Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 4/9/15 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 4/9/15

Crystal Serenity - Mediterannean Cruise

We spend 11 nights aboard Crystal Serenity from Lisbon to Rome

Itinerary: Lisbon, Portimao•, Gibraltar, At Sea, Barcelona, Palamos, Marseille, St. Tropez•, Monte Carlo, Livorno, Civitavecchia (Rome)

A lot has happened at Crystal Cruises since our last sailing in 2013. The company was acquired by Genting Hong Kong from NYK in March 2015. And, just prior to our sailing, Crystal announced plans for a new luxury yacht (Crystal Esprit), a luxury airliner, a new luxury river cruise brand and three new luxury cruise liners. That is pretty aggressive expansion for a company that has been clinging to only two luxury cruise ships for the past several years. Apparently, Genting is not satisfied with simply being one of the best luxury travel brands, they also want to be the most diversified. Among Crystal's loyal cadre of supporters, one question stands above all others: will Crystal be able to retain the level of service and quality amid this expansion and ownership change

*Crystal is celebrating its 25th anniversary*

THE ASSIGNMENT

We thought it would be worthwhile to revisit Crystal Serenity to see if we could detect any changes in service levels (better or worse) under new ownership. So, throughout this review we will try to draw comparisons to what we experienced in 2013. Granted, it may be too soon to notice any major changes, especially since the fleet expansion has not materialized yet. Nevertheless, we did note some differences from our 2013 sailing that were noteworthy. As to whether or not these differences were the result of an ownership change, or just natural maturation of a cruise line, is impossible for us to determine.

PASSENGER MIX

Unlike our previous sailing on Crystal (a Transatlantic in 2013), with a decidedly older clientele, on this sailing we saw a much broader range of age groups. There were several families on board, and even some with babies in strollers! That is not something we expected to see on a luxury cruise. With the exception of a few families and kids running around, the "average" age is still in the 50s-60s range with some even older passengers.

THE SHIP

Crystal Serenity is one of two very similar Crystal ships. She is the larger of the two ships and carries 1070 guests with a crew complement of 655 and a crew-to-guest ratio of 1.65:1, one of the highest in the industry. The ship has 13 decks with guest accommodations on decks 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Decks 10 and 11 are Penthouse Decks which offer butler service to the Penthouse-and-above categories.

We saw no changes to the public spaces on Crystal Serenity since 2013 (at least from our notes, photos and memory). There were some carpeted areas that look to be near the end of their life cycle, but the ship is spotlessly maintained. We saw no exterior signs of rust. The ship sparkles.

Crystal Serenity (and her sister, Symphony) are perfectly proportioned to offer all of the amenities of a large ship while still delivering a more intimate feeling. It is not quite "small-ship" intimate, but it is not overwhelmingly large either. You can get from any stateroom to the theater or restaurants in under five minutes. There are three elevator/stairway lobbies (forward, midship, aft) that allow guests to traverse from Deck 5 to Deck 12 (aft elevators only go down to Deck 6). All elevators worked well and speed was acceptable.

The Neptune Pool is as nice as you will find on any ship, and nicer than most. A nice feature is a lot of shaded seating areas for those of us trying to avoid future visits to the dermatologist.

*Plenty of large, comfortable loungers in the shade*

The pool itself is large enough for guests to enjoy a healthy swim and poolside sun loungers are outfitted each morning with towels for guest use. Two hot tubs are a popular spot for a comforting soak. On Deck 13, there is a very nice AstroTurf walking track.

For traditionalists who insist on a wrap-around Promenade, Crystal Serenity has one of the nicest and most spacious you will find anywhere. The Promenade Deck (7) is the perfect spot for a brisk morning walk, or an early evening sunset stroll. The wide teak deck is unencumbered by lounge chairs.

As for ride quality and comfort, Crystal Serenity sails through the water like a hot knife through butter. The dual Azipod propulsion units do an admirable job of keeping vibration to a minimum. Even with the ship at speed, you can enjoy lunch in the Lido Cafe (aft) without glasses rattling on the table. Crystal Serenity (and her sister Symphony) is one of the smoothest and quietest ships you will find. HVAC systems throughout the ship worked perfectly keeping guests cool and comfortable.

There were two ports of call on this itinerary requiring the use of the ship's tenders to go ashore (Portimao and St. Tropez). Guests board the tender boats on Deck 4 midship and the entire operation is extremely efficient. The Captain deployed three or four tenders during peak periods to minimize the wait for a tender. Ashore, Crystal set up a nice "comfort station" tent with drinks and shade to ease the wait for a tender to arrive. A nice touch.

EMBARKATION

We arranged a private car transfer from Hotel Altis Avenida and arrived at the Lisbon Port around 2:00pm (3:00pm was the indicated embarkation time). Embarkation was much smoother and quicker than what we experienced in Barcelona in 2013. There were no lines (we suspect many had boarded earlier.) We literally zipped through security and were on board the ship within five minutes after arriving. Check-in takes place at a long table set up in the "Crystal Plaza" on Deck 5. It took less than three minutes to surrender our passports, have our security photos taken and be issued our room keys. We were informed that, even though embarkation was officially 3pm, our stateroom was ready for us (part of Crystal's VIP embarkation for Penthouse guests, I presume.) We were also informed that lunch was still being served on Deck 12 in the Lido and at Trident Grill. When we reached the end of the check-in desk, a waiter was holding a tray with glasses of champagne.

*Check-in on Deck 5 is fast and efficient*

ACCOMMODATIONS

Our Penthouse with Veranda on Deck 11 aft (#11052) was virtually identical to the one we occupied in 2013 (on Deck 10 forward). These staterooms reflect a level of attention to detail you rarely find on a cruise ship. This stateroom was our Editors' Choice for BEST Accommodations in 2013, and we see no reason to change that designation. Every one of the 403 sq. ft. (including veranda) has been utilized to maximize guest comfort. It starts with the clever electronic Do Not Disturb/Clean Room switch by the front door. No need to fumble with paper signs hanging from the door knob, which by the way, always end up falling on the hallway floor. A classy doorbell alerts you that a visitor has arrived. And most likely, that person ringing the doorbell will be your personal butler. Well, maybe not "personal" since your butler will be taking care of several other guests, too. Nevertheless, your butler is on call 24 hours a day, and will provide you with any or all of the following services:

Unpacking and packing upon request
Confirming dining and spa reservation
Crystal Adventures shore excursion reservations
In-suite afternoon tea service
In-suite pre-dinner cocktail and gourmet canapé service
In-suite dining, including menus from Silk Road and Prego, served by course
Garment pressing and shoeshine upon request

Our butler, Daniel, was always available whenever we needed anything. He greeted us soon after we arrived in our stateroom and asked us if we had any special requests. Our stateroom attendant, Puii, also greeted us soon after arrival and immediately fulfilled Rickee's standing request for more clothes hangers. Each afternoon around 4:30pm, Daniel would show up with canapés. Rickee mentioned early on that she liked shrimp cocktail and that I liked hummus. So every day thereafter, a plate of cocktail shrimp and another with hummus was waiting for us on our coffee table! The butler service is just one of the great perks you enjoy when you occupy a Penthouse w/Veranda stateroom.

The large walk-in closet can hold enough clothes for a world cruise. There are shelves and drawers on both sides of the closet and three rods for hanging clothes. Frette bathrobes, kimonos and slippers are waiting in the closet upon embarkation for guest use during the cruise. We never use the bathrobes, so we had them removed to give us extra hanging space in the closet.

*Large sofa and coffee table opposite the bed*

A full-sized sofa faces the queen-sized bed and a nice-sized oval glass-topped coffee table sits between the bed and the sofa. A large and comfortable chair is placed to one side of the coffee table. The coffee table serves a dual purpose as it can be raised to dining height for in-suite dining. One big improvement over our 2013 sailing was the mattress. Having a saggy mattress was one of our biggest complaints on our previous cruise. This mattress appeared to be new (relatively) and very comfortable. The pillows were still too soft for our liking, but a pillow menu offers a variety of firmness and materials and we soon had pillows delivered to our stateroom that were perfect.

A marble desk at one end of the entertainment center is large enough for my laptop. Walk around the corner from the desk and you will find Rickee's favorite feature of this stateroom: an equally large marble vanity with lighted magnifying makeup mirror. The desk and the vanity are separated by a mirrored wall.

The bathroom, too, is very well laid out with a large shower stall, Jacuzzi bathtub, dual sinks and tons of storage. A large shelf runs above the entire length of the vanity. There are multiple shelves above the toilet and large drawers under and on each side of the vanity. The dual sinks make it possible for two people to occupy the bathroom at the same time. There is a speaker in the bathroom connected to the TV and you can hear television programming while in the bathroom. There is also a telephone on one wall. The Aveda brand shampoo, conditioner, soap, body lotion and bath salts were still present, even though we had read that they would be replaced with ETRO amenities on this sailing. We asked Puii if we could try the ETRO products and she was able to procure some for us to try (apparently pre-production test samples). I would say that the ETRO amenities are comparable, if not a slight upgrade, from the Aveda products.

And, on the subject of storage, the stateroom has drawers and shelves everywhere you look. There is a multi-drawer dresser beneath the television and a cabinet with shelves above the TV. To the left of the TV, there are more cabinets with shelves. If that's not enough, there are two large drawers in each of the nightstands, and even an end table with two large drawers! This is all in addition to the drawers and shelves in the walk-in closet. We couldn't begin to fill up all the drawers and cabinets.

For in-suite entertainment, the large High-Definition flat-screen television offers a variety of closed-circuit channels with video feeds from the bridge, a channel replaying the days' lectures, a couple of movie channels, and popular news channels (FOX News, SKY News, CNN, etc.). The glitches we experienced on our transatlantic sailing have apparently been addressed and the television worked flawlessly throughout the cruise. The television is connected to a Blu-ray DVD/CD player capable of playing your own DVDs or any from the large selection available from the ship's library. The operation of the DVD player and television was seamless with a single remote control.

