silversea galapagos cruise reviews

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Review: silversea cruises in the galapagos islands.

Posted by David Porter on Friday, June 3, 2022 · 3 Comments  

Here is our review of Silversea Cruises in the Galapagos Islands aboard the brand-new Silver Origin.

Carol and I sailed with Silversea on their brand-new purpose-built expedition ship, the Silver Origin, in the last week of May 2022.

Before we get started with our review, here are two articles that you might enjoy as a bit of background:

• Expedition Cruising: The Next Travel Megatrend
• Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Galapagos Islands

Our Silversea Expedition Cruise Greatly Exceeded Our Expectations

As I share in the two articles above, expedition cruising will be the next big thing in travel. And, I reasoned that the Galapagos Islands is the best place to try out your first expedition cruise because of its proximity to the U.S. (a four-hour flight from Miami), and the Galapagos Islands are a year-round destination as they sit right on the equator.

Here we are with Galapagos Penguins just behind us.

Silversea Cruises

If you’re not familiar with Silversea, first let me share that they are on our list of favorite ocean cruise lines .

They are a five-star cruise line and offer guests two different tiers of pricing:

• Door-to-Door: All-inclusive pricing with door-to-door service from your front door.
• Port-to-Port : This option is for those who might prefer to book their own flights. However, the cruise is still highly all-inclusive.

You can read more about their two-tiered pricing structure at this link .

Another benefit we enjoy with Silversea is that they have been very busy building new ships with even more on the way. And lastly, Silversea offers guests 5-star luxury ocean cruises and 5-star expedition cruises.

This was our first expedition cruise, so let me share our experience with you.

4 Reasons We Loved Our Galapagos Islands Cruise With Silversea

A blue-footed boobie strikes a nice pose for my photograph

The Silver Origin as seen from our zodiac.

Tuna Ceviche

Views from a morning zodiac expedition

A Giant Galapagos Tortoise

Summing It All Up

Folks, I didn’t know what to expect as we headed off to Ecuador for this expedition cruise.

Just know that our expedition cruise with Silversea Expeditions exceeded our expectations in every way. We LOVED the experience.

Carol and I are now hooked on expedition cruising. We like the smaller ships. We liked the 5-star experience we enjoyed with Silversea Expeditions.

And we now look forward to exploring the Arctic, the Antarctic, the Amazon, and other future destinations yet to be determined.

I can see a fun expedition cruise to Iceland in the very near future.

Further, I’m dreaming about polar bears, walruses, beluga whales, herds of reindeer, whales, the aurora borealis, and so much more.

And the best part, all from the comfort of a 5-star expedition ship.

How to Book a Silversea Luxury Expedition Cruise

This means that when you book a Silversea Cruises sailing through Roaming Boomers Travel Services, you will receive exclusive complimentary amenities on select sailings that you wouldn’t get by booking directly with the company.

Additionally, you will also enjoy our hands-on expert service and care for your booking.

And, the price is exactly the same whether you book with us or book directly with the company. Therefore, take advantage of our expertise and perks.

For more information or to book a fun Silversea expedition cruise, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request ( click here ), and we’ll reach out to you.

Additional Links:

• Best Way to Book an Ocean or River Cruise

About Virtuoso Virtuoso® is the leading global network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel, with over 20,000 advisors. We partner with over 1,800 of the world’s best companies such as hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and more. Our advisors use their personal connections and firsthand expertise to craft bespoke trips for clients, including unique experiences, special values, complimentary perks, VIP treatment, and rare access.

Category: Travel Services · Tags: Galapagos Islands , Silversea Cruises , Silversea Expedition Cruises

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A Galápagos Expedition Cruise That Connects You Even More Closely With the Islands’ Rare Wildlife

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Months later, I still find myself thinking about the languid movement of the sea turtle as it banked and swam through the filtered cathedral light, away from the rocky shore and into the mysterious green depths. It was the Platonic ideal of a creature I only thought I knew: Freed from the strictures of gravity, it became pure, primeval, almost mythological. In that moment, there were no other animals or humans. There was only me and this ancient creature making our way through the silent vastness of the underwater amphitheater.

A pelican takes a dip in a lagoon off Genovesa Island

Expedition leader Israel Mata with guides Jeffo Marquez, Paulina Aguirre, and J.C. Sosa

Veteran snorkelers will know this feeling. I, however, was not a veteran snorkeler . In fact, since an unpleasant experience in Playa Del Carmen years earlier, in murky, choppy water, with cheap ill-fitting gear, I'd never given it another go. In the weeks before I visited the Galápagos aboard Silversea Cruises' brand-new Silver Origin , it had occurred to me that I'd probably be missing a lot if I didn't snorkel. So I figured I'd learn. But it was not without some trepidation that I found myself standing steps away from a group of beached sea lions on Genovesa Island, absorbing the brisk instructions of Xavier Cando, our expedition guide, on proper breathing, mask-wearing, and lens-defogging technique. Afterward I waded in, and once I'd convinced myself I wasn't going to drown, I felt comfortable enough to paddle out toward the break to gape at the psychedelic, pixelated patterns of the iridescent triggerfish and parrotfish. By the time the session ended, I was already wondering how I could have gone an entire lifetime without ever having taken another shot at this.

The feeling intensified the next few mornings as I rode out on the Zodiacs, squinting in the equatorial light, to explore deeper waters. I found myself remembering the first time I skied or rode a horse and how I'd gotten hooked in an instant. It wasn't just the creatures: It was also the sensation of contemplating this vast foreign topography of gullies and fissures and reef formations, and the unexpected tranquility of being at one with the water. But, oh, the creatures! On my first deep-water day, I was gliding along in a fugue state when I saw two whitetip reef sharks. “Look,” I shouted into my mask, gesticulating wildly to no one. The next morning, as soon as my group got into the water, a pair of sea lions skimmed past like missiles, soon to be joined by friends who frolicked with us for the next hour, coming up to us underwater as if for a kiss before darting away at the last second to go wrestle one another.

Silver Origin guests at Punta Suarez on Española, one of the Galápagos’ oldest islands

A guava flower

There were penguins too, and adorable baby Galápagos sharks, and three enormous diamond stingrays sloughing up puffs of sand at the bottom of a deep trench. Later came massive schools of silvery anchovies that moved in sync, like Rockettes, and yellow-tailed razor surgeonfish; Jeffo Marquez, our guide, dove down into their midst and stood with his arms raised, like Moses of the Galápagos, as the fish parted around him. We climbed back up the ladder to the Zodiac reluctantly, full of tales of all we'd seen below.

In a sense, the entire story of the Galápagos is about what lies beneath the surface. Its aesthetic strangeness is, as Darwin came to understand, a hidden door through which you can access the mysteries of life on Earth. The enormous Seussian seabirds; the giant tortoises; the cold-blooded marine iguanas that sunbathe beside playful warm-blooded Galápagos penguins—all are products of the natural laboratory that has transfixed evolutionary biologists for generations. Of course, the stories inscribed in this landscape concern more than just the origin of species—they also reveal the various ways humankind has reordered the archipelago over the last several centuries. The giant tortoise breeding centers exist in part to protect the animals' eggs from rats, introduced by pirates and whalers in the 18th century. The Galápagos land iguanas of North Seymour Island, who smile knowingly from within burnt sienna skins that hang from their bodies in loose folds like oversized ugly sweaters, were brought by American scientists from nearby Baltra Island in the 1930s as part of a Darwinian experiment.

A dish of local root vegetables at the Silver Origin’s alfresco Grill restaurant

Watercolor painting on Cerro Brujo, on San Cristóbal Island

Today, though, the Galápagos is one of the most protected places on the planet. Only four of the archipelago's 21 islands are inhabited, with human settlements occupying 3 percent of the land; the rest is a national park established in 1959. In 1998, in response to environmental problems, the Ecuadorian government passed the Special Law, which essentially halted immigration to the Galápagos by limiting permanent residence to those already living on the islands. The same law created the Galápagos Marine Reserve, one of the largest in the world, which earlier this year Ecuador expanded by more than 40 percent. Tourism is heavily regulated , with only small groups allowed to visit sites within Galápagos National Park for limited blocks of time in the company of a licensed guide. Cruise ships, which can carry only 100 passengers, follow itineraries prescribed by the Ecuadorian government and are spaced apart so only one at a time can visit a site of interest. What all of these rules accomplish, besides protecting the ecosystem, is preserving a genuine and blissful sense of remoteness; outside the population centers, we saw only a few private boats the whole week.

The Silver Origin, a replacement for a 30-year-old vessel that Silversea had operated since 2013 as the Silver Galápagos , is attuned to the realities of cruising in this region like no ship before it. Some of its most important features are ones no passenger will ever see: A dynamic positioning system, one of only two currently in use in the Galápagos, eliminates the need to cast an anchor down into the fragile seabed; an advanced freshwater-purification system significantly reduces the ship's plastic usage. Leandro Vaca, who led me on several kayaking trips , said his favorite thing about the new ship is the stern loading system, which supports larger Zodiacs and makes it vastly smoother to get guests out on an adventure. When I was on board, I came to feel that, for all the luxury of the taupe-and-cream appointments, the greatest amenity was the connection to nature facilitated by the floor-to-ceiling windows, generous deck space, and a stargazing platform where one night all the ship's guests gathered to observe distant lava flows from Wolf Volcano, on Isabela Island, which had been erupting for several months.

Blue-footed boobies on Santa Fé Island

Of course, you can have all the cutting-edge tech and slick design in the world, but without great people you'll still have nothing. Besides folks like Juan Altamirano, the ship's preternaturally cheerful hotel director, and Billy Chero, its obliging piano player, the crew members I spent the most time with were expedition guides, like Leandro, many of whom had worked together on the Silver Galapagos and whose fondness for one another was as strong as their fondness for this place. As I returned with Leandro from a mangrove lagoon on Isabela Island, where we'd spied baby sharks and bedraggled brown pelicans guarding nests with downy heads peering over the sides, he told me that the crew sometimes have impromptu competitions during their off-hours—kayaking, singing. “We are a family,” he said.

My favorite was Juan Carlos “J.C.” Sosa, a Quito native who has been guiding since 1980. He wore a pencil beard, gold-framed aviators, and a cowboy hat, and spoke in a courtly manner, always addressing his groups as “ladies and gentlemen.” I first spent time with him on Bartolomé Island, overlooking Sullivan Bay, a parched, fantastical landscape believed to have been created by lava flows in the late 19th century. J.C. showed us all the different formations, some shaped like drapery, others like pasta, others like intestines. There were little lava eggs and an intaglio of an ironwood tree. We came to a smooth, concave expanse that was breathtaking in its austere grandeur. It could have been an earthwork by Michael Heizer. “I love this place so much because it's the beginning of everything.” J.C. said. “Life on Earth. It's amazing that this barren place will one day break down to soil and make a place that is appealing to some plant species.” I knew he'd made similar speeches to similar groups in this same spot, but I was moved by his depth of feeling.

