When Silver Nova arrives in Australia later this year, she will join a handful of glamorous new ocean and expedition ships here for the season. Among her impressive ‘first-for-Silversea features’ are a totally new layout, the Otium spa experience and eco-friendly operating systems.
At long last, luxury cruisers are seeing some outstanding new ships sailing in local waters. Last year Scarlet Lady was the newest ship to make a maiden voyage Down Under (what a shame she reneged on plans to return for another season).
Just the other week, Sydney and Newcastle gave Scenic Eclipse II welcomes worthy of a global rock star, and hoving into view soon will be Seabourn Pursuit and Silver Nova (all three uber-luxe vessels launched last year).
Like Scenic Eclipse II, Seabourn Pursuit will sail a season in the Kimberley. Among many other ultra-luxe facilities and amenities, both ships carry mini-submarines and Scenic Eclipse II also has two sexy helicopters onboard.
The slightly larger, 728-guest and 554-crew classic ocean ship Silver Nova is cruising between Australia and New Zealand from November 2024 until February 2025. Although she doesn’t sport high-end expedition toys, she is the first vessel in Silversea’s Nova class (Silver Ray is the second, due to set sail in the Mediterranean in June this year) and there’s a lot to explore.
Asymmetrical design
Silver Nova’s most radical new feature is her entire design and structure. Most luxury ships, including the other 10 in the Silversea fleet, are designed with suites at the front of the ship and public areas at the back.
Silver Nova is built on a horizonal layout, meaning that suites run the entire length of the ship on four decks, and public spaces – including the main pool and new Marquee restaurant – are oriented towards the ocean, or port or destination you’re visiting.
The pool illustrates the cleverness of the design. It is completely open on one side, so there’s nothing between you and the sea – apart from the glass railing, of course. On most cruise ships, the pool is set in the middle of the deck, surrounded by walkways and stairways to the deck above.
On the same deck as the pool on the opposite (port) side is The Marquee, an open-air affair which also benefits from the asymmetrical design that emphasises openness and light throughout the ship.
The three-deck atrium is also off centre and light floods through vast glass walls. Even the elevators are different – set in glass pillars on the sides of the ship, they provide hypnotic views.
Another first for Silversea is Silver Nova’s aft-facing suites. These include two enormous Otium Suites – at 123 square metres, they are the biggest on the ship. The balconies alone measure 40 square metres and have their own whirlpool.
Otium suites guests are entitled to a complimentary Otium spa treatment worth US$399 per person, based on double occupancy; however, all Silver Nova’s guests benefit from the Otium in-suite experience.
Wellness at sea
The wellness industry is a massive money-spinner worldwide. According to McKinsey & Company’s 2024 Future of Wellness survey, it is worth US$1.8 trillion. Luxury cruise lines have been catering to the demand for ever-evolving fitness and mindfulness programs, personal training classes, lavish spa treatments and medi-spa tweaks for many years, but Silversea’s Otium spa experience takes it to another level.
What exactly is the Otium (or Otivum) experience? According to Silversea, it is inspired by the Ancient Roman principle of combining leisure and pleasure for the elite. It’s all about indulgence and pampering rather than punishing gym workouts – think Champagne and caviar in the spa while you await a therapeutic massage.
In the words of Barbara Muckermann, President of Silversea until last month: “Otium is unlike any other wellness program; it aligns perfectly with our brand positioning and will weave a tapestry of unprecedented comfort around our guests.
“It will revolve around instant gratification, extending the luxurious pampering for which Silversea is famous to different areas of the ship, from guests’ suites to the redesigned spa area and beyond.”
Otium spa and in-suite amenities
Silver Nova’s Otium spa and in-suite experience is an enhanced version of the concept that debuted on Silver Dawn in 2022.
Set on Deck 5 with an indoor relaxation pool that overlooks the ocean, the spa features elegant, Roman bath-style décor, a thermal suite with steam and sauna rooms, eight treatment rooms, a relaxation area and an extensive menu of treatments.
Nearby the spa you’ll find the fitness centre and beauty salon. The fitness centre has all the latest Technogym equipment and various classes are held there. The beauty salon offers hair treatments, mani-pedis and barber services.
As mentioned earlier, the Otium experience extends to in-suite services, and not just in the superstar Otium Suites.
For example, showers come with steamers that offer a choice of essential oils, and gorgeous bathroom products are ethically sourced and presented in refillable containers. If there’s a bathtub in your suite, your butler will draw your bath, offering a range of bespoke bath salts, gourmet delicacies to sample while you soak, and a curated playlist for the ultimate in relaxing background sounds.
Eco-credentials
Silver Nova was designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Powered by a combination of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fuel cells and batteries, Silversea says she is the first hybrid luxury cruise ship.
It’s a welcome move; we all need cruising in all categories to improve their environmental performance and more lines are stepping up. Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot, launched in 2021, is a hybrid luxury ship that happens to be an icebreaker; Hurtigruten introduced the first hybrid electric expedition ship in 2019 with MS Roald Amundsen and now has five hybrid ships in the fleet.
The sustainable features of Silver Nova (and all future Nova-class ships) include a micro auto gasification system, which reduces onboard waste volume, resulting in lower incineration emissions. Shore power allows the ship to shut down its main generators at select ports and plug into the onshore energy supply, thereby cutting onboard local emissions to zero.
Overall, the hydrodynamic ship design and optimised innovation technology help lessen the ship’s impact on environment.
It’s not long until Silver Nova arrives and two-suite upgrades and $1000 shipboard credit are available for bookings made by 31 May, 2024.
For more information visit silversea.com