*Our butler, Daniel (yes, the one on the left!)*

Crystal Serenity offers guests WiFi throughout the ship. Unfortunately, the Internet access was not as reliable as I remembered on our last cruise. Even though I could connect most times from our stateroom (there was a WiFi transmitter very near our room in the hallway), there were several times where the connection was either dropped or painfully slow. Crystal also offers a selection of movies "on demand" which can be watched on an iPad or laptop. Interestingly, these movies cannot be viewed on the stateroom television. At this time, there is also no way to check your onboard account through the ship's intranet.

A clever night-light switch produced a slight glow underneath the vanity/desk to provide just enough light to see your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

A mini-fridge is located underneath the desk and is stocked with soft drinks, beer, white wine, or whatever you request. Of course, all are complimentary and replenished daily. Our fridge did not get very cold, even at the coldest setting. A fresh fruit basket on the desk was replenished daily.

*Large balcony with excellent furnishings*

Serenity balcony furnishings are among the nicest we have seen on any ship. Large wicker chairs with foot stools were outfitted with padded cushions.

In spite of carpeting that is beginning to look worn and near the end of its life, the Penthouse w/Veranda stateroom on Crystal Serenity gets a 5-out-of-5 rating from us. It is still one of the most comfortable staterooms/suites of any ship on which we have sailed to date.

FOOD AND DINING

Food is an important part of any vacation, and even more so on a cruise. We found the dining experience on Crystal Serenity in 2013 to be very good and we would have to say that the same is true in 2015.

The Crystal Dining Room is the "traditional" restaurant on board Serenity. Guests can enjoy the traditional "early" or "late" seating options, or flexible "by reservation" dining is available. The Crystal Dining Room offers a lot of two-top tables for intimate dining. However, many of the two-top tables are placed in close proximity to each other, so it is almost like dining with the couple next to you. We also noticed this table arrangement in the Lido Cafe and Tastes. There are a few two-top tables that are located away from other tables for a more intimate experience. We prefer the table located in the far back corner of the dining room (#42). It is sort of hidden back in a little cove and it is much quieter and away from the traffic of the dining room. The Crystal Dining Room can get a bit noisy during peak dining periods.

The food quality in the Crystal Dining Room was better and more consistent on this sailing that what we noted in 2013. With so many port calls on this sailing, the dining room was closed for lunch most days, so our experience was limited to dinner time. All of the meals we had here were superb --- even better than we remembered from our previous Crystal sailings. Service was excellent.

The Crystal Dining Room is usually open for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. On our voyage, it was closed for lunch on most days in port.

The Lido Cafe

The Lido Cafe is Serenity's buffet dining venue located on Deck 12 aft and serves breakfast and lunch each day. The Lido Cafe offers mostly two-top tables and there is ample outdoor seating aft for al fresco dining. The layout is arranged in such a way that long waiting lines for the buffet are rare.

Food quality in the Lido Cafe was very good considering it is a buffet. We were again disappointed that there were no "theme" buffets like we had experienced on Crystal Symphony in 2011.

*The excellent cocktail shrimp was available on most days*

Something new that I have never seen before on a breakfast buffet was fried rice! Perhaps it was offered because of an influx of Asian guests? Regardless of why, I love it! There is an excellent selection of fresh fruit, amazing freshly-baked pastries and breads, and cereals. Freshly-squeezed orange juice and coffee are delivered to the table by Lido wait staff. I only tried the coffee one time and quickly was reminded of why I travel with my own French press and fresh ground coffee. We found the service in the Lido Cafe to be excellent. For some reason, our preferred Riesling wine that was available in the dining room was not available in the Lido Cafe at lunch, or any dining venue on Deck 12.

As on previous Crystal sailings, I would use the Lido Cafe each morning as my coffee and blogging station. However, on this sailing, families with babies would arrive early and the screams of the kids forced me to seek refuge in Tastes (forward of Lido Cafe). On my last Crystal sailing, one of the Lido wait staff (Osvaldo) would offer to clean my French press for me each morning. I received no such offer on this sailing.

The Bistro

The Bistro is a casual dining venue on Deck 5. Each morning, the Bistro offers a continental breakfast. In the afternoon, the Bistro offers charcuterie, international cheeses and freshly-baked desserts. From 6-8pm you will find cured meats, prosciutto, international cheeses, all served with premium wines and champagne. The snacking continues from 8-11pm with artisanal cheeses accompanied with chutneys, honey, plus an assortment of fresh fruit and desserts. Late night munchies, served from 11pm to 12am, include mini-sandwiches, pizzas, tandoori chicken and beef sliders. There is also a bar in the Bistro to provide your favorite beverages.

Trident Bar & Grill

The Trident Grill remains as one of our "go to" spots for a casual lunch. The Trident Grill opens earlier than other venues (11:30am) and offers a nice selection of burgers, wraps, fries, onion rings and the like. The Grilled Minute Sirloin Steak is one of my favorites.

A well-stocked relish bar offers mustard, mayo, ketchup, relish, cole slaw and even chips and salsa. Fresh fruit is also available.

Prego

We only visited Prego once during our 10-night sailing and everything was as we remembered from our 2013 Serenity cruise. My Caesar salad was delicious as was Rickee's Carpaccio of Black Angus Beef. No meal at Prego is complete without their signature mushroom soup served in a crusty bread bowl. The rich, creamy soup is infused with a variety of mushrooms. This is one of the best cream of mushroom soups you will find anywhere. My Roasted Rack of Baby Lamb was perfectly cooked. And, even though the portion was filling, there were only two chops served this year instead of the three chops I was served in 2013.

Reservations are required to dine in Prego. We recommend making those reservations before your cruise embarks by using Crystal's website. Crystal has implemented a new policy regarding dining in Prego (and Silk Road). Guests are invited to dine once per cruise on a complimentary basis (in each restaurant). Guests making subsequent visits to Prego will be charged a $30 cover charge. Of course, there are some exceptions to this policy depending on the length of the cruise, the number of cruises you've had with Crystal, your stateroom category, etc.

*Rack of Baby Lamb was cooked perfectly and was delicious*

Silk Road

Adjacent to Prego on Deck 7 aft is Crystal's Nobu-inspired Asian restaurant, Silk Road. As with Prego, reservations are needed to dine in Silk Road. However, Silk Road does offer one little secret. There is a sushi bar at Silk Road that seats ten guests. No reservations are required to dine at the sushi bar and the full Silk Road menu is available. The one "free" visit per cruise policy kept us from just popping into the sushi bar for a late night snack, and yes, the one free visit policy applies to the sushi bar as well as the Silk Road restaurant.

*All sushi, like my Spicy Tuna Roll, is made fresh to order*

The main restaurant at Silk Road is classy and the menu is upscale Asian cuisine inspired by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. The menu at Silk Road includes Nobu classics such as Wagyu Beef with a choice of dipping sauces (my personal favorite). The fork-tender slices of Wagyu are so delicious that the accompanying sauces are not even needed. Rickee and I both agree that the Black Cod with Miso Glaze is perhaps the best seafood dish on the planet, and it was her choice yet again. If you are not sure what to try, order the Nobu Box which gives you a chance to try the Wagyu beef, Black Cod and Shrimp. All dishes are accompanied by a bowl of delicious Jasmine rice, just sticky enough to eat with chopsticks.

As with Prego, guests are invited to dine in Silk Road once per cruise on a complimentary basis. If you wish to return to Silk Road, there will be a $30 fee per person assessed.

CruiseReport Tip: Do you love the mushroom soup at Prego or the Spicy Tuna Roll in Silk Road? As a Penthouse guest, you can enjoy the menus of these great restaurants in your stateroom and avoid the $30 cover charge.

Tastes

Tastes is Crystal Serenity's newest dining experience. An open-kitchen venue occupies the starboard side of Deck 12 midship, just forward of the Lido Cafe. Its Global Cuisine comfort food menu was created in partnership with Sapphire Restaurant in Laguna Beach, California, where acclaimed chef, Azmin Ghahreman, offers cuisine with accents from around the globe. Tastes is open for late breakfast and for lunch. I understand the timing of the late-riser breakfast service from 10:00am to 11:00am, but the 1:00pm lunch service leaves me scratching my head. Perhaps Crystal feels that the later start time will thin out the crowd at Tastes?

On this sailing, we did try the pot stickers from Tastes for lunch one day. They were good. Our evening meal at Tastes however, left us less impressed. The menu is a bit confusing and implies that the dishes are going to be small "tastes" or tapas, but in reality, the portions are fairly significant. Rickee and I ordered four items from the menu, and it was way too much food for two people. The Alsatian tart (basically, a flatbread pizza) was the best dish we had. It was served hot and was delicious. The "starter" Caesar salad kabob, sort of a deconstructed Caesar salad, was also good. The other two items we ordered missed the mark. The lamb kibbeh was served room temperature and had no flavor. The Chimichurri steak was tender and the Chimichurri sauce was good, but it, too, was served cold and there was very little of the Chimichurri sauce to enjoy. Sadly, Tastes was our least favorite dining venue on Crystal Serenity. And, this is the second time we have left Tastes with this impression.

What Tastes does have going for it is atmosphere. It is a very romantic, dimly-lit setting that is comforting and casual. And honestly, if we had only ordered the Caesar kabob and Alsatian tart, we would have enjoyed it quite a bit. Service was also very slow with long wait times between "courses," which are not really courses at all. Dishes arrive at the table in no certain order, they just come out "whenever." Tastes is a great concept, but we found the execution to be lacking.

Room Service

Crystal offers a nice 24-hour room service menu. Of course, the most popular meal for room service is breakfast. Breakfast order cards can be placed on your stateroom door before retiring and breakfast will be delivered to your stateroom the next morning at the desired time. And, there are times when you may not want to get dressed for dinner. Penthouse guests can order dinner from the evening menu at Crystal Dining Room, Prego or Silk Road in addition to the standard room service menu.

