This New Cruise Ship Has an Unprecedented Design, Elegant Suites, and ‘Quirky’ Cocktails

On my first journey with Silversea, greater than a decade in the past, I cooed over risotto flecked with gold leaf. I swooned when my husband and I had been serenaded by a jazz duo in an intimate supper membership. I beloved that the bartenders would keep in mind our favourite drinks — every one introduced on linen serviette — and I discovered what it was prefer to have a butler who polished my footwear, seeing that they had been sorely in want of a shine.

I additionally famous issues Silversea didn’t have. These bartenders didn’t hand me a invoice to signal, no palms had been out for a tip. There have been no pushy bulletins hawking excursions, buying lectures, or onboard artwork auctions, nor photographers plaintively begging for a pose so they might promote me a snapshot later. There have been, briefly, not one of the annoyances you typically discover on ships.

So once I boarded Silver Nova in 2023, I had a sense the ship could be outlined as a lot by what it didn’t have as by what it did. And, true to that Silversea DNA, I discovered that this vessel appeared to virtually disappear. As a substitute, the seagoing expertise blossomed, as my fellow passengers and I sighted islands and loved the weave of coastlines. Lots of right this moment’s most talked-about cruise ships work to focus our consideration inwards; Silver Nova, in contrast, reminds us to look out — and to understand the place we’re going.

This little bit of alchemy is all due to the exceptional, asymmetrical design of Silver Nova. This aesthetically pleasing alternative additionally allowed designers to remove most buildings on the higher decks, permitting the ocean and landscapes to inform their story. To take only one instance, the pool doesn’t sit on the ship’s centerline, as is widespread. As a substitute, it unspools alongside the starboard aspect, yielding an openness that’s unprecedented on a small cruise ship. 

“On the open decks of different ships you see a number of stuff — sights, distractions, a number of issues that preserve your eyes busy,” defined Andrea Tonet, Silversea’s vp of product technique. “We did the alternative, we eliminated the whole lot that was not mandatory, each impediment, to create this unobstructed view of the ocean and the vacation spot.”  Consequently, I all the time felt like I had a transparent sense of being someplace whereas aboard. I gained a deeper sense of connection to my surroundings.

That stated, Silver Nova is on the bigger aspect, no less than amongst true luxurious ships, with house for 728 passengers. However it additionally has a capacious passenger-to-space ratio that lends the vessel a welcome openness.

A ship of glass and curves, a want to deliver the locations to the visitor, and a chart marked for among the world’s most interesting locations — right here is my evaluate of Silversea’s Silver Nova.

The Staterooms

The all-suite Nova has 9 completely different stateroom layouts, beginning with customary veranda classes, which make up greater than 75 p.c of the ship’s lodging. These measure 301 sq. ft inside and have a subdued palette of gray and cappuccino tones. The 54-square-foot teak veranda is sufficiently big for 2 to take pleasure in a meal, and marble bogs are outfitted with a roomy bathe stall (many have each a full tub and separate bathe). All suites embody a walk-in closet, vainness desk, a big TV, and stocked minibar. A butler is on the market in any respect hours, and in-room eating is offered by a lot of the ship’s venues.

All through, Silversea’s customized mattresses are luxurious and sleep-inducing, with combed Egyptian cotton bedding by Milan’s Rivolta Carmignani. There’s a pillow menu, with feather/down blends, reminiscence foam, and two hypoallergenic choices, medium and agency.

Quite a lot of bigger suites can be found, however the star is a pair of Otium Suites, every spanning 1,324 sq. ft and every that includes an enormous wraparound balcony with personal scorching tub. Due to the ship’s asymmetrical design, these balconies protrude in a approach that enables for 270-degree views.  

Bars and Eating places

Silversea’s culinary program is some extent of pleasure for the model. Atlantide is Nova’s de facto foremost eating room, a good-looking venue that gives a choice of steaks, lobster, and caviar in a luxurious, snug setting. Subsequent door, the bold menu at S.A.L.T. Kitchen evolves by day, taking inspiration from the vacation spot wherein the ship is crusing.  For instance, on journeys to Croatia, visitors would possibly discover Dalmatian sardines marinated in lemon; alongside Central America you would possibly encounter hearty escabeche.

La Terrazza’s menu options Italian specialties, with pasta made onboard, whereas Silver Word is a swank supper membership, the place gourmand tapas are served in opposition to a backdrop of stay jazz. Situated up prime, the Marquee is capped by an ethereal, two-story pergola that dapples the venue with shade; views from each desk are virtually unimpeded.  Full breakfasts are served on the Marquee, and at lunch you’ll discover an al fresco rotisserie with salads, burgers, and Neapolitan-style pizzas; at evening grill your personal chops.

