Silversea Cruises

What sailing with Silversea is actually like

Silversea occupies a very particular place in the world of cruising: the ships are small enough that you recognise faces by day two, the fares include almost everything you would otherwise pay extra for, and the destinations stretch from the temples and bullet-train cities of Japan to the ice-clad inlets of the Arctic and Antarctic. If you have cruised with a larger line before and wondered what it would feel like with fewer crowds, more attentive service and a genuine sense that the voyage is the point — not just the ship — Silversea is the answer to that question.

The onboard atmosphere

Life on board is unhurried. The Panorama Lounge runs from morning coffee to a late-evening drink with live music that shifts from gentle piano to a DJ set as the night moves on. The Dolce Vita bar, with its daily piano soundtrack, is where pre-dinner aperitivi become long conversations. The Observation Lounge — positioned at the ship’s highest point — is the place for quiet reading with uninterrupted ocean views. In the evenings, the Venetian Lounge hosts theatre and cabaret in an elegant auditorium. None of this carries a cover charge; it is part of what you have already paid for.

The S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Taste) programme is Silversea’s most distinctive idea: the menus, the cocktails at the S.A.L.T. Bar and the hands-on cooking classes in the S.A.L.T. Lab all shift to reflect the ports you are visiting. Arrive in Japan and the Kaiseki restaurant serves miso-glazed halibut and Wagyu teriyaki; cross to the Mediterranean and S.A.L.T. Kitchen pivots to locally sourced regional dishes paired with over 160 regional wines — included at no extra charge. La Dame offers French haute cuisine by reservation, and the eleven-course S.A.L.T. Chef’s Table creates an intimate culinary theatre for a small group each evening.

Who Silversea suits

Silversea works best for travellers who want the world’s more remote and rewarding destinations without sacrificing comfort — and who would rather pay one price than manage a running tab at sea. Couples marking a significant occasion, solo travellers who value a sociable but never overwhelming atmosphere, and experienced cruisers stepping up from premium lines all find the style suits them. The voyages range from seven nights to 150 nights, so there is space for a focused fortnight in the British Isles or an epic grand voyage that threads through multiple continents.

Expedition voyages are a category of their own. The Silver Endeavour is purpose-built for the planet’s most extreme latitudes, with a hull rated for polar conditions and expedition staff who provide genuine expertise in the field — not just commentary from the bridge. The Silver Origin operates exclusively in the Galápagos Islands. If expedition travel interests you, our expedition cruise page brings together everything currently on sale.

Where the ships sail

The current programme reaches an exceptionally broad spread of the world. Japan is one of the most popular regions, with sailings operating in and out of Tokyo, and Silversea’s port-responsive dining makes it a particularly rewarding destination to approach by sea. The Mediterranean — both western and eastern — sails from Athens (Piraeus), Rome (Civitavecchia), Venice, Barcelona, Nice and Monte Carlo. Norway and the Baltic Sea make up the northern European programme, while South America and the Caribbean extend the reach into the western hemisphere. For Australians, sailings depart from Sydney and Melbourne — for those close to either port, that means no international flight at all, or at most a short domestic hop from another state. The majority of Silversea departures are overseas: for those, Cruise1st can put the flights, hotel nights either side and all transfers together as a single Cruise1st Package, so nothing falls through the gaps between separate bookings.

Silversea also sails dedicated Australian itineraries, making it straightforward to experience the line’s all-inclusive luxury without leaving this part of the world. From Sydney, there are also sailings heading into the South Pacific and towards New Zealand — ideal for those who want a luxury first Silversea experience close to home before committing to a longer international voyage.

Choosing the right ship

The fleet spans traditional ultra-luxury yachts and newer purpose-designed ships. The Silver Nova and its sister Silver Ray carry the full S.A.L.T. programme, the fleet’s largest pool with 270-degree ocean views, and The Cliff Whirlpool — an infinity-edge spa tub that appears to spill into the horizon. The Silver Dawn carries the same dining philosophy in a refined, intimate setting. If you want to compare cabins and deck layouts before deciding, each ship has its own cabins and deck plan pages: see the Silver Nova cabin grades, the Silver Dawn deck plans or the Silver Ray cabin options to start narrowing things down.

Why book with Cruise1st

Cruise1st offers a Best Price Guarantee on every Silversea sailing we sell, and our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week — so you can talk to a specialist before you commit to a voyage of this calibre. Sailings start from A$5,200pp*, and whatever ship or itinerary you land on, we will help you choose the cabin grade and the fare inclusions that suit your circumstances, and put your whole holiday on one booking.