I recently sailed on Silversea Cruises‘ small ship, Silver Wind, from San Juan to Fort Lauderdale. The itinerary included stops in Cuba, Grand Cayman, and Bimini (Bahamas). We had an amazing trip and loved staying on the luxury ship.
The Silver Wind is one the smallest ships Silversea operates, with a guest capacity of only 289. It is very intimate with only 6 decks for guests. It does not take more than 5 minutes to get anywhere on the ship. The ship is decorated with a timeless relaxed elegance and was recently upgraded in December 2018. In 2020, it will be converted to an expedition ship and sail itineraries that explore the polar regions.
Accommodations
All the staterooms on the Silver Wind are suites. The lowest suite category, the Vista suite, is 240 sq. ft., and the suites only get bigger. This was more than enough room for the two of us, as it had a sitting area, queen sized bed, marble bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, vanity table, and writing desk. Also, we normally recommend taking a power strip as they is never enough plug sockets however in this stateroom there were plenty of outlets.
Additionally, every suite has a butler. Our butler was amazing. He was very friendly and efficient. We even arrived back at our cabin one day to find that he had polished my husband’s shoes before we even asked. He also checked-in with us every day to make sure we had everything we needed.
Dining
Silversea has an exclusive partnership with Relais & Chateaux, so we knew the food was going to be amazing. It did not disappoint. There are 4 restaurants on-board: The Restaurant, La Terrazza, La Dame, and the pool grill.
The restaurant is the main dining room and is located on deck 4. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We liked this restaurant because the menu changed everyday and always had local food options. There were some items that stayed the same but only for a few days. We ate most of our dinners here.
La Terrazza serves authentic Italian food for dinner and has a buffet for breakfast and lunch. We liked this restaurant as you can sit outside on the balcony. You do need reservations for this restaurant but they are very accommodating. If you know exactly what time and day your would like to eat we recommend making the reservation before you board.
La Dame offers a 6 course tasting menu inspired by the region. Reservations are required at this restaurant and there is an additional per guest dining fee.
The pool grill was a unique experience at night as you can dine under the stars on the pool deck. Also, you cook your meal on a hot lava stone at your table. At lunch, they offer a set menu. However, during sea days we had a seafood and Cuban buffet. Reservations are required for dinner.
The dress code varies between casual, informal, and formal. It is important for men to be aware that they need to wear a jacket for informal and formal nights. However, if you forget to wear your jacket, the restaurant will provide you with one. If you don’t want to dress in formal wear on formal night then you have the option to eat at the pool grill or in your suite.
There are 3 bars on board to enjoy a cocktail: the pool bar, the Bar, or Panorama Lounge. Our favorite was the Panorama Lounge as we could sit on the back deck watching the world go by while drinking a delicious cocktail. The bar was a perfect place to have a pre-dinner drink and enjoy some canapes.
Entertainment
There is not a lot of entertainment on board so don’t expect multiple big shows. There is one show a night at the theater. However, the theater was also used for cocktail parties, cooking demonstrations, and destination lectures. There was also a casino on-board but we did not see many people gambling.
There were many places to sit and relax such as the library, observation lounge, Connoisseur’s Corner, or pool deck. Another place to relax is the spa. I had an amazing massage which was very relaxing.
Are you interested in sailing on a small ship cruise with Silversea or another of our preferred suppliers? Contact us now to start planning your next vacation!