Luxury cruising with Silversea - an upscale. upbeat, ultra floating experience

Last month I was very lucky to be invited, along with 11 other Travel Counsellors, to spend 4 nights on board Silversea’s newest luxury cruise ship, Silver Ray. It truly was a 6* experience. Silver Ray is the latest, and largest, of the Nova Class ship in the Silversea fleet. The feeling on board was one of space and light, with the ship never feeling busy, even though this cruise had its full complement of 728 guests on board. There are lots of open spaces, with extensive use of glass, to make the whole ship feel light and airy, with uninterrupted views in every direction, and the best elevators on the ocean. We boarded on Day One of an 11-night voyage from Athens to Venice, sailing on to Santorini and Corfu, before we disembarked in Kotor Montenegro. There was a lot of envy towards the lucky passengers still on board. This cruise is one of many offered by Silversea in Europe, the Caribbean, South Africa, Australasia, the Indian Ocean, Antarctica and beyond. Over 900 destinations on 7 continents. The common misconception that these ultra luxury cruises are only for the ‘old people’ was quickly blown out of the water, as there was an eclectic mix on board of young couples, older children and little babies, and more mature cruisers, all wanting to experience the best floating experiences From the moment you seamlessly check in and are handed your first glass of premium champagne, you immediately feel relaxed and pampered. We were allocated a Deluxe Ocean View Veranda Suite, with our own butler of course. These stylish suites are wonderfully equipped and perfectly laid out, with plenty of storage space, and a huge bathroom. The mini fridge is fully stocked with your preferred drinks of choice. Even a few cans of Guinness were not an issue. For the more romantic, you can also request a romantic spa experience in your own suite, with essential oils added to your showers and bath. Then there are the dining and bar options. Offering 8 amazing restaurants, from the casual Arts Café to the wonderful La Dame French restaurant, the vast array of delicious meals on offer is truly awesome. Sip your pre-dinner cocktail in one of the many bars around the ship, then dance the night away in the late-night disco. With their S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) programme, Silversea bring the flavours of your destination to your table. Whether that’s a Sicilian Feast, a rustic Tuscan lunch or, in our case, a delicious Montenegro inspired salad, the culinary flavours never disappoint. They even offer a cookery class to show you how it’s done. In particular, I would say our meal in Atlantide was easily on a par with any Michelin starred restaurant For the shore excursions, which are included in your cruise fare, there are always different options on offer in each port of call; whether you are looking for adventure, such as a white-water rafting trip, or something more sedate such as a simple city tour, there is usually something to please everyone. Our stops in Santorini and Corfu did not disappoint, with smooth transfers from ship to shore, with expertly led tours So, are Ultra Luxury cruises on Silversea value for money? Currently, you can book a 6 night cruise on Silver Spirit later this year from Athens, for £2,150 per person. That works out at £425 per person per day. Sounds expensive? Well, we recently had a weekend away in Wells in the UK, staying in a 4* hotel. Once you added in our meals, beverages, sightseeing and travel costs, that worked out at around £250 per person per day. However, we were not staying in a “6* suite” with our own butler, 24-hour dining and beverage options, in an array of stunning restaurants and bars. Also, we did not have the benefit of a fully equipped gym, swimming pools and hot tubs, attentive service from well-trained staff and, of course, shore excursions in every port. There are many ways to cruise, but sailing with Silversea on Silver Ray takes the experience to a whole new level. If you are looking for a truly luxurious cruise, with the highest standards, I can thoroughly recommend a cruise on Silversea, and I would be happy to plan your next voyage