Though Silversea is a principally inclusive cruise line, three of the eating places require a surcharge: La Dame does a choice of French classics ($160 together with wine pairings), and Kaiseki has a full-on Asian menu ($40). S.A.L.T. Chef’s Desk has seating for as much as 24 diners, with 11-course tasting menus embellished with anecdotes concerning the historical past of every dish or signature ingredient ($180 together with wine and cocktail pairings).  

The ship has a number of bars, together with Panorama Lounge, a retreat discovered aboard all Silversea vessels. On Nova, the bar’s outside terrace features a small fire, a function I don’t recall seeing on some other cruise ship.  Additionally of word is the Nightfall Bar, which sits aft on Deck 10 and is stocked with attention-grabbing spirits. (I discovered it to be an awesome spot for sundown selfies.) The S.A.L.T. Bar was in all probability my favourite spot, with swish outside seating and a menu of bizarre cocktails that includes quirky elements cued to the ship’s regional itinerary. 

The place Silver Nova Sails

Via early 2026, Silver Nova will summer time in Alaska and spend northern hemisphere winters in Australia and New Zealand, locations the place prime deck views ought to show ceaselessly rewarding.  Within the spring and fall, because the ship transits between the 2 hemispheres, look ahead to voyages alongside the coasts of Asia, together with some circumnavigations of Japan.

Shore Excursions

On Nova, a choice of each included and added-cost shore excursions are supplied. In locations like Alaska, the included excursions cowl quite a lot of actions, from coach rides to scenic areas, whale watching, e-bike journeys, climbing, and kayaking. In Australia and New Zealand, choices embody kayaking within the Whitsunday Islands, a classic steam prepare journey close to Melbourne, and a Maori cultural expertise. 

In Alaska, helicopter journeys to a glacier the place a dog-sled camp relies, or a personal fishing and crabbing tour are among the many added-cost excursions. In Australia and New Zealand, add-on excursions embody a personal automotive and information in most ports, Hunter Valley wineries by helicopter, and a tour of the Lord of the Rings filming areas and Weta Studios. Different excursions are constructed across the S.A.L.T. program and targeted on regional culinary angles, accessible at further value.

Facilities and Leisure

Silver Nova’s asymmetrical design permits for an elegant, expansive pool deck — a grand whole of greater than 42,000 sq. ft throughout two decks. With that form of elbow room, there’s hardly a have to get up early to say a deck chair. The swimming pool sits near the starboard aspect, and the seating and elevated walkways round it create an amphitheater-like impact, with a backdrop that may go on for miles. To me, it felt like being at a supercool rooftop bar or cliff’s-edge resort — with a panorama that is ever altering.

Silversea’s S.A.L.T. ecosystem, which is on a number of of the road’s ships, deserves particular point out as an amenity, too. The acronym stands for Sea and Land Style, and describes quite a few food-focused experiences on and off the ship. A number of the core moments can be found on the beforehand talked about S.A.L.T. Bar, Kitchen, and Chef’s Desk; there’s additionally a beautiful S.A.L.T. Lab, an area that enables for hands-on culinary classes. The culinary programming extends to talks and demos held within the ship’s Venetian Lounge, in addition to on shore excursions branded as a part of S.A.L.T. Backside line, if deep-diving into the delicacies of a selected vacation spot is your purpose, search for the S.A.L.T. “stamp.”

Elsewhere, the Otium Spa has amongst its incorporates a steam room and indoor thermal pool with floor-to-ceiling sea views. There’s a health heart, and private trainers can be found for particular person or group periods.  The spacious Venetian Lounge spans two decks — a rarity on a smaller ship — with cabaret seating and tiered banquettes for music performances, film screenings, and different group packages. A couple of extra intimate areas embody the Connoisseur’s Nook, a cigar lounge and bar, and the small but pleasant library, tucked behind the Remark Lounge.  

Household-friendly Choices

With out devoted youngsters areas, Silver Nova was not designed for kids. However households who don’t want high-powered diversions to maintain kids engaged will discover a welcoming surroundings at sea and, throughout vacation intervals, probably different kids to socialize with. Silversea permits kids over the age of six months, so long as they’re accompanied by an grownup over the age of 21; babysitting companies are usually not accessible.

Accessibility

Public areas of Silver Nova, together with all eating places, bars, and the spa, are wheelchair accessible. Embarkation and disembarkation are additionally usually accessible, with a gangway that is flat sufficient to accommodate mobility gadgets; in ports the place stairs are concerned, crew members can present help. The vessel additionally retains some wheelchairs for visitor use.

Nova has braille/tactile public room signage, elevator buttons, staircase handrails, and stateroom numbers.  

The ship has six ADA accessible suites, on varied decks, within the Premium Veranda and Silver Suite classes. Every is supplied with wider entrance doorways and applicable paths of journey for wheelchairs, scooters, and different mobility tools, and every contains an accessible lavatory and bathe. All areas inside these suites are reachable with out the necessity for added ramps, and options an accessible lavatory with vainness and separate bathe.