logo
Five things to know before you board a Silversea ship

Five things to know before you board a Silversea ship

Telegraph5 days ago
When Silversea launched in 1994, it brought unprecedented luxury and a true all-inclusive offering to cruise passengers. It was the first to include alcohol in the fare, introduce suite butlers and offer a complimentary in-room mini-bar. Three decades on, the line continues to meet the exacting standards demanded by its loyal clientele.
The brand doesn't try to 'be' anything other than a luxurious hotel at sea offering grade-A service. Carpets bounce, décor is quietly elegant and easy-on-the-eye, and guest rooms have pillow menus, marble bathrooms, rain showers and walk-in wardrobes.
Newer ships have ushered in a contemporary feel, with relaxed al-fresco dining areas and lots of exterior glass designed to let the ocean in. It's an 'all-suite' line, which means every guest room has a window-facing lounge area that can be partitioned off from the bedroom.
Although it typically attracts an older demographic, Silversea doesn't rest on its laurels, and is constantly reinventing its shore experiences, dining offerings and destination portfolio.
In the 2026-7 season, passengers can choose from 230 new cruises. Last year, the line announced plans to build a 150-room hotel in the Chilean city of Puerto Williams to accommodate guests transiting to Antarctica. Rooms will have views across the Beagle Channel to the snow-capped Patagonian mountains.
A focus on quality ingredients and non-buffet dining has been a mainstay for the line. Foodies will appreciate the well-executed Salt (sea and land taste) food programme that explores a destination through food-focused excursions and interactive open-kitchen dinners on board. These are sometimes led by an accomplished local chef.
The cruise fare includes 24-hour butler-in-tux service for every guest; round-the-clock in-suite dining; premium drinks in suite and throughout the ship; and private transfers and flights.
There is a supplement for certain restaurants. Beyond that are three fare types: door to door (everything is included and transport organised from the minute you close the front door); port to port (transfers and air fare aren't included), and essential (transfers, air fare and excursions aren't included).
Silversea's fleet consists of 12 ships, six of which have joined since 2020. Four are expedition vessels, including a ship that sails solely in the Galapagos.
Headquartered in Miami, Silversea is one of five brands owned by the Royal Caribbean Group.
1. Where does Silversea cruise?
Worldwide, including all seven continents. The 2026/2027 cruise portfolio features 131 expedition voyages, while ocean ships will visit more than 85 countries. A handful of cruises sail the British Isles from Portsmouth and Southampton in the spring, and there are cruises from Southampton and Belfast to Copenhagen in June.
Expedition cruises visit some of the world's most remote regions, including the Arctic and Greenland, the Antarctic, South America, French Polynesia and the Pacific, the Galapagos and the Kimberley in north-west Australia.
Each January, passengers can join a world cruise – which can be taken in its entirety or in sections. In 2028, a 132-day cruise from Miami to Nice will visit 58 destinations on five continents. For those who prefer to cross the Atlantic by ship, rather than plane, Silversea has 'transoceanic' crossings from Southampton and Belfast to New York, and from Lisbon to Barbados.
Itineraries often dovetail with festivals, high-profile sporting events and seasonal highlights such as cherry blossom season in Japan, Carnival in Rio de Janeiro and the F1 Grand Prix in Monaco.
2. Who does Silversea appeal to?
With a high proportion of longer cruises and the inclusion of big-ticket events, Silversea appeals to a well-heeled, largely American crowd that favours 'enrichment' (learning experiences) – and that wants to travel in comfort.
Every effort goes into ensuring that passengers get the best experience from the destinations they're visiting – whether that's at a fine-dining experience onboard or during a shore experience.
Although the demographic is generally older, and there are no children's clubs on board, families are welcome too. The minimum age for children on ocean-going ships is six months. The following age limits also apply: 12 months on Silver Cloud; five years on Silver Origin. Children younger than five cannot board zodiacs on Silver Endeavour, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind. Under-18s must be accompanied in the same or connecting suite by a parent or responsible adult aged 21-plus.
