In these days of ever-expanding megaships, with thousands of passengers pouring off at each port, there’s something to be said about the more personal and intimate aspects of small-ship cruising. The 540-passenger, all-suite Silver Spirit is just a year old and is the first new ship for ultra-luxury line Silversea Cruises since 2001. While Spirit is the biggest ship in the Silversea fleet it still offers the familiar layout of the line’s other vessels and maintains the line’s hallmark of high customer satisfaction.

Luxury lure

Anticipating a cruise onboard Silver Spirit is a bit like going back to see an old friend. The last time I spent significant time on the Spirit was to report on the vessel’s sea trials in late 2009 while it was still under construction in Italy. I know the Spirit inside and out, but I was curious to see how it functioned with passengers. I’ve always believed you don’t really know a cruise ship until you experience it with a full load of passengers.

Fast forward to December, 2010 and I am in Barbados sipping a flute of champagne while being escorted to my suite by tuxedoed staff. My butler Karthik asks if I would like my luggage unpacked and if I need anything else. I decline and decide to savor the champagne from my deck and admire the azure blue Caribbean sea. Talk about being spoiled!

Cruise lines can build great ships, but if they don’t have a great crew everything suffers. On Silversea the devil is in the details and even the smallest details are remembered by crew. For example, my nightly drink preferences at Connoisseur’s Corner were always remembered by the bar’s attendant, Ricardo. Ricardo is the epitome of the type of crewmember you will find at Silversea – seasoned and highly polished in the art of service etiquette. Prior to working for Silversea he plied the waters as a crewmember for Sitmar Cruises and Royal Viking. He says Silversea is one of the few lines left that truly values highly personalize service. “That’s what luxury cruising should be,” he says. Indeed this sybaritic ship is all about surrounding oneself in luxury, fine dining, and like-minded travelers on a quest for new horizons.

Loyal Silversea customers, who on any given voyage can total more than 40 percent of the passengers, are very discriminating. Known as Venetian Society members this group knows and demands luxury. One crew member told me when the Spirit first came out it took some ‘Venetians’ time to get used to the bigger ship. Some Silversea aficionados are split on the preference between the line’s smaller ships and the Spirit. A business titan from the Midwest, who was marking his 300th day cruising on Silversea, told me he likes the Silver Spirit best because it has amazing new features, but his wife prefers the Silver Cloud for its ‘coziness’. Another couple I met was on their first Silversea cruise and immediately fell in love with Silversea and the Silver Spirit. The couple, who are long time Regent Seven Sea Cruises customers, quickly realized Silversea offered them more of what they were looking for and now insisted that nothing but Silversea would suffice.

European roots

One way Silversea has decided to keep posh factor high is to stick to its European roots in ambiance, dining, and amenities. The ship’s 270 suites range in size from 312 to 1,668 square feet (95 percent with balconies) and passengers lack for nothing in these suites. There is a menu of eight pillows to choose from, a selection of room scents from Laura Tonatto, a choice of Bvlgari or Ferragamo toiletries, and never ending bottles of Pommery Champagne and boxes of Pierre Marcolini chocolates. And, every suite comes with a butler who will not only unpack your suitcase but clean and freshen it as well.

The Art Deco décor is understated and evokes a comfortable atmosphere. Vintage nautical photos decorate the walls and plush chairs and sitting areas are everywhere inviting guests to linger. Indeed they do — passengers gather at all hours to drink Bellinis or cappuccinos or just to relax to soothing musical entertainment. Deck space onboard is expansive with numerous comfortable lounge areas affording shade or sun allowing guests to choose their al fresco preferences.

The Spa at Silversea takes things to another level offering a medi-spa and Oriental Medicine Program with onboard physician. At 8,300 square feet it is the largest in the fleet and features a beauty salon, fitness center, nine spa treatment rooms, two sauna rooms and two steam rooms. The spa also debuts a Thermal Suite, an exclusive spa area furnished with heated lounge chairs along with a private Hammam Chamber (Turkish bath), where guests can customize their scrub treatments. In addition, The Spa offers an outdoor relaxation area with expansive aft sea views and comes equipped with plush loungers and large whirlpool allowing spa lovers a place to relax pre- and post-treatment.