A Sally Lightfoot crab

The Silver Origin at dusk

A few days later, I was following J.C. along a trail in the cloudy, verdant highlands of Santa Cruz Island. We were at Montemar, a coffee farm that grows several very tasty varieties of arabica, the proceeds of which go to conserving the Galápagos giant tortoises whose migration path runs straight through the property. As we paused to watch a quarter-ton saddleback consider whether to descend into a large mud puddle, J.C. recounted the challenges of giant-tortoise reproduction. “Normally, copulation among reptiles is not the most funny or wonderful thing,” he explained, almost mournfully. “The males crush the females, and the females run away. So the male tortoises produce a sound that disorients the females and leads to sex.”

We heard that sound on our second encounter with giant tortoises, at the Cerro Colorado tortoise reserve on San Cristóbal Island. This time I was with Paulina Aguirre, who reminisced fondly about the domesticated giant tortoise at her school in Quito as we watched a gaggle of the creatures clank shells, crane their necks, and hiss while jockeying for prime leaf-munching position. Farther along the trail we passed J.C., who was smiling broadly. “Las tortugas están copulando en el bosque,” he told Paulina. We entered a stand of hunched poison apple trees, beyond which four tortoises were gathered around a pond in a clearing. They weren't the ones doing the deed, but every half minute or so this strange, fairy-tale-like scene echoed with the lowing and grunting of giant tortoises in the throes of passion.

The author on a Zodiac

Galápagos sea lions

Here is the part of this journey I've left out until now: My companion aboard the Silver Origin was my mom, Alice. We live on different continents, more than 4,000 miles apart, and this was our first time together since before the pandemic, nearly three years earlier. But I knew it had been much longer than that since we'd had any true one-on-one time. How long? I asked her.

“Oh, since before you had kids,” she replied.

That would make it nearly a decade. But, lo and behold, it was just the two of us out on the stargazing deck on our first morning at a quarter to six. The Silver Origin was anchored in Darwin Bay, which fills a caldera scooped out of Genovesa Island, a shield volcano in the north of the archipelago. If you look at Genovesa on a map, it resembles the head of a bird of prey, with the bay formed by its beak, but the guides call it the Bird Island because of its diverse representation of the Galápagos' famous avian population: blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, great frigate birds, storm petrels, short-eared owls, and so many more. As the indigo sky lightened, with Venus and a lopsided, nearly full moon hanging above us, these prehistoric creatures massed like pinwheeling confetti in great black funnels above the basalt sickle of the island, peach-colored clouds in sculptural formations behind them. The only sounds were the birds' distant squabbling, the rustle of the wind, the slap of the waves, the light hum of the ship. There was a slightly fecund scent to the air, cut by the salt of the sea. We'd both traveled so far to come here—she from Budapest , I from Brooklyn—and yet finally we were together in this wild, remote place.

A mess of Galápagos marine iguanas on Fernandina Island

Guests in the Silver Origin’s observation lounge

Later that day we ventured onto the island with a group, accessing its trails via Prince Philip's Steps, a natural staircase in the rock named for the late Duke of Edinburgh, who visited on his yacht in the 1960s. Bright red Sally Lightfoot crabs scuttled along the black volcanic rock, a welcoming committee that would be on hand for every shore landing during the voyage. Our guide was Jeffo, who grew up on the islands and, charmingly, shared their secrets as if he were the announcer at a fútbol match. As he recounted the mating rituals of the red-footed booby in his sportscaster cadences—“The male mostly sings and points his beak to the sky”—a great frigate bird unloaded its cargo onto a fellow guest named Tami. “That's good luck,” Jeffo informed her. “The last time this happened here, we saw dolphins. I wouldn't take a shower for a week.”

Tami and her friend Nicolette, who were visiting from Seattle, would become some of our best buds for the week. So would Maria and Richard, fun and friendly newlyweds from Caracas who accompanied my mom on hikes when I was deep-water snorkeling. In the evenings, a regular group found one another in the lounge and sang along with Billy. When we tired of “Dancing Queen” and “Rocket Man” and “Macarena,” he would report for duty the next night having taught himself the songs we requested, like “Someone Like You” or “Faith” or “Sweet Child o' Mine.” Seeing my mom belt out that last number with Tami and Maria rivaled snorkeling as the best experience I had all week.

Expedition guide Jeffo Marquez among a school of razor surgeonfish

A fragment of gold coral

So even as my time aboard the Silver Origin took me deeper in understanding the Galápagos, it also deepened my relationship with her. I got to introduce her to ceviche, which the ship had in abundant, varied, and consistently delicious supply; to watch her paint watercolors on Cerro Brujo, a long parenthesis of exquisite white sand and volcanic rock formations on San Cristóbal Island, where she was distracted by a sea lion at her feet; to hear her melt over the cuteness of the diminutive Galápagos penguins we watched stride bravely down a long, slick expanse of rock and plunge one by one into choppy waters.

Midway through our voyage, we were alone on the observation deck again a little before dinner, hoping to catch another great sunset because the previous night's had been top-notch. A steep cloud bank blocked the show, but we were enjoying the wind on our faces. Then, suddenly, heavenly light began seeping around the edges of the clouds, and the water took on a white-gold cast. And then, at ten o'clock, dolphins, in fulfillment of Jeffo's prophecy. There were three of them, their leaps and plunges tracing sine waves as they swam diagonally across the ship's path. My mom's face was radiant with sunlight and joy.  We watched the dolphins until they disappeared onto the horizon, bound for whatever future awaited them.

This article appeared in the July/August 2022 issue of  Condé Nast Traveler.  Subscribe to the magazine   here .

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Rediscovering the Origin of species with Silversea in the Galapagos Islands

On silversea’s  silver origin newest galapagos vessel, jeannine williamson explores the magical islands that inspired charles darwin himself..

“Don’t worry, they are juvenile males and just want to play,” says our guide, Marco, as several sea lions spot us treading water, lumber awkwardly towards the edge of the rocks and plunge in.

Marco signals for us to follow him and as we dip our snorkel masks beneath the surface and kick our fins, we watch the sea lions – now transformed into sleek aquatic athletes – twist and dive alongside us.

On arrival in the Galapagos Islands we’d been briefed to always stay a couple of metres away from any wildlife, but clearly the most commonly seen marine mammals in the archipelago aren’t interested in abiding by any rules. Two of them almost touch us as they swim alongside. Their whiskered faces momentarily gaze curiously into ours before they dodge around an unhurried turtle floating below us and decide to head off in search of more fast-paced fun.

The underwater encounter is an exhilarating experience and it’s one of the main topics of conversation over dinner aboard Silversea’s Silver Origin a few hours later. That said, we never run out of subjects to talk about, as every day brings at least one pinch-me moment.

These protected islands scattered 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador are a unique bucket list destination, where you can witness firsthand an incredible story of evolution and natural history that’s like nowhere else on earth.

They were made famous by the renowned British naturalist Charles Darwin who arrived on the research vessel HMS Beagle in 1835 and was astonished at what he found, including iguanas swimming in the sea and giant tortoises and finches that differed from island to island.

He challenged common scientific thinking of the day with his theory that the creatures able to adapt to their environment were the ones that made it.

During our round-trip expedition cruise from San Cristobal – one of four inhabited islands in the group of more than 120 isles and islets created by volcanic eruptions over five million years – we visited places unchanged since Darwin’s day, aside from hiking trails and wooden stairs created to ease walking and access the steepest hills.

As Silver Origin is always at sea and doesn’t stop at any ports, all tours are by Zodiac; over a week there were seven landings for guided walks and a daily choice of scenic boat trips, kayaking and snorkelling.

Tourism is strictly controlled and there’s never any chance of ending up in a crowd as only one ship at a time is allowed at each destination. This makes everything even more special.

On a Zodiac sailing past craggy Vicente Roco Point we got our first sighting of the world’s only tropical penguin. Marco explains they were originally swept over from Antarctica on the Humboldt Current, which flows north from their original habitat and along the west coast of South America.

“It was a one-way ticket – they couldn’t get back, so they had to adapt if they were going to survive and they now have a much thinner plumage,” he explains, also pointing out how the birds spread their wings to keep cool and lean forwards to protect their feet from the sun.

Further along the coastline, feet come to the fore again as we spot one of the most recognisable species in the Galapagos, the almost comical looking blue-footed boobie.

Marco tells us their vividly coloured feet are due to pigments in their diet. But they are not just an adornment: during mating season, the males attract prospective suitors with an elaborate courtship dance that shows off their feet to the best advantage and females are drawn to the birds with the brightest feet.

Another extraordinary bird that is unique to the Galapagos, and only found on the islands of Isabela and Fernandina is the flightless cormorant. It is the largest of the world’s 29 species of cormorant and the only one that cannot fly.

Again, our Zodiac provided a close glimpse of the black birds with jewel-like turquoise eyes. They look ungainly as they hop from rock to rock extending their stubby little wings for balance. Again, with no natural predators they no longer need to fly, but when it comes to hunting for food it’s a different matter.

They barely make a ripple as they dive like arrows into the sea, reaching depths of up to eight metres and staying below for more than a minute at a time in search of fish.

Land hikes bring one-of-a-kind experiences at every stop. At Espinoza Point on Fernandina we have to carefully step around hundreds of inert marine iguanas basking on the beach.

The lethargic scene is occasionally broken by females digging deep nests in the sand while vivid orange Sally Lightfoot crabs busy themselves alone the shoreline. Another day we see land iguanas with shimmering golden scales.

Other curiosities include the small lava lizards that can be found across most of the archipelago, with some species endemic to individual islands. It’s believed they arrived from the mainland on floating rafts of vegetation carried by ocean currents.

It’s fascinating to watch them communicate with each other using a series of vigorous push-ups and head bobs.

The big daddy of all wildlife is the giant Galapagos tortoise, which we see on a visit to Santa Cruz, another of the populated islands.

These tortoises are found nowhere else in the world. In fact, the name of the islands derives from the saddle-back shape of the shell that reminded the 16th century colonising Spaniards of the shape of a horse riding saddle known as a galapago.

The tortoises were almost hunted to extinction by 18th and 19th century sailors who kept them onboard ships as a fresh food source due their ability to survive for months at a time without food or water.

