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Silversea Cruises Silver Endevour in Antarctica
We spend nine nights aboard Silversea Silver Endeavour in Antarctica.
Silversea Silver Spirit - Longer and Better Than Ever
A 49-foot section has been added to Silver Spirit to bring it up to Silver Muse standards. This remains one of our all-time favorite luxury vessels.
Itinerary: Port Everglades, At Sea, Grand Turk, San Juan, San Juan, St. Kitts, Roseau, St. John's, Gustavia, Road Town, Semana, At Sea, Key West, Port Everglades
Silversea is a cruise line with which we are very familiar, having sailed on nearly every ship in the fleet to many exotic parts of the world. In addition, Silver Spirit is a ship with which we are also very familiar. This was our third sailing aboard Silver Spirit. So one must wonder, what more could we possibly have to say about this cruise line and/or this particular ship?
A lot has changed since the last time we sailed on Silver Spirit. For one thing, she is now 49 feet longer after having been cut in half and a new section inserted. The objective for this stretch was to bring Silver Spirit closer in design and function to Silversea's newest ship, Silver Muse (and the next ship, Silver Moon). And, since our last Silversea cruise, Silversea has become part of the Royal Caribbean family of cruise lines (along with Azamara Club Cruises and Celebrity Cruises). So, we were very curious to see not only what has changed on Silver Spirit, but if we could detect any changes to the Silversea product under the auspices of big brother, Royal Caribbean.
I am pleased to report that, for all of you who have emailed me with concerns about the Royal Caribbean acquisition, you can rest easy. Silversea is still "Silversea." As a matter of fact, all indications are that Silversea will be even better (if that is possible) as a result of the Royal Caribbean deal. Big Brother has deep pockets and can fund things like new ship builds, many of which have already been announced. We could see a luxury segment war with the big players all trying to one-up each other by offering more amenities and services to attract the profitable luxury-seeking cruise enthusiast. Wouldn't that be cool?
So, this media assignment was to see what changes have taken place with Silver Spirit, one of our all-time favorite small luxury ships. In fact, we have already done thorough reviews of Silver Spirit, which you can read if you want all the detals:
14-Night South America Cruise (2010): Read Here
14-Night Transatlantic Cruise (2012): Read Here
So, rather than saying what has already been said, we want to focus on what's new and what's changed with Silver Spirit.
Restaurants and Lounges
The "Muse-ification" of Silver Spirit meant the addition of new dining spaces. Gone are the days of a single restaurant where everybody congregates at tables for four, six or eight people. Silver Spirit guests can now enjoy a wide variety of dining venues, menus and flavors. And, there is a greater emphasis on intimate dining with a large number of two-top tables in every venue.
The Arts Cafe
One of our favorite additions to Silver Spirit is Arts Cafe (Deck 8 aft). The quirky, colorful decor is sort of out of character for Silversea, which tends to lean more towards an understated elegance theme. We enjoyed Arts Cafe on Silver Muse in 2017 and we love that it has been added to Silver Spirit.
In addition to having a full-service bar, Arts Cafe features canapés, sandwiches and snacks throughout the day. In the mornings, you can find pastries here and, at lunchtime, there is a delicious selection of sandwiches (Rickee's favorite was the tomato, cheese and cucumber), and these cool little jars filled with all sorts of salads.
Jars contain creative salads
Glass mugs are used to serve a variety of hot soups. The Chicken Noodle was delicious.
A delicious jug of chicken noodle soup
At teatime, Arts Cafe offers a multi-tiered tray with a selection of sweet treats and finger sandwiches to enjoy with your choice of tea. And, you can enjoy your visit to Arts Cafe inside or out on the shaded terrace.
Spaccanapoli
Spaccanapoli (pronounced 'spack-uh-nop-oly'), located on Deck 10 midship (overlooking the pool deck) is Silversea's new pizza concept and it, too, is a winner in our opinion. It is open from 11am to 11pm every day and is always casual. Outdoor dining only here.
You would expect an Italian-based cruise line to have good pizza, and you won't be disappointed with the pies served here. If you like thin-crust Neopolitan-style pizza, you are going to make a few visits to Spaccanapoli.
The crust is crunchy, and chewy, with just enough burned bubbles around the edge to make it authentic. San Marzano tomatoes are used for a rich sauce along with excellent Italian cheeses.
The menu here has something for every pizza lover. They also have a Calzone which we did not try, but saw one being delivered to a nearby table. It was large enough for two people!
Indochine
Indochine is Silversea's Asian restaurant located on Deck 4 midship. Indochine occupies roughly one-third of the space from what used to be The Restaurant (my estimate, not Silversea's) with Atlantide occupying the other two-thirds. Indochine is open from 7:00pm until 9:30pm. The Indochine Bar is open at 6:00pm.
There are two different menus at Indochine, the second of which comes into play about half-way through the cruise. This gives guests an opportunity to make two visits, and have two different food experiences.
We dined here twice and I enjoyed both menus. I am more into spicy food than Rickee is, but she was able to find items that she could enjoy. The Egg Drop Noodle soup is one of the best you will find anywhere.
If you like spicy, then Indochine is your kind of place. Put your tolerance to the test with the Lamb Rogan Josh. It is the hottest, spiciest dish I have ever had on a cruise ship, and comparable to what you would find in an authentic Indian restaurant.
Lamb Rogan Josh
Read more about Indochine here.
Atlantide
Located next door to Indochine, Atlantide is the closest dining venue to what used to be The Restaurant (pre-renovation). Atlantide is open for dinner from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. The Atlantide Bar opens at 6:00pm.
Atlantide is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Lunch menus change daily, but breakfast and dinner menus are fixed.The dinner menu, however, is extensive enough that you could easily dine here several times and never eat the same thing twice.
We had dinner in Atlantide on our first night and it was very good. Rickee had a massive caviar starter and a Lemon Meringue Tart that she claimed was one of the best desserts she has ever eaten.
La Terrazza
While not a new restaurant, La Terrazza on Silver Spirit has been completely renovated. Everything here is brand new, and beautiful. At breakfast and lunch, La Terrazza is Silver Spirit's buffet restaurant. In the evenings, La Terrazza becomes a romantic Italian bistro. The restaurant serves breakfast each day from 00:30am to 00:30am, buffet lunch from 12:00 noon until 2:00pm. Dinner is served from 7:00pm until 9:30pm and reservations are recommended.
At breakfast and lunch, La Terrazza has one of the best buffets you will find on any ship.
Fresh sushi and cocktail shrimp appear on the buffet each day at lunch
The terrace behind La Terrazza is the nicest al fresco venue you will find anywhere.
We had lunch at La Terrazza several times, and were always pleased with the selection. I especially like the fresh pasta and Asian stir-fry station where dishes are prepared when you place your order
Dinner at La Terrazza is a special event with a beautiful multi-course Italian menu. The new decor really takes on a dressy, elegant feel in the evening when the lights go down and candles are placed on the tables. Reservations are recommended here, but if you show up without one, there is a good chance they will be able to find you a table.
The Caprese Salad was a softball-sized chunk of fresh mozzarella atop slices of juicy red tomatoes and drizzled with a fragrant pesto.
The pasta dishes all feature fresh, handmade pasta, and you can tell the difference. The pastas are as good as you will find in any Italian restaurant. They are good enough to be enjoyed as a main course, which I did on our second visit. The Bigoli al Cacio 'Podolico' e Pepe was my favorite. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, and the simple cheese and pepper sauce was sublime.
Bigoli al Cacio 'Podolico' e Pepe
No meal at La Terrazza is complete without a traditional Limoncello to cap off the meal.
Read more about our experience at La Terrazza here.
Silver Note
Silver Note (formerly Stars Supper Club) is certainly the most unique dining concept on Silver Spirit. There is only one seating for dinner here each evening: 8:00pm.
There are a few tables for four or six, but the most common seating here is two-top tables all in a row. It is one of the only things we did not care for about Silver Note. There's only about 10 inches between tables, so even though you are technically at a table for two, it feels more like you are at one huge table for 18. We prefer the seating arrangement in Silver Note on Silver Muse.
