Silhouette Cruises Ltd.

Silhouette Cruises runs multi-day sailing voyages through the Seychelles granitic islands — Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and the smaller islands between them — departing from Victoria. The company operates three vessels, each carrying eight or nine double cabins.

The oldest is SV Sea Pearl, a traditional Dutch-built topsail schooner originally from the early nineteen-hundreds. She has been fully refurbished with modern fittings while keeping her original wooden interior. The two purpose-built yachts — SY Sea Bird and SY Sea Star — follow the same itinerary concept with private en-suite cabins and covered deck salons. On all three vessels the deck space, including sun-decks, the bow and the covered stern, is designed for time on the water between stops.

The programme combines sailing passage with activities at anchor: scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and bottom-line fishing. Island visits are built into the schedule, so you move through a different stretch of coast or beach each day rather than staying at one anchorage.

Meals and aperitifs are served on the covered stern deck. Cabins are double occupancy with en-suite facilities on the yachts. The schooner retains more of a shared-vessel character, with the restored wood finish and older hull giving the cruise a different feel from the newer boats.