Solo travellers pay 25 per cent of the full fare on selected voyages. An October cruise to Antarctica costs £11,150 instead of £12,900, and a Bridgetown to Lisbon cruise costs £3,150, down from £4,900.
3. Silversea's fleet
Ocean
Silver Ray (728 passengers)
Launched in 2024, Ray is the identical sister ship to Silver Nova. The 13 room categories include new, corner master suites with 270-degree views. There are eight restaurants, four bars and lounges, an Otium Spa, plus a sea-facing gym and beauty salon. Powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas), Silver Ray is the most energy-efficient ship in the fleet. She has plug-in capability and is hydrogen fuel-cell ready.
Silver Nova (728 passengers)
Launched in 2023, Nova introduced the 'Nova' class of ship, featuring an asymmetrical design aimed at connecting guests with the water, wherever they are on board. It also introduced a buzzing all-day dining hangout, The Marquee. The deck 10 pool has 'floating' cabanas and a decent swimming length. Corner Otium Suites feature a private Jacuzzi and 270-degree views.
Silver Dawn (596 passengers)
Silver Dawn launched in 2022 and was the first to feature the brand's top-tier Otium spa. Otium wellness services are also available in-suite – that could be a massage, butler-drawn bath or a 'food and chill' evening.
Silver Muse and Silver Moon (596 passengers)
Built in 2020, Moon introduced Silversea's immersive culinary programme, Salt. Three dedicated venues include the Salt Kitchen, Salt Lab and Salt Bar, where dinners, demonstrations and drinks are tailored to regionally inspired menus. A signature French restaurant, the Japanese Kaiseki and Asian-inspired Indochine are among the eight restaurants.
Built in 2017, Silver Muse shares the same restaurants as Moon, and both ships have the Zagara spa and beauty salon and a casino. Shows and films are held in the Venetian Lounge.
Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper (392 passengers)
The décor and layout of these two ships is classic rather than stylish. However, both offer a more intimate atmosphere and the same attention to detail when it comes to dining and service. Both ships have four restaurants, a show lounge, a card room, a library and a spa. Whisper was built in 2001 and last refurbished in 2024; Shadow was built in 2000 and last refurbished in 2019.
Silver Spirit (608 passengers)
Silver Spirit made headlines in 2018 when she was 'stretched' at a shipyard in Palermo. She left the yard 49ft longer, following a complex lengthening and extensive refurbishment. The result was roomier public areas and suites, an enlarged pool deck and a refreshed dining offering. The ship has an Arts Café, Observation Library, Zagara Spa and the chic Dolce Vita lounge.
Expedition
Silver Endeavour (220 passengers)
Purpose-built for the polar regions, Silver Endeavour launched in 2022. She carries kayaks, zodiacs and a remote camera system that can capture high-quality images from over three miles away. Spread over eight decks, the all-suite ship has multiple restaurants, bars and lounges; a spa; a two-storey solarium with a pool and whirlpool; and several indoor and outdoor observation areas.
Silver Wind (274 passengers)
Refurbished in 2021 with an ice-strengthened hull, Silver Wind is a crossover ship, visiting polar and non-polar destinations. The nine-deck ship carries 24 zodiacs and has a show lounge, fitness centre and spa, observation library and jogging track. Her décor is more traditional.
Silver Cloud (254 passengers on non-polar cruises; 200 in polar regions)
Silver Cloud underwent a $40 million refurbishment and conversion to an ice-class ship in 2017. She carries 20 zodiacs and 10 kayaks and sails with a large team of expedition experts. The ship has four restaurants and a photo studio, and photography masterclasses are offered.
Silver Origin (100 passengers)
A stylish ship with sleek yacht lines, Origin was built for the Galápagos. Passengers travel with a team of Ecuadorian guides and a fleet of eight zodiacs. All suites have balconies and butler service, and an in-suite water purification system. The meeting point for zodiacs, the 'Basecamp', doubles as an information source for the islands.
4. Loyalty scheme
Membership of the Venetian Society commences with the first voyage. Members accumulate Venetian Society Days on each voyage (one VS day per day sailed).
5. Access for guests with disabilities
Suites can accommodate wheelchairs, scooters and other equipment. Dining and bar venues and other public areas offer wheelchair seating. Wheelchair accessible excursions are offered mainly in Europe and the US, and low-activity tours are available at almost every port. The 'View Deck Plan' tab on each ship page indicates accessible suites (silversea.com).
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