The menu is quirky, as we remembered from our Silver Muse experience, maybe even a little over the top. Rickee's ceviche starter was a work of art, albeit a little difficult to negotiate when eating.
Ceviche appetizer at Silver Note
Guests enjoy live entertainment during dinner at Silver Note.
Reservations are required at Silver Note, and seating is very limited, so reserve early.
Panorama Lounge
We had never been huge fans of Panorama Lounge on Spirit, that is, until now. The lounge has been completely renovated with new colors, furnishings and surfaces. It is a little smaller than Panorama on Muse, and that is one of the things we like about it. And, it is more intimate than Dolce Vita (formerly The Bar) on Deck 5.
In the evenings, guests enjoy live music from the Silver Spirit Trio. The bar service in Panorama was the best we found on Silver Spirit. By the third visit, our waiter knew my drink of choice.
Silversea still has the best bar service of any cruise line. Even though all cocktails, wine and beer (except for some Premium wines) are complimentary, they are very generous with each pour. My Crown Royal pour on SIlversea would be considered a double on any other cruise line.
Crown Royal (left), Glenlivet on the rocks (right)
A snack tray is offered at each table with nuts, trail mix and potato chips. At 6:30pm, waiters begin offering plates of creative and delicious canapés.
Canapés at Panorama Lounge
Dolce Vita
Formerly The Bar, Dolce Vita, located on Deck 5 midship, is the largest bar/lounge on Silver Spirit.
New furnishings make this a more comfortable space than what The Bar was. The space is larger and more open than before. There is a small dance floor and piano for entertainment in the evenings. Of course, bar service here is virtually the same as in Panorama; however, because Dolce Vita is a much larger lounge, it may take a little longer to get your favorite beverage here. On our voyage, Dolce Vita guests were entertained in the evenings by resident vocal pianist, Snizhana, and vocal guitarist, Daniel.
Anywhere/Anytime Dining
Now on Silversea, you can order anything from the room service menu and have it delivered to you anywhere on the ship. I have used this in the mornings when working on my blog at Panorama Lounge. I call Room Service at 5am and order a pot of coffee, and they deliver it to me at Panorama!
Chris Dikmen in dolce vita lounge
Or, let's say you might enjoy a cheese plate delivered to Dolce Vita. No problem. The only suggestion we would make would be for the ship to have one of the room service menus available in each pubic space, maybe next to the phone.
New Suites
Twenty-six new Veranda suites have been added to Silver Spirit, along with six Silver Suites and two Panorama Suites. Every suite on Silver Spirit has been touched up with a new look and feel to match the design of the suites on Silver Muse. For the first two evenings on board, we stayed in a Superior Veranda (808) on deck 8 and it looked brand new.
Superior Veranda
All furnishings are new. The new color scheme is lighter and much more contemporary than before. If you did not know better, you would swear you were on Silver Muse. Big improvements have been made to the suite's technology. The interactive HD television has been moved from behind the mirror(s) so, now there is one large television mounted in the living room, but visible from the bed.
The suite now features more power outlets and (finally) USB charging ports! An alarm clock with charging plate on top is a welcome addition.
On day three of our sailing, we were moved into one of the new Silver Suites on Deck 10 (1015). There were two Silver Suites added to Deck 10, two on Deck 11 and two on Deck 8. The Deck 8 suites also have the option of converting to a two-bedroom suite by opening up to an adjoining Veranda Suite. The six new suites that were added to Silver Spirit reflect the same color scheme as those on Silver Muse, with the light grey color scheme giving these suites a more contemporary, fashion-forward look.
Suite 1015 Living Room
The new luxury mattress is very comfortable, and all bedding is top quality. The desk is large enough to hold a laptop (by relocating the books and folders) and now offers more than enough in the way of electrical and USB outlets.
A nicely equipped desk
Your favorite adult beverage delivered to your suite.
The bathroom is the crown jewel of the Silver Suite with a dual-sink vanity, tons of storage space and top quality Bvlgari amenities.
The shower stall is as good as you will find on any cruise ship, or hotel for that matter.
Excellent shower in Silver Suite 1015-Silver Spirit
Silver Suite guests also benefit from additional perks, such as complimentary laundry, wet cleaning and pressing throughout the cruise (a really nice benefit on a longer cruise). You also get bumped up to Premium Internet service when in a Silver Suite.
We did notice quite a bit of mechanical noise in suite 1015, likely due to its location. Just behind the bedroom wall of the suite is the Spaccanapoli kitchen, which is basically open to the pool deck. When there is a band playing at the pool, you will hear it clearly in 1015. We have stayed in other Silver Suites on Silver Spirit and never experienced any noise issues, so we are sure it has to do with this specific suite. Perhaps some additional soundproofing is in order?
The improvements to all of the suites on board Silver Spirit elevate the accommodations to the top of any in the industry. The Silver Suite remains our all time favorite cruise ship accommodation. If we were doing a world cruise on Silversea, we would choose the Silver Suite.
Pool Deck
The pool deck is larger after the lengthening with a much larger Grill dining area. There are three hot tubs at one end of the rather large pool. There are plenty of comfortable loungers on Decks 9 and 10.
Entertainment
Silversea appears to be putting an increased emphasis on quality entertainment. They recently announced six new theatrical performances in conjunction with Luna Ross Productions. On our sailing, we enjoyed some excellent vocal performances by the Voices of Silversea.
Aimee Lake performs on Silver Spirit
In addition to the troupe of resident performers, we were also treated to excellent guest performers, like Flemenco guitarist, Adam Westcott.
And of course, Silversea continues to provide some of the best enrichment lectures of any cruise line. On our cruise, all of this entertainment was being capably delivered under the auspices of veteran Cruise Director, Jimmy Kovel, and his excellent cruise staff.
Jimmy Kovel, Cruise Director
We sailed with Mr. Kovel on Silver Muse in 2017 and were pleased to see he still has his sharp wit in tact, most noticeable during Silversea's legendary Team Trivia sessions. One evening, the cruise staff invited everyone out on the pool deck for Death By Chocolate, a massive chocolate-lover's buffet complete with singing and dancing.
Guests dance the night away after enjoying Death by Chocolate
Silversea Shore Concierge
We booked four excursions for this cruise. Three were booked through the MySilversea website a few weeks prior to embarkation, and one was booked directly with the Silversea Shore Concierge desk (Deck 5 midship). When we arrived at our suite on the day of embarkation, all of the tickets for pre-booked excursions were waiting for us on the desk.
We enjoyed all of the excursions and felt like all were a good value. The Culinary Walking Tour of San Juan was one of the best we have ever enjoyed on a cruise. And, when we decided at the last minute to do a kayak excursion in Semana, Dominican Republic, the Shore Concierge Desk was more than willing to accommodate us.
Complimentary Internet
Since our last Silversea cruise, the company now offers guests in all suites complimentary unlimited "standard" WiFi Internet access. This is a very nice perk that we are starting to see on more and more luxury and premium cruise lines. Guests staying in Silver Suites and above benefit from complimentary Premium Internet, which claims to have higher speeds. We had the opportunity to try both standard and premium during our 13-night sailing. With Standard Internet, sites like YouTube, Vimeo or any sites that stream video are blocked. You can access YouTube and others with the Premium Internet, but the speeds are still too slow to really utilize them. The Premium Internet package was selling for $244 on our 13- night cruise, or $29/day. If you only want to check/send email and maybe look at your stock portfolio, standard Internet should work fine.
Summary
When you step aboard a Silversea ship, you feel like you have arrived. It's like riding in a Rolls-Royce, flying First Class on Singapore Airlines, or staying in a suite at The Peninsula Hong Kong. It's just a feeling, there's no other way to describe it. We have been sailing with Silversea since 2002, and have watched the company grow and continue to improve. We enjoy, and appreciate, quality and good service. When only the best will do, Silversea always delivers.