Epicurean delight

Perhaps the highlight onboard Silver Spirit is the culinary delights in the six restaurants. The line has a partnership with Relais & Châteaux; the only cruise line afforded the honor. The line’s staple restaurants are here including The Restaurant, which offers 21 menus from International classics to inventions made on the ship. La Terrazza is the heritage of Silversea and offers freshly made pasta with ingredients flown in from Italy. The Pool Grille offers spa and quick fare and in the evening is transformed into the fun Hot Rock Grill. This al fresco dining experience is the most relaxed on the ship. This is a cook-it-yourself affair, where you grill your own meat or seafood on hot volcanic stones. I ordered the Filet Mignon, accompanied by lobster, grilling both myself. To make the job easy, the meats are seared before being delivered, still sizzling, to the table.

Le Champagne is highlight of the line’s association with Relais & Châteaux where for $30 guests can indulge in a six-course menu and for an additional $200 sample the wine pairing offerings. Seishin carries a $40 cover charge for the 11-course degustation menu that includes such specialties as Beluga caviar sorbet, sushi, sashimi, carpaccio of king scallops and more. Seishin’s main feature is the rounded and centered food prep station known as la table du chef where guests can watch the chef at work sculpting fresh sushi and sashimi. Adding premium Sakes to the degustation menu is an additional $40 per person, while the wine pairing menu goes for $200 per person each.

Stars Supper Club is a truly special place and was packed every night during the cruise. The venue is modeled after the Rainbow Room and is more than dining, it’s food-entertainment. The ambiance is jazzy and offers a bite size tasting menu encompassing flavors from around the world. Indeed you could make a meal here if you order all 20 tastings. The live jazz singer who works the room makes this venue an unforgettable experience.

The art of doing whatever you want

Cruising is as much about the journey as about the destination. My favorite part of the voyage was staying on the ship and savoring the art of doing nothing. I’ve been to every island in the Caribbean and I didn’t feel guilty about not going ashore. The Spirit is big enough where every day I was stumbling on undiscovered nooks and crannies to relax in. Truth be told, I spent much of my time in my suite, a place so wonderful and comfortable I didn’t want to leave. I passed entire afternoons on the veranda, lolling on the wicker lounges and watching the Caribbean slide by. Of course I took occasional breaks to check on e-mail, work out in the fitness center, or to order room service that offered everything on the daily restaurant menus.

Ultimately, the real luxury of Spirit, though, is its focus on keeping the traditional cruise experience alive and highly refined. As we pull out of Grenada I hear a couple laughing at the pool bar. The woman points over to the gigantic cruise ship docked next to Silver Spirit. “We will never go back to that again.” Indeed you don’t really know a cruise ship until its being enjoyed by passengers and Silver Spirit is certainly living up to all its passenger’s expectations.

If you go:

Silver Spirit plies the waters of the Mediterranean in the spring and summer months, and the Caribbean and South America in late fall and winter. Prices for 7-day voyages begin at $3,518. Visit Silversea Cruises Website for more details.

Further reading:
Silver Spirit takes on the seas
It’s early September as I arrive at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard in Trieste, Italy. Dawn is breaking and the winds are howling down from the mountains. Hundreds of yard workers, vendor specialists, technicians, and Silversea Cruises employees are gathered on the pier to board the Silver Spirit. There’s excitement in the air as the ship is going out for sea trials.

By Anita Dunham-Potter (editor@www.expertcruiser.com)

© www.expertcruiser.com – Your online consumer guide for cruise travel and information.

