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 liked that the bartenders would keep in mind our favourite drinks — each offered on linen serviette — and I realized what it was prefer to have a butler who polished my sneakers, 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 may promote me a snapshot later. There have been, in brief, not one of the annoyances you generally 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 at the 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 because of the outstanding, asymmetrical design of Silver Nova. This aesthetically pleasing alternative additionally allowed designers to remove most constructions 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 variety of stuff — points of interest, distractions, a variety of issues that hold your eyes busy,” defined Andrea Tonet, Silversea’s vice chairman of product technique. “We did the other, we eliminated every little thing that was not mandatory, each impediment, to create this unobstructed view of the ocean and the vacation spot.”  Because of this, I at all times felt like I had a transparent sense of being someplace whereas aboard. I gained a deeper sense of connection to my setting.

That mentioned, Silver Nova is on the bigger aspect, not less than amongst true luxurious ships, with area for 728 passengers. But it surely additionally has a capacious passenger-to-space ratio that lends the vessel a welcome openness.

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

The Staterooms

The all-suite Nova has 9 completely different stateroom layouts, beginning with commonplace veranda classes, which make up greater than 75 % of the ship’s lodging. These measure 301 sq. toes 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 loos are geared up 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 supplied by many 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. toes and every that includes an enormous wraparound balcony with personal sizzling tub. Because of the ship’s asymmetrical design, these balconies protrude in a approach that permits for 270-degree views.  

Bars and Eating places

Silversea’s culinary program is a degree of delight for the model. Atlantide is Nova’s de facto most important eating room, a good-looking venue that provides a collection of steaks, lobster, and caviar in an opulent, comfy 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, company may discover Dalmatian sardines marinated in lemon; alongside Central America you may encounter hearty escabeche.

La Terrazza’s menu options Italian specialties, with pasta made onboard, whereas Silver Observe is a swank supper membership, the place connoisseur tapas are served towards a backdrop of stay jazz. Positioned up high, 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 night time grill your personal chops.

Though Silversea is a largely inclusive cruise line, three of the eating places require a surcharge: La Dame does a collection 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 in regards to 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 out of doors terrace features a small hearth, a function I don’t recall seeing on every other cruise ship.  Additionally of notice is the Nightfall Bar, which sits aft on Deck 10 and is stocked with attention-grabbing spirits. (I discovered it to be a fantastic spot for sundown selfies.) The S.A.L.T. Bar was most likely my favourite spot, with sleek out of doors seating and a menu of surprising cocktails that includes quirky components cued to the ship’s regional itinerary. 

The place Silver Nova Sails

By way of early 2026, Silver Nova will summer time in Alaska and spend northern hemisphere winters in Australia and New Zealand, locations the place high 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 collection of each included and added-cost shore excursions are provided. In locations like Alaska, the included excursions cowl quite a lot of actions, from coach rides to scenic areas, whale watching, e-bike journeys, mountain 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 is predicated, or a non-public fishing and crabbing tour are among the many added-cost excursions. In Australia and New Zealand, add-on excursions embody a non-public automobile and information in most ports, Hunter Valley wineries by helicopter, and a tour of the Lord of the Rings filming places and Weta Studios. Different excursions are constructed across the S.A.L.T. program and centered on regional culinary angles, obtainable at further price.

Facilities and Leisure

Silver Nova’s asymmetrical design permits for an elegant, expansive pool deck — a grand whole of greater than 42,000 sq. toes throughout two decks. With that type 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 stunning S.A.L.T. Lab, an area that permits 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 particular vacation spot is your objective, search for the S.A.L.T. “stamp.”

Elsewhere, the Otium Spa has amongst its contains a steam room and indoor thermal pool with floor-to-ceiling sea views. There’s a health middle, 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. Just a few 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 children areas, Silver Nova was not designed for youngsters. However households who don’t want high-powered diversions to maintain kids engaged will discover a welcoming setting at sea and, throughout vacation durations, 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 will not be obtainable.

Accessibility

Public areas of Silver Nova, together with all eating places, bars, and the spa, are wheelchair accessible. Embarkation and disembarkation are additionally sometimes 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 provided with wider entrance doorways and acceptable paths of journey for wheelchairs, scooters, and different mobility tools, and every consists of an accessible toilet and bathe. All areas inside these suites are reachable with out the necessity for extra ramps, and options an accessible toilet with vainness and separate bathe.