Silversea Cruises
An inclusive, upmarket but dated small ship for discovery cruising
The Ship. Silver Cloud, now well over 20 years old, has fairly handsome profile, with a sloping stern reminiscent of an Airstream trailer. Following a 2017 conversion to make it more like an expedition-style ship, Silver Cloud carries 18 Zodiac landing craft, and now has a deep blue hull. The ship has an ice-class hull modification for sailing in more remote areas (including Antarctica), and now carries a maximum of 260 passengers (200 on Antarctic voyages). But it’s not a real expedition ship (it lacks properly designed ‘mud’ rooms, boot-washing areas, and storage rooms).
The vertical cake-layer stacking of public rooms aft and the location of accommodation forward ensures quiet cabins. There is a synthetic turf-covered (this doesn’t equate with luxury) walk-around promenade deck outdoors, and a pool deck with teak/aluminum deck furniture.
The spacious interior has bland decor, but fine-quality soft furnishings accented by the gentle use of brass fittings, fine woods, and creative ceilings.
An excellent amount of space per passenger means there is no hint of a line anywhere in this unhurried environment.
All drinks, gratuities, and port taxes are included, and no further tipping is necessary – though it is not prohibited.
Niggles? Some vibration is evident when bow thrusters or the anchors are used, particularly in the forward-most cabins. The self-service launderette is not large enough for longer cruises. Crew facilities are minimal, leading to a high crew turnover, which undermines service.
Accommodation. There are several price grades in this ‘all-suites’ ship. The all-outside-view suites, three-quarters of which have fine private teakwood balconies, have convertible queen-to-twin beds, and are beautifully fitted out. They have large floor-to-ceiling windows, large walk-in closets, dressing table, writing desk, stocked mini-bar/refrigerator (no charge), and fresh flowers.
Marble-floored bathrooms have a tub, fixed showerhead, single washbasin, and plenty of high-quality towels.
The walk-in closets don’t provide much hanging space, particularly for such items as full-length dresses, and it would be better for the door to open outward instead of inward. The drawers themselves are poorly positioned, but several other drawers and storage areas are provided in the living area.
Although the cabin insulation above and below is good, the insulation between cabins is not – a privacy curtain installed between entry door and sleeping area would be most useful. Light from the passageway leaks into the cabin, so it’s hard to achieve a dark room.
Top-grade suites have teak balcony furniture, while other suites do not, but all balconies have teak floors. Suites with balconies on the lowest deck can suffer from sticky salt spray when the ship is moving, so the balconies need lots of cleaning. Each evening, the stewardesses bring plates of canapés to your suite – just right for a light bite with cocktails. In the Grand, Royal, Rossellini, or Owner’s suites, you get unobtrusive butler service from butlers certified by London’s Guild of Professional Butlers.
Dining. The Restaurant provides open-seating dining in somewhat elegant surroundings. It has an attractive arched gazebo center and a wavy ceiling design as its focal point, and is set with fine Eschenbach china and well-balanced Christofle silverware. Meals are served in an open seating, which means you can eat when the dining room is open, and with whom you like.
Standard table wines are included for lunch and dinner, and there is a ‘connoisseur list’ of premium wines at extra charge. All meals are prepared à la minute, with little of the pre-preparation that used to exist.
La Saletta, adjacent to the main dining room, is an intimate 24-seat specialty dining salon. Dégustation menus include dishes designed for Silversea Cruises by chefs from Relais & Châteaux and paired with selected wines. Reservations are required, and there’s a cover charge.
La Terrazza provides self-serve breakfast and lunch buffets and informal evening dining with different regional Italian dishes nightly. Both indoor and outdoor seating is at teakwood tables and chairs.
There is a 24-hour in-cabin dining service. Full course-by-course dinners are available, although the balcony tables in the standard suites are rather low for dining outdoors.
Entertainment. The Showlounge hosts entertainment events and some social functions. The room spans two decks and has a sloping floor; banquette and individual seating are provided, with good sight lines.
Although Silversea Cruises places more emphasis on food than entertainment, what is provided is quite tasteful and not overbearing, as aboard some larger ships. A decent array of cabaret acts does the Silversea circuit, and small colorful production shows have been re-introduced.
Most of the cabaret acts provide intelligent entertainment that is generally appreciated by the well-traveled international clientele, and there’s more emphasis now on classical music ensembles. A band provides live music in the evenings in The Bar, and Panorama Lounge.
Spa/Fitness. The Spa at Silversea is quite small compared to those on other so-called luxury ships.
Facilities include a separate sauna for men and women, several treatment rooms, and a beauty salon. Massage and other body-pampering treatments, facials, pedicures, and beauty salon treatments cost extra.
A separate gymnasium (formerly an observation lounge), located atop the ship, provides sea views.