“Champagne?” the tuxedoed waiter asks, “Yes, that would wonderful,” I reply. I have just boarded the brand-new Silver Spirit in Monte Carlo for its first sailing with passengers. The moment is surreal and a far cry from my previous voyage a few months earlier during Silver Spirit’s sea trials when the vessel was still under construction and where instead of champagne I shared breakfast pizza and espressos with the shipyard workers onboard.

I look around and I smile, long gone are the unfinished walls, protective covers of plastic and plywood — the ship has truly morphed into the beautiful Art Deco masterpiece it was designed to be.

Luxury lure

The 540-passenger, all-suite vessel is the first newbuild for ultra-luxury line Silversea Cruises since 2001, and it brings the Silversea fleet to a total of six vessels. “Silver Spirit is an evolution of what Silversea is all about,” says Amerigo Perasso, Silversea’s president and CEO. Perasso said that the larger vessel enables the line to create longer itineraries and offer more dining and entertainment options.

The economic waters may be choppy, but for Silversea it’s smooth sailing. The line is reporting its highest bookings ever, which is due to the surprising global demand in luxury cruising. Loyal Silversea customers, who on any given voyage can total more than 40 percent of the passengers, have been the driving force in heavy bookings, particularly for Silver Spirit. The other big factor in the line’s success is its heavy international exposure. Perasso says the make-up of the guests is truly international. “No one nationality dominates, it’s a mixture,” he says.

European roots

As we sail off from Monaco into the stormy Mediterranean the ship cuts through the water like a knife and the stability is impressive given the gale force winds. While Spirit is the biggest ship in the Silversea fleet it is still small and has the familiar layout of the line’s other vessels. But, it’s the ship’s classic Art Deco grace of the 20s and 30s that stands out – this is a ship Greta Garbo would have loved to sail on.

The Restaurant, aka the main dining room, evokes an understated, but comfortable atmosphere. Aptly named, The Bar and adjacent lobby is a multi-use area and is the heart of the ship. Vintage nautical photos decorate the walls and plush chairs and sitting areas are everywhere inviting guests to linger. Indeed they do — Passengers gather at all hours to drink Bellinis or cappuccinos or just to relax to soothing musical entertainment. Deck space onboard is expansive with numerous comfortable lounge areas affording shade or sun allowing guests to choose their al fresco preferences.

The 36,009-ton vessel offers 270 suites that range in size from 312 to 1,668 square feet (95 percent with balconies). All suites offer nifty technological advances including two large flat-panel televisions hidden behind mirrors and iPod docking stations.

Guests lack for nothing in these suites. There is a menu of eight pillows to choose from, a selection of room scents from Laura Tonatto, a choice of Bvlgari or Ferragamo toiletries, and never ending bottles of Pommery Champagne and boxes of Pierre Marcolini chocolates. And, every suite comes with a butler who will not only unpack your suitcase but clean and freshen it as well. “It’s all about highly personalized service that’s what luxury is all about,” said Ken Watson, Silversea’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

The Spa at Silversea takes things to another level. At 8,300 square feet it is the largest in the fleet and features a beauty salon, fitness center, nine spa treatment rooms, two sauna rooms and two steam rooms. The spa also debuts a Thermal Suite, an exclusive spa area furnished with heated lounge chairs along with a private Hammam Chamber (Turkish bath), where guests can customize their scrub treatments. In addition, The Spa offers an outdoor relaxation area with expansive aft sea views and comes equipped with plush loungers and large whirlpool allowing spa lovers a place to relax pre- and post-treatment.

Among the new spa treatments and services is the medi-spa offering a selection of physician-administered facial treatments using such popular wrinkle-reducing agents as BOTOX Cosmetic and the dermal fillers Restylane and Perlane. Guests can consult with the medi-spa physician on board to determine a personalized treatment plan. There’s also a new Oriental Medicine Program, which offers acupuncture therapy and Chinese herbal supplements.