One evening we decided to stay in our beautiful stateroom and watch a DVD movie from the ship's library. We called Daniel, our butler, and mentioned we were interested in sushi. Daniel brought us Silk Road menus so we could decide what we wanted. We ordered a selection of sushi from the Silk Road menu and, within 30 minutes, Daniel was ringing our doorbell with our order. Everything arrived perfectly prepared and delicious. In our opinion, the ability to order from the main restaurant and the specialty restaurants puts Crystal's room service at the top of the industry (at least the Penthouse-level room service.) The only thing that would make room service better would be if the restaurant menus were available through the television, or at least through the intranet via an iPad or laptop.

Afternoon Tea

The Palm Court on Deck 12 forward becomes the perfect setting for an Afternoon Tea each day from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Tables are covered in linen and wait staff are dressed in tuxedos with white gloves for the service. A choice of teas are offered along with finger sandwiches, scones, cookies and other treats.

Scoops Ice Cream Bar

Scoops ice cream bar is located in the Trident Bar and Grill on Deck 12, where Crystal guests are treated to a variety of popular flavors, and the ice cream is complimentary! Even though the flavors offered appear to be the same as in 2013, the Ben & Jerry's name is nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, the ice cream was as good as we remembered. The Triple Caramel Crunch is hands down our favorite flavor. We felt that it was necessary to try the ice cream each day, just for journalistic integrity, of course. The ice cream can be served in a cone or a cup and a large variety of toppings are available to complete the treat. You can also get a cookie or two to complement your ice cream choice.

*Rickee gets her daily dose of Triple Caramel Crunch at Scoops*

Bar Service

We found the bar service throughout the ship to be excellent. Our favorite spot for pre-dinner drinks was Avenue Saloon (Deck 6 aft). We would usually show up around 5:30pm and the place would be empty. The bar staff made Rickee's Mojito to perfection, which is not an easy task. I would typically order Dewar's on the rocks and would always receive a generous pour. In the early evenings, bar staff will circulate the lounges offering a selection of canapes.

ENTERTAINMENT

Gary Hunter has been a cruise director for 40 years, so he knows how to put together an entertainment program. Each night the Galaxy Theater would come alive with a different show. The Crystal Ensemble of Singers and Dancers delivered energetic production shows while guest entertainers, ranging from singers to musicians to a mind reader, took the stage several evenings.

The Inspiration Strings also performed daily in the Crystal Cove. Nightly shows in the Galaxy Theater were usually held twice: the first show for those eating a late dinner and a second show for those who dined earlier.

One of the local entertainment performances that really caught our attention was Los Mulero, a group of dancers and musicians from Barcelona. The Flamenco dance performances were exceptional.

All of the shows we attended were very entertaining and as good as you will find on any cruise ship, especially a ship with only 1,000 guests. The best show of the cruise, hands down, was Gary Hunter's ventriloquist performance. Gary has been entertaining professionally for decades and he is quite an accomplished ventriloquist.

BARS & LOUNGES

On Crystal Serenity, you will never have to search too far for a spot to enjoy your favorite beverage.

Crystal Cove (Deck 5) - Crystal Cove is a popular meeting place for guests having dinner in Crystal Dining Room (Deck 5). Seating is comfortable and conducive to mingling with other guests. There is also seating at the bar.

The Bistro (Deck 6 midship) - There is a full-service bar located in the Bistro on Deck 6. However, The Bistro has more of a cafe feel than that of a lounge making it less appealing for enjoying a cocktail. This is a space that we would like to see re-invented into a "wine bar" concept with a warmer atmosphere while still keeping the buffet. It would be the perfect place for early-evening snacks and a glass of wine, or even a light meal of canapes.

Avenue Saloon (Deck 6 aft) - Our new favorite watering hole on Crystal Serenity is Avenue Saloon. I am not sure how we missed it on our last sailing. This place really comes alive in the evenings with piano music, but is a quiet, intimate space before dinner. We love it!

Palm Court (Deck 12 forward) - Palm Court is the largest lounge on Crystal Serenity and is also the primary place to enjoy after-dinner dancing. Located on Deck 12 forward, Palm Court has the best view in the house with large windows wrapping 180-degrees around the space. If you are looking for a lounge with a view, this is it!

Trident Bar (Deck 12 midship) - The Trident Bar is the perfect spot for enjoying a drink poolside, or under the sunroof during the day. In the evenings, access to the bar is cumbersome as the space turns into the Tastes restaurant.

Starlight Club (Deck 6 aft) - This lounge is a venue for smaller shows, bingo and other events. However, it can easily be used to enjoy a cocktail.

Galaxy Lounge (Deck 6 forward) - The main theater for Crystal Serenity, Galaxy Lounge offers full bar service before the performances begin.

Pulse Night Club (Deck 6 aft) - This late-night disco was also the location for the Magic Castle At Sea performances.

ACTIVITIES AND ENRICHMENT

With so many port days on this sailing (only one day 'at sea'), the main form of activity was exploring the ports-of-call. However, there was still plenty to do each day on board Crystal Serenity. Because of the itinerary, the Computer University @ Sea (CU@Sea) classes were limited to only two days. We signed up for the USC Digital Filmmaking Course, "iMovie on the iPad," which was a series of classes conducted by Tony Mark, an Emmy Award winning director. This course focused on using an iPad to film and edit movies. The classes were great fun and Tony did an excellent job instructing us.

Crystal now provides each Crystal Society Member (repeat Crystal guest) 60 minutes of free WiFi/Internet per day. That is a huge value for those of us who like to stay 'connected' while we are away from home. Crystal's Computer University@Sea offers guests several Internet plans (below) with per minute costs that decrease with the more minutes you purchase. The prices are competitive with what other cruise lines charge for comparable services. Other than the 'Pay As You Go' plan at 74 cents per minute, all other plans are slightly more expensive than they were in 2013, perhaps to compensate for the "free" Internet offered to Crystal Society members?

Here is an update from the Crystal Cruises website:

Effective August 30, 2015 on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity all Crystal guests will receive free Wi-Fi/internet for the duration of their cruise! Offering at least 60 minutes per person, per day of internet and Wi-Fi connectivity (depending on stateroom/suite category*), this enhanced benefit will ensure you are able to connect and share your cherished Crystal experiences to friends and family back home. Certain restrictions apply. Click the link below for more information

Hollywood Theater Movies - The Hollywood Theater on Deck 6 is one of our favorite venues. Each day, a different movie is shown here. The 210-person theater offers very comfortable seating, a large screen, great sound, and popcorn! What more could you want?

Lecture Series - Even though there was only one day at sea on this sailing, Crystal still offered a selection of interesting and enlightening lectures. All lectures are taped and broadcast over the ship's closed-circuit television system, so you never have to miss a lecture! On our voyage, we were treated to presentations by destination lecturer, Captain Richard Hayman, who provided lots of information about the history of the ports we were visiting. World Affairs lecturer, Professor Louis Beres, spoke about past military conflicts and foreign policy as it applies to our world situation today.

Exercise Classes - For those who want to continue their fitness routines while on board the ship, Crystal provides many ways to accomplish this. There are a variety of fitness classes offered each day, including the "Walk on Water" program using the WALKVEST and the Nordic Walking Program. Pilates and yoga classes are offered. Stretching sessions, stationary bicycle classes, Body Sculpt boot camp were offered and informational seminars were offered on such topics as flattening your abs, relieving back pain, detoxing and the benefits of acupuncture. Crystal Serenity also has a nicely-equipped Fitness Center on Deck 13.

Various other activities were offered each day including:

Bingo
Team Trivia
Bridge lessons
Ballroom dance lessons
Art lessons using Watercolor
Scarf-tying
Napkin folding
Oragami lessons
Golf clinics and golf simulator
Table tennis and Paddle tennis tournaments
Casino gaming lessons and slot tournaments
Needlepoint and knitting sessions

There were four male Ambassador Hosts on this cruise for ladies traveling along and looking for a dance partner.

SPA AND SALON

The Crystal Spa & Salon, located on Deck 13 aft, is now operated by ETRO and can be reached by using the aft elevators/staircase. The spa offers several types of massage and facial services. Each day, a spa "special" was offered with a discount on a combination of services. The salon offers hair cuts, color services, styling. manicures, pedicures and much more.

FITNESS CENTER

Across from the spa and salon on Deck 13 you will find a very nicely-equipped Fitness Center. The only way (that we could figure out) to get to the Spa and Fitness Center is to take the aft staircase/elevator to Deck 13. There is no outside access to the Fitness Center, even though you can exit to the outer deck from the Fitness Center.

The Fitness Center has a variety of modern treadmills and other cardio equipment as well as free weights and weight machines. A small yoga exercise room can be used for stretching or one of the many fitness classes conducted by the fitness staff.

PORTS OF CALL

On our 10-night sailing, we visited nine different ports in six different countries, making it one of the most diverse itineraries we have ever done on an ocean cruise. Highlights, in our opinion, were Lisbon, Barcelona, Florence (Livorno) and St. Tropez, but all ports we visited were interesting.

It is important to note that Crystal provided complimentary shuttle service in most ports on this itinerary (where local laws allowed). This service often goes unmentioned, but is a huge benefit to guests and is part of the "all-inclusive" nature of Crystal Cruises.

STAFF AND CREW

As you might expect on a 5-star cruise line, the staff and crew on Crystal Serenity were friendly, helpful and engaging. We were impressed at how many of the crew would call us by name. That is an impressive feat on a ship this size.

THE UPS AND DOWNS

Ups

All-inclusive policy continues to be a hit
New smoking (or non-smoking) policy
Best staterooms of any cruise line
Excellent 5-star service
Great dining options
Free Internet for return guests

Downs

Daily menus and activity schedule should be displayed on stateroom TV or intranet
Carpeting in some areas needs replacing
Tastes could benefit from some tweaking

VIDEO

SUMMARY

One of the main objectives of this sailing was for us to determine if Crystal, under new ownership, was going to maintain (or exceed, if possible) the standards of excellence that has earned it so many awards over the years. With an aggressive expansion program already underway, it will be very interesting to see if Crystal can maintain its reputation, or perhaps, even surpass it. The next challenge will be for Crystal to extend the luxury experience to the 62-guest Crystal Esprit which is set to begin operations in December 2015. There were several areas where we noticed an improvement over our 2013 sailing, and only a couple we felt were lacking by comparison (none of which were significant). This can be normal from any single cruise to the next and cannot be attributed to any change in policy from new ownership.