EXCLUSIVE I've visited every country in the world - here's the tourist hotspot that's SO overrated
EXCLUSIVE I've visited every country in the world - here's the tourist hotspot that's SO overrated

Daily Mail​

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE I've visited every country in the world - here's the tourist hotspot that's SO overrated

An American-Mexican radio DJ who has visited every country in the world has revealed which he thinks is the most dangerous - and the tourist hotspot that's overrated. Randy Williams, better known as R Dub!, completed his decade-long challenge to visit all 193 UN-recognised countries in 2023 when he finally ticked off Turkmenistan. Since finishing his epic mission, Randy has even founded his own country - the Republic of Slowjamastan, an 11-acre micronation in Southern California with its own currency and a strict ban on Croc shoes. Now in an exclusive chat with MailOnline Travel, he reveals his favourite countries, the popular holiday destination he thinks is overrated and the city that deserves more Michelin stars... Least favourite country Randy explains that it would be unfair to 'write off an entire country based on one rough visit' as travel is always a 'gamble' that's dependent on timing, weather and people. However, there is one which just 'didn't click' for the intrepid traveller. 'Cameroon', reveals Randy. 'It was blisteringly hot, the city felt joyless and the locals wore scowls like armour. One guy even shouted at me for snapping a photo of a rundown house. 'Maybe I'll go back someday, give it another shot. I know there's beauty and kindness there, I just didn't find it that time.' The world's most dangerous country 'If I had to sum up what I've learned from visiting every country in the world in a single sentence, it'd be this: "The world isn't nearly as dangerous as the media would have you believe",' says Randy. He explains that some of the countries he was 'warned about', including Libya, Syria, Iraq and North Korea, actually ended up being some of his favourite destinations. But Randy does class one place he visited as 'truly dangerous'. He claims: 'Somalia. It's a failed state where looking like an outsider makes you a walking target. You don't get far without a security detail - literally. The government mandates it. 'I had an armoured vehicle and a truck full of armed guards just to move around. It's tense. Terrorism is real. And yet, despite it all, most of the people I met there were kind, generous, and curious. That's the paradox. Even in the most broken places, humanity still shows up. I'd go back. Carefully.' Favourite countries Randy has previously described Brazil as his favourite country and even quit his job to move there. But it's not the only destination that left an impact. Top of the list? The Philippines. 'No contest,' says Randy. 'The people are pure gold - kind, warm, generous in ways that make you question everything you thought you knew about hospitality. It's my favorite place to just disappear for a while. No agenda. Just vibes.' Armenia also 'hit hard', reveals the traveller. 'Old-school values, ancient stones that whisper stories if you stand still long enough. It left a mark. I'm already itching to go back.' Japan grabs a place in the top five, with Randy explaining: 'What can you say that hasn't been said? 'A hundred visits wouldn't scratch the surface. The food, the rituals, the reverence for detail - even their chaos is elegant. It's another planet, and I never want off.' If it's food you're looking for, Lebanon is Randy's 'ride or die' culinary capital with restaurants that the traveller says deserve more recognition. 'Beirut has this electricity pulsing through its streets, and the flavours? Unreal. Two bucks gets you a spread fit for royalty,' explains Randy. 'Breakfasts that border on spiritual, falafel that rewrites the rules, and ice cream that belongs in museums. I keep a list of Beirut joints that should have Michelin stars.' And while it's one of the world's least visited countries and the last that Randy ticked off, Turkmenistan in Central Asia also makes the top five. He reveals: 'My final country, and the one that blindsided me. I walked in thinking I'd seen it all. I hadn't. That place is weird in the most beautiful, intoxicating way. A fever dream of white marble, folklore, and formality. The culture is closed off, but what you do see? Mesmerizing.' The traveller also awards honourable mentions to Madagascar, North Korea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Switzerland, Turkey, Syria, and Venezuela. The most overrated destination 'Travel, like art, is personal,' says Randy. 'I've learned to ease up on judging how others do it. Some want the all-inclusive bubble: pool, buffet, repeat. 'No shame in that. But for me? I want discomfort. I want my senses lit up like a pinball machine.' And while Randy says there isn't a single country he wouldn't return to under the right circumstances, there is one popular holiday destination he thinks is overrated. Since finishing his epic mission, Randy has even founded his own country. The Republic of Slowjamastan is an 11 acre micronation in Southern California with its own currency and a strict ban on Croc shoes 'Dubai? No hate, but it just didn't move me. Felt like one giant luxury showroom - glass, steel, gold, logos,' he claims. 'It's a shrine to consumption more than culture. I get why people like it, I really do. 'But flying halfway around the world to sit in traffic surrounded by Lamborghinis and Louis Vuitton? Not my jam.' On the flipside, Randy says that 'so many places get overlooked', including Benghazi in Libya, Eritrea and Iraq.