Nowadays, of course, the reptiles, like all species in the Galapagos, are safeguarded and no longer have any fear of humans which means you can get up close and get amazing photos.

We see them on a visit to Montemar, an eco-reserve where the tortoises roam freely and bathe in mud pools to keep cool. Montemar also has an organic coffee plantation and afterwards there’s an entertaining and informative coffee and chocolate tasting and the chance to buy jewellery and products made by local craftspeople. Many are made from recycled materials, including novel rings created from old skateboards.

Omnipresent wildlife aside, there are some fascinating man-made sights, too. On Floreana we land on the wide sheltered sweep of Post Office Bay and walk a short distance along the sand to find the story behind its name.

Up a short pathway is a wooden barrel, recreating the one first created by homesick whalers from the UK and America when they stopped at the island to replenish water supplies.

They posted letters to their families that were delivered by mariners who were heading back to their home ports. Today’s visitors can pop their own cards in the stampless mailbox and hope they are picked up by subsequent passers-by from their countries.

It’s a fun thing to do and one of mine arrived on a friend’s doormat – stamped by the sender – a month afterwards.

We travelled in ultimate comfort on Silversea’s first-ever destination specific ship, launched earlier this year.

Silver Origin replacing Silver Galapagos. It’s is a third larger, but carries the same number of passengers – just 100. The ship incorporates eco-friendly technology as part of the line’s commitment to the environment.

An innovative area is Basecamp, the hub for meeting for shore tours, chatting to members of the expedition team and changing out of snorkelling gear. The area has an interactive LED screen with facts and stunning video footage on the islands.

It’s the only ship in the Galapagos to feature butler service to every suite. As it sails year-round there are novel amenities such as a cosy faux fire pit where guests can gather on chillier evenings.

There’s also a stargazing platform to observe the unpolluted night skies.

Half of the food served onboard comes from the islands, including meat, cheese and home-made guava jam from small farms and artisan producers. The rest comes from the Ecuadorian mainland.

Many passengers – myself included – were surprised to discover Ecuador produces wine from a range of grape varieties. It was among the wines offered at mealtimes and really worth a try.

One day, executive chef Carlo Bermudez shared the secrets of creating the perfect ceviche. The South American staple made by marinating raw fish and other ingredients in lime juice. Like the rest of the food on board, it was fresh and delicious.

The two dining venues are The Restaurant and The Grill, both large enough to seat all passengers at the same time. The Grill, on the top deck, converts from al fresco to indoor dining depending on the weather. It also features Silversea’s Hot Rocks dining concept where you cook meat and seafood on sizzling heated stones.

The cabins are well designed, again with the destination in mind. There’s walk-in space in the wardrobe to store expedition equipment. New to Silversea are so-called horizon balconies. With drop-down floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows and a tiled floor area with a table and seating they form part of the main cabin area. Or, they can be turned into an ‘indoor’ veranda that can be sectioned off from the rest of the suite.

Another innovative addition is a sliding mirror in the bathroom that reveals a window. Youcan look out at passing views when you’re brushing your teeth.

As we disembarked Silver Origin we were met by the sight of rotund sea lions sleeping contentedly on public benches. I wondered if they were taking a rest after embarking on their energetic diving sessions with far less adept Homo sapiens.

TL;DR about cruising the Galapagos with Silversea

Highs: Exceptional and unique wildlife spotting opportunities with very knowledgeable guides, fully inclusive cruise on an eco-friendly ship with high levels of comfort and butler service in every suite.

Lowx: Due to the expedition nature of the voyage and small size of the vessel do not expect the full Silversea experience with Champagne, caviar and entertainment.

Best suited to: Outdoor types with a reasonable amount of fitness and mobility to go on hikes and get in and out of the Zodiacs used for all shore excursions.

About the Silver Origin

CRUISE LINE: Silversea

PASSENGER CAPACITY: 100

TOTAL CREW: 90

PASSENGER DECKS: 6

ENTERED SERVICE: 2022

LENGTH: 101m

FACILITIES: 51 outside cabins with ensuite facilities, two restaurants, two lounge bars, basecamp expedition area, spa, gym, sun deck with whirlpool and fire pit.

BOOKINGS: Silver Origin sails two alternating seven-night cruises in the Galapagos. All-inclusive door-to-door fares start from $16,800 and pre- and post-cruise extensions are available. Port-to-port fares, excluding flights and other travel arrangements, start from $10,450. Visit silversea.com

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Cruising the Galapagos Islands on Silversea's Silver Origin

By Jeannine Williamson | 26 May 2022

South Plaza Island, Galapagos Islands

What could be better than cruising through the Galapagos Islands? Seeing it in style on ultra-luxury line Silversea Cruises’ latest ship, Silver Origin, which was purpose-built to sail in this protected region. Jeannine Williamson embarks on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure

As I gaze down at the kaleidoscope of neon-bright yellowtail surgeonfish, I’m aware of a sudden movement to my right. The only thing that stops me gasping aloud is the snorkel mouthpiece clamped firmly between my teeth.

A sleek Galapagos sea lion has dived into the water right next to me and with its head cocked to one side, the creature observes its inept and infinitely less streamlined swim buddy with a pair of quizzical, large brown eyes.

Having seen enough, it twists effortlessly away and heads through the clear depths towards the reef below. Three more follow and as one brushes past a fellow snorkeller, it’s evident that our strict rule of keeping at least six feet away from animals doesn’t apply in reverse.

We pop our heads back above the surface, and our guide Marco explains that the most frequently seen marine mammal in the Galapagos is both playful and inquisitive, particularly the juveniles in the colony that we’ve just encountered.

Like all creatures in this wildlife wonderland, sea lions are not threatened by humans so they have no fear. It’s a win-win situation for all concerned.

We clamber into the waiting Zodiac and as we speed back to our ship, Silversea’s new purpose-built vessel Silver Origin , there’s excited chatter about the latest extraordinary encounter, one of many during our week-long expedition voyage.

The Galapagos is known as a bucket-list destination for good reason, because it really is like nowhere else on Earth.

Observation Lounge, Silver Origin

What to expect on a Galapagos cruise

While it first gained global attention when Spanish sailors visited in 1535, the archipelago of 127 islands, islets and rocks has been carved and shaped over some five million years by volcanic eruptions – which continue today – and this vast geological timescale means each one is completely different.

One day we marvel at beaches the colour of cocoa powder, the next we walk on snow-white sand. Soaring cliffs topped by greenery rub shoulders with flat, black lava landscapes dotted with improbably bright flowers that cling to the stark terrain.

It was English naturalist Charles Darwin who brought the Galapagos Islands to prominence when he visited aboard the scientific exploration vessel HMS Beagle . In 1835 he spent six weeks studying birds and animals on the islands scattered 600 miles off the Ecuadorian coastline and in 1859 published his revolutionary book On the Origin of Species .

Challenging commonly held beliefs with his ‘survival of the fittest’ theory, Darwin’s new understanding of evolution showed how the species that are most adaptable are the ones that stand the test of time.

His ideas were graphically illustrated on every step of our round-trip voyage from San Cristóbal. There are 19 large islands in the Galapagos, of which only four are inhabited, namely San Cristobal, Isabela, Floreana and Santa Cruz.

In 1959 the region was declared a national park and, aside from the quartet of populated islands, the joy is in seeing completely unchanged landscapes and seascapes through Darwin’s eyes.

Turtle swimming across a school of fish in Galapagos. Picture: Getty Images/iStock Photo/LF Puntel

What wildlife can you see in the Galapagos Islands?

Landings by passengers on cruise ships and day-trip boats are stringently controlled, with only one allowed at a time, and they are all led by naturalist guides. Additionally, we went ashore from Silver Origin in very small groups, so even though the ship carries up to 100 guests, we never felt rushed or crowded.

Over our week-long sailing to the western isles, we made seven landings for walking tours and visited the same number of sites on Zodiac, kayaking and snorkelling trips (with a beginner or refresher snorkelling lesson from the beach so everyone could participate).

We could even take home the masks, though unless I go back to the Galapagos, I will never use it for anything that comes close to my unforgettable outings in those warm, wildlife-rich waters.  Of the 9,000 species of flora and fauna on the islands, many are unique to the land and sea of the archipelago and some are as strange as they are astonishing.

On our first sea snorkel off the rugged Vicente Roca Point, dotted with sea caves, there is the incongruous sight of a penguin that dives arrow-straight into the water in search of small fish.  Originally swept over from Antarctica on the Humboldt Current, like many birds and animals that arrived by prevailing ocean streams and winds, it turned out to be a one-way ticket.

With no means of getting back, the penguins had to acclimatise to a dramatically different home. They have less plumage then their cold-weather forebears and adopt a leaning-forward stance to protect their feet from the sun, as well as holding out their wings to further reduce their body temperature.

Silver Origin passengers kayaking in BahÌa Gardner, Espanola Island, Galapagos Islands

As our Zodiac hugs the coastline, a flock of one of the archipelago’s most instantly recognisable feathered residents comes into view. Like all the birds we see throughout the week, the blue-footed boobies pose on the rocks oblivious to the floating paparazzi clicking just a few feet away.

Their dazzling webbed feet are a result of pigments from their diet and are eye-catching in more ways than one. During the courtship ritual, males impress females with an extravagant high-stepping display that shows off their feet to the best advantage. The brighter their feet, the more chance they have of attracting a mate.

Further on is another quirk of Mother Nature’s grand design for survival. The flightless cormorants look ungainly hopping from rock to rock and extending their stumpy wings for balance to reach the water.

Endemic to the Galapagos and with few predators, they no longer need to fly so have metamorphosed into sleek diving machines hunting at up to 25 feet below the surface of the water for more than a minute at a time.

Land hikes, usually early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day, reveal more marvels. Hundreds of dragon-like marine iguanas bask on Espinoza Point, Fernandina, where their soporific stupor is occasionally broken by females digging nests in the sand.

At Cerro Dragon, on Santa Cruz, we get to see their spectacular golden land-based counterparts. It’s hard to pick a single highlight, but my big moment, in every sense, is meeting the giant tortoises on Santa Cruz.  Once almost hunted to extinction by 19th-century sailors as a food source that could be kept alive on ships for months without any food or water, they now lumber along unhindered and can look forward to slow-motion lifespans of more than 100 years.

Marina, Silver Origin

What is it like on Silversea’s Silver Origin?

Back on Silver Origin , we have plenty of our own creature comforts. The new vessel is Silversea Cruises’ first-ever destination-specific ship. Designed to sail year-round in the Galapagos , it has been created to fit the destination and provide guests with an unforgettable experience.