As for now, it appears that Crystal intends to continue to lavish its guests with the service and luxury to which they have become accustomed. The Crystal faithful can look forward to this level of luxury in a variety of new formats including a yacht, river cruising, new ship builds and air travel. Exciting? Indeed!

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 2/21/04 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 2/21/04

Silversea Silver Wind Mexican Riviera (2004)

We spend 14 nights aboard Silver Wind in 2004.

Vineyard in Galician Region of Spain. High enough to provide shade

Having spent more than our fair share of time exploring Cozumel and Playa del Carmen on Western Caribbean cruises, Rickee and I were ready for a change. When the opportunity to explore the other side of the Panama Canal on Silversea appeared, we jumped on it. They call this the “Mexican Riviera”. To say that the terrain and culture does not quite live up to the standards of the Italian or French Riviera might be the biggest understatement possible. Nevertheless, whenever or wherever you sail with Silversea Cruises, the destination can often take a back seat to the onboard experience.

Our cruise aboard Silver Wind was our second on Silversea, the first having been on her newer and bigger sister ship, Silver Whisper, in November, 2002. Silver Wind was the second Silversea ship, introduced in 1995, one year after the cruise line was founded. With her twin sister, Silver Cloud, these two ships have amassed more accolades and awards for service and quality than any afloat, including our Editor's Award for Best Small Ship Cruise Line for 2002 and our 6-Star Award of Excellence. Over the past 10 years, Silversea has become synonymous with “ultra-luxury” cruising. Their reputation is an asset which any cruise line would love to list on their balance sheet. Silversea’s approach to cruising is sophisticated and stylish.

The Review Process

It may be interesting to note that we review 6-star cruise lines much more intensely than we do a 4-star or even 5-star cruise line. Guests can easily pay $500 to $1000 per day for the experience of sailing on a luxury ship, so it is only fair that expectations should run higher. We mention this because some of the things we point out in our review may seem like we are ‘nit-picking’. And if truth be told…we are.

In addition to our own observations, we mix and mingle with other passengers throughout the cruise to inquire about their experiences and thoughts. In some cases, these people are aware of our status as editors for a major cruise travel web site. However, often we are totally ‘under the radar’ and act as any typical cruise passenger. We have found that cruise passengers will say things to other passengers that they will never reveal to a staff member. Finally, we meet with various crew members and officers to ask specific questions about the cruise line and ship.

Getting There

Our Mexican Riviera cruise sailed out of Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, which is about 60 miles south of the capital city, San Jose. However, you should know that it is about a 2 hour drive from one to the other because of the winding, 2-lane mountain roads. We chose to fly into San Jose the day before the cruise, spend the night at a hotel, and hire a town car to take us to Puerto Caldera the following day. This is a very wise choice if it is within your budget. For this journey, we chose to stay at the Real Comfort Hotel which we booked though Hotels.com for about $59 a night. While not a luxury hotel by any stretch, we were pleasantly surprised at how clean and new the hotel was. Our room was nice, quiet and even included complimentary breakfast. The hotel also offers a free shuttle to/from the airport (about a 15 minute ride) and to/from the Multiplaza Mall. Taxis are also widely available at the airport and all over San Jose. The taxis we used were small, but relatively clean and the rates were inexpensive ($12 to the hotel from the airport, $3 from the hotel to the Mall).

*Rickee arrives at Silver Wind in style thanks to Michael Berg, President of Jaguar Limousine.*

Silver Wind embarkation was scheduled for 3:00pm, so we arranged to have our car pick us up at our hotel at noon. The town car was booked on the Internet directly with Jaguar Limousine service (www.jaguarlimousineservices.com). Michael Berg, owner of Jaguar, just happened to be our driver for the day. If you require a limousine or town car transportation in San Jose, we highly recommend Jaguar. The town car was new, spotless and stocked with bottled water for the 2 hour ride. Michael even made a couple of stops along the way at local establishments allowing us to purchase Costa Rican coffee at about $1.50 per pound! Costa Rican coffee is arguably the best in the world and sells in Dallas for around $9 a pound. It pays to know a local! The cost for the town car transfer was $200, almost ½ of what some cruise lines charge for the same service. Of course, there are less expensive ways to get from San Jose to Puerto Caldera. There are public buses which are very inexpensive, and you can also get transfers from your cruise line or travel agent.

We arrived at Puerto Caldera at about 2:15, 45 minutes early. Since it was rather windy and dusty outside, Silversea allowed us to board early, wait in one of the ship’s lounges and sip a glass of champagne while we waited for the formal embarkation to begin. At 3:00pm we walked down to Deck 5, surrendered our passports, had our photos taken for security and were given our room keys and boarding cards. The entire check-in process took less than 5 minutes.

Unfortunately, as we were making our initial walk around the ship to inspect all of the facilities, Rickee slipped on the stairs at the pool deck and broke one of her toes. A crew member quickly contacted the ship’s doctor and her injury was tended to and a crutch provided so she could keep the weight off of her foot.

The Ship

*Silver Wind anchored off the coast of Cabo San Lucas*

Silver Wind is second of two identical Silversea ships constructed in 1994 when the cruise line began operations. It is apparent that the ships were designed and built to accomplish the specific task of delivering the ultimate in all-inclusive luxury cruising. At a time when most cruise lines were focusing on how to build bigger, more elaborate ships, Silversea went in the opposite direction. At 16,800 tons, Silver Wind is small in comparison to today’s mega-ships. She carries 296 guests and a crew of 200. That’s an extremely high ratio of 1 crew member for every 1.5 guests. There are seven passenger decks, all of which can be reached by any of four elevators located mid ship. There are also two winding staircases which run from Deck 4 to Deck 8. The layout of the public rooms and the location of the stairs and elevators combine to make this one of the easiest ships to move around in. From a suite on Deck 5 you can get to any other area of the ship in just a few minutes.

*Dual staircases located mid-ship make getting around Silver Wind very easy.*

The Reception Desk and Tour Desk are located on Deck 6. Located on Deck 5 is The Bar, a popular gathering place for before and after dinner drinks. Deck 5 is also where you typically will embark and disembark the vessel when it is docked. The Restaurant, Wind’s main dining salon, and the alternate dining venue, Saletta, are located on Deck 4 aft. Just down the hall from the Restaurant is the ship’s recently installed Library and Internet Point. Moving up to Deck 6 you will find The Parisian Lounge, the ship’s show lounge. The Terrace Café is located on Deck 7 aft and is the ship’s buffet breakfast and lunch venue as well as an alternate, theme-dinner bistro in the evening. The pool is located on Deck 8 as is the Panorama Lounge, a quiet and elegant lounge that offers a 180 degree view of the ocean being left behind. There is also the Champagne Room which serves as the ship’s cigar and Cognac lounge.

A recent refurbishment and refit finds the fitness center moved to Deck 9 replacing the Observation Lounge. A new library and Internet Point has been added on Deck 4 in a space previously occupied by one of the ship’s suites. Part of The Restaurant on Deck 4 has been sectioned off and redecorated to become the ship’s new 2-star Michelin restaurant, Saletta. Carpeting has been replaced in many places throughout the ship and there are new cushions and upholstery in public areas. New fabrics and furnishings can be found in the suites as well. In general, the ship looks far younger than it is. The only areas showing any real signs of wear are some marble in the suites and tile flooring in the public restrooms. There are no signs of rust ANYWHERE on the interior or exterior of the ship. This is further indication of exceptional maintenance, something we noticed on Silver Whisper in 2002.

The overall décor of Silver Wind is understated and elegant. There are no striking displays of art or sculpture and the color scheme is calming and subtle.

Accommodations

The mid ship Veranda Suite (529) was a comfortable 295 square feet in size. Even though the bathroom was considerably smaller than those on Silver Whisper/Shadow, it was well-appointed. There is a single combination bathtub/shower. Bathroom amenities include shampoo, body lotion, shower gel, conditioner and soap from famed Bvlgari. Cotton swabs and cotton balls are also provided in a container on the marble vanity. A single medicine cabinet offers ample storage, but not as much as you might expect in a ‘suite’. The only disappointment was the towels, which looked more like the kind you would find at a Holiday Inn instead of a 6-star cruise line or hotel. Functionally, the towels were fine and quite absorbent; they just were not much to look at.

As with the Veranda and Vista suites on Whisper/Shadow, the makeup vanity is situated right in front of the bed which makes maneuvering around the suite very tricky while someone is seated at the vanity. A makeup mirror is provided on the vanity, but a lighted mirror would be better. Nevertheless, there is a lot of light generated by the two fluorescent fixtures flanking the mirror. The only electrical outlet we found in the suite was located on the vanity. This means you have to move the mountain of makeup, creams and potions that women like to display on the vanity to plug in your digital camera, video camera, cell phone, laptop recharge transformers, etc. A better option would be to have 2 110 outlets located on the desk/entertainment center.

*The desk has a mini bar and small television which can be seen from the bed*

The desk/entertainment center is directly across from the full-size sofa and coffee table. The television is located in the lower right cabinet of the entertainment center. The placement of the television makes it difficult for a person laying on the far side of the bed to view it. We would like to see the TV moved up higher in the cabinet, or better yet, a flat-screen LCD mounted to the wall next to the room divider. It never hurts to wish! The veranda spans the width of the suite and is covered in teak. There are two white plastic adjustable chairs (no loungers) with padded fabric cushions and a small white plastic table. For some reason, the white plastic looks out of place on a ship as elegant as Silver Wind.

