Luxury travel advisors, Robyn and Murray Sinfield of Home Travel Company recently travelled from Rome to Barcelona on one of Silversea’s newest ships, Silver Ray. Read Robyn’s impression in this exclusive review about this stunning ship for Karryon Luxury.
There’s something special about the smell of new leather or carpet and that’s what Silversea’s ship Silver Ray is like. Built in 2024 and launched in August, this ship is a significant departure in design for Silversea, the second in the Nova class.
We are here to work and play as hosts to Virtuoso, a global group of clients looking forward to this 12-night Med cruise, an easy itinerary with only one new port Tunisia.
Home away from home
When you step on board Silver Ray, you’ll immediately feel at home in The Shelter Lounge. Adorned with contemporary colours, it exudes a welcoming atmosphere and is an ideal spot to settle in and start your luxurious journey.
There are 363 cabins/suites, six are wheelchair-accessible cabins. Accessible public restrooms are throughout the ship. The largest suites are the Otium Suites on decks six and seven. These have 270-degree views. Our lead-in suite (6016) is spacious and very comfortable with excellent lighting and a walk-in wardrobe.
The marble bathroom has a spacious shower and Bvlgari amenities (on request). The main area has a full-size couch with a moveable dining table and a generous work area, (which we need and love).
There are also plenty of charging points both power supply and USB and loads of drawers in the work desk for personal items to be stored ‘off the desk’. The ship is amazingly bright bringing the outside in everywhere.
In-suite, iPads and interactive televisions keep us informed of every detail, from shore excursions and spa bookings to daily menus. Additionally, you can download an app and stay in the loop poolside or ashore.
Much simpler now is the dress code which is published daily, either elegant casual or formal. Formal means a jacket for a man after 6pm… so no ties and no dress up, unless you want to.
Dining
After we were greeted with French champagne, Douval le Roy, we were given directions to either the buffet in La Terraza, or the pool grill for lunch. La Terraza has a dazzling view.
Dining reservations don’t need to be made, but they are highly encouraged for the evenings when it’s Italian fare. And, take my word for it, sit alfresco – it’s best whether at sea or port with plenty of tables and shade. A nice way to while away the few hours before the suites are ready at 2pm.
There are eight dining venues. S.A.L.T Kitchen is popular where the menu is about the destination, such as Terrain which features local recipes and flavours. Others include La Dame which has a cover charge of USD$160 pp and Kaiseki which is USD$80 per person and reservations are necessary.
The main dining room is Atlantide and serves as a classic steakhouse. This is where you’ll enjoy most of your dinners, and the best part is that it doesn’t require reservations or additional charges.
While the breakfast menu remains consistent, the lunch and dinner menus change daily, offering various delicious options. We love the opulence of the restaurant for lunch where the service is good and you eat less than a buffet!
The Marquee is a nice spot on deck 10 which offers a relaxed dining space that transforms into a grill in the evening. There is no extra charge, it’s near the pool area and by day it serves comfort food like pizza, casual bites, and fish and chips. By night the filet mignon or the skewered king prawns are most popular.
Chefs Table (at USD$180pp) was the pinnacle of our trip, just eight of us enjoying an 11-course degustation with paired wines and other aperitifs.
Silversea cruises are inclusive of cocktails, beers, wine, champagne, and all non-alcoholic beverages so it’s easy to find that comfy bar you prefer like the open-air Dusk bar, ideal for a sunset drink – although on this Rome to Barcelona autumn cruise that means having a tipple before 5pm as the sun sets early!
Spaces to relax
For those who prefer a quieter space, the ship offers numerous nooks to curl up with a good book, and a charming library where you can sit with a coffee. You just have to look for the ‘Harry Potter’ door to get into the library from the Observation Lounge, deck 10.
The Panorama Lounge is a versatile gem, ideal for any time of day. During the day, it’s a peaceful haven for relaxation, but by night, it transforms into a lively bar with the best bartenders onboard. If you enjoy a well-crafted drink, this is the place to be.
The Observation Lounge is a cosy retreat with a breathtaking 270-degree view from the ship’s top. With floor-to-ceiling windows and a calming colour palette inspired by the sea, it’s the perfect intimate space for guests to sit back, relax, and soak in the panoramic views and the place where we hold our cocktail party.
Wellbeing
The Otivm Spa offers a variety of treatments, from manicures to massages, providing a luxurious escape on board. The Gym or fitness centre is large and spacious, equipped with a wide range of equipment to meet all your fitness needs.
Dance and exercise classes and a convenient refillable water station are also available to keep you hydrated. The expansive pool and sundecks have so much room if every guest onboard chose to head there, they would have six square metres of personal space each. As a result of this design, sailing on Silver Ray felt more akin to being in a seafront hotel, rather than on a ship, nowhere more so than when by the pool.
With a welcoming beach club vibe, the swimming pool is offset to the side directing views outwards to sea, or over port, and gives space for a sociable central bar. It really did feel like the trendiest hotel rooftop.
There is also an infinity whirlpool offering views over the ship’s side. Our steward told us there were more than 280 sun beds on the pool deck and deck 11 is ideal for peaceful sunbaking away from the crowds (although a ship the size of this there are no crowds!!). For this faded redhead there is also plenty of sheltered spots to relax.
Entertainment
There are some touches of elegance in the evenings with the entertainment in the Venetian Lounge, as it has a mezzanine level which ensures the best seats in the house. There are enrichment lectures and other events that happen here, all listed in the daily program Chronicles.
If you like a flutter then you can head to the Casino on deck 5 and a little retail therapy.
You can watch your own entertainment via Wi-Fi with two devices free of charge and it’s not inexpensive to upgrade to the premium Wi-Fi. Here you pay per device so one device on fast connectivity is USD$240.
A wrap
The Hotel Director, Robert Moik was great at checking on how things were going, and very attentive and responsive. He has been at sea for a very long time and has a quite gentle approach to the management of his team.
Room Service breakfasts were timely and hot. Disembarkation was a simple process, bags out by 11pm and leave suite by 8am, and off ship if independent by 9.45am.
We cannot say in any way did we feel Silversea has been royalised: every aspect was like the Silversea of old, in fact we found it to be very personalised and just like the Silversea of old.
For more information, visit Silversea.
The writer was working onboard Silver Ray, hosting Global Virtuoso Guests on a Virtuoso Voyages cruise.