Rickee Richardson and Chris Dikmen are travel journalists from Dallas, Texas
Parting Shots
Silver Muse - A New Standard of Luxury from Silversea
Silversea’s new flagship sets a whole new standard for luxury cruise travel.
Itinerary: Valletta, Taormina, Amalfi, Sorrento, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Villefranche, Villefranche
I remember the last time we sailed on a brand new Silversea flagship, Silver Spirit. At that time, Rickee and I agreed that there was little Silversea could do to improve upon that ship. And, while Silver Spirit is still one of our favorite Silversea ships, Silver Muse reflects a whole new direction for Silversea, one that the entire luxury segment may soon try to copy.
Embarkation
We boarded Silver Muse in Valletta, Malta, for the second half of a 14-night Inaugural sailing from Monte Carlo to Villefranche. The sailing was sold out, so the person occupying our suite (848) disembarked in Valletta the morning before we embarked. In fact, there were only five of us who embarked in Valletta, which made for an interesting embarkation process. When we arrived shoreside at 2:00pm, we were the only ones embarking. We walked up the gangway, showed the security officer our paperwork and, after a call to Reception, he directed us to Deck 5 where we could check in.
As soon as we stepped off the elevator on Deck 5, Marcus (one of the Reception staff) was there to greet us and escort us to the Reception Desk which is located at the back of the Dolce Vita lounge. In true Silversea fashion, Marcus quickly produced cool towels and glasses of chilled champagne for a proper Silversea welcome aboard. Check-in only took a few minutes and, after our photos were taken, we were given our suite keys and escorted to our Deluxe Veranda Suite on Deck 8.
Luggage was waiting for us when we arrived
We were pleasantly surprised to find our luggage had already been delivered to our suite and placed on two luggage racks (much nicer than throwing them on the bed). A butler soon arrived to greet us and inform us that our butler, Haley, was currently off duty but that he could take care of anything we needed until she was back on duty. As is customary on Silversea, a bottle of chilled prosecco was chilled and waiting for us on our coffee table.
Welcome aboard Prosecco
This is one of the easiest embarkations we have ever experienced.
The Ship
By the numbers, Silver Muse has a grt of 40,700 and can accommodate 596 guests. She is the largest ship in the Silversea fleet, edging out Silver Spirit's guest capacity by a mere 56. But, Silver Muse represents more revolution than evolution compared to other Silversea vessels. This manifests itself primarily in the area of dining. Silver Muse has eight dining venues compared to five for Silver Spirit. Because the ship is an all-suite, all-veranda design, there is only one main corridor through each deck. This allows for larger suites and wider hallways.
Single corridor design means expansive hallways and elevator lobbies
The ship is very easy to find your way around. This is, in part, because of its smaller size, but also because of its design. There are four elevators aft and two forward on every deck with the exception of Deck 11 which only has forward elevators. There are stairs near the elevator lobbies for those who prefer to walk off some of the additional weight they will no doubt be gaining in Silver Muse's restaurants.
Public areas are where you expect them to be on a Silversea ship. Reception and Shore Excursion desks are on Deck 5 at the rear of the Dolce Vita lounge. The Venetian Lounge is located on Deck 5 aft and is the ship's main theater for lectures and production shows.
The Venetian Lounge
Deck 4 is dedicated to four restaurants, which will be covered in more detail under Food and Dining.
Deck 4 lobby entrance to restaurants
Nearly a third of Deck 6 is taken up by the massive Zagara Spa and Fitness Center. The spa offers every imaginable massage treatment, facials, a nail and hair salon and even teeth-whitening! The well-equipped fitness center has top-of-the-line TechnoGym cardio and circuit-training equipment.
TechnoGym equipment in Fitness Center
On Deck 7 aft you will find La Terrazza, the ship's breakfast and lunch buffet restaurant and evening Italian restaurant. Silver Note, a jazz supper club, is just forward of La Terrazza as is a very small Casino. The ship's boutiques are located on Deck 8 aft as is the Arts Cafe and Connoisseur's Corner (smoking lounge).
The Arts Café offers a relaxed spot for tea, a snack, or a cocktail
There is a handy (and elegant) spiral staircase at the back of Deck 8 that ends in Panorama Lounge on Deck 9 aft.
Panorama Lounge
The Panorama Lounge is quite large and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Deck 10 is where you will find the ship's pool, lots of open deck space for lounging in the sun and the Pool Bar and Pool Grill. The pool itself is surprisingly large and will be loved by those who like to swim a few laps each day.
Deck 10 is the Pool Deck
There is additional lounging available on Deck 11 overlooking the Pool Deck and this is also the location of the walking/jogging track.
Jogging track and loungers on Deck 11
Deck 11 is also home to Spaccanapoli, the ship's pizza restaurant which overlooks the swimming pool. Moving inside and forward, Thor's Observation Lounge becomes the highest point on Silver Muse where you can enjoy a cocktail, relax, and look out over the ocean ahead.
Thor's Observation Lounge
From top to bottom, Silver Muse is the most beautiful Silversea ship to date. As with all Silversea vessels, "understated elegance" can best describe the approach to decor. The whole ship has a quality feel that is hard to describe, but easy to get used to.
The ship is equipped with WiFi Internet service (for an additional fee). There are different service plans available for a "standard" Internet/WiFi. We opted for the Premium Internet Package which offers unlimited WiFi, presumably at a higher speed. The speed of the Premium package was reasonable, but it had an annoying characteristic of interrupting our service periodically, forcing us to have to log in again. This would frequently happen right in the middle of a work session. So, it is not as though it was timing out from lack of use. We overheard other guests complaining about the same experience with their Internet service. Another annoyance was the inability to connect more than one personal device simultaneously to the ship's WiFi. If I wanted to use my phone's WiFi, my laptop would automatically be disconnected from the service.
Accommodations
Every stateroom on Silver Muse is a "suite", each with its own private veranda and butler service. Our Deluxe Veranda Suite (848) was situated amidship on Deck 8 and was very conveniently located. At 387 sq. ft., it is among the smallest suites offered on this ship but is certainly not small.
As with all Silversea ships, the suite decor is muted with neutral tones and hints of blue. Once again, the feeling is one of understated elegance. The long desk/vanity in the living room has a very elegant marble surface instead of wood. No doubt it will hold up better over time. Above the desk is a large see-through mirror wall behind which you will find a flat screen television hiding.
Flat screen television behind mirror in living room
Television programming is quite extensive with multiple international news channels and a closed-circuit, on-demand movie selection (complimentary). You can also pull up your account balance and charges through the television as well as restaurant menus and daily activity schedule. What you can't see are any future reservations you have made for restaurants or shore excursions. One of the first things we attempted to do when we got on board was use the interactive system on the television to confirm the restaurant reservations we had made online through the MySilversea website, but could not.
The desk is quite elegant and a great workspace. There are multiple electrical outlets and two USB charging ports (thank you). There are also two US-style 110 electrical outlets and at least two Euro-style 220 outlets (which will work with most phone/camera chargers).
Two USB power ports on desk
A very nice iHome™ alarm clock is also placed on the desk and can easily be seen from the bed. The alarm clock is outfitted with a wireless charging surface for any cell phone that can be charged wirelessly. Very cool!
Your cell phone can charge wirelessly on top of alarm clock
A mini-bar/fridge is located under the desk and is stocked with whatever beverages you request from your butler, all complimentary. A large oval stool provides a comfortable seat for working at the desk. Opposite the desk is a nice coffee table, small sofa and large leather chair. The coffee table can be converted into a large dining table with the addition of a folding tabletop stored in the closet. Your butler will set this up for you so you can have an elegant meal, complete with linen tablecloth, right in your suite. All furnishings were very comfortable.
The large walk-in closet is big enough for a 100+ day world cruise. There's a lot of hanging space and another large dresser with plenty of drawer space. An electronic safe sits behind a door. All cabinet drawers and doors in the closet, and throughout the suite, are dampened for soft, noise-free closing.