There’s a big marina platform to facilitate getting on and off the eight Zodiacs with ease. Unlike regular cruise ships, Silver Origin never moors in any ports and all its fuel, food, supplies – and passengers – arrive by sea. So although there are always crew members to lend a hand, you do need a reasonable degree of fitness to make the most of the trip.

Wetsuits, flippers and other water sports equipment are provided and I appreciated the advance list with tips on what to pack . Unlike traditional cruises you don’t need to bring any dressy clothes because despite being a luxury ship, the onboard vibe is relaxed and casual.

A central hub is Basecamp with a big LED screen showing informative footage about the Galapagos. Here you can also chat to members of the expedition team, all of whom are passionate about the islands and have an encyclopaedic knowledge.

Indeed, all crew members are Ecuadorian and more than 50% of the food is sourced from the islands, with local specialities showcased on the menu. This makes it even more of an authentic experience.

As we reluctantly disembark in San Cristobal, we gaze at yet another example of how wildlife has adapted. Snoozing sea lions lounge on public benches, blissfully unaware of us as we walk past. This really is another world.

Superior Veranda Suite, Silver Origin

How to book a Silver Origin cruise with Silversea

Silversea Cruises offers year-round, seven-day alternating round-trip San Cristóbal cruises to the western and north-central Galapagos Islands, including home-to-airport transfers (up to 50 miles), flights, drinks, excursions, onboard gratuities and Wi-Fi. A sailing departing September 3 starts from £9,300 per person, also available cruise-only from £6,450. For more information or to book, visit silversea.com

• Review of Silversea’s new ship Silver Dawn
• Best expedition cruise lines for 2022
• Celebrity Cruises announces 2024 sailings to the Galapagos Islands

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Experiencing Luxury in the Wild on Silversea’s New Galápagos Ship

Afar’s special cruise correspondent reviews the recently launched 100-passenger silver origin, which is bringing passengers to paradise in high style..

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Getting up close and personal with the Galápagos on a Silversea sailing.

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Apparently, I have a thing with sea lions. I learned this on my first trip to the Galápagos a decade ago when I was snorkeling and a young sea lion swam over to check me out, the way curious animals do in the remote Ecuadorian islands . On my latest visit in early March, I met up with a teenage sea lion, coming out of the water right next to my double-kayak to show off his catch of the day, an octopus.

I owe the most recent encounter in large part to the fact that I was visiting the Galápagos National Park, which protects the mostly uninhabited islands in the Pacific, on the 100-passenger Silver Origin . Since my traveling partner does not kayak, the ship’s owner, ultraluxury line Silversea Cruises , provided me with my own local naturalist guide, and it was just us exploring the mangroves when we came upon the sea lion.

On Silver Origin , Silversea’s first destination-focused expedition ship, for about $12,000 per person per week, passengers get a suite and have the privilege of visiting natural wonders from a luxurious ship.

Experiences like seeing a sea lion eat an octopus, however, are what make the cruise priceless.

Spotting sea lions is a popular pastime in the Galápagos.

What you will see on a Galápagos cruise

The Galápagos National Park is one of those unique places where the only way to explore is by water. Come here and you need to get over any notions you have that you are not a cruise person. In fact, many of the passengers I met on Silver Origin had never cruised before.

Several highly respected cruise lines sail in the Galápagos, including soft-adventure ships operated by Lindblad Expeditions and Hurtigruten (in partnership with Metropolitan Touring) and the 20-passenger Relais & Châteaux ships (complete with French-trained head chef) of Ecuadorian line Ecoventura. Debuting this summer is a 16-passenger superyacht operated by Ecuadorian-owned Aqua Expeditions , known for its river ships on the Amazon.

Several people I talked with on Silver Origin said they had chosen this slightly larger vessel because there is room to spread out and they were afraid they would be seasick on a smaller ship. Celebrity Cruises, sister line to Silversea, has a luxury 100-passenger ship, Celebrity Flora , in the market too, sans butlers.

The park limits ships to 100 passengers, and visitors can only go onshore, snorkel, or kayak when accompanied by a park-certified naturalist guide, the allowable ratio being one guide to 16 travelers. By comparison, Silver Origin has a 1:10 ratio. The fact the ship has eight inflatable Zodiacs for exploration is also a bonus—you are never landing on shore, or heading off on snorkeling or kayaking adventures, or looking for wildlife along the shoreline with more than 12 people sharing your boat.

For crowd control, and to make sure the wildlife and flora are as undisturbed as possible, where ships go is determined by the park each week, so itineraries are subject to change. When you book a week, you vaguely go either east or west. Cruise lines list itineraries, but they are subject to change.

There are some differences in the routes. The east, in my experience, offers more opportunities to see birdlife, including the notorious blue-footed boobies. My western itinerary on Silver Origin brought very exciting snorkeling—on one outing I swam with sea lions, sea turtles, colorful schools of fish, and five whitetip reef sharks. On both itineraries you’ll view many sea lions, iguanas, and giant tortoises at a nature preserve. (In the case of Silversea’s itineraries, passengers see tortoises at Montemar, a private preserve and coffee plantation on the island of Santa Cruz.)

Most visitors to the Galápagos will run into some giant tortoises.

Silver Origin ’s focus on locally sourced goods and lower emissions

When sailing in the sensitive and protected areas of the Galápagos, cruise lines have been increasingly addressing their impact and are making at least some strides to lessen it. Unfortunately, the Galápagos has yet to see such advances as ships that can operate entirely on liquefied natural gas or on battery power. But with Silver Origin , Silversea Cruises was able to cut fuel consumption by 15 percent compared to Silver Galápagos , the ship the line previously had in the market, by making changes that include specially developed diesel engines and a new hull configuration.

Another welcome development is the dynamic positioning system that allows Silver Origin to hover over delicate sea beds without having to drop anchor and disturb marine life.

Care has been taken to stock cabins with locally made beauty products including SPF 50 reef-safe sunscreen. While onboard, passengers snack on complimentary fair-trade organic chocolate from the Andes, drink organic coffee grown in the Galápagos, dine on pork raised by a local farmer who reportedly sings to his pigs, and eat fish such as the Galápagos scorpionfish, caught by local fishermen.

Locally sourced cuisine is served to the backdrop of ocean views.

What life is like onboard the Silver Origin

Luxury hotel designer Hirsch Bedner Associates is behind the soothing stone and cream interiors of the Silver Origin , a defining element of which is ample windows so passengers never miss views of the sea and volcanic islands. There are also comfortable, cushy furnishings indoors and out from which to view either the passing scenery or take in the collection of Ecuadorian-themed art and knickknacks curated by a London-based art conservancy.

The attention to detail is impressive. Everyone gathers for cocktails and a daily briefing in a windowed Explorer Lounge laid out with conversation seating areas and video screens throughout the room. The idea is if a naturalist is giving a presentation on, say, botany, you never need to strain your neck to look at the photos from wherever you are sitting.

In the windowed Observation Lounge and Library, as you sink into a club chair, you may find yourself dozing off rather than reading the book on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution you have on your lap—the chairs are that comfortable and inviting. At night, head up to the stargazing deck to spot the Southern Cross constellation or exchange stories around the ship’s outdoor firepit.

An exciting innovation is in the Basecamp Lounge right off the marina on the lower deck. You may feel like Captain Kirk in Star Trek as you stand at a touchscreen podium that controls an entire interactive digital wall on which you can zoom into photos and videos of wildlife and factoids about the Galápagos.

For meals, passengers are dispersed between the main restaurant and a covered open-air grill so that you never feel part of a crowd. An enthusiastic head chef waxes poetic about his international- and Ecuadorian-influenced creations. A passenger favorite is the daily selection of soup-like Ecuadorian ceviche served with plantain chips and popcorn, in flavors such as tuna, fish broth and peanut paste. The chef leads a cooking class with take-home recipes. In addition to fresh fish, the vegetarian dishes, such as grilled cabbage atop celery root, are among the highlights.

There isn’t a bad room—or bathroom—in the house.

The smallest suite is a generous 325 square feet and the largest is apartment size. Two top suites can be combined for nearly 2,000 square feet of space for families or groups. All have an open-air feature, ranging from a proper step-out balcony to a balcony effect that you can create by pushing a button to open the top half of a floor-to-ceiling window.

Silversea includes nearly everything in the cruise fare—you can spend extra on a massage or blowout if you desire. A personal butler is available to answer requests should you want a bottle of Belvedere vodka or your hiking boots cleaned.

While the wildlife is what you will remember most from your Galápagos cruise aboard the Silver Origin , the fact that nature explorations are complemented by as much pampering as you can imagine onboard certainly doesn’t detract from the experience. After a day spent spotting sea lions, you will disembark your Zodiac at the ship’s marina and peel off your wetsuit, then head to your suite in a designer bathrobe provided by the waiting crew. Have your butler bring you a cappuccino or a cocktail as you relax in the ship’s hot tub watching the sun go down. Finally, you’ll snuggle into bed under fine European linens. Not a bad way to end the day.

>> Next: What I Learned From the Famously Fearless Creatures of the Galápagos Islands

Galapagos Luxury Cruises

Immerse yourself in the magic and mystery of the Galapagos with Silversea. With more experts per guest than anyone else, a ship designed to access remote areas others can’t, and itineraries developed with local communities, you’ll be part of an authentic expedition to uncover the secrets of this unique living museum.

The Silversea Difference

With Silversea ultra-luxury cruises you can live the elegant lifestyle of all-inclusive ultra-luxury cruising across 900 worldwide destinations. Our smallest ships are designed for those who delight in the thrill of discovery while indulging mind and body in the most lavish surroundings imaginable. All accommodations are spacious, ocean-view suites that include butler service, and most include private verandas.

Intimate Luxury Ships

A luxurious cruise means many things to many people but we feel that Silversea’s small ship cruises personify the true meaning of comfort and intimacy. Our ships are small enough to visit exceptional destinations; yet large enough to make sure that you may experience everything you could dream of.

Personalised Services

With a staff to guest ratio of amost 1:1, our service remains the crown jewel in Silversea's crown. Devoted, discreet and experienced, those dedicated men and women are the key to turning your trip into a long-lasting memory.

Oceanview Suites

Silversea suites offer one of the highest space-per-guest ratios of any luxury cruise accommodations. All of our suites feature ocean views, and most with a private teak veranda. Regardless of the ship or suite, all guests will be pampered by the personalised services of an attentive butler, sailing in style aboard the best luxury cruise line.