Epicurean delight

Perhaps the highlight onboard Silver Spirit is the culinary delights in the six restaurants. The line is celebrating its 10th anniversary partnership with Relais & Châteaux; the only cruise line afforded the honor. “This is a pillar of our culinary experience — to be precise and genuine,” says Rudi Scholdis, Silversea’s culinary director. He added that the line’s mix of guests and 423 ports visited is part of the culinary offerings.

The line’s staple restaurants are here including The Restaurant, which offers 21 menus from International classics to inventions made on the ship. La Terrazza is the heritage of Silversea and offers freshly made pasta with ingredients flown in from Italy. The Pool Grille offers spa and quick fare and in the evening is offering a new informal dinner concept where guests can grill their meal on heated lava rocks. Le Champagne is highlight of the line’s association with Relais & Châteaux where for $30 guests can indulge in a six-course menu and for an additional $200 sample the wine pairing offerings.

New dining venues include Stars Supper Club that is modeled after the Rainbow Room. The venue is more than dining, it’s “food-entertainment” said Scholdis. The ambiance is jazzy and offers a bite size tasting menu encompassing flavors from around the world. Indeed you could make a meal here if you order all 20 tastings. The live jazz singer who works the room makes this venue an unforgettable experience.

Seating just 24 guests, Japanese-inspired Seishin features a large, round chef’s table as its centerpiece. Guests at surrounding tables can watch the chef at work sculpting fresh sushi and sashimi. There is a cover charge of $40 for the 11-course digestion menu that includes Beluga caviar and Kobe beef. For an additional $40 guests can enjoy a Saki digestion flight or for $200 a special wine flight.

Ultimately, the real luxury of Spirit, though, is its focus on keeping the traditional cruise experience alive and highly refined. There are no rock climbing walls, gigantic water slides or ziplines like the new mega ships – it’s about surrounding oneself in luxury, fine dining, and like-minded travelers on a quest for new horizons.

If you go:
On January 21, Spirit begins its grand inaugural sailing with various itineraries in the Caribbean, South America, and Mexican Riviera. In May, the ship transitions to the Mediterranean where it will sail various 7-day voyages. In late October, Spirit transitions back to the Caribbean. Prices for 7-day voyages begin at $4,358. Visit Silversea Cruises Website for more details.

Silver Spirit’s christening ceremony on Thursday morning at Port Everglades will be webcast live at www.silverspiritblog.com. The event is set to start at 10 a.m. EST.

Godmother Silvia Lefebvre D’Ovidio, the sister of Silversea chairman Manfredi Lefebvre D’Ovidio, will name the ship with a balthazar of Moët & Chandon.

Silversea says a smaller replica of the Champagne bottle will be auctioned as a memento during Silver Spirit’s ‘Grand Inaugural Voyage’ to benefit the Maruzza Lefebvre D’Ovidio Foundation, a non-profit organization spearheaded by Silvia Lefebvre D’Ovidio.

Back in September when I sailed on the Silver Spirit during her construction phase and sea trials I sensed that the ship was going to be spectacular when finished. I was not mistaken. Over the past two days I’ve reacquainted myself with the finished Spirit and I thought it might be fun to have a photo essay of before and after photos. Take a look for yourself.

One thing was very apparent tonight on Silver Spirit – this is not your father’s old cruise line. Silversea’s production of “Aquarius” (a hippie 60’s musical/dance production) was once an unthinkable entertainment option. No more. The line has clearly upped the entertainment ante (and budget) to reflect what today’s Silversea passenger desires – a more youthful approach.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the music, dancers, and set décor – similar to the shows on the big mainstream cruise lines. And, gentlemen bring your pacemakers – the ladies of the show are the most gorgeous entertainers I’ve seen at sea. Hot girls and all the show had the audience clapping and dancing in the end. There are four production shows onboard and if tonight’s show is any indication of the rest they will be well-received.

Also, not to be missed is the Stars lounge entertainment where jazz singer Alfredo wowed the crowd with her exquisite voice and fun entertainment style. For this writer — it was a “like-wow-man” night – and a very pleasant and welcomed surprise.