Large walk-in closet
The bathroom is a nice-size and clad in beautiful marble. There is a full-sized bathtub and a separate shower stall. There are shelves on both sides of the mirror and a large open shelf underneath the single sink. Thankfully, Silversea has moved away from the stylish, but clumsy vessel sinks.
The shower is a fiberglass, prefab unit that is oddly-shaped to fit the space. It is larger than it looks and actually quite comfortable to use. However, we did experience a fair amount of hot/cold water fluctuation during showers, making it difficult to get a consistent temperature. A nice, large chrome basket can hold all of your shampoos, conditioners, soaps, etc. The rain shower head in the ceiling augments the handheld wand.
Rain shower head and wand
Our suite was outfitted with Bvlgari™ amenities, but your butler will offer you a choice of luxury-brand amenities. The bath towels are very high quality, soft and absorbent. For some reason, there were no hand towels provided, only bath towels and wash cloths.
Quality amenities
As for the bed, this was the most comfortable Silversea bed on which we have ever slept. And, the linens are top of the line. A pillow menu allows you to choose from a variety of pillow firmness levels and materials. There are flexible reading lamps on each side of the bed. Nightstands have a small drawer and a cubby underneath for more storage. There are two US-style 110 outlets and one Euro-style 220 outlet on each night stand. What you won't find here are USB power ports. So, if you want to keep your phone charged overnight, you will have to leave it on the desk, or bring an AC/USB adapter with you.
The teak-deck veranda is compact but comfortable with nice furnishings including two chairs (with footrests) and a small table. Out butler said that the table can be expanded for al fresco breakfast service.
And, while we are on the subject of butlers, one of the unique features of a Silversea cruise is that ever suite has butler service. Our butler, Hayley, was excellent and always available to answer any questions. She made sure all of our dinner reservations and shore excursions were scheduled. If we needed anything, she was a phone call away.
Hayley, our excellent butler
The Deluxe Veranda Suite was extremely comfortable and well appointed.
Food and Dining
Where other areas of Silver Muse could be considered evolutionary in design and execution, when it comes to culinary pursuits, the ship is unquestionably revolutionary. There are more dining venues on Silver Muse than many ships three times her size, topping out at a total of eight! Each restaurant has its own unique menu, theme and evening dress code. That's right, there is no daily shipwide dress code on Silver Muse as with other Silversea ships. Every night is formal night when dining at Atlantide* or Le Dame*, and every night is casual night when dining at Hot Rocks Grill or Spaccanapoli. All other restaurants are informal*.
This new dress code system takes a little getting used to, especially for the Silversea faithful. Because there is no formal night, so to speak, and dining in Atlantide is formal every night, you could be having a drink in Panorama Lounge at 6:30pm dressed in a tuxedo while sitting next to someone in blue jeans who is planning to have dinner at Hot Rocks Grill that evening. It took a few days for us to figure out the system, but I think we like it!
Atlantide
This seafood-theme restaurant on Deck 4 is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. You can expect à la carte menu service here at every meal. In the evening, the dress code for Atlantide is formal. You can read our full review of Atlantide here.
Indochine
Indochine is one of the largest restaurants on Silver Muse and can seat up to 180 guests. It also boasts the boldest menu of any restaurant on board. The choice of Indian, Thai and Chinese cuisine is the spiciest you will find in any restaurant at sea. My lamb curry had me perspiring from the heat, which is exactly how I asked for it to be prepared. Dress code for Indochine is informal. To read our full review on our Cruise Ship Dining blog, click here.
Kaiseki
Kaiseki is open for lunch and dinner. At lunch, it is a sushi and sashimi restaurant (complimentary). In the evening, it is a full-blown Teppan grill with an incredible dègustation menu. The dress code is informal in the evening and there is a $60 per person charge to dine here. Reservations are recommended. Read our full review of Kaiseki here.
Le Dame
Also located on Deck 4, Le Dame is Silversea's Relais & Châteaux-inspired restaurant featuring French cuisine. This restaurant would be comparable to Le Champagne on other Silversea vessels. Dress code is formal. Reservations are required. And, there is a $60pp cover charge to dine here.
Silver Note
Silver Note is located on Deck 7, just forward from La Terrazza. This intimate jazz supper club is perhaps one of the most unique dining experiences at sea. The menu is over-the-top and borders on being quirky, but the food and entertainment are spot-on. You can read our full review of Silver Note here.
La Terrazza
As on other Silversea vessels, La Terrazza offers buffet service for breakfast and lunch and is transformed into an Italian restaurant each evening. What differs on Silver Muse is that the evening menu never changes (menus rotate on other Silversea ships). That said, the menu is very well composed and quite comprehensive. You can read our full review of La Terrazza on the Cruise Ship Dining blog, click here.
The Arts Cafe
Think of a coffee shop, snack bar, cocktail lounge all rolled into one. The Arts Café on Deck 8 aft is a venue unique to Silver Muse and we found it to be quite a nice spot for a relaxing drink in the evening, or a mid-afternoon snack with tea. The snacks offered here change throughout the day. In the morning, you will find a selection of smoothies, pastries and other small plates. In the afternoon, a selection of snacks and delicious flavor-infused waters are available, as well as teas or any other beverage you might desire.
Snacks and flavor-infused waters at The Arts Cafe
The Arts Café is a great place to curl up with a book, or bring your laptop to get some work done while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea.
Pool Grill/Hot Rocks
The Pool Grill (daytime) is your basic burger, hot dog and sandwich spot located poolside on Deck 10. The menu includes a variety of wraps and salads and some of the best French fries you will find on a ship. I am pleased to report that the Silversea Signature Burger is MUCH improved over past experiences. My burger was cooked to order (medium) and was quite tasty. Even the bun appears to have been improved upon.
In the evening, the Pool Grill becomes Hot Rocks, Silversea's signature "cook-it-yourself" concept where thick steaks, lobster, shrimp or seafood can be prepared right at your table on a searing hot rock exactly to your level of doneness, since you are doing the cooking! With only seven nights on board Silver Muse, and eight restaurants to try, Hot Rocks is one we had to skip on this sailing. We will catch it next time!
Spaccanapoli
Located just one deck above the Pool Grill on Deck 11, Spaccanapoli is Silver Muse's pizza restaurant. This restaurant is open from 11am until 11pm every day, making it a great place for those of us who like to go to lunch early. The menu here is pizza and, well, more pizza. There are no salads, no pasta dishes, nothing but pizza. All seating is outdoors and the dress code here is always casual.
The pizza here is thin crust, neopolitan-style pizza. Every pie is made to order in the nearby pizza kitchen. The ingredients are fresh and the pizzas are perhaps the best you will find on any cruise ship anywhere.
Room Service
Of course, we can't fail to mention that Silversea offers guests an unmatched level of room service. There is a room service menu in each suite with items that are available 24 hours a day. However, during dinner hours, you can order any item from Atlantide, Indochine, Spaccanapoli, or La Terrazza, delivered to your suite.
Anywhere/Anytime Dining
You can order just about anything and have it delivered anywhere on the ship. Let's say you would like to enjoy a cheese platter while sitting poolside. How about a burger and fries delivered to Panorama Lounge aft deck? Just call 404 (room service) and place your order. We love it!
I used this service each morning at 5:30am in Panorama Lounge. I would order a pot of hot water and a coffee cup for my coffee (I use a French press) and have it delivered to Panaorama where I settled in for my morning blog sessions. Wonderful!
I can't recall sailing on any cruise ship, of any size, that offered as many dining options as Silver Muse. What's missing is the traditional cruise dining restaurant with a menu that changes every evening. Instead of guests going to one place to experience a different menu each night, guests can go to a different restaurant each night. Since each restaurant has the same menu every day, logic would dictate that execution of that menu would be much improved. As I stated earlier, this new way of dining takes a little getting used to, but after seven days, we loved it! I suspect many Silversea guests are going to feel the same way.
* The exception to this rule is embarkation and disembarkation day when every dining venue is casual.