Fine Dining

Our innovative gourmet excellence is perhaps our most talked about distinction, a promise that you will savour the best gourmet experience at sea. From fine French cuisine or delicate Asian options to relaxed Italian family-style meals, our chef's creativity knows no limits. After all, the food is as important as the destination.

Silver Ray cruise ship review: A modern yet classic luxury ship for foodies and explorers

Editor's Note

Silver Ray is a cruise ship designed to appeal to both classic and modern luxury travelers. Whether you love it or not will depend on your definition of luxury at sea and whether you can find your happy place on board.

On the old-school side of things, the ship still embraces Silversea Cruises ' commitment to fine dining, all-inclusive beverages, a tuxedoed butler in every suite (all cabins are suites) and attentive-yet-formal service. Silver Ray's design aesthetic is understated luxury. In most public areas and suites, the decor is elegant and rich but not cutting-edge or designed to wow. (There are a few exceptions.)

On the modern side, the ship has traded formal afternoon tea and a classic-style pool deck for restaurant menus that reflect today's culinary trends in Italy and France, a resort-inspired sun deck with an offset pool facing the ocean and a craft cocktail bar outside a high-tech demonstration kitchen. The ship's physical layout, which embraces light-filled spaces by placing venues and elevators along the sides of the ship rather than in the center, is revolutionary but won't be everyone's cup of tea.

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I was on board for five days during a preview sailing before the ship set sail on its maiden voyage, so I could not ask any actual Silversea guests how they felt about Silver Ray, though it is identical to the 2023-debuted Silver Nova . While guest demographics will vary — a weeklong summer Mediterranean cruise will always attract a different crowd from a 70-night South America voyage — my take is that the ship's amenities can appeal to both the retiree crowd and middle-aged and even millennial affluent travelers.

You just need to know which menus to choose and which spaces to make your own.

Overview of Silver Ray

The 728-passenger, 54,700-ton Silver Ray is small by today's megaship standards, but it's packed with 10 restaurants and eight bars and lounges, a demonstration kitchen for cooking classes, a spa and fitness center, and two levels of sun deck with a pool and hot tub.

Fares are all-inclusive , so all drinks, most restaurants, standard Wi-Fi and crew gratuities are included in the price of your cruise. Certain fares also include airfare and port transfers; you can pick how inclusive you want to go.

The luxury cruise ship has an especially high space-to-passenger ratio. Silver Ray is about 34% bigger than Silversea's previous class of ships — Silver Muse, Silver Moon and Silver Dawn — but it holds only about 22% more passengers. Executives claim that if every passenger during a sold-out cruise were on the pool deck, they'd still have plenty of space to themselves. Even the smallest suites are large, with huge bathrooms, walk-in closets, full living areas and plenty of space to walk around.

With 544 crew members, the ship also has a crew-to-passenger ratio of 1:1.3, which leads to a high level of service on board. Crew members make a point to learn your name and preference, and every suite is attended to by a formal butler .

What sets this ship (and its sister Silver Nova) apart from other luxury ships is what the line refers to as its asymmetrical design. That means that many key elements of the ship are offset from the center. For example, instead of putting the standard elevators in the middle of the ship with corridors to the left and right, Silver Ray has two all-glass elevator banks on the exterior of the ship, with one on the port side and the other on the starboard side. The pool is not in the middle of the sun deck, but placed on the starboard side; the infinity-style hot tub, one deck up, is on the port side. So is the ship's smokestack — it's not centered as it would be on every other ship you've sailed. All of the deck chairs are oriented toward the sides of the ship rather than facing in toward a central pool.

Combine these elements with the ship's extensive use of glass windows, and the result is an abundance of spaces with sea views. When you're in the pool, you're looking out to sea or at the port where you're docked. When you're riding the elevator, you're staring at the world beyond your ship.

These design changes follow from Silversea's commitment to delivering an immersive destination experience for its passengers. Instead of cocooning in a shipboard world (like you might on some of sister cruise line Royal Caribbean's attraction-laden cruise ships), Silver Ray encourages guests to explore the world beyond the vessel. The aim is to accomplish this predominantly with food through the line's Sea And Land Taste program. S.A.L.T. has many elements, including hands-on cooking classes at S.A.L.T. Lab, regionally inspired meals and craft cocktails at S.A.L.T. Kitchen and S.A.L.T. Bar, and shore excursions that introduce participants not only to local flavors but to the people who produce them.

The ship was also built to be more energy efficient. Its snub-nose hull design alone reduces fuel needs by 15%. It's a hybrid vehicle which uses liquefied natural gas power but also has batteries built in. The ship has also eliminated most single-use plastics. You won't find disposable water bottles on board, but you will find reusable ones in your cabin, as well as bottle-filling stations throughout the ship.

Silversea executives hope that Silver Ray's modern style will attract younger guests, but Silversea passengers are generally affluent retirees. Children are welcome, but there are no spaces dedicated to them. However, if a higher-than-normal number of kids are sailing, the ship's activities staff will transform a small room off the tender-boarding area on Deck 2 into a play space and lead the young cruisers in games and age-appropriate activities.

Related: The best luxury cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

What I loved about Silver Ray

I stayed in the smallest suite — and it was still huge.

My Deluxe Veranda Suite was not the lowest-category room, but only because of its central location. It was still the smallest-sized suite on board. Even so, it was enormous, with a whopping 357 square feet of space, including the 56-square-foot balcony. Consider that many megaship balcony cabins are around 200 square feet, and mine was nearly double that size.

The extra space was especially appreciated in the bathroom, with its wide glassed-in shower (I didn't bang my elbows against the wall once!) and generous floor space that could easily accommodate two people getting ready at once. Both the desk and the sofa were full-sized, with plenty of space to sit or store items. A walk-in closet had all the drawer, shelving and hanging space I could need, and a separate vanity area meant I did not have to put on makeup on top of my laptop.

The ship's design brings light into every space

I appreciated Silversea's use of glass everywhere to bring views and light into spaces that don't always have them. The sauna and spa pool in the Otium Spa have floor-to-ceiling windows for sea or port views while you relax. Thanks to an entire back wall of windows, I could watch the sunset during my Chef's Table dinner at the S.A.L.T. Lab cooking class and dining space. Even waiting for an elevator is pleasant because you can look outside through the glass exterior walls.

I loved the views for days I could get on the pool deck. The way the pool bar is oriented, you can see through to the sea beyond no matter which side you're sitting on. And, of course, it's lovely to gaze out to sea when you're floating in the pool or sitting in the hot tub. (If I come back on vacation, I would take my Kindle to the Orangerie, curl up on a plush, oversized patio chair and face the ocean while I read.) I also loved the alfresco dining and drinking spaces of the Marquee Restaurant and Dusk Bar. I didn't want to be anywhere else when the weather was nice.

Related: 7 extremely decadent things you can do on a luxury cruise vacation

What I didn't love about Silver Ray

Navigating the ship is harder than it should be.

The asymmetric design has unintended consequences. It makes the ship more difficult to navigate than I'd expected.

The ship has a frustrating number of dead ends; often, I'd go one way around a stairwell and end up at a wall. I could never figure out which way was forward or aft, and often would walk through a bar or lounge only to realize I was going the wrong way and have to retrace my steps. (Lest you think I just have a bad sense of direction, I can tell you that I mastered the world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, in just a few days.)

I was completely mystified about which way to turn toward my suite when I exited the elevator banks. It should have been easy because there were large photographs at each entrance, but I got confused because no matter which photo I was at, my cabin was to the right. It took a few days for me to realize that the two elevator banks are on opposite sides of the ship, not the same side as it would be in a symmetrical design with two corridors, not one, of rooms on each deck. The positioning of the elevator banks made me confused about forward and aft on other decks, as well.

Not related to the ship design but also unnecessarily confusing in cabin hallways is that the room numbers are misaligned. They do go up by twos if you're just looking at the odd or even side of the corridor. But because numbers aren't skipped when there's a suite on one side of the hallway and not on the other, the cabins across from each other don't match. For example, I was in cabin 8022 and the cabin across the hall was not 8021 but 8039. If I wasn't paying attention and was looking at the odd-numbered side, it was easy to walk right by my cabin.

To top it all off, you can't find deck plans on your in-cabin TV or informational tablet, nor does Silversea hand out little cards with the decks marked. You can find the layout of each floor on the wall by the elevators, but that doesn't help you know whether you're at the correct elevator bank for your destination on another deck.

Service was uneven

Service is never 100% up to speed on a shakedown cruise, but its unevenness was especially noticeable because attentive service is a hallmark of Silversea.

Every suite has a butler, and I've never gotten a great one on Silversea. My interactions with my butler on Silver Ray were always awkward. One morning, we had agreed he was going to set up the Otium shower experience (with candles and scented shower bombs), but I called twice to request it and he never picked up or called me back. Another time, when I was running late and asked him to pick up my laundry from the launderette, his response was passive-aggressive; first, he said he couldn't do that for me, then said he would make an exception just this once, leaving me uncertain as to whether I'd put him on the spot somehow.

But also, I never saw him in the hallway (my room stewards on Carnival — a much less pricey line — have always been more friendly, attentive and present), whereas butlers for my friends' suites would materialize out of nowhere to open their doors for them whenever they returned to their suite.

In addition, the reception desk staff not only did not know the answers to most of my questions but also had trouble understanding what I was asking. I imagine this would be a liability when you have demanding, paying passengers on board who will get frustrated and impatient easily.

On the other hand, sometimes the service was simply too much. At the buffet, there was always someone hovering at my elbow, asking to take my plate or escort me to my seat. Yet it took a long time for them to bring me tea or notice that my water needed refilling.

I realized that Silversea's formal style of service might simply not be my cup of tea. I prefer the friendliness of Viking or Carnival crew members, even if they don't provide all the services Silversea's crew does (or is supposed to). Still, I found the service lacking compared to its reputation, and I hope the staff will be able to work the kinks out after a few more sailings.

Silver Ray cabins and suites

Every cabin on Silver Ray is a spacious suite with a private balcony, palatial bathroom, walk-in closet and separate sleeping and living areas. Given that the smallest suite is a generous 357 square feet (megaship cabins are commonly smaller than 200 square feet), you won't feel cramped in any suite on the ship. That said, I toured some of the larger suites, including the top Otium suite, and while they are sizable, they don't have the wow factor of a Royal Caribbean Loft Suite or Regent Seven Seas Cruises Regent Suite .

Unlike older Silversea ships, where there are suites on nearly every deck, Silver Ray consolidates all its guest rooms on decks 6 through 9.

