The Silver Wind entered service in 1995 offering worldwide cruises for up to 296 passengers. Most of the passengers are American but many Europeans may be part of the international mix, depending on the itinerary. They are served by Italian officers and a European and Filipino crew of 210. Voyages on this very elegant 16,800-ton, 514-ft ship generally run from 7 to 16 days and cover the world's seas. The ship received a major refit during her winter 2002-2003 lay-up with all new soft furnishings and some added amenities to bring her in line with her newer and larger sisters. While Silversea ships make exotic calls aplenty, the ships are nevertheless destinations in themselves. Personal attention is among the best afloat, and the closest equivalents would be the smaller Seabourn trio and the larger Regent Seven Seas trio.
Silversea Cruises is Italian-family owned and got its start with the Silver Cloud in 1994. The Silver Wind followed two years later and the larger Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper in 2000 and 2001. Larger tonnage is under construction.
The clientele consists of affluent, mainly mature couples and singles often traveling as pairs, attracted by most of the amenities of a big ship and the elegance of a small one. The ship is English-speaking, and nearly all the non-North American passengers are conversant. On some of the more exotic cruises, Europans combined with Australians outnumber the Americans. All gratuities are included and nothing more is expected, though regular passengers add something, especially for extra in-suite services.
The ship's 7- to 16-day itineraries are based in Northern Europe in the summer. She angles down to the Caribbean in the fall and on to circumnavigating South America via the Panama Canal and Central America for the winter. In the spring, she heads back across the Atlantic to cruise the Mediterranean and up to Northern Europe to come full circle. Cruises often include overnights in ports, allowing two full days ashore for more comprehensive touring inland.
Italian-owned, -built and -decorated, this ship is designed so that all public rooms lie aft and all cabins are forward to ensure quiet and vibration-free living. The only sound may come from the anchor being lowered or raised in tender ports. Public rooms are spacious and handsomely decorated in soft pastels with some colorful Murano glass fixtures. The show lounge is a multitiered show room for party gathrings, films, special-interest and enrichment programs, and often excellent cabaret entertainment. The casino has blackjack and roulette tables and slot machines. The bar one deck above the dining room is the principal rendezvous at any time of day, and side passages lead forward directly to the show lounge's lowest level. A combo provides dance music before and after dinner. The Panorama Lounge serves drinks from 11 am on, hosting tea accompanied by unobtrusive music in the afternoon. A card and conference room, a smart boutique and jewelry shop, a library with books, DVDs and videos, and a separate six-position computer center are onboard. Internet access rates are moderate if hours are bought in bulk. The lido deck offers a heated outdoor pool, two whirlpools and bar and food menu service, and the fitness center offers an exercise room and state-of-the-art machines in a relocated oceanview space formerly occupied by the domed forward observation lounge on the highest deck. The men's and women's saunas and steam rooms, beauty treatments, and a variety of massages remain on Deck 7, and next door a new Tranquility Room offers a soothing place to relax before or after treatments. A beauty salon adjoins. Bridge instruction and tournaments and board games are popular, and the concierge books rental cars, and golf and tennis outings.
The main restaurant can accommodate all passengers at once for three meals a day with open seating. The menus are creative and poured wines are complimentary. A new 40-seat alternative Italian restaurant, Saletta, is located in a separate fin-de-siecle space next to the main dining room. It is open for dinner only with reservations required. La Terrazza is a sophisticated buffet alternative for breakfast and lunch, with ample seating indoors and out under an awning with views over the wake. At night, there are regional Italian dinners with reservations taken.
All accommodations are classified as suites and of the 148 total, 110 have private balconies, most typically furnished with cushioned white plastic chairs and teak-wood decks. The smallest dimenions are 240 sq ft for the veranda-less Vista Suites while the owner's suite measures a whopping 1,314 sq ft. The Silver Suites may offer the best value with an L-shaped lounge and dining area and the bedroom either curtained off or open to the natural light. All accommodations have sitting areas with full-size sofas, two comfortable chairs, and cocktail tables that can be raised for in-room service. All furnish desks, vanity tables, TVs with VCR or DVD players, personalized stationery, stocked minibars, fresh fruit, walk-in closets, and marble baths with hair dryers, robes and slippers.
The all-inclusive price tag may be high but for Silversea passengers, the package is a considerable draw.