The Australian private island with glorious beaches and a new luxury hotel
The Australian private island with glorious beaches and a new luxury hotel

Times

time3 hours ago

  • Times

The Australian private island with glorious beaches and a new luxury hotel

When my children were small I employed a series of Australian nannies who could not conceal their disdain for the English seaside. They were not impressed by the pebbly shingle, the murky water or that peculiar institution, the windbreak. At the time I felt rather defensive, but having just been to the spectacular Eyre peninsula in South Australia, where the sand is white, the water clear and the only debris on the beach is the odd nautilus shell, I now understand why to an Australian the English seaside doesn't really cut it. My friend, the writer Miranda Cowley Heller, and I took a propeller plane from Adelaide airport and flew 170 miles west to Port Lincoln, named after the British home of its founder Matthew Flinders, and the biggest town on the Eyre peninsula. It's 40 minutes by plane, seven hours by car. From there we were taken by amphibious vehicle across the bay to Louth Island, where a former sheep station has been turned into a luxury eco hotel called Rumi. The staff lined up holding welcome cocktails as we arrived and trundled up onto the beach, and it all felt very exclusive. There are only five rooms, though the hotel is planning to build villas all over the carefully landscaped island, including one VIP extravaganza with a private pool and its own dock. For now though, Rumi has the charm of an Australian beach café without the oppressive servility of a high-end resort. The island is about 2km long and ringed with the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. It reminded me of a Hebridean island — low lying, virtually treeless, with long white beaches — only this one was about 20 degrees warmer. There were also no insects. Everyone had warned me that Australia was full of poisonous spiders, venomous snakes and traffic-dodging kangaroos, not to mention the great white sharks, but I saw no wildlife on the island apart from Wendy the sea eagle, who perches on the only proper tree. Heroic efforts are being made to restore Louth to its original state after a century of being ravaged by sheep. A party of swagbaggers, working their way across the province and sleeping under the stars, were pulling up thornbushes in return for a free lunch at the hotel. The standard of the food was so good that I think three hours of back-breaking work in the hot sun was probably worth it. The executive chef, Jono Sweet, has just won his second Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hat, but his food was as charmingly casual as the hotel — tuna tartare and ceviche of local kingfish, served precisely but without pretension (four-course tasting menu £84). The public rooms — the lobby and café-type restaurant — are plastered in a pinky golden Venetian stucco, and the manager told us that when the owner of the hotel, Che Metcalfe, an Adelaide tech entrepreneur, clapped eyes on his stuccoist, it was love at first sight. The wedding was taking place the following weekend. I can't imagine a more perfect place to get married, particularly when the reception is over and you can have this glorious island to yourself. The highlight of my visit was getting up before dawn and watching the sun rise over a perfect white sandy beach and picking up nautilus shells. Back on the mainland we were taken to Mikkira Station, a nature reserve which, like Louth, used to be a sheep station. You can walk through the eucalyptus and gum trees and spot koalas stretched in the forks of the trees, fast asleep. Our guide, Rebecca, told us they were a bit livelier at night, but these guys looked as though they had taken a permanent chill pill. There was a mob of kangaroos as well, including a mother feeding her joey. I hadn't realised until I got close that the kangaroo's tail is like a fifth limb; when the males fight each other they rear up on them, using them like pogo sticks. We looked around the original sheep rancher's hut from the 1840s, with its corrugated iron roof. Some rather incongruous pink nerines were flowering outside the hut, planted perhaps by some long ago rancher's wife, trying to add a little colour to khaki bush. We visited the oyster farm at Coffin Bay (named after a person not an artefact), where we were taught how to shuck oysters properly, and then ate them with chilli and lime as we drank the local pink sparkling wine — both were