What do you get when you mix elegant design, inclusive food and
drinks, sustainability, and not to mention elaborate use of glasswork
throughout the ship?
Enter Silver Ray, the newest and second of Silversea’s sustainability-focused Nova-class ship, which was officially christened in Lisbon on 13 June.
The 728-guest, all-suite Silver Ray boasts a luxurious and innovative
asymmetrical design, mirroring every aspect of its sister, Silver Nova, which debuted in summer 2023.
Travel Weekly Asia was one of the first guests to join Silversea’s
Silver Ray’s shakedown and naming cruise in Lisbon in June 2024 ahead if
its inaugural sailing. Here are five notable features of this new
luxury ship:
With a majority of spaces, elevators, restaurants and the pool deck encased in glass, guests on Silver Nova have access to uninterrupted views of the oceans and destinations the ship calls at. Photo Credit: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
1. Glass, glass everywhere
With its abundant glasswork, guests enjoy incredible access to
breathtaking sea and shore views everywhere on Silver Ray. Its six
passenger lifts, encased in glass, provide stunning vistas and an
incredible feeling of light as they whiz guests up and down the decks.
From the three-storey glass-walled atrium to window-lined restaurants
and lounges, it is said that 90% of the spaces on board have sea views.
2. Asymmetrical design and layout
Silver Nova boasts an asymmetrical design and horizontal layout, featuring an expansive pool deck on the starboard side. Photo Credit: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Building on Silver Nova’s pioneering asymmetrical design and
horizontal layout, Silver Ray’s continuation of this bold innovation
represents the best Silversea’s Nova Class ships can offer. With the
smokestack repositioned from its traditional central location to the
port side of the ship, the result is an astounding and expansive pool
deck on the starboard side. When Silver Ray was docked at Lisbon
overlooking the layered cityscape, it felt like we had access to the
best rooftop view in town.
3. Luxurious and spacious suites
The Superior Veranda Suite, one of the 13 suite categories of Silver Ray. Photo Credit: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
My 33sqm Superior Veranda Suite, including a 5sqm teak balcony, is
sumptuously appointed with an elegant and muted colour palette. Within
the generous space, there’s a walk-in closet, a sitting area with a
comfy lounge, and a bathroom with a large vanity and double faucets, and
separate shower stocked with Otium spa amenities.
The ship offers 13 suite categories across decks 6 to 9, seven of
which are new, including the lavish 123sqm Otium Suite and 66-77sqm
Master Suites (which comes in one- and two-bedroom configurations).
Butler service is provided for all suite categories and the high
crew-to-guest ratio ensures personalised service on board.
4. A world of fresh culinary flavours
La Terrazza is a buzzing buffet restaurant by day, Italian fine dining venue by night. Photo Credit: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
With nine dining venues, guests will enjoy a wide variety of
delectable options, from French dining at La Dame to Japanese at Kaiseki
to gourmet tapas at Silver Note.
The brand-new Marquee marries al fresco dining with healthy flavours,
and during the daytime the dappled effect arising from its double-deck,
trellis-shaded architecture makes the venue an extremely picturesque
venue. Alternatively, Atlantide offers the quintessential dining
experience with its plush décor and signature fine experience, while La
Terrazza is a convival buffet restaurant in the day before transforming
into an Italian restaurant at night.
The S.A.L.T Lab is an interactive cooking laboratory that allows guests to get hands on experience of local recipes. Photo Credit: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
SALT programme, which stands for Sea and Land Taste, has become
Silversea’s signature dining offering that creates a connection to
in-destination through food. As the menu changes according to the
destination, guests are assured that they will be treated to new menus
even if they return to the same venue during the same sailing. To date,
the programme has expanded into 1,600 dishes spanning 210 different
menus across 89 countries. At S.A.L.T. Kitchen, we tasted the sweetest
and freshest grilled sardines which are currently in season at Lisbon,
while S.A.L.T. Lab and S.A.L.T. Bar set the scene for immersive cooking
classes and custom cocktails respectively.
Note: Silversea also offers S.A.L.T. Experiences in destinations,
which are unique shore excursions focusing on food and wine of the local
region.
5. Resort-style rejuvenation at sea
The thermal pool at Otium Spa combines wellness and views. Photo Credit: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Space is clearly in abundance on Silver Ray. Not only are there ample
sunbeds (and breathing room) at the pool and sundecks, there are also
numerous pockets of space offering relaxation. The Observation Lounge is
a favourite spot of mine to catch up on emails over spectacular sea
views, while the Dusk Bar and Salt Bar make delightful spaces to enjoy a
pre- or post-dinner drink.
Wellness facilities include the Otium Spa with its thermal pool,
sauna and steam room and treatment room, alongside the beauty salon and
fitness centre with ocean views.
But the focus on wellness isn’t limited to guests alone, as Silversea
also prioritises the wellbeing of its staff. The cruise line has
invested heavily in the staff areas on board Silver Ray – from a
well-equipped crew fitness centre said to be better than its guest
counterparts on older ships to bars and relaxation spaces for its 544
crew members.
Located on Deck 10, Marquee marries al fresco dining with healthy flavours. Photo Credit: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
An incredible destination in itself
Besides being an incredible destination in itself, Silver Ray is a
wonderful ship that offers the in-destination feeling all the time with
its openness and light-filled spaces. Like Silver Nova, these ships are
shining stars in the world of luxury cruising, and will probably appeal
to a growing class of younger cruise travellers seeking immersive and
personalised experiences.