There is a small coffee table which is easily converted to a comfortable dining table with the addition of a square tabletop that fits on top. When not in use, the square tabletop is stored behind the sofa or under the bed. The walk-in closet is quite large and can easily hold enough clothes for a two-week or longer journey. There are plenty of wooden hangers and more are available upon request from the stewardess.

The queen-size mattress was VERY comfortable and the linens were of the highest quality and thread count. Silversea has introduced new down-filled duvets that are heavenly. The standard pillows are the fluffy down variety, a little too soft for my preference. A quick call to housekeeping and we had two firmer pillows in their place.

The suites are maintained twice each day by the stewardess and her assistant. Beds are made up and the suite cleaned each morning and once again in the evening when the bed is turned down. There are always chocolates waiting on the bed when you return to your suite after an evening of dining and entertainment.

Dining

Mealtime is always something special on Silversea. You do not simply ‘eat’ on Silversea, you dine. Whether you choose to dine in The Restaurant, Terrace Café, Saletta or in your own suite, you will do so on a white linen tablecloth which has been set with flatware and china. Even casual dining is something special. The dining service onboard Wind is crisp and polished with a decidedly European flair.

The day begins with breakfast at 8:00am in The Restaurant or The Terrace Café (buffet style). The breakfast menu in The Restaurant is extensive and everything is made to order. Even if something is not on the menu, chances are you only need ask and it will be prepared for you. This is true of any meal, not just breakfast. Even though The Terrace Café is less formal than The Restaurant, you are not deprived of linen tablecloths and excellent service. Here you will enjoy a lavish buffet of fresh fruits, breads, pastries, eggs and meat selections. You can also order fresh egg dishes in the Terrace Café. Of course, you can always enjoy breakfast is ‘en suite’. Room service will deliver a full breakfast to your suite.

At noon, The Terrace Café opens for lunch with a buffet filled with hot dishes, cold cuts, salads, fruits and amazing desserts. There is a carving station serving roasted meats and a made-to-order pasta station featuring daily creations. One unique and welcome regular on the lunch buffet is fresh Sushi. A mountain of fresh chunks of tuna is surrounded by a variety of Sashimi hand rolls. Once your plate has been filled, it will be surrendered to one of the polished staff who will carry it to your table. The Terrace Café features several tables located outdoors for a wonderful al fresco dining experience. A full service menu lunch is served in The Restaurant starting at 12:30pm. We found The Restaurant to be much less crowded at lunch since most guests opt for The Terrace. You can also enjoy burgers and hot dogs poolside if you would like to eat without changing out of your swimsuit.

Just in case you get hungry before dinner, the ship offers a traditional British Tea service at 4:00pm in the Panorama Lounge. A nice selection of finger sandwiches, cookies and scones (served with traditional clotted cream) complement the selection of teas.

““As much as anything, the people you meet aboard the ship make the cruise. The typical passenger is older, well traveled, educated, affluent, and friendly. You can board the ship without knowing a soul and never eat a meal alone because it is so easy to meet people.””

— Joel & Harriet Gilbert - Silversea Guests

Executive Chef David Greves begins working his culinary magic at 7:30pm when guests migrate to one of Silver Wind’s three dining venues for the evening meal. The tradition of dressing for dinner has been preserved on Silversea. Even on informal evenings most men will wear a jacket and tie and ladies will wear a dress or dressy slacks. On formal nights, the ratio of tuxedos to suits is probably the highest in the cruise industry. It seems fitting that one should pay such respect to this level of dining and service. Steven Weber, the ship’s Maître d’ Hôtel, greets guests by name as they arrive at The Restaurant. You can count on Steven to ensure that any special dining requests are met. The Restaurant is a sophisticated, understated dining room with nothing to distract from the food and service. The menu changes each evening and offers a variety of hot and cold appetizers, salads, soups, and main courses. The service is polished and attentive. Waiters and assistants will routinely greet you by name and remember your personal preferences. Head Sommelier Jérôme Larbi selects two complimentary wines (one red and one white) each evening. The complimentary wines offered ranged from average to very good. There is also an extensive selection of premium wines available (at an additional cost) from Silver Wind’s wine cellar.

Silver Wind offers two other evening dining venues, each with its own interesting twist. The Terrace Café transforms into a quiet bistro setting. The menu ‘theme’ changes each evening and offers a fixed selection of menu items which are pre-selected by the Chef. We visited The Terrace Café on Asian night and American Steak night. Both visits were memorable, with the Asian night being the real standout. There are generally only between 20 and 50 guests dining in The Terrace Café. While there is no charge for dining at The Terrace Café, advance reservations are required. As you would expect, the service here is near perfect.

“Did you know? Saletta will be added to the Silver Cloud when she emerges from dry dock in Spring 2004.”

— CruiseReport.com

A new addition to the dining choices is the Relais & Châteaux Relais Gourmands-inspired Saletta. This specialty restaurant features the creations of Mr. Joachim Koerper, Chef/Owner of the Michelin 2 Star Girasol Restaurant in Moraira, Spain. Saletta is the most elegant restaurant on Silver Wind and serves a maximum of 30 guests each evening. Reservations are required and even though there is no charge for the meal, there is a charge for any spirits and/or wines consumed in Saletta. The menu in Saletta changes every day or two and features some very unique creations which are not commonly found in restaurants on land or at sea. The 5 course fixed menu is nothing short of amazing. Thankfully, the portions are small with the emphasis on creativity and quality preparation. The beef tenderloin with truffles served in Saletta was far superior in taste and tenderness to the beef served in The Restaurant. Virtually everyone we spoke with who had tried Saletta agreed that it was a highlight of the Silversea experience. Our visit to Saletta confirmed that opinion.

Dining Highlights The poolside barbeque held one evening each cruise features a massive selection of grilled meats, salads, deserts and pasta. The Galley Luncheon is a special buffet lunch served in the galley.

The quality of the food and the ingredients used in preparation throughout the ship is generally very high. Some of the seafood offerings were exceptional with the fresh lobster being the real standout. Bernhard Stacher, Silver Wind’s Food & Beverage Manager, says “90% of the seafood served on board is fresh and not frozen.” The exception is certain fish which is served raw (e.g. Saku tuna for sushi) which must be frozen for at least 3 days at minus 21 degrees to ensure that any bacteria is killed. Notwithstanding the filet served in Saletta, the steaks I tried on Silver Wind, while cooked perfectly, were a little tough. The prime rib, on the other hand, was tender and juicy. All of the lamb and veal dishes we tried were excellent. We did not notice an appreciable difference in the quality of meals served in The Terrace Café bistro over the much larger and busier Restaurant. Perhaps that is because the food in The Restaurant already meets such high standards. The presentation of every course served could not have been better. As Chef Greaves says “the food must look as good as it tastes,” and it certainly does on Silver Wind. The service levels in every dining room were exceptional with little room for improvement.

There is also a 24-hour room service menu for meals delivered to your suite. During regular restaurant hours, you can order from The Restaurant menu and have your multi-course meals delivered to your suite.

Bars & Lounges

There are three bars on Silver Wind. The Pool Bar is, as you might guess, located near the pool on Deck 8. The Panorama Lounge is located on Deck 8 aft and The Bar is located on Deck 5 aft. All champagne, soft drinks, wines and liquor are complimentary with the exception of some premium brands. Philipponnat Royale Reserve has replaced Moet & Chandon as Silversea’s signature champagne. We found it to be light, crisp and just sweet enough to satisfy most tastes. It is every bit as good as the Moet & Chandon previously poured, and many guests thought it to be better.

The bar service on Silversea is excellent. Mixed drinks are served in large heavy glasses with clear, cubed ice. Virtually any brand of liquor you could possibly want is available on a complimentary basis. There are a few premium cognacs, brandies and ports which are available for an additional charge. Waiters are very prompt and polite. If you are drinking champagne or wine, don’t be surprised if your glass is filled while you are not looking before it gets half empty. The Bar and The Panorama Lounge are popular from 7:00pm for pre-dinner drinks. A nice selection of canapés and hot hors d’oeuvres are served in each lounge from 7:00 until 7:30 each night.

You may also order your favorite beverage from any other location on the ship. For example, if you wish to have a drink delivered to your suite you can call room service. Drink service is also available in the Parisian Lounge during evening entertainment.

Entertainment

*Executive Chef, David Greaves entertains guests with an impressive cooking demonstration.*

The entertainment on Silver Wind was noticeably less impressive than we found during our cruise on Silver Whisper (November 2002). Missing was the enthusiastic song and dance production shows formerly provided by Jean Ann Ryan Productions. There were good performers, such as the comedy and magic of Des and Cherry, Harmonica Virtuoso, Bernie Fields and vocalist Steve Teague. These were very good lounge acts, but do not fully utilize the stage, sound and lighting capabilities of The Parisian Lounge. There is good news on the horizon, Jean Ann Ryan Productions will be back on board all Silversea ships in March 2004. Apparently Silversea listens to its guests.

For those who wish to remain in their suite, there is satellite television and a selection of movies which play at various times throughout the day. On our cruise, the satellite television programming was sub-standard. There was no CNN or any news channel for 7 of the 10 days, and other channels were hit and miss. Cruise Director Collin Brown confirmed that Silver Wind was to receive a new satellite system within the next week or two with additional programming (CNN, BBC News, etc.). He also mentioned that all Silversea ships will get new DVD players to replace the outdated VCR’s and a large selection of DVD’s will be available for checkout from the front desk.

Activities

*Cruise Director, Colin Brown and I share a moment at the farewell reception.*

You might think that a ship with only 292 passengers would have very few, if any, activities. Not so. It seems that there is always something going on somewhere around the ship.

Power Walk Session at 7:00am; Step Trax Class at 8:00am; SculptTrax Abs, Buns and Thighs Class at 9:00am; Internet Assistance at 9:00am; Bridge Lecture at 10:00am; Morning Coffee Chat at 10am; Table Tennis at 10:30am; Lecture Series at 11:00am; Shuffleboard at 11:00am; Afternoon Tea at 4:00pm; Pilates at 4:00pm; Yoga Dynamics at 5:00pm; Team Trivia at 5:00pm; Golf Putting at 5:30pm.

