the second strongest market.

“Australians love cruising, and have the deepest peentration of any market in the world.”

Martinoli added that the cruise company has committed $170 million to sprucing up their existing fleet, with all the revamps and makeovers to be completed by 2022.

The new global creative partnership with McCurry, which will chronicle Silversea’s extensive fleet and portfolio expansion, is designed to take guests to some of the world’s most intriguing and remote destinations.

Barbara Muckermann, Chief Marketing Officer at Silversea Cruises, was also extremely excited to have McCurry on board. Muckermann accompanied Martinoli on the trip down under, her first ever voyage to Australia.

“Silversea has launched the most ambitious fleet and product expansion in its history, with the goal of unlocking new territories for guests and going deeper,” she said.

“Steve McCurry’s artistry and storytelling align perfectly with Silversea’s immersive experiences, intimate vessels and unforgettable destinations. He has the ability to capture the authentic beauty of the world, and express it with passion and clarity.

“We look forward to capturing the emotion and inspiration of global travel through Steve’s lens,” she added.

McCurry’s art has taken him from war-torn Afghanistan to rural villages in India to the collapse of New York’s twin towers on 9/11 – and will now take him on the adventure of a lifetime with Silversea.

Since his iconic Afghan Girl portrait in 1984, McCurry has published more than a dozen books; won a ton of professional awards, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal for his coverage of the war in Afghanistan; shot the last remaining rolls of Kodak’s Kodachrome film in a portrait project; and collaborated with timeless global brands.

McCurry said he never wants to stop travelling.

“You’re present, in focus; that’s travelling, to me. It’s an urgent need to go and observe this world that we all share,” he said.

And even after decades of exploration, McCurry believes he has many more stories to tell – now from on board Silversea cruises.

“There’s always room for discovery,” he said.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

silversea cruises steve mccurry travel photography