I stayed in a Deluxe Veranda Suite, which is different from the Classic, Superior and Premium Veranda Suites mainly by location. The Deluxe Veranda Suites are centrally located, while the Classic and Superior are farther forward and back. The Premium suites are either midship or at the very back of the ship with wake-facing balconies.

The layout of my balcony suite is the standard cruise ship one. The bathroom is just to one side as you enter, backed up to the closet, with a sleeping area then a living area then the balcony. But Silversea enhances that basic design with its own luxury touches.

The first thing I noticed when I stepped inside was how spacious the room was. It didn't have that tight, everything-squeezed-together feeling you sometimes get when you first enter a cruise ship cabin. The corridor from the door into the sleeping area is wide, with enough room for a mirrored vanity across from the bathroom door. Don't get so distracted by your gorgeous face in the full-length mirror behind the vanity that you miss the mirrored doors that hide a narrow cupboard with useful shelving and a pull-out laundry hamper.

All suites on Silver Ray have a walk-in closet with both half- and full-height hanging closets, large open shelves and drawer space. In the Veranda Suites, the entrance is angled to give more space between the closet and the bed. In the closet, you'll find thick Italian cotton terry cloth robes and slippers, an umbrella, a soft throw blanket, sewing kit, shoe mitt and lint brush. The safe is hidden in a drawer; I searched and searched for the number pad to set a code, only to discover that it lights up only when you touch the "enter" button on the lid of the safe.

The queen-sized bed, which can be split into twins, has cool soft sheets and a duvet that feels silky on my skin every time I slide into bed. Apparently, the mattresses are custom-made for Silversea.

Ask your butler to show you the pillow menu, which is not a piece of paper but a box of mini pillows; you can choose from a selection of five down, hypoallergenic and memory foam pillow options. (Honestly, they were all nice and I'm not sure I could tell the difference.) You can even ask for an extra-soft mattress to replace the standard one.

The bed is flanked by marble-topped nightstands with three open shelves, bedside lamps and reading lights, and a U.S. 110-volt, European 220-volt, USB-A and USB-C plug on each side. A phone is set on one of the nightstands.

The living area is separated from the sleeping area by a curtain you can pull across should you have a third guest sleeping on a sofabed. The sofa can fit at least three people and has a movable ottoman to seat a fourth or to prop your feet on. A marble-topped table is wide enough for in-room dining and is set with real orchids and a basket of fresh fruit.

Across from the sofa, the desk area, also marble-topped, is wide. Here, you'll find a phone, more outlets (U.S., European and USB) and a tablet with ship information and settings for your suite's lighting. My butler would leave the tablet on my bed at night to indicate tomorrow's schedule was now available; call me old school but I miss the paper newsletters.

The desk has four drawers, one with divided sections and another with leather padding to protect your delicate belongings. A minifridge is stocked with soda, beer and water, and you can request to have your favorite drinks added. (You could also ask for a bottle of complimentary liquor or wine from your butler, but it won't be set up for you when you arrive.)

Above the desk is a large TV that can swivel to orient toward the bed or toward the couch. In addition to live TV and a large movie selection, it has interactive elements for viewing your onboard bill, dinner and shore excursion reservations, messages and other ship information. Additional shelving includes a cabinet with a bottle opener-corkscrew and glassware.

My 56-square-foot balcony had two upright metal-and-mesh chairs and a small round drinks table that didn't strike me as overly luxurious.

My bathroom was huge; it was bigger than my master bathroom at home (which, notably, is small). It has a spacious glassed-in shower with a rain showerhead and wand; select Veranda Suites across categories come with bathtubs. The bench in the shower is a nice touch for storing toiletries, or for shaving or washing while seated.

In the shower, you'll find a clothesline and full-size bottles of Silversea's own Otium brand of shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I have curly hair and never use cruise ship-provided hair products, but know that you can request high-end Bulgari or allergen-free Sebamed toiletries from your butler if you prefer those brands.

The long marble-topped bathroom vanity has a wide sink with two faucets (instead of two separate sinks), two deep drawers with sliding dividers (one contains the hair dryer) and four glass shelves. The bathroom is stocked with bar soap, Otium body lotion and liquid soap, makeup remover pads and wipes, cotton buds, a loofah bath pad and shower cap. The outlet in the bathroom is for shavers only. Two hooks and a full-length mirror are set on the back of the door, so if you hang your towel up, you can no longer check your reflection.

As I said, all suites come with a butler to service them, as well as a room attendant who will clean your cabin daily. Butlers can help you unpack and bring you special treats like truffle popcorn when you want to watch an in-room movie, hot chocolate to enjoy on the balcony, or a shower bomb for an aromatherapy shower without trekking to the spa. A friend even asked her butler to bring her Champagne and caviar daily at 5 p.m., and this request was happily fulfilled.

As I mentioned previously, I didn't feel that having a butler enhanced my cruise when he mostly brought me room service. I could have asked him to make dinner reservations or shore excursion changes for me. But those desks never had long queues, so it was simpler to talk to those folks directly than explain a complicated request to my butler. Call me a control freak, but I like to unpack and pack my suitcase myself — another job my butler would have happily undertaken.

If you want even more space in your suite, you have several options, ranging from 528-square-foot Medallion Suites (essentially a wider version of the Veranda Suite with extra lounge space and actual walls to divide up the room) to the two 1,326-square-foot Otium Suites. These top suites are located at the aft corners of Deck 6 and 7 and feature an in-suite library, spacious living and dining areas, a huge marbled master bathroom, and two balconies, one with a Jacuzzi tub and padded outdoor lounge furniture.

For family groups, Silver Ray offers connecting cabins, both between like-category cabins and between larger and smaller suites.

Only Veranda and Silver Suites come in wheelchair-accessible versions. Accessible cabins mainly have showers, but a few also have tubs. They feature wider doors and floor space to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters. All areas of the suite are accessible without a need for ramps.

Related: 7 compelling reasons to book a luxury cruise

Silver Ray restaurants and bars

Book a long cruise if you wish to try all of Silver Ray's restaurants because the ship certainly has more options than I could try in a five-night trip. With Silver Ray's debut, Silversea has updated the menus of longtime favorites, La Dame (French) and La Terrazza (Italian), to include more modern dishes, as well as old standards. In addition, the line's S.A.L.T. program (which stands for Sea And Land Taste) brings the culinary experience from your cruise region on board with two dining options tailored to the ports of call, a bar and cooking classes and lectures.

Cruisers familiar with other luxury lines might be surprised to find that several of Silver Ray's restaurants come with hefty cover charges. Never fear — you'll still get a high-end dining experience with the included venues.

Restaurants

Silver Ray's two main complimentary dining rooms are located side by side on Deck 3. Atlantide is the more traditional restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, while S.A.L.T. Kitchen offers regionally inspired menus for dinner only. These restaurants are where you'll want to go for that classic three-course cruise ship meal. Unfortunately, I was unable to eat in these venues on my sailing, other than a christening dinner in Atlantide with a special one-time menu.

If you're in the mood for a leisurely, waiter-served breakfast, Atlantide will serve you all the eggs and omelets, pancakes, waffles, pastries, cereal, yogurt and fruit you can eat. Hours are limited, so check the schedule before you go.

For lunch, Atlantide offers a small menu of starters, entrees and desserts. You might start with a Nicoise salad or scallop ceviche, enjoy beef tenderloin medallions or a vegetable biryani for your main course and indulge in a chocolate mille feuille or fruity meringue for dessert.

The dinner menu is more robust, with starters followed by vegetarian, fish and meat options for your main courses and a dessert menu that includes a cheese course, gluten- and sugar-free desserts, ice cream and sorbet, as well as a selection of tarts, pastries and other treats.

The S.A.L.T. Kitchen menu is divided into two sections. Part of the menu showcases dishes from your cruise region and stays the same the entire voyage. The other part changes daily to reflect the cuisine of that day's port of call. For example, the day we were docked in Cadiz, Spain, the menu featured Spanish dishes such as tortillitas de camarones (shrimp fritters), pollo a la canilla (chicken with rosemary potatoes and garlic mushrooms) and baked figs made with locally produced sherry.

Aft on Deck 4 is La Terrazza, the restaurant you'll likely frequent the most. It serves as the ship's buffet venue for breakfast and lunch with indoor and outdoor seating.

Breakfast features all the standards: a bread and pastry counter; hot dishes like pancakes, eggs and breakfast meat; fruit, yogurt and muesli; even a congee station. You can also request eggs cooked to order from your server.

At lunch, you'll find a make-your-own salad bar plus premade salads, meats and cheeses, and a selection of breads. Hot dishes range from fine meat-based entrees (lamb chops, lobster tails, filet mignon, herb-crusted chicken) to vegetarian dishes such as a vegetable stew or Indian aloo gobi. You'll also find a carving station, pizza and an impressive spread of seafood and sushi. Your waiter will inform you about the pasta of the day. The large dessert spread includes a pudding (or other scoopable option), small cakes and pastries, and five flavors of ice cream and sorbet.

Gluten-free dishes are marked.

I enjoyed the one breakfast and lunch I ate at La Terrazza, though service at breakfast was slow and I had to wait longer than expected for my tea and my eggs, given how few guests were dining at the same time. The servers and I also had different ideas about how to approach a buffet; I wanted to make a plate and then find a seat, but they preferred to escort me to a table, which I then had to leave to get my meal.

In the evening, La Terrazza becomes a sit-down Italian restaurant with a two-part menu. The Quintessence Menu features the restaurant's historically most popular dishes, such as gnocchi with Parma ham, fresh pasta with tomato sauce and fried eggplants and stuffed calamari. The Adventure Menu showcases modern Italian cuisine, including a leek and goat cheese risotto and a grilled sea bass with stuffed cabbage and anchovy prosecco sauce. You can mix and match dishes from both venues.

Desserts include the fan favorite affogato (gelato with an espresso pour-over), a cheese plate, tiramisu and a gelato and sorbet menu.

Forward of La Terrazza is Kaiseki, Silver Ray's Japanese restaurant. Come for lunch and you can gorge yourself on sushi and sashimi (as well as beef bao buns and two types of ramen) for free. In the evening, you'll pay $80 per person for a six-course Omakase menu or a la carte dining. The menu includes a tempura shrimp and vegetable platter, enoki mushroom soup, wagyu beef steak served with a grilled lobster tail and chicken katsu.

Silversea's longstanding date night restaurant, the French La Dame, received a menu update in time for Silver Ray's debut. The regular menu highlights traditional French dishes made with expensive ingredients. For $160 per person, you can indulge in foie gras terrine, leek and potato soup with truffle shavings and caviar, lobster and cognac bisque, pan-fried dover sole, filet of grass-fed Limousin beef and a salted caramel souffle.