delicious (tour, six oysters and glass of wine £31pp; In Port Lincoln we had breakfast in one of the town's many cafés, which in London or New York would have had round-the-block queues of hipsters lining up for its astonishing pastry creations. After my 'escargot' croissant filled with praline rather than snails — named for its shape rather than its filling — I needed a swim in the harbour, where a shark net protects you from the beasts of the deep. Port Lincoln is one of the few places in the world where you can commune with great whites underwater by cage diving, which is lovely if you like that sort of thing. • Read our full guide to Australia The Eyre peninsula is known as the place where the 'outback meets the sea', and the combination of perfect beach and indigenous wildlife — not to mention the spectacular food and drink — means that you can cover a lot of Australian bases in just a few days. The first thing that every South Australian tells you about their state is, 'We are free settled, you know.' I confess that before coming here I had no idea what 'free settled' signified in Australia, but now I do. It's a crucial part of this region's identity — that its first European settlers came here out of choice, rather than on convict ships. The second fact that everyone wants you to know is that the capital of South Australia, Adelaide, is a city of churches. That is pretty much self-evident as there seems to be a place of worship on every block, but perhaps more appealing in a godless age is that Adelaide is placed in the top ten best planned cities in the world according to Architectural Digest. The centre is laid out on a 2km-wide grid system with broad streets and public squares and is entirely surrounded by parkland, which contains the fabulous Adelaide Botanic Garden and the zoo. Although its founder, Captain William Light, might be surprised by the number of casinos in his city, the centre still has pockets of mid-Victorian charm. As someone who spent five or so years steeped in this period while writing the TV drama Victoria, it was a vibe I recognised. I was in Adelaide for the Writers' Week, which forms part of the Adelaide Festival — the biggest cultural festival in the southern hemisphere, which takes place in February in the ring of parks that surround the centre of the city. Imagine the buzz of Edinburgh in August except with perfect weather and no tourists — oh, and Adelaide is pretty flat and the trams are free — and you get the idea. Plus the standard of the food and drink is really world class, from the 27-course indigenous tasting menu at Restaurant Botanic (27-course tasting menu from £152; to the laid-back African/Australian fusion cuisine at Africola served up by the South African chef Duncan Welgemoed (three courses from £41; I was there for two weeks and I didn't have a single disappointing meal. The most memorable was a festival pop-up called the Garden of Unearthly Delights which lived up to its name with long tables set up in a grove of eucalyptus trees ( I sat next to some primary school teachers who had made a five-hour drive because they were fans of the chef. 'In SA the chefs are rock stars,' they said. You have only to walk around the covered market in the centre of Adelaide with its panoply of luscious local produce to understand why South Australia is such a foodie paradise. We stayed at the Eos hotel, which has a magnificent rooftop bar and a cavernous casino. Every morning I would see bleary-eyed men trying to work the lift buttons after a night on what the Australians call the pokies (slot machines). It's also where the stars stay when they do the festival — I spotted Graham Norton. My room was vast with a marble bathroom and a balcony overlooking the cricket ground. But the high point for me was the incredible crowds at the Writers' Week. All the events are free and I must have had an audience of over 400 people for my talk about Maria Callas. I have never sold so many books. I celebrated afterwards at the Exeter, a traditional Aussie pub which just happens to be the third highest consumer of Krug champagne in the world — they drink it in pint glasses. Perhaps I am biased, but it seems to me that the people of South Australia have very good taste. This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Daisy Goodwin was a guest of the South Australia Tourist Board ( Rumi on Louth Luxury Eco Resort, which has B&B doubles from £303 ( Eos by Sky City, which has B&B doubles from £192; and Hotel Indigo, which has B&B doubles from £115 ( Fly to Adelaide