For risk takers, there is a casino on Silver Wind with 8 slot machines, 3 poker machines, 2 blackjack tables and a roulette table.

The Fitness Center on Deck 9 forward now occupies the space previously used as the Observation Lounge. The Fitness Center has three stationary bicycles, three treadmills, a universal weight machine, free weights, mats and exercise balls. There is a basket of complimentary bottled water and fresh towels. On several visits to the Fitness Center, we found the room to either be too cold or too hot. The equipment is showing its age and should be upgraded. There are no bottled water holders on the bikes or treadmills and no elliptical trainer. The ceiling is so low that my head would hit it when I stepped on the treadmill. I am only 6’ 1” tall. Our suggestion would be to replace the three old treadmills with two new ones and a new elliptical trainer. There is a nice outdoor walking/jogging track area on Deck 9.

The Itinerary

PUERTO QUETZAL, GUATEMALA

Puerto Quetzal is the port for the town of San Jose, Guatemala, which used to be the country’s second largest port. Most ships had to stay at anchor and discharge their cargo to shore by lighter vessels. Puerto Quetzal was built to allow ships to dock. If you are looking to stock up for your next garage sale, you will enjoy the marketplace where vendors sell hand made crafts, leather items and pottery. Silversea arranged a complimentary shuttle from the ship to the cruise terminal where the marketplace was setup.

The big draw here is the Mayan ruins of Tikal and Copan. Both tours take 9 hours and require an airplane ride. There is also a day long tour of Antigua Guatemala (not to be confused with the Antigua in the Caribbean). A 90-minute drive takes you from the ship to Antigua where you can walk through a variety of historical buildings.

*Me and Rickee with Ixtapa in the background.*

ZIHUANTINEJO, MEXICO (IXTAPA)

This quaint fishing port boasts more than 16 miles of beaches and semitropical weather all year round. The main plaza faces the ocean; from here the town spreads out, covering just a few square blocks. The large, computer-planned resort of Ixtapa is only 5 miles away and features luxury hotels, miles of beaches, two 18-hole championship golf courses and upscale shopping malls.

MANZANILLO, MEXICO

This major port city was first visited by Hernan Cortez while he was in search of Chinese treasures. By the 1970's, Manzanillo had become a major Pacific manufacturing center and port. Manzanillo has also become a popular destination for sun and adventure seekers. The bustling beach areas are Manzanillo's main appeal. You can choose from relaxing on a sun-soaked beach or participate in one of the many watersports and fishing activities.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO

Located in the center of Mexico's Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is one of the country's most picturesque destinations. In addition to its visual appeal, Puerto Vallarta offers a variety of cultural entertainment and a lively nightlife. The ship offered a tour called "Nature's Canopy" which, among other things, allows participants to swing from one platform to another on a zip line. Very cool.

*Rickee with new friends, Joel and Harriet, prepare to mount up for the ATV Tour in Cabo.*

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO

Cabo San Lucas is like the Maui of Mexico. This west coast community has exploded over the past two decades and features some of the most exotic vacation resorts in Mexico.

One tour that we enjoyed was the ATV adventure. For more than three hours you get to explore hilly dessert trails on four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles (ATV's). This tour is good for anyone in reasonably good physical condition. Beware, you will get VERY dusty during the ride. The tour operator provides helmets, goggles and bandanas.

The Silversea Experience

The ‘experience’ one gets when sailing Silversea is more than the sum of its parts. There is an atmosphere on Silversea that has yet to be duplicated by any other cruise line we have ever sailed. When you sail Silversea, you feel like you are on the best cruise line in the world. You feel important, like you have arrived. You realize you are experiencing a level of luxury that only a small fraction of the world’s population will ever enjoy.

Silversea has put into practice a philosophy of customer service that meets the demands of the most discriminating clients. Max and Caroline Welling from Jersey Island have accumulated over 330 days on Silversea over the years and are planning another 90-day voyage later in the year. “There is no other cruise line to compare to Silversea,” says Mr. Welling. “Nobody else offers intimate ships with balcony suites and open-seating dining with this level of service,” he continues. Mr. Welling makes a very valid point.

How To Get The Most Out Of A Silversea Cruise

Use a knowledgeable and trustworthy cruise professional with experience in selling Silversea. Ask your travel agent how many Silversea cruises they sell each year. If they say “none” or “very few”, look for an agent who understands this product.

Pay for your cruise with your American Express Platinum card. This will get you extra benefits like $300 in shipboard credit, a complimentary bottle of Dom Perignon champagne in your suite, dinner with a senior officer and a private tour of the bridge!

Once on board, if you want something ASK FOR IT! Chances are, Silversea will get it for you. In my case, I like creamed spinach with dinner each evening and a Caesar salad. Don’t expect them to read your mind and don’t be shy about making requests.

Book your next Silversea cruise on board and save an additional 5%. Even if your plans change, you will get the 5% discount applied to your next Sivlersea cruise. Also, your travel agent will get full credit for any cruise you book on board.

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

Chris and Rickee weigh in on various aspects of Silver Wind.

The Ups

👍🏻 - Cruise Director Colin Brown. Colin seemed to be everywhere! His ease with the guests, his never-ending supply of energy, his warm smile and charming demeanor combine to make him very good at what he does. 👍🏻 - Maitre’d Steven Weber. Steven will greet you by name on visits to the dining room and he will make sure that any of your special dining requests are met. - Cruise Consultant, Vivienne Grouse. Vivienne is on hand to assist with booking your next Silversea cruise. She will also make sure you get the best suite location on the ship for the money. Guests who book a future cruise while on board receive a 5% discount in addition to any other discounts that may be offered.

👍🏻 - Assistant Cruise Director, Michael Gregurich – Full of energy, always smiling and a pretty darn good singer to boot! Michael will be leaving the Wind to become the Cruise Director when Silver Cloud emerges from dry dock this Spring.

👍🏻 - Maintenance/Housekeeping. The Silver Wind is immaculate. The exterior of the ship literally sparkled with fresh paint. The interior surfaces and brass were also polished daily and well- maintained. Public restrooms are cleaned regularly. - Medical Staff. Rickee fell the first night out and broke two toes on one foot. Within minutes, a nurse was speeding her to the medical center on Deck 3 in a wheelchair. The doctor was summoned from the dining room and Rickee received very competent care.

👍🏻 - The Terrace Cafe. This is an excellent venue for buffet breakfast and lunch and transforms into an intimate, candlelit bistro for casual “theme” dining each evening. Panoramic views of the ocean and optional al fresco dining make this a beautiful dining area.

👍🏻 - The Restaurant is Silver Wind’s main dining room offering open seating dining from 7:30pm to 9:30pm each evening. We are sold on the concept of single seating which allows you to dine whenever and with whomever you wish. Service, food and presentation are all excellent.

*Elegant dining is the order of the day in Saletta.*

👍🏻 - Saletta. This is an amazing dining experience. The creations of Mr. Joachim Koerper, Chef/Owner of the Michelin 2 Star Girasol Restaurant, as prepared by Silver Wind's dedicated Saletta chefs are works of art. Fortunately, this is art you can eat!

👍🏻 - The Pool Bar and Grill offers excellent drinks, good burgers, all-beef hot dogs, grilled chicken sandwiches and a variety of salads. Table service is a great convenience, but we would also like to see the addition of a walk-up order area for food. During peak periods, the wait for an order can be considerable. - The Mandara Spa on Deck 7 has a new relaxation room that is very classy. Massage treatments are second to none. - Mid ship Verandah Suites are well-designed, comfortable and quiet. Even though they are smaller than the Veranda Suites on Whisper and Shadow, they are as good as or better than most comparable suites on other luxury ships.

👍🏻 – All-inclusive. Virtually everything is included in your cruise fare - champagne, wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks and bottled water. A bottle of liquor will also be delivered for consumption in your suite if you desire. All gratuities are also included.

👍🏻 – Single-seating dining. Perhaps the single biggest advantage Silversea and other luxury lines have over "mainstream" cruise lines is the option to dine whenever and with whomever you wish.

👍🏻 – Daily Information Guide - Silversea Chronicles. Worthy of special mention. This onboard guide to daily activities and events is the best of any cruise line we've seen! Hence, we give it our 'Best at Sea' award. Not only is the Chronicles professionally laid out and easy to read, it is packed with valuable information. A logical Daily Program provides a timetable of all events onboard. The Silversea Chronicles is left in your suite during the evening turndown service (along with chocolates, most likely) so you always know what is happening the next day. They even include a preview of the day's lunch and dinner menus!

👍🏻 - Laundry/Dry Cleaning Service aboard Silver Wind is exceptional. Items we sent out by 9:30am were returned the same afternoon!

👍🏻 - The Library is well-stocked with books and video tapes and is open 24 hours per day. The honor system is utilized here so you can drop by any time, grab a book or video, and simply return it when you are done. - Afternoon Tea aboard Silver Wind occurs every afternoon at 4:00pm. An excellent selection of sandwiches, desserts, and scones with clotted cream make this one of the nicest teas at sea. - The Parisian Lounge is a superb venue for a variety of production shows and entertainment acts. The lounge features great sightlines with very few obstructed views. Unfortunately, on our cruise, the entertainment provided did not live up to the capabilities of the venue. - Special Requests. Silversea is very good about dealing with special requests. I ordered Caesar salad every evening, no problem. When we requested firmer pillows for the bed, they were brought immediately. Even though Eggs Benedict did not appear on the breakfast menu for room service, we wrote in the request and they were delivered hot and delicious. The only slip up was at dinner in The Restaurant. My standing order for creamed spinach was missed on three of the five nights we ate there.

The Downs

The Fitness Center is small, cramped and under-equipped. The treadmills are old and worn out Life Stride models with no holders for water bottles. The ceiling is so low that when jogging on a 6% incline my head would hit the ceiling (I am 6’ 1”). Given the average age of Silversea clientele, they should replace at least one of the treadmills with a good elliptical machine.