If that sounds too rich for your liking, you can opt for the new signature degustation menu, created in partnership with chef Jean-Luc Rabanel, who specializes in plant-forward "green cuisine." The menu is not vegetarian but it emphasizes quality produce as the star of most dishes.

The seven-course meal will leave you feeling more than satisfied because you consumed a lot of food and wine, not because the dishes are exceptionally rich. You can taste reasonably sized portions of a mille-feuille of mushrooms with seared duck foie gras, seabass cooked with artichokes and fennel, rack of lamb with creamy polenta and Provencal vegetables, and a pavlova with goat cheese and watermelon and tamarind jam. Each course is paired with wine, either from the complimentary menu or from the premium menu for an upcharge of $90 (wine) to $140 (Champagne) per person.

My degustation meal was delicious, especially since I'm always searching for more vegetables in cruise ship dishes. However, for $160 a head, you'll get more bang for your buck ordering all the lobster and caviar dishes from the regular menu.

When you need a break from formal dining and heavy multicourse menus, Silver Note on Deck 5 is your antidote. The intimate supper club is one of the few onboard restaurants with a bar in it because it's half meal, half entertainment. A pianist and jazz singer entertain while you dine on Mediterranean small plates. The dishes are innovatively styled and presented and appeal to more curious palates. If you prefer a plate of meat with a side of veg, stick to Atlantide.

The Silver Note menu is divided into six sections with music-themed names, but there aren't obvious starters and mains. Pick and choose three to four of your favorites — plus dessert! — and request them to be served in any order you like. I giggled when the tuna ceviche I ordered arrived in a sardine can and my chocolate Black Swan dessert came styled like a swan with chocolate neck and wings. Do not miss the beef tenderloin tournedos, which were soft and buttery, unlike my more chewy lamb.

The new venue on this class of ships (it debuted on Silver Nova), Marquee is the place to be when the weather is warm and sunny. The open-air restaurant is located on the pool deck, Deck 10, and is gorgeous, with blossoming trees sprouting from the seating areas and a lattice-style covering above your head. Sea views abound.

Marquee changes its menu personality based on the time of day. In the morning, it serves lighter fare, such as an acai bowl, pumpkin pancake, avocado on sourdough toast and the more adorable "rainbow mosaic" of five sweet and savory bites on whole wheat brioche (think peaches and cream cheese and prosciutto with fig chutney).

At lunch, you have a choice of two menus. Spaccanapoli serves Neopolitan-style pizza, and the ship has the proper pizza oven to satisfy all the Italians on board. The Grill menu has all your lunchtime favorites: burgers, hot dogs, steak sandwiches and fish-and-chips among them. But you'll also find poke bowls, pumpkin and chickpea salad, falafel wraps, and a grilled fish of the day. Go as heavy or light as you like. I split a pizza with a friend, and we each ordered a salad starter; it was the perfect alfresco lunch.

Marquee was my favorite of all the restaurants on board due to the beautiful alfresco location and wide-ranging menu of both hearty and light dishes.

In the evening, Marquee transforms again to serve its signature "hot rocks" meals. Pick your favorite high-quality protein — prawns, filet mignon, prime rib-eye steak, New York Strip steak, lamb chops — and you'll receive it raw ... with a hot stone to cook it on. You can also order a signature pizza or cooked-for-you items from the grill. Most passengers enjoy the novelty of the cooking experience at this fan-favorite restaurant, but you can also ask your server to handle the meat for you so you don't over or undercook your dinner.

Also new on Silver Ray is an expansion of the S.A.L.T. dining experience with the Chef's Table, which takes place in the S.A.L.T. Lab on Deck 10. The cooking stations are transformed into 18 place settings for an 11-course meal, with cocktail and wine pairings, again celebrating the cruise region of your sailing.

A chef emcees your meal, explaining the highlighted ingredients and their relevance to your cruise region's food culture. Our chef, German, was funny and engaging and added a lighthearted spirit to a lengthy three-hour meal. The Chef's Table is a great choice for meeting your fellow food enthusiasts, though the U-shaped seating area means you can only really converse with folks to your immediate left and right. It's an intriguing dinner option for cruisers looking for a meal that's modern and inventive; traditional cruise diners should splurge on La Dame instead.

Reservations are only taken on board and the cost is $180 per person, making it the most expensive dining experience on the ship.

You do not need reservations for Atlantide, Chef's Table, lunch at Kaiseki, or breakfast and lunch at Marquee and La Terrazza. You will want to make reservations for La Dame, Silver Note, the Chef's Table and dinner at Kaiseki, Marquee and La Terrazza.

Silversea takes in-room dining to new heights, with both an extensive room service menu and special Otium in-suite dining experiences. Order a meal to your room, and you won't be eating off a tray. If you're not in a suite with a dining table, your butler will place a special table-topper on your coffee table to expand it into a larger dining surface, spread it with a white tablecloth and lay out place settings as if you were eating in a restaurant. Allow 40 minutes for orders to arrive.

The breakfast menu is a full one, with all your breakfast breads and pastries, yogurts and fruit, but also eggs, meats, pancakes and other hot items.

The all-day menu features starters (vegetarian spring rolls, Caesar salad, beef empanadas), wraps and sandwiches (club sandwich, tuna wrap, tandoori vegetable roti), mains (pasta, burgers, butter chicken) and dessert (creme brulee, fruit plate). You'll even find a children's room service menu with chicken nuggets, fish fingers, spaghetti with meat sauce, hot dogs, pizza and ice cream sundaes among the offerings.

Of course, you can order Champagne and caviar to your room at any time. However, you cannot order off the Atlantide menu for in-suite dining; you must stick to the official room service menus.

The options continue with the Otium nibbles and comfort food that your butler can also deliver to your cabin, perhaps to enjoy on your balcony. The nibbles include a selection of chocolates or macarons and truffle popcorn (perfect for a relaxing movie night) and special hot chocolates and Otium cocktails (both alcoholic and non). The comfort food menu is only available from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is decadent; you could indulge in foie gras mousse, lobster ravioli, truffled potato croquette and a salted caramel mousse.

Related: Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The 10 best meals you can have at sea

All but the most premium of drinks are included on Silver Ray, so the ship has a convivial culture centered around its many bars. Each has its own menu of signature drinks, though, of course, you can order your favorites around the ship. Look to the last page of each menu for interesting nonalcoholic cocktails.

In the evenings, many of the bars play host to the ship's musicians. On my cruise, a pianist, violinist and saxophone player made the rounds.

You might not notice Deck 3's The Shelter on your first day on board because this Champagne bar is tucked away in a corner that you won't pass through if you aren't trying to find it. However, it's the closest bar to the main restaurants, Atlantide and S.A.L.T. Kitchen, so is ideal for a pre- or post-dinner drink. You can taste a variety of fine Champagnes by the glass here.

The hub of the ship is the Deck 4 Arts Cafe, the coffee bar situated midship along a major thoroughfare and next to the Reception and Shore Excursions desks. It was one of my favorite spots to grab a quick bite. You'll find not only coffee and tea drinks but healthy infused waters, smoothies, parfaits and pastries at breakfast and small sandwiches, scones and small desserts in the afternoon. A small business area with two computer stations and a printer is also in this area.

Fans of Silversea's waiter-served afternoon tea on its older ships might be disappointed to learn that it is not offered on Silver Ray (or sister Silver Nova). Instead, you can order tea, scones and treats every afternoon at the Arts Cafe, but you won't get white-glove service or an artful presentation of goodies.

Immediately above the Arts Cafe on Deck 5, Dolce Vita is a popular spot for pre- or post-dinner drinks and a menu of classic drinks. A waiter might even stop by with pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres.

All the way forward on Deck 5 is the Panorama Lounge, with indoor and outdoor seating. It's open from the afternoon into the evening, and there's always something going on here, whether midday bingo, cocktail hour music or a late-night DJ. It's got a fun drink menu, as well.

The Connoisseur's Corner cigar lounge is next door if you need a drink and a smoke; an outdoor cigar smoking area is adjacent. A DIY bar features complimentary drinks, but you can also order premium whiskeys, cognacs and cigars for an extra fee.

Restaurant Silver Note, also on Deck 5, has a small bar where guests who are not dining there can enjoy a beverage and live music. The cocktail menu here leans into the 1920s prohibition-era vibe. Between the dinner crowd and the live music, Silver Note is loud; it's not the bar for easy conversation.

The drinks are flowing on Deck 10 with four bars. The pool bar has all your refreshing sunny day drinks, like pina coladas, but the Dusk Bar is a lovely spot to enjoy a sundowner or aperitif and gorgeous wake views. Just note that one corner is the smoking area. Personally, I loved the vibe of the Dusk Bar and wished I could spend each evening there.

The Observation Lounge loses some of its impressiveness on a ship with tons of glass and sea views everywhere, but it does double duty with a collection of games and a self-serve coffee and tea bar. It's a lovely spot to while away a sea day afternoon when the weather is cool or rainy.

If you want something stronger than coffee, you'll need to meander over to the adjacent S.A.L.T. bar just outside the S.A.L.T. lab. It specializes in craft cocktails inspired by the ports of call on your itinerary, which means the drink menu here might change a few times during the course of your cruise. If you like trendy drinks made with the most current cocktail techniques and a more intimate vibe than a large lounge, the S.A.L.T. bar will be your go-to spot.

Silver Ray activities

My preview cruise on Silver Ray did not have a typical schedule, but you can expect activities like trivia, arts and crafts, guest lectures, and shuffleboard or golf putting competitions on deck.

Silver Ray's signature space is the resort-inspired pool area on decks 10 and 11. The ship's asymmetrical design is most evident here, where the ship's only pool is off to one side of the ship rather than in the center. It's surrounded by loungers, all oriented to face the sea rather than the pool. An infinity-style hot tub is above on Deck 11 port side.

You might be surprised at how light and airy the pool deck feels but not know why. It's because the only thing above the pool is the sky, rather than an oval deck above closing in the space. The deck 11 lounge area runs down the middle of the deck, over the pool bar, instead.

Adding to that resort feel are some shady outdoor lounge areas where you can read or chat in the fresh air, even when a splash and a tan aren't your top priorities. I especially loved the Orangerie area, forward of the pool deck, with a faux orange tree surrounded by cushy seating and double day beds.

A jogging track circles half of Deck 10 between the pool and the Dusk Bar. (The glass elevators mean no wraparound promenade on Deck 4.) Mixed in with the sunbathing areas are a series of games (golf putting, giant chess and tic-tac-toe) at the very front of Deck 11.

