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 have been serenaded by a jazz duo in an intimate supper membership. I liked that the bartenders would keep in mind our favourite drinks — every one offered on linen serviette — and I realized what it was wish to have a butler who polished my footwear, seeing that they have 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 have been out for a tip. There have been no pushy bulletins hawking excursions, procuring 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 generally discover on ships.

So after I boarded Silver Nova in 2023, I had a sense the ship can 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 present’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 exceptional, asymmetrical design of Silver Nova. This aesthetically pleasing alternative additionally allowed designers to eradicate 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 frequent. As a substitute, it unspools alongside the starboard facet, yielding an openness that’s unprecedented on a small cruise ship. 

“On the open decks of different ships you see a whole lot of stuff — sights, distractions, a whole lot of issues that maintain your eyes busy,” defined Andrea Tonet, Silversea’s vp of product technique. “We did the other, we eliminated all the things that was not crucial, each impediment, to create this unobstructed view of the ocean and the vacation spot.”  Consequently, 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 atmosphere.

That mentioned, Silver Nova is on the bigger facet, at the very least amongst true luxurious ships, with area for 728 passengers. Nevertheless it additionally has a capacious passenger-to-space ratio that lends the vessel a welcome openness.

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

The Staterooms

The all-suite Nova has 9 totally 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 outfitted with a roomy bathe stall (many have each a full tub and separate bathe). All suites embrace 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 non-public scorching tub. Because of the ship’s asymmetrical design, these balconies protrude in a manner that permits for 270-degree views.  

Bars and Eating places

Silversea’s culinary program is a degree of pleasure for the model. Atlantide is Nova’s de facto essential eating room, a good-looking venue that gives a number of steaks, lobster, and caviar in a luxurious, comfy setting. Subsequent door, the bold menu at S.A.L.T. Kitchen evolves by day, taking inspiration from the vacation spot during which the ship is crusing.  For instance, on journeys to Croatia, visitors 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 Be aware is a swank supper membership, the place connoisseur tapas are served towards a backdrop of dwell jazz. Positioned 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 individual chops.

Though Silversea is a principally inclusive cruise line, three of the eating places require a surcharge: La Dame does a number 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 outside terrace features a small hearth, a function I don’t recall seeing on every other cruise ship.  Additionally of word is the Nightfall Bar, which sits aft on Deck 10 and is stocked with fascinating spirits. (I discovered it to be an excellent 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 surprising cocktails that includes quirky substances cued to the ship’s regional itinerary. 

The place Silver Nova Sails

By means of 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 number 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 embrace kayaking within the Whitsunday Islands, a classic steam practice trip 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 personal fishing and crabbing tour are among the many added-cost excursions. In Australia and New Zealand, add-on excursions embrace a personal automobile 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 centered on regional culinary angles, accessible at further value.

Facilities and Leisure

Silver Nova’s asymmetrical design permits for a classy, expansive pool deck — a grand complete of greater than 42,000 sq. toes throughout two decks. With that sort of elbow room, there’s hardly a must get up early to say a deck chair. The swimming pool sits near the starboard facet, 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. Among 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 purpose, 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 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 applications. Just a few extra intimate areas embrace the Connoisseur’s Nook, a cigar lounge and bar, and the small but pleasant library, tucked behind the Commentary 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 atmosphere at sea and, throughout vacation intervals, presumably 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 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 provided with wider entrance doorways and applicable paths of journey for wheelchairs, scooters, and different mobility gear, and every consists of an accessible lavatory and bathe. All areas inside these suites are reachable with out the necessity for extra ramps, and options an accessible lavatory with vainness and separate bathe.