👍🏻 - The Internet Point. What a contrast from the Internet Café on Silver Whisper! The Internet Point on Deck 4 experienced more than its share of problems. The satellite appeared to be offline more often than it was online. Connections to the Internet were some of the slowest we have seen anywhere, land or sea.

👍🏻 - Entertainment. The entertainment we experienced was good, but the ship really misses the punch of the production shows. Jean Ann Ryan Productions will be back in March and it will be welcomed by every guest with whom we spoke. - Towels. The towels provided in the suites are simply not up-to-par for a 6-star cruise line like Silversea. They were coarse and, well, just ugly. The good news is that Hotel Director, Yves Joubin, verified that new and better towels are on the way! - Smoking policy in Parisian Lounge. This is one area of the ship that should be designated as a non-smoking venue.

👍🏻 – Overall. Our opinion of Silversea has not changed one bit. This remains a 6-Star luxury cruise line that can easily be considered the most luxurious on earth. If you will settle for nothing but the very best, and can afford it, Silversea has no equal.

If you have any questions about our Silver Wind cruise, please feel free to email us reviews@cruisereport.com and we will do our best to answer any questions.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 11/17/02 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 11/17/02

Silversea Silver Whisper 14-Night Caribbean (2002)

We spend 14 nights aboard Silver Whisper in the Caribbean. Our first sailing with Silversea Cruises!

Michael and Pat M., a couple from England, look far too young to have already accumulated 100 sailing days with Silversea. Yet, after they complete their next Silversea cruise of 34 days from Auckland to Acapulco, they will have accomplished that milestone. Jean and Peter A., also from England, are longtime Seabourn patrons enjoying their first Silversea cruise. Werner and Wilma S. are cruising with their daughter and son-in-law. The four of them flew from their home in Switzerland to join the Silver Whisper for the 14-day Caribbean cruise after which they will return home. In March 2003, Werner and Wilma fly from Switzerland to meet Silver Whisper in Acapulco for a Panama Canal cruise. What could possibly be so special about the Silversea experience to attract so many people from around the world? “The staff is always smiling and happy and each time we return we get to see the same folks we became friends with from our previous Silversea cruises,” says Pat M.

“A happy crew makes for happy passengers,” says Cruise Director Ray Solaire. Ray, a 30-year cruise line veteran, spent 20 years with Cunard Line and has been with Silversea from its beginning. He demonstrates the energy of a man half his age and this energy seems to carry over to the entire crew of the Silver Whisper. This sort of attitude cannot help but contribute to a memorable cruise experience, as we were about to find out during our first Silversea experience.

Exceeding expectations becomes increasingly difficult when so much is expected to begin with. Like Rolls Royce in the auto industry, Silversea has established a brand synonymous in the cruise industry with the ultimate in luxury and is not bashful about charging the highest per diems for its product. Cruise fares on Silversea can range from $350 to over $1000 per day, per person (depending upon such factors as suite selection, cruise itinerary, early booking discounts, Venetian Society discounts, and seasonal rates.) Make no mistake, the Silversea Experience is designed from the ground up for those who expect the very best and are willing to pay to get it. But, is it really worth the high price? “Absolutely,” says Peter A., a first-time Silversea guest. “The level of service, the luxury of a smaller ship experience and the flexible dining options are well worth the price.” This sentiment is shared among many Silversea guests who return time and time again to this premium cruise line.

*Senior Editor, Rickee Richardson, enjoys a tour of the bridge with Captain Angelo Carsaro*

One thing you notice immediately when you book a Silversea cruise is the incredible attention to detail. Virtually nothing has been overlooked in the quest to provide the best of everything for the Silversea guest. This is evident as soon as your silver foil-stamped cruise documents arrive wrapped inside a real calfskin ticket jacket embossed with the distinctive Silversea “S” logo. That same attention to detail carries through to the onboard experience. Each suite is fully-stocked with quality Italian Bvlgari-brand bath products. Bathroom floors, walls and vanities are drenched in rich Italian marble, and beds are wrapped in the finest linens and topped with fluffy down pillows.

At 25,000 tons, the Silver Whisper is more than twice the size of the Seabourn Pride and carries as many as 388 guests with a crew complement of 300. This results in the highest space-to-guest-ratio in the industry. Launched in 2001, Silver Whisper is the newest of Silversea’s four ships. Her identical twin sister, Silver Shadow, was launched in 2000. Two smaller sister ships, the Silver Wind and Silver Cloud, each with a tonnage of just under 17,000, provide accommodations for 296 passengers. “We like the intimacy of the Silver Cloud,” says James M., a Venetian Society Member with over 115 days aboard Silversea, “but we prefer the roomier suites and the public space of the Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow.”

After checking in at Pier 29 in Ft. Lauderdale, a white-gloved Silversea staff member escorted us on board where we were immediately greeted by Cruise Director Ray Solaire. A welcoming line of sharply dressed, smiling staff members offered crystal flutes filled with chilled Moet & Chandon Brut Champagne which we graciously accepted. Another white-gloved stewardess then walked us to our suite where we were to see our home for the next 2 weeks. Our Verandah Suite (suite 502) is the forward-most suite on Deck 5. About 80% of the accommodations onboard Silver Whisper (and her sister Silver Shadow) are Verandah Suites. There are a few Vista Suites available which are the same size, but have a large picture window instead of a balcony.

The well-designed Verandah Suites measure 345 square feet, are nicely appointed and tastefully decorated. The interior of the suites reflect the same understated elegance that is found throughout Silver Whisper. The emphasis here is on quality materials, workmanship and creature comfort, not colorful, overwhelming decoration. Bathrooms are large by cruise ship standards and feature separate tub and shower stall and two sinks. The walk-in closet is large enough to hold plenty of clothes for any length voyage and still have room for an adult to get dressed with the door closed. This is a nice feature for early-risers who do not want to wake their traveling companion in the morning. The closet has intelligently been placed between the bathroom and the bedroom, serving as an effective sound barrier. The bedroom area consists of a queen-sized bed, 2 end tables and a small vanity at the foot of the bed with a well-lighted mirror. Finally, the living/dining room area features a large wall unit which has a desk, refrigerator, bar and entertainment center (Television/VCR combo). Opposite from the wall unit is a comfortable sofa, a chair and a coffee table that can be converted to a dining room table for room service. The back wall of the living room is actually a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door leading out to a teak balcony where you’ll find two lounge chairs with ottomans, and a small table just the right size for morning coffee and croissants.

Every suite has a beautiful fresh flower arrangement, fresh fruit is replenished daily or upon request, and a bottle of chilled Moet & Chandon champagne is waiting for you when you arrive. In fact, Moet & Chandon Champagne is poured throughout the ship and is included in your cruise fare, as are a nice selection of wines, all mixed drinks, soft drinks and bottled water, making the Silversea Experience an all-inclusive experience. Our suite was kept immaculate throughout the cruise by our Austrian stewardess, Martina.

“Is there something you want that’s not on the menu? Ask your waiter. I requested a Caesar salad, creamed spinach and/or green beans every evening.”

— CruiseReport.com

The ship itself is very well laid out with a reception area mid-ship on Deck 5 with the purser’s desk, tour desk, and the offices of the cruise consultant and hotel manager. Most of the public rooms aboard Silver Whisper are located aft on Decks 5, 6, 7 and 8 with the exception of the Mandara Spa and Observation Lounge found on Deck 10 forward. The Casino and boutiques are located mid-ship on Deck 5. This layout makes traversing the ship very quick and easy. Moving vertically is made possible by four stairways and four elevators located aft from Deck 3 thru Deck 8 and one staircase and elevator forward. The elevators are small and slow, but they get the job done. The stairs are so well-designed and easy to negotiate, we rarely saw anyone using the elevators unless required to do so because of a wheelchair. The ship is also very accommodating to wheelchairs with several ramps in front of doorways. There are even wheelchair-designated public restrooms in many areas of the ship.

The décor of the ship can best be described as understated elegance. There is a contemporary monochromatic feel to the interior spaces with walls virtually void of colorful artwork with the exception of The Bar and The Restaurant which do have a few splashes of red and orange. The furnishings throughout the public rooms are constructed of rich woods and fabrics and are very comfortable. In spite of this lack of color and panache, the ship radiates a beautiful elegance.

“Enjoy dinner in the Terrace Cafe for an intimate candlelit dinner. Reservations are limited to 50 people per evening.”

— CruiseReport.com

When the ship is in port, guests can walk leisurely off the ship without the hassle of long lines. Even tender operations are very efficient and smooth. Of course, you can also enjoy an organized excursion arranged through the ship's tour desk. Shore excursions are competitively priced with other cruise lines and we noticed at least one Silversea crew member accompanying every tour.

*Enjoying a day at sea aboard silver whisper*

Sea days aboard Silver Whisper can be enjoyed at the ship’s pool on Deck 8 where attendants will spoil you. On hot afternoons, you will be offered chilled face towels, fresh watermelon and pineapple. A cool drink is always available from the pool bar to be delivered to your lounge chair. And you can forget about having to dry your hands to sign for your drink because all of your drinks are complimentary on Silversea. If the pool is not your thing, you can relax in one of the many lounges on board to read a good book, converse with friends, or partake in one of the many activities offered by the Silver Whisper staff ranging from cooking demonstrations to trivia contests.

Silver Whisper guests who wish to connect to the Internet during their cruise may do so at the ship’s Internet café on Deck 8. Guests who have attempted to access the Internet from other cruise ships will immediately appreciate the way Silversea charges for access. Guests are charged $.75 cents per minute, but the charges are only accrued as files are being uploaded or downloaded from the net. The result is an affordable and fair way of paying for the service. “We view our Internet café as an extension of the service we offer to our guests,” says Communications and I.T. Officer Vassant Ramakrishna.