The Otium Spa on Deck 5 forward keeps the ship's sea-view theme going with floor-to-ceiling windows in the two-room fitness center, salon and thermal areas. Treat yourself to a massage, facial, wrap or scrub. The Otium experiences are the ultimate treat; let someone massage you into bliss for 100 minutes, though expect to pay hundreds of dollars for these top-end treatments.

To counteract that splurge, you can enjoy the ship's thermal areas for free. Both the men's and women's dressing rooms have complimentary steam rooms and dry saunas; in between is a shared spa pool. Both the pool and the sauna have windows, so you can watch the world go by. Complimentary scrubs are available; rub them on your body before you get into the steam room, then enjoy your super-soft skin once you've showered off.

The fitness center is impressive for a small ship, with plenty of treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes; a collection of free weights and resistance machines; and a room for exercise classes, with both in-person and digital options on a large-screen TV. You won't find bottles of water, but you will find a water bottle filling station.

The Venetian Lounge on decks 4 and 5 is a full two-story theater, unlike the one-deck, cabaret-style show lounges you'll find on older Silversea ships. Entertainment will be a mix of song-and-dance shows by the ship's onboard performers, guest entertainers and local acts brought on board when the ship stays late in port. Other lectures and events also take place here.

If you haven't parted with enough money yet, you can go on a shopping spree at the ship's boutiques on decks 4 and 5 adjacent to the Venetian Lounge. The shop on Deck 4 sells sundries, Silversea logowear, some regional items and children's gifts, while the Deck 5 boutiques sell high-end perfumes, purses, resortwear and jewelry. The lifelike mannequins posed around the shops might cause you to do a double-take when you first glimpse them — you're not the only person to have that reaction.

A tiny casino across from the Deck 5 shops is easy to miss, but you can also get rid of excess cash (or perhaps win some shopping money) at the few gaming tables and slots open when the ship is at sea.

On the other end of Deck 5, an adorable little library has the cutest Instagrammable reading nooks. Below it, on Deck 4, just outside of Kaiseki is a photo gallery of art by renowned photographer Steve McCurry, who partners with Silversea. You'll find his photographs in other corridors, as well.

Like libraries? There's a hidden one within the Observation Lounge on Deck 10. Look for the door on your lefthand side as you round the corner toward the back of the ship. Inside is a gorgeous wood-paneled room with comfortable seating and a ceiling lit to resemble a starry sky.

A Silversea beverage manager told me that the library will soon feature a mystery cocktail experience. Hidden within the regular books you can borrow will be special hollow books with an empty glass and a mini cocktail menu inside. You'll bring the book back to the adjacent S.A.L.T. bar to get your drink made.

Silver Ray's culinary focus and S.A.L.T. program extend to onboard activities as well. Deck's 10 S.A.L.T. Lab is a demonstration kitchen with 12 work stations that can be shared by two people and gorgeous prep spaces and flat-screen TVs to watch the chefs work. An onboard chef will lead hourlong cooking classes that introduce guests to recipes of the cruise region. We made Portuguese tarts and a trifle with egg custard, and our chef instructor was sassy and fun. Classes are complimentary but you must sign up in advance.

Take your treats out the glass doors of the lab to some alfresco dining tables just behind.

In addition, passengers can attend S.A.L.T. food-and-wine-oriented talks by onboard and guest lecturers to learn more about the culinary culture of the places they're visiting on vacation.

Silver Ray does not have a kids club, though its activity staff will put on kids programming on itineraries with a higher-than-usual number of children. They use out-of-the-way spaces on the ship, such as a little room off the tender boarding area on Deck 2 or the forward sun deck area on Deck 11 with the outdoor games.

The ship might not always cater to young cruisers, but it does employ gentleman hosts on longer sailings to accompany single ladies to dinner and dancing in the evenings. The line clearly knows and understands its core demographic.

Related: 5 best Silversea Cruises destinations

Silver Ray itineraries and pricing

Silver Ray will spend its summers in the Mediterranean and its winters in the Americas. The ship debuts in Europe and will sail five- to 12-night Eastern and Western Mediterranean cruises through the fall. It will then cross the Atlantic and sail around South America, including an epic 71-day round-South America cruise from late January to early April 2025.

The ship will return to the Mediterranean for the summer of 2025, crossing back to Fort Lauderdale at the end of November 2025. In winter 2025-2026, Silver Ray will explore the Caribbean and Central America before returning to Europe in early April 2026.

Fares start at $4,800 per person, based on double occupancy, for port-to-port fares (no flights) or $6,700 for door-to-door fares (flights and transfers included) for a six-night Mediterranean cruise in 2025 in a Classic Veranda Suite.

A seven-night South America cruise starts at $4,300 (port-to-port) in a Deluxe Veranda Suite in January 2025. (Door-to-door fares are not available for this cruise, and lower-category cabins are waitlisted.)

An 11-night Caribbean cruise in December 2025 starts at $5,800 per person (port-to-port) or $7,000 per person (door-to-door) in a Classic Veranda Suite.

What to know before you go

Required documents

Most of Silver Ray's itineraries depart from overseas ports, so guests will need a valid passport to travel. It's your responsibility to check if the countries you're visiting require an additional visa or that your passport is valid for three to six months beyond your visit.

You will also need to fill out preboarding documents online before your cruise.

Silversea's all-inclusive fares cover all crew gratuities, and tipping is neither expected nor required. The only exception on board is spa treatments, where an 18% gratuity is baked into the price and you are not asked to tip extra.

You should also bring cash to tip luggage porters and tour guides in port.

All passengers can access the ship's Wi-Fi for free. Passengers in Veranda Suites receive unlimited standard internet (basic browsing, messaging and emailing) on one device and passengers in higher-category suites get unlimited premium internet access (streaming and video calling) on multiple devices. You can upgrade one device for $29 a day, or you can purchase a package at a discount. On my five-night sailing, I paid $145 to upgrade from standard Wi-Fi on one device to premium Wi-Fi on four for the duration of the cruise.

Silversea cautions that it might restrict certain sites for bandwidth reasons.

Carry-on drinks policy

All drinks are complimentary on Silver Ray, with the exception of the most expensive wines and liquors. However, if you are particular to certain brands, you can bring on board an unlimited amount of wine and liquor, both on embarkation day and in ports of call, and you do not have to pay a corkage fee.

Smoking policy

Smoking is only permitted in select locations on Silver Ray. Guests may not smoke in public areas, suites or private balconies. The only locations on Silver Ray where passengers may light up are in the Connoisseur's Corner cigar lounge and the outdoor space adjacent to it, and on the port side of the outdoor Dusk Bar. Cigar and pipe use is only permitted in the Connoisseur's Corner.

You have two options for doing laundry on Silver Ray. You can take the lazy vacation option and pay for the ship's laundry team to wash, press or wet clean your clothes. Leave your dirty clothes for the butler who will whisk it away and return your items impeccably folded.

Or, you can take the economical, self-service route and do your own washing and ironing in the ship's complimentary launderettes, found in suite corridors near the forward stairwells on decks 6, 8 and 9, and aft on Deck 7. Detergent is available, as are ironing boards and a utility sink. Don't believe the time the machine tells you your wash will take; it was off by a factor of two when I did laundry on board.

Passengers in the higher-category suites (Medallion and up), as well as select Venetian Society loyalty program members, receive complimentary laundry service.

Electrical outlets

Suites feature 110-volt (U.S.), 220-volt (European), USB-A and USB-C outlets both by the beds and by the desk.

The onboard currency is the U.S. dollar regardless of where Silver Ray is in the world. The ship operates on a cashless system. You will use your cruise keycard to pay for all purchases, and then receive a final bill at the end of the cruise. You can pay that bill with a credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) that you've registered with the ship or with cash.

You can request a cash advance on board, but will be charged a 2% fee on the amount.

Drinking age

The minimum drinking age on Silver Ray is 21. The ship's crew can also refuse to serve alcohol to anyone they deem excessively inebriated or a danger to others on board.

Pack for your cruise like you would for a stay at a high-end resort. During the day, you'll want casual outfits suitable for the day's weather and activities, including appropriate cover-ups for swimwear and comfortable shoes for walking. Guests tend to be stylish and elegant even when dressed casually.

In the evening, after 6 p.m., guests should adhere to Silver Ray's posted dress code, though casual attire is permitted in outdoor venues. The dress code falls into two categories:

Elegant Casual: Think date-night dress. Women will want to pack casual dresses or blouses to pair with skirts or nice trousers. Men should wear slacks and open-collared shirts; jackets are optional.

Formal Optional: On these nights, passengers can stick with Elegant Casual attire or take their attire up a notch; however, men are expected to wear a jacket indoors. Ladies may wish to don cocktail dresses, evening gowns or dressy pants suits, while men should consider a tuxedo or dark suit with a tie.

When dining in La Dame, men are required to wear a jacket, regardless of the evening's dress code. Also, after 6 p.m., passengers should refrain from wearing jeans, shorts, sneakers or flip-flops indoors.

Crew members will enforce the dress code. If you do not feel like dressing up, you can order complimentary room service or dine in the ship's outdoor restaurant, Marquee.

Bottom line

Silver Ray is a ship with the potential to appeal to a wide swath of luxury travelers. Older travelers who prefer the classic cruise dining experience, formal service and an evening spent chatting over drinks with a pianist or violinist playing in the background will find all of that on board. Younger (or young-at-heart) explorers will gravitate toward the more edgy dining venues and modern menus, craft cocktails at the S.A.L.T. Bar and the resort-style pool deck. Anyone looking for a high-end cruise experience will appreciate Silver Ray's spacious cabins and views for days as they travel the globe.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Everything You Need to Know About Silversea’s 2026 World Cruise

• world cruise

A world cruise, by its nature, is the definition of a trip of a lifetime. You’ll see and do more in one sailing than you can imagine, even knowing this itinerary begins in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and ends in Lisbon, Portugal. Spending months away from home requires forethought and planning. After all, can you fill a prescription in the South Pacific or find your favorite moisturizer in Egypt? And how do you pack?

Here you’ll find detailed answers and information about preparing for this unique journey. From choosing the right cell phone plan to wondering how chefs keep the cuisine fresh, day after day, this guide to World Cruise 2026 will put most of your concerns to rest — and get you excited about the extensive list of unusual destinations and special events. And yes, by the way, laundry is included.

World Cruise 2026: The Curious and the Sea

Each year, Silversea’s epic world cruise carries a theme that shapes the journey. For 2026, “The Curious and the