Major blow for 'border breacher' owner of Chapel Street bar as it collapses owing over $800,000
Major blow for 'border breacher' owner of Chapel Street bar as it collapses owing over $800,000

Daily Mail​

time5 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Major blow for 'border breacher' owner of Chapel Street bar as it collapses owing over $800,000

A once-popular cocktail bar on Melbourne 's iconic Chapel Street has closed its doors for good after it went bust owing more than $800,000 to creditors. Morris Jones, founded by restaurateur Hayden Burbank, officially entered insolvency on June 26 with Justin Howlett of SMB Advisory appointed as administrator. Morris Jones had announced its closure in March, calling the decision 'heartbreaking.' 'The hospitality industry is facing unprecedented challenges and it has become incredibly difficult to sustain business in this current climate,' the statement read. 'We are all deeply saddened by this situation. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal customers for their love and support over the journey.' Burbank, who rose to prominence for both his hospitality ventures and his public controversies, stepped back from daily operations in November 2021, resigning as a director of Bambou Restaurant Pty Ltd, the company behind the venue. His mother, Antoinette Burbank, is listed as the current director, while Hayden remains the sole shareholder. The collapse follows a string of challenges for Burbank, who in 2021 was given a suspended six-month jail sentence in Western Australia after faking documents to illegally travel to Perth during a Covid lockdown to watch the AFL Grand Final. Burbank is also known for his relationship with Married At First Sight star Belinda Vickers. The couple announced their engagement in February 2024. Their relationship blossomed after he spent 90 days behind bars at WA's maximum-security Hakea prison, which earned him the jailhouse nickname of 'border breacher'. Hayden described his experience at one of Australia's toughest jails as 'the ultimate game of Survivor'. 'You have to form alliances and not do anything stupid and get through each day by day,' he told the Saturday Herald Sun in March 2022. 'They are the longest days of your life. I'm not built for jail. Nobody is built for jail.' Hayden added he shared a cell with one of the prison's top dogs, a bikie, who would wake him up each morning and taunt: 'Border breacher, border breacher'. The restaurateur hosted a farewell party at the closed-down venue, which reportedly upset former staff who alleged they were owed unpaid wages. Financial records reveal the company owes $62,589 to the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and $8,681 in WorkCover liabilities. Several suppliers are also out of pocket, including Cambridge Cellars ($9,992), MRC Builders ($160,458), Hosp Management ($16,251), Moorabbin Marble & Granite ($15,675), Saunders Events ($15,739), and Kresta Blinds ($8,528). In addition to suppliers, several private investors are listed among the creditors. These include Andrew Murphy, owed $58,400, Brad Putzier, owed $60,000, and Daniel Barlow, owed $69,600. Despite Burbank taking a step back from day-to-day operations in 2021, he is listed as the only employee owed money from the company, with claims totalling $59,711 in unpaid wages and $30,289 in long service leave. The collapse follows a number of other Melbourne venues including Asian fusion restaurants Kekou and Klae. The venues in the inner-city suburb of Richmond entered liquidation earlier this year. The businesses had debts exceeding $1.3million, including an estimated $50,000 in unclaimed vouchers and $400,000 owed to the ATO.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store