Bars and Lounges
Bar service has always been excellent on Silversea, and this has not changed with Silver Muse. All beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks are complimentary on Silversea cruises. This not only adds to the value of a Silversea cruise, it eliminates the hassle of having to sign for drinks every time you place an order.
During the day, one of the busiest bars on the ship is no doubt the Pool Bar. Waiters are circulating around the pool area to make sure guests' thirsts are adequately quenched. The largest lounge on the ship is Dolce Vita on Deck 5. Comparable to The Bar on other Silversea ships, Dolce Vita also offers piano music in the evenings.
Dolce Vita
We only visited Dolce Vita one evening for pre-dinner cocktails. We preferred the smaller, more intimate feel of Panorama Lounge on Deck 9 aft. We also enjoyed the music of the Silver Muse Contemporary Trio. Panorama Lounge has the advantage of outdoor seating making it a great place to enjoy warm-weather sunsets while sipping champagne.
Creative and delicious hors d'oeuvres served in Panorama Lounge and Dolce Vita
If you prefer a smaller, quieter spot to enjoy conversation while sipping your favorite beverage, The Arts Café on Deck 8 aft is a great choice, as is Thor's Observation Lounge on Deck 11 forward. If you have dinner reservations in one of the restaurants on Deck 4 (Indochine, Atlantide, Le Dame or Kaiseki), you can enjoy a drink in the Atlantide Bar or Enoteca (located inside Indochine).
The Atlantide Bar
No matter where you are on Silver Muse, a watering hole is nearby. Bar service was excellent throughout the ship.
Entertainment and Activities
As with most cruise ships, when the sun is shining and the weather is warm, the Pool Deck is where you will find many Silver Muse guests. On our sailing, it was a little too cool for all but the true sun-worshippers to sit poolside. No problem, Silver Muse's entertainment staff offer a variety of activities to keep guests occupied. Team Trivia is always popular on Silversea and offered every day, even when the ship is in port. Golf Putting is another Silversea signature activity that we have always enjoyed. Guests who participate accumulate Silversea Points during the cruise that can be redeemed for Silversea logo prizes at the end of the cruise.
A protected section of Deck 9 portside has been set aside for table tennis and shuffleboard. This is the nicest setup we have seen for table tennis as it is protected from the wind and other elements.
Table tennis and shuffleboard
For the little kiddos, an Activities Room is equipped with televisions and areas for playing a variety of games and other activities. We did not have any cooking demonstrations on our sailing, but this is probably due to the fact that there were no days at sea.
On most days, we enjoyed a lecture series conducted by Dr. Mark Elovitz on a variety of geopolitical topics. Silversea always has excellent lecturers.
Dr. Mark Elovitz
In the evenings, guests migrate to the Venetian Lounge (Deck 5 aft) for the nightly performance. The Venetian Lounge is the main theater and is the venue for all lectures and evening performances. The lounge has comfortable seating and good sight lines to the stage. Acoustics are also very good.
The Venetian Lounge
The Silver Muse Contemporary Trio provided background music in Panorama Lounge each evening during cocktail hour.
The Silver Muse Singers, a group of three male and three female singers, performed a variety of production shows during our cruise. The quality of vocals, costumes and set design is much improved over what we have experienced previously on Silversea.
All of the entertainment is under the direction of Cruise Director Jimmy Kovel.
Cruise Director, Jimmy Kovel
In addition to the cast of resident singers, Silversea has guest performances on some evenings. There were also a couple of "big screen movie nights" held in the Venetian Lounge, showing new-release movies.
And of course, Helene and Andre performed excellent jazz in Silver Note.
Overall, we felt the entertainment on board Silver Muse was some of the best we have ever experienced on Silversea, certainly worthy of their new flagship!
Shore Excursions
Silversea guests tend to be very well-traveled, experienced world explorers. Silversea knows how to cater to this elite group of guests by offering high-quality excursions that also happen to be a very good value. During our cruise, we joined three different Silversea excursions and each one was unique and very well executed, and each one was a good value.
A tasting at a Michelin-star restaurant was one of the most unique tours we have ever experienced
Silversea always tries to keep tour groups smaller, which makes for a much more pleasant experience. Have you tried visiting Florence with a group of 80 others? It's not fun.
Smaller groups make for a more enjoyable tour
For those who enjoy exploring on their own, Silversea arranges for complimentary shuttle services is most ports. Shuttle schedules are always available at the Shore Excursion desk on Deck 5.
Shuttle schedule
When disembarking Silver Muse on one of the ship's tenders, or using the gangway to go ashore, complimentary bottles of water are always available for the taking.
When tendering was required, Silversea ran tenders to and from shore on a regular basis. Tender service was unusually "rough" on this cruise for some reason. Perhaps a new style of tender boat was the reason, but we noticed much more pitching and rolling of the tender boats, especially when attempting to pull alongside the ship. Even in relatively calm seas, the tender boats seemed to bob up and down in the water more than we have experienced in the past.
Silver Muse regular tender service
We have always been impressed with Silversea's Shore excursion operations. We still are.
The Silver Muse Experience
For now, at least, the Silver Muse experience is slightly different that the Silversea Experience. The lack of a daily shipwide dress code will no doubt be praised by many, and scorned by some traditionalists. The evening dress code is now determined by where you choose to dine. If you are dining in one of the formal restaurants (Atlantide or La Dame), you can enjoy cocktails with like-clad diners at Atlantide Bar. Informal diners (Indochine, Kaiseki, La Terrazza, Silver Note) can retreat to Enoteca on Deck 4 or The Panorama Lounge, where we found most guests tend to adhere to informal attire. Casual diners will feel more comfortable enjoying a drink at the Pool Bar or The Arts Cafe in the evenings.
Silversea has taken a very bold step to revolutionize the cruise ship dining experience. This is the first ship on which we have sailed that does not have a traditional "cruise ship restaurant" dining venue. We, too, were a little hesitant for the first few days. But, after seven days, we are huge fans of this new paradigm. Each restaurant has its own unique theme and menu, each executed very well.
The one thing that has not changed on Silver Muse is the excellent Silversea service and attention to detail. It is hard to declare a favorite Silversea ship, but I think we may have give a slight edge to Silver Muse. This may be the most luxurious, decadent way to see the world.
Chris Dikmen and Rickee Richardson are professional travel journalists for CruiseReport.com
Silversea Cruises - Silver Shadow - Southeast Asia
We spend 14 glorious nights aboard Silversea Silver Shadow in Southeast Asia.
Our first visit to Southeast Asia was back in 2008, and we loved it! So, when we were presented with the opportunity to do a cruise on Silversea's Silver Shadow in Southeast Asia, well, you can imagine our excitement. The last time we were on Silver Shadow was also in China and Korea, back in 2011.
Silver Shadow
PRE-CRUISE IN SINGAPORE
Most guests on this cruise took advantage of Silversea's pre-cruise hotel stay in Singapore at the luxurious Shangri-La Singapore. We had actually booked two nights to give ourselves some extra time to shed jet lag and still be able to explore the hotel and the city. Unfortunately, due to a missed connection in Hong Kong, we had an additional seven-hour layover that cost us one night at Shangri-La. The travel agency booked our flight with only a one-hour connection window in Hong Kong. Lesson learned. Check your flight itinerary and do not accept one that has less than two hours on any segment.
Shangri-La Singapore
We did not arrive in at the Shangri-La until 6:30am, and after going for more than 35 hours without sleep, all we could do was head straight to bed. However, we did have a chance to experience some of the hotels facilities, including restaurants and the spa. For more information, you can read our review of Shangri-La Singapore.
EMBARKATION
Silversea's local ground operator in Singapore had a hospitality desk set up in the Shangri-La hotel and they had advised us to meet at 12pm in the hotel lobby for the transfer to the cruise ship. We had the porter take our checked luggage to the lobby as instructed, and it was whisked away for transfer to the ship. Along with about 50 other guests, we were escorted to motor coaches for the drive to the port.