A cruise aboard a luxury ship like Silver Whisper would not be complete without a relaxing trip to the spa. All Silversea ships feature spas operated by Mandara Spa which originated in Bali. Mandara Spa offers a variety of salon treatments including facials, waxing hair and nail care. But what we were looking for was a relaxing massage, and we found it. While I was enjoying 80 minutes of “Balinese Bliss”, Rickee submitted herself to the “Massage Around the World” (see inset for descriptions). Both treatments were as good, if not better, than any we have received at sea or on land. At $160 each for 80 minutes, the treatments are a bargain. When you sail Silver Whisper, you simply owe it to yourself to indulge.

*Room service is taken to a new level on Silversea*

Evenings aboard Silver Whisper often begin with a visit to The Bar on Deck 5, or The Panorama Lounge on Deck 8, for pre-dinner drinks and conversation. Both venues feature canapés as well as a selection of hot hors d’oeuvres. Here you can meet and converse with some of the most interesting people in the world.

Dining aboard Silver Whisper is what you would expect from a 6-star luxury ship. Breakfast and lunch is delivered to your table in the Restaurant, while a beautiful buffet is served in the less formal Terrace Café on Deck 7. Evening meals can be enjoyed in the more formal atmosphere of the Restaurant on Deck 3, or the more casual and intimate Terrace Café which is transformed into a candlelit bistro-style restaurant on most evenings. With virtually no exceptions, everything that was delivered from the galley was prepared to order and of exceptional quality and presentation. For those times when you don’t feel like getting out, you can have room service in your suite. The living room table is converted into a dining table complete with linen tablecloth, china and silver service for a memorable “en suite” dining experience. The complete Restaurant menu is available for room service during normal dining hours and there is a 24-hour menu available for the non-dining hours.

Where Silver Whisper really shines is her staff and service. It would seem that everyone working on Silver Whisper enjoys their work and truly loves their job. We did not encounter a single employee during the 14 days who was anything less than accommodating, friendly and sincere. You cannot walk down any hallway on Silver Whisper without receiving one or more greetings from staff members.All, of course, delivered with a smile.

*Making new friends is easy aboard a small ship*

As we prepared to disembark Silver Whisper, we suddenly realized why so many people return time and time again. While we are sad to leave our new friends behind, we are excited at the prospect of returning in the near future. For as we leave Silver Whisper, we see a new group of passengers waiting to board. We envy them because we know they will enjoy, in the words of Ray Solaire, many “Glorious Days” aboard Silver Whisper.

The Thumbs report

👍🏻 - Master Angelo Carsaro. Here is yet another one of those attractive Italian ship captains that all men love to hate. But if you can overlook his good looks and charming accent, he is very gracious and quite accessible throughout the ship.

👍🏻 – Cruise Director Ray Solaire. An accomplished entertainer in his own right, Ray is full of energy and vigor. Not only was he with Cunard Line for 20 years, he has been with Silversea since its beginning. Make sure not to miss his show during your cruise!

👍🏻 - Enzo Mazzali, Maître d' Hôtel. Enzo seems to be in three places at once. He is always visible in the Restaurant and Terrace Café and visited our table every evening at dinner in The Restaurant. If you want something special, just ask Enzo and watch him work his magic!

👍🏻 - Wendy Mason, Bvlgari Boutique. It may seem strange to give special mention to the manager of the Bvlgari boutique, but Wendy is a centerpiece of attitude aboard Silver Whisper. In a word, she is simply radiant. She is gifted with beauty, elegance and a warm smile that helps define the Silversea Experience.

👍🏻 - Maintenance/Housekeeping. The Silver Whisper is, unquestionably, the cleanest and best-maintained ship we have sailed to date. Crewmen were seen painting the hull every day in port. Windows in the dining room and other public rooms were kept free from water spots. The ship literally sparkles it is so clean.

👍🏻 - The Terrace Cafe. This is an excellent venue for buffet breakfast and lunch and transforms itself into an intimate, candlelit bistro for casual dining most evenings. Panoramic views of the ocean and optional al fresco dining make this a beautiful dining area.

👍🏻 – The Restaurant. This is Silver Whisper’s main dining venue offering open seating dining from 7:30pm to 9:30pm each evening. We are sold on the concept of single seating which allows you to dine whenever and with whomever you wish. Apparently, so are many of the guests with whom we had the pleasure of dining. Service, food and presentation are all excellent.

👍🏻 – Room Service. Even though dinners were not served course-by-course, all deliveries were timely and food was delivered hot and delicious. The coffee table is quickly converted to a large dining room table complete with linen tablecloth, china and silver flatware.

👍🏻 – Bar Service. Drinks are made to order and served in heavy crystal glassware with ice cubes. Moët & Chandon champagne flows freely throughout the ship. There is no skimping here on liquor. The only requested drink we could not get was a Mojito which requires fresh mint. Apparently, there was no fresh mint to be found on board.

👍🏻 – Entertainment. We found the entertainment to be better than what we expected aboard a “small” ship. The Jean Ann Ryan Production Company is a spirited troupe of singers and dancers that put on some very creative shows with excellent vocals. Paul Balfour, a featured entertainer, is an accomplished harpist and vocalist with two performances. Of course, Ray Solaire’s show was quite entertaining. The Armadillo String Quartet provided wonderful concerts, as well.

👍🏻 – Coffee. Coffee was consistently good throughout the ship. "Freshly-brewed with a smile," says Armani, Silver Whisper bar waiter.

👍🏻 – The Pool Bar and Grill. Pool Bar and Grill offers excellent drinks, good burgers, all-beef hot dogs, grilled chicken sandwiches and a variety of salads. Table service is a great concept, but we would also like to see the addition of a walk-up order area for food. During peak periods, the wait for an order can be considerable.

👍🏻 – The Casino. Even though it is small, it can be very lively. All that is missing is a no smoking policy. It is far too cramped a space for smoking to be allowed in this area.

👍🏻 – The Observation Lounge. Located on Deck 10-forward with a clear 180 degree view of the sea, this is the perfect venue for early morning coffee and pastries.

👍🏻 – The Mandara Spa. Located on Deck 10, the spa is small and lacks personality, but the massage treatments here are second to none.

👍🏻 – Verandah Suites. Verandah suites are large, well-designed, comfortable and quiet. Bathrooms are the largest we have seen on any ship.

👍🏻 – All-inclusive. Virtually everything is included in your cruise fare - champagne, wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks and bottled water. A bottle of liquor will also be delivered for consumption in your suite if you desire. All gratuities are also included.

👍🏻 – Single-seating dining. Perhaps the single biggest advantage Silversea and other luxury lines have over "mainstream" cruise lines is the option to dine whenever and with whomever you wish.

👍🏻 – Laundry/Dry Cleaning Service. This service is exceptional and competitively priced. Items we sent out by 9:30am were returned the same afternoon!

👍🏻 – The Internet Café. This is, hands down, the best Internet Cafe I have seen on any ship. There were plenty of terminals with bright LCD flat screens AND intelligent pricing. A simple card-swipe logon procedure was all that was necessary to access the system. Silversea charges 75 cents per minute, but only charges for actual download time (the time it takes to download a web page or email). In other words, you are not charged for the time it takes to read or write an email, only the time it takes to send or receive it. This is the ONLY fair way to charge guests for Internet access.

👍🏻 – Afternoon Tea. Tea aboard Silver Whisper occurs every afternoon at 4:00pm. An excellent selection of sandwiches, desserts, and scones with clotted cream make this one of the nicest teas at sea.

👍🏻 – The Viennese Lounge. This is a superb venue for a variety of production shows and entertainment acts. It is equipped with excellent sound and lighting systems and all the latest computerized effects. The lounge features great sight lines with very few obstructed views.

👍🏻 – Bvlgari Boutique. This is a beautiful, albeit pricey, boutique offering a selection of the popular Italian designer’s jewelry, watches, handbags, and clothing items.

👍🏻 – The Library. The library is well-stocked with books and video tapes and is open 24 hours per day. The honor system is employed here so you can drop by any time, grab a book or video and simply return it when you are finished.

👍🏻 – Hospitality. Silversea is very good about dealing with special requests. I ordered Caesar salad every evening, no problem. When we requested firmer pillows for the bed, they were brought immediately. Even though Eggs Benedict did not appear on the breakfast menu for room service, we wrote in the request and we had Eggs Benedict, delivered hot and delicious.

👎🏻 – The Fitness Center. The workout room is too small, cramped and under-equipped. The treadmills are excellent Life Stride models, but the ceiling is so low that when jogging on a 6% incline, Ihit my head on the ceiling (I am 6’ 1”). There were a few recumbent cycles and a spin cycle, but no elliptical trainers.

👎🏻 – Suite Doorbells. They sound like an inexpensive buzzer instead of a nice chime and make you jump every time someone buzzes at your door.

👎🏻 – Smoking policy in Viennese Lounge. The port side of this room is designated as a smoking section. This is one area of the ship that should be designated as a completely non-smoking venue.

👎🏻 – Chlorinated water. Like just about every cruise ship, Silver Whisper is not above serving you chlorinated water at mealtime. There is a solution, however. You can request bottled water with your meals.

👎🏻 – Boutique. The store is large enough, and the prices are fair, so why the thumbs down? An incredibly poor selection of logo-branded items is the cause for this rating! The few clothing items they did have bearing the Silver Whisper name were monogrammed in the same color thread as the garment making the name impossible to read. There were no items with the distinctive Silversea “S” logo. Many others we spoke with commented on their disappointment with the lack of available logo items. The one exception was a white Gear® Jacket with blue monogram.

👎🏻 – Photos. Unfortunately, there is no ship's photographer. While I appreciate Silversea's attempt to restrict solicitations of its guests, it would be nice to have a good quality boarding photo, a picture with the Captain or even a private portrait session.

👍🏻👍🏻 – Overall. This is a 6-Star luxury cruise line that could very well be the best cruise experience in the world today. If you will settle for nothing but the very best, and can afford it, Silversea is an incredible vacation.

If you have any questions about our Silver Whisper cruise, please feel free to email us at reviews@cruisereport.com and we will do our best to answer any questions.