Guests board motor coaches for the drive to the port
Singapore's port serves more than 1,000 ships every day, making it one of the busiest shipping ports in the world. Even though the cruise traffic is not huge here, at least by Miami standards, they probably have one of the nicest cruise terminals anywhere. Embarkation here is quick and efficient, especially when boarding a ship with a total capacity of 385 guests. Less than 15 minutes after arriving at the cruise terminal, we were walking down the long hallway to board Silver Shadow.
Silver Shadow docked in Singapore
Once on board, we were greeted with a glass of Silversea's traditional 'welcome aboard' champagne and invited to complete our check-in at the Reception desk on (Deck 5). This basically involves handing over our passports and having a security photo taken. We were told that the suites were not quite ready to be occupied and that we could enjoy lunch on Deck 8 (Pool Grill or La Terrazza) until an announcement was made. We skipped lunch, but instead enjoyed a soft drink in the quiet and nearly empty Panorama Lounge on Deck 8 aft. The Panorama furnishings have been recovered in new red and white fabrics since our last sailing.
Panorama Lounge - Deck 8 aft
Overall, the embarkation process was about as smooth and painless as can be. Of course, embarking a small vessel is always much easier than one of the bigger ships, and is one more reason why we love small ship cruising.
ACCOMMODATIONS
With the exception of the two Owner's Suites, the Grand Suite is the largest guest accommodation offered on Silver Shadow (and sister ship, Silver Whisper). The Grand Suite can be configured as a one-bedroom or two-bedroom floorplan (by combining an adjoining Verandah Suite).
Grand Suite Floorplan
For the first time in our cruising career, we actually were assigned the exact same suite that we occupied back in 2011 when we sailed on Silver Shadow from Shanghai to Incheon. Therefore, much of our assessment from that cruise still applies to this day. Even by hotel standards, our Grand Suite (802) is massive. The entry foyer leads into the living room with its full-sized sofa, two large and comfy chairs and coffee table. A dining room table large enough for four people to enjoy a meal together sits next to an impressive bar with two bar stools (formerly three). The bar is equipped with a mini-bar/fridge and an espresso machine. A nice-sized desk spans one wall of the living room with more than enough space for a laptop and any electronic gadgets you may have brought with you. However, more electrical outlets would be a welcome addition in this day and age. There is enough seating in the Grand Suite to host 13 people comfortably.
Living Room - Grand Suite 802
The 103-116 sq. ft. verandah is accessible via a sliding glass door and features one large wicker seat with footrest, two wicker chairs and two small tables. Due to its location under the wing bridge, the balcony is covered by a sizable overhang that blocks much of the direct sun from the balcony. Therefore, if you plan to sit on your balcony and soak up some sun, you may want to consider a Grand Suite on Deck 6 (601) or 7 (701). Note: All four Grand Suites (601, 701, 801 and 802) are located all the way forward on their respective decks. The same is true for the two slightly smaller Royal Suites (602 & 702). Therefore, if you are prone to motion sickness, you may wish to consider a Silver, Medallion or Owner's suite, all of which are positioned closer midships. On this 14-night sailing, the seas were ultra-smooth, making this a non-issue.
Verandah
A door separates the living room from the forward-facing bedroom. Guests can select from a menu of eight pillow choices to suit their personal requirements. A dressing table with three-sided mirror will be every lady's dream come true. A magnifying makeup mirror is on the dressing table. The walk-in closet is huge and houses an eight-drawer dresser and personal safe. Two long rods with wooden hangers can hold enough clothes for a world cruise.
Bedroom Grand Suite 802
The closet is large enough to get dressed in. There is also a built-in storage unit across from the bed that occupies the entire wall. There are three large, and I mean LARGE drawers, six regular-size drawers and lots of storage cabinets behind doors. Two large windows look out over the front of the ship. There is a full-length mirror on the wall as you enter the bedroom and also one on the wall of the bathroom opposite the shower.
The completely separate bedroom allows Rickee to continue to sleep uninterrupted while I do my morning work. I can enjoy my Fox News in the morning on the large, flat-screen LCD TV in the living room while working on my blog and enjoying my coffee ritual. However, the door between the living room and bedroom was in need of adjustment. It was very hard to open and close, like it was not centered properly. We lived with it, but did report it on our Cruise Questionnaire.
One of the two bathrooms is found one step up from the bedroom and is equally lavish. Slathered in Italian marble, the bathroom features a full-sized jetted bathtub, vanity with two sinks, separate marble shower stall and sequestered water closet with toilet, bidet and sink. The master bathroom is stocked with your choice of Bvlgari or Ferragamo soap, shampoo, lotion and conditioner. Cotton balls and cotton swabs are provided, too. There is also a powder room off the entryway accessible from the living room. In total, our suite had four sinks, two toilets and one bidet! The shower door in our bathroom would not close completely, and therefore, would not latch. It appeared as though the hinge mechanism had been worked on extensively as there was visible caulk and screw heads extending from the surrounding marble. With any motion, the door would swing open, a situation that could be dangerous if one entered into a dark bathroom at night and walked into an open shower door. The only other issue was with the sliding door leading to the balcony. It was nearly impossible to open, almost like it needed grease, or an adjustment. We mentioned this to Reception on the second day of the cruise and when we returned to the suite that night, it had been fixed.
Bathroom - Grand Suite 802
Grand Suite guests don't only benefit from space; there are other amenities as well. Each suite on Silversea enjoys butler service. Your butler is always available to make restaurant reservations, secure shore excursion tickets, provide evening en-suite dining, pick up and deliver laundry, and virtually anything else you may require during your stay. Guests occupying large suites also enjoy complimentary laundry, dry cleaning and pressing from the ship's laundry, another huge benefit. And a new perk since our last sailing on Silver Shadow allows guests occupying a large suite to enjoy unlimited Internet/WiFi access during the cruise. A chilled bottle of champagne is waiting in each suite upon arrival. Complimentary bottles of liquor are no longer offered automatically but, if you ask your butler, a bottle of your favorite wine or spirit will be delivered to your suite. They have also replaced the plastic bottles of water with glass bottles of "tap" water, an obvious nod to the environmental movement. Sorry, but I much prefer the plastic bottles of water. Your choice of daily newspaper is also available for delivery to your suite.
A bottle of your favorite wine or spirit will be delivered to your suite
On our last cruise aboard Silver Shadow in 2011, the ship had recently undergone a multi-million-dollar refurbishment. All suites had been updated with new mattresses and bedding, new upholstery and carpeting. Large suites had been updated to include a high-end Bang & Olufsen CD player. After five years, however, it is probably time for the mattresses to be replaced again. Large sunken dips in the mattresses are an indication that they have reached the end of their life cycle. The carpeting in our suite was still acceptable and the fabrics on the chairs and sofa looked to be in good condition.
Top-Quality Bvlgari bathroom amenities
Even the smallest suites on Silversea are spacious and well appointed. But, for those who insist on nothing but the biggest and the best, regardless of cost, the Grand Suite offers over-the-top luxury and spaciousness. Larger suite guests are also treated to two hours of complimentary international ship-to-shore telephone service and dinner at an officer's table once per cruise.
FOOD AND DINING
The Restaurant
The Restaurant located on Deck 4 is the ship's main "traditional" dining room. As we mentioned in 2011, The Restaurant looks like it did the day the ship launched (in 2000). The atmosphere here is elegant and luxurious. Service is crisp and efficient, as it is throughout the ship. Breakfast is served here each morning from a set menu. Lunch and dinner menus change daily and offer a nice variety of choices. Breakfast and lunch in The Restaurant makes a nice, calm alternative to the sometimes busy La Terrazza buffet (lido buffet). Complimentary wine selections change each day (one red and one white), but if the wines offered are not to your liking, every attempt will be made to find a suitable alternative.
The Restaurant
A table for two is almost always available at breakfast or lunch. And, unlike on larger cruise ships, guests always have the option of dining privately at breakfast and lunch. In the evening, The Restaurant comes alive with activity as the ship's primary dining venue. The menus have been updated since our last sailing, although they continue to lean toward Continental cuisine. I suspect this may be an attempt to cater to the largely European clientele. Dining in The Restaurant is open seating, so you may dine whenever and with whomever you wish. The dress code follows the ship's recommended dress code for the day.
Sadly, the signature Galley Brunch and Pool BBQ are no more. They will be (and were) missed.
La Terrazza
La Terrazza is the most popular dining venue on Silver Shadow (or any Silversea ship for that matter). Breakfast buffet service is complemented by made-to-order egg dishes, pancakes and waffles. Lunch buffet choices change daily and usually offer items from The Restaurant's menu in addition to a carving station and a 'pasta-of-the-day' station, fresh sushi daily and a wide variety of salads and desserts. A large al fresco dining area is located aft of La Terrazza where you can enjoy the ocean breeze as you dine. The outdoor dining furniture appears to be new since our last cruise, and is very nice. An awning has also been added since our last sailing on Shadow which provides shade on sunny days.
Al Fresco dining at La Terrazza
La Terrazza has embraced the Slow Food concept that began at a grass roots level in reaction to “Fast Food” and is dedicated to proper land stewardship while preserving cultural food traditions. For example, La Terrazza's chef uses buffalo mozzarella from Naples, organic balsamic vinegar and olive oil from Umbria, and air-dried ham out of Parma. The Emilia-Romagna region also produces Silversea's 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano, while the pasta is made daily right on board.
La Terrazza
Each evening, La Terrazza is transformed into a romantic, dimly lit Italian bistro. The evening dress code here is listed as casual, but a jacket would be a wise choice if you want to fit in. Even though the main courses offered in the evening are excellent, we have a hard time making it past the pasta course before crying "uncle". The pasta is made fresh daily and is the highlight. The Ravioli is still amazing. Reservations are required for La Terrazza in the evenings.
The Grill
Come nighttime aboard Silver Shadow, the pool bar and grill is transformed into The Grill featuring "hot rock" dining under the stars. This fun, interactive cooking concept allows guests to grill their own seafood and prime meats at their table on a heated volcanic rock plate. The seating here is limited, so you need to make reservations early in the cruise to enjoy this experience. Guests can choose from steak, veal chop or salmon which arrives sizzling on a hot, and I mean HOT volcanic rock plate. The rock plate retains the heat long enough to completely cook the meat to your desired level of doneness. So, in effect, you are cooking your own meal! Side items like baked potatoes, salads and vegetable skewers are pre-prepared so you do not have to cook those, just the meat. The concept is innovative and one that everyone should experience at least once per cruise. The dress code at The Grill is always casual.
Hot rock cooking at The Grill
Le Champagne
The only Wine Restaurant by Relais & Châteaux at sea can be found aboard the ships of Silversea. Guests can indulge in an evening where fine wines are complemented by a set tasting menu of regionally-inspired dishes in an intimate, elegant setting. The six-course experience celebrates some of the world’s most distinguished wine regions. Reservations are required and there is a per-guest reservation fee.
La Champagne's elegant table setting
We celebrated my birthday with dinner at Le Champagne. We felt like the biggest selling point at Le Champagne was the intimate atmosphere and the attentive service. The dishes offered through the multi-course menu are sophisticated, perhaps too much so for our Texas tastes. Other than the presentation, we did not feel that the food served here was any better than what The Restaurant offers. Perhaps that should be considered high praise for The Restaurant. Reservations are required for Le Champagne, and there is a $40pp cover charge, which includes wines from the ship's daily wine selection. There is an optional wine-pairing menu available for an additional cost featuring some higher end wines. Guests occupying larger suites are invited to dine in Le Champagne once per sailing on a complimentary basis.
Room Service
This often overlooked and underrated dining option is taken to a new level on Silversea. We routinely enjoy dining in our suite, especially after a long day of touring an exotic destination. The dining table in our Grand Suite was transformed into an elegantly-set romantic venue with Frette linens and fine silverware, just like you would find in The Restaurant. Even in the Veranda Suites, the coffee table is converted into an elegant dining table. Our butler, Amiel, carefully prepared the table then served our dinner (or breakfast) choices expertly. The food was delivered quickly and was fresh and hot. Breakfast is the most popular room service meal, and on this cruise, we had breakfast delivered several times.
Even an order of banana pancakes is elevated with Silversea's room service
A substantial 24-hour room service menu also includes the daily lunch and dinner choices served in The Restaurant (during normal lunch and dinner hours). The lunch and dinner menu for the following day is included each evening in the Silversea Chronicles that is delivered to your suite. But here's a little secret about Silversea. If you want something, just ask for it and odds are Silversea will find a way to make it happen, as long as it is within reason. For example, one day we stayed in our suite to watch a movie and we asked for some popcorn. No problem!
Pool Grill
One of my favorite spots for lunch is the Pool Grill. There is something about sitting outside on a beautiful day at sea and enjoying a simple burger, fries and onion rings. Silversea has stepped up its hamburger game considerably. There are two new "gourmet" burgers now offered at the Pool Grill (and on The Restaurant menu at night). I had the Jalapeno burger on two occasions and the burger was excellent each time. The fries were served hot and fresh; however, the onion rings still could use some improvement.
Silversea's Pool Grill is a noticeable step above other cruise lines with full table service and a pretty extensive menu of made-to-order burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, salads and other treats. On most days, a poolside buffet was set up with a variety of salads, hot dishes, fruit and desserts. An cream sundae bar has been added to satisfy your sweet tooth. As with all Silversea dining venues, you dine here with linen napkins and silverware. No plastic or paper in sight. Even a burger and fries feels elegant on Silversea!
Afternoon Tea
The British tradition of Afternoon Tea has been kept alive on Silversea with an elegant tea service held each day in The Panorama Lounge. A variety of teas are accompanied by traditional finger sandwiches, scones and other sweet treats served by white-gloved wait staff. Afternoon tea is a perfect way to stave off any hunger that might try to sneak in before dinner. You can also enjoy Afternoon Tea delivered to your suite.
ENTERTAINMENT AND ACTIVITIES
Entertainment has been steadily improving on Silversea over the past several years. This Silver Shadow cruise was no exception. Each evening at 10pm, the Athenian Lounge showcases a movie or a different production show or guest entertainer. The four production shows were performed by the The Voices of Silversea. Evening shows typically last 30 to 45 minutes, and while we wish they started a little earlier in the evening, you can usually be back in your suite by 10:45pm if you are not a night owl. Music and dancing continues in the Panorama Lounge long after the show has ended for those who like to take a spin around the floor. The two Gentlemen Hosts onboard were available as dance partners.
The Voices of Silversea are featured in lively production shows
Before and after-dinner musical entertainment was provided by the Musiclink Duo in the Bar and the Silver Shadow Quartet in the Panorama Lounge. On a few evenings, guests were entertained by Australian virtuoso concert violinist, Ian Cooper, in the Athenian Lounge. On one occasion, we were treated to the vocal stylings of Cruise Director, Kirk T. Detweiler, a talented and energetic entertainer.
Kirk Detweiler puts on an energetic show
IF YOU WANT SOMETHING EXTRA, JUST ASK FOR IT
During the day, Silver Shadow offers guests a variety of onboard activities. Your day might begin with a 7:30am "Sunrise Walk" or 8am stretching session with Personal Trainer, Ales, who also presented several seminars on fitness topics. International hostesses offered language classes. Bridge lessons were scheduled and Bridge sessions conducted. The most popular daytime activity seemed to be Team Trivia held each afternoon, which can get very competitive and lively. Trivia is followed by golf putting. There were table tennis and shuffleboard competitions. Various dance classes were led by the multi-talented Cruise Director, Kirk T. Detweiler. If you wanted to tour the galley, that was offered, too. Art lovers were treated to several presentations by onboard Art Curator, Rami Ron. A cooking demonstration was presented by Executive Chef Jerome, and the Bar Staff had several cocktail demonstrations and tastings.
On our voyage, there were two guest lecturers, Evelyn Evans and Roger Condon, each speaking on topics pertaining to our destination.
The well-stocked library also has a huge selection of movies on DVD for guests to check-out and view in their suites. This is the place to pick up the daily Silver Quiz, sudoku and crossword puzzles. If a board game is in your daily plan, you will find a selection of them in the library. Rickee dominated the Silver Quiz, winning the contest (and the prize points that can be redeemed at the end of the cruise for Silversea trinkets) on several days.
Rickee racking up some Silversea points with her Silver Quiz victories
If keeping fit is in your plans, there is a well-equipped fitness center on Deck 10 open daily from 6:30am until 8:00pm. Several classes were offered each day and you could even hire a personal trainer. The fitness center has a variety of carido machines, free weights, LifeFitness™ circuit machines and more.
Well-equipped fitness center
For those who like games of chance, the Casino accepts donations whenever the ship is sailing. There are 18 slot machines, a blackjack table, roulette and craps. We had some fun with the slots and, fortunately, we broke even for the 14-day cruise. The Casino Staff conducted gaming lessons from time to time and there were Blackjack and slot tournaments. A tiny Lampadina Bar adjoins the Casino for those who would like to take a break and enjoy a cocktail.
A small, but well-equipped Internet Cafe is located next to The Library with a few desktop computers available for use. Silversea has completely revamped its Internet/WiFi program, and it is one of the most generous in the cruise industry.
Unlimited Internet access for guests in Medallion, Silver, Royal, Grand, and Owner's Suite
One hour of Internet access per guest/per day for guests in Vista, Terrace, and Veranda Suites
In addition to the above, several other options are available:
Plan 1: Internet Service 1 Day: $30
Plan 2: Internet Service 2 Days: $50
Plan 3: Internet Service Cruise 3 Nights: $60
Plan 4: Internet Service Cruise 7 Nights: $140
Plan 5: Internet Service Cruise 8+Days: $16 per day
Plan 6: Time Plan (1,000 minutes): $250 ($0.25 per minute
Internet connectivity is available through the ship's WiFi network from virtually any location. I got the best connectivity in the public areas. WiFi was accessible in our suite, but not as reliable. Of course, this will depend on your suite's proximity to a WiFi repeater. If I was willing to leave our suite door open, the WiFi signal improved dramatically.
Pool deck on Silver Shadow
One of the most popular spots on Silver Shadow, especially in warm weather, is the pool on Deck 8. Cushioned pool lounge chairs surround the pool on Deck 8, and more are available on Deck 9. There are some loungers shaded from the sun and a few wicker "cocoon" loungers.
Wicker cocoon loungers
The Boutiques of Silversea, found on Deck 5, offer an extensive range of merchandise including jewelry, designer clothing, perfumes and skincare products. Silversea logo items are available. On this voyage, women could purchase a custom-made pair of Preludio Capri Sandals which were fitted and made on the spot, sewn by hand without the use of glue. You choose color, heel height, shape, and all the added "bling."
Rickee checks out the Preludio sandal options
The Spa at Silversea is a full-service facility offering massages and salon services and also teeth whitening. On our voyage, several specials were offered discounting the cost of certain spa services. The spa also has separate dressing rooms with lockers for men and ladies. Each dressing room has shower, sauna and steam room, available for guest use on a complimentary basis.
La Thérapie products featured in the spa
PORTS-OF-CALL
Silversea's complimentary shuttle service is a huge value to guests that often goes unnoticed...
Singapore - One of the nicest cities in Asia. Singapore is spotlessly clean and safe. If your cruise embarks or disembarks here, plan on spending a few extra days.
Bintulu - On our cruise we did the Highlights of Bintulu excursion, which is probably a good choice here. The butterfly farm was a bust, but visits to the Chinese temple and local food market were interesting.
Brunei - We stayed on board Silver Shadow in Brunei. We had heard that there was not much to see here, and talking to other guests confirmed that. A good change to have the ship to ourselves and enjoy the pool deck!
Kota Kinabalu - We were stood up for our scheduled river rafting excursion here, which we booked ourselves online. A good reason to use the ship's excursions here.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Ho Chi Minh City is definitely worth exploring. Smaller ships, like Silver Shadow, can sail up river and dock right in the middle of the city. Larger ships will have to dock two hours away, not good.
Bangkok, Thailand - This was our favorite port on this cruise. As with Ho Chi Minh City, Silver Shadow is able to sail up the river and dock at Klong Toei, right in the middle of town. Larger ships will dock at Laem Chabang, two hours or more from the city center.
Ko Samui, Thailand - This island was another highlight of the cruise. Don't miss a visit to the elephant park.
SILVERSEA GUESTS
As you might expect on a 14-night sailing aboard a luxury ship, the clientele tends to be older. We did see a few 40-somethings roaming around, but most guests were in the 55+ range. We only saw one child on board, and quite frankly, there is not much for kids to do on these ships. But, we live in an age were some people take their kids with them everywhere, so I guess we just have to accept that reality. On this sailing, about 60% were British, approximately 25% were Americans and the rest were from everywhere imaginable. There were less than 20 Australians on board, but they are always easy to spot. They are the noisiest group and having more fun than anyone else!
Silversea has a published dress code with "formal" nights where a tuxedo or dinner jacket is the order of the day for men and cocktail dress or evening gown is worn by the ladies. On "informal" nights, men must wear a jacket but tie is optional. On "casual" nights, men don't have to wear a jacket, but a collared shirt is required and jeans or shorts are never appropriate after 6pm in any indoor venue.
THE SILVERSEA EXPERIENCE
In a world of self-serve gas stations, and a 'do-it-yourself' mentality, it is nice that one company insists on delivering an alternative. In fact, modern society has changed us so much that one can almost become consumed with guilt when this level of pampering is experienced. A Silversea cruise is what a vacation is supposed to be: worry-free, relaxing, luxurious and fun. We have sailed on all but one Silversea ship over the past several years and the story never changes. It is always excellent service delivered in an unobtrusive manner. Silversea embodies the nature of good taste, quality and service. There are a lot of good cruise lines, a handful of great cruise lines. Silversea is unquestionably one of the few great cruise lines in the world. But more than that, Silversea is one of the few places left on Earth where everyone is made to feel special, welcome and valued.
Formal nights are still part of the Silversea experience
All-Inclusive Value
Silversea has always been a great value in the luxury cruise segment, and now even more so. Of course, Silversea's cruise fares include all beverages (wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, etc.) consumed during the cruise. And, gratuities for the ship's staff are also included in your cruise fare. The addition of included shore excursions is a huge value for guests. Complimentary shuttle service in each port (at least on this cruise) was also a huge benefit, something you don't find on most other cruise lines. All of the shuttles we used were air conditioned, clean and efficient. The shuttle buses usually drop you off in town, near shopping or other local landmarks and run to and from the ship every hour or half-hour.
Complimentary shuttle service in port
Another huge value, at least for someone like me, is the new complimentary WiFi (see above). Even with an hour per day per person, you can get your basic email duties accomplished. Additional WiFi plans are also reasonably priced.
What We Loved
Friendly staff, impeccable service
Gratuities included in cruise fare
New, included shore excursions
New, complimentary WiFi
New, gourmet burgers
All beer, wine, champagne, cocktails and soft drinks included
Big, roomy suites, most with balconies
Butler service in every suite
Excellent room service for en suite dining
Bottled water (complimentary) available as you disembark ship in port
Quality shore excursions with ship's tour guide present
Pool bar now open late
What We Would Like To See
6:30pm dinner times (instead of 7pm)
9:30 show time (instead of 10pm)
Mattresses (at least in our suite) need to be replaced
A casual, no-reservation-required, á la minute dining option at The Grill
Bring back the bottled water in suites
SUMMARY
Silversea remains one of the best cruise lines in the world. The all-inclusive value and over-the-top luxury are a tough combination to compete with. We always know what to expect on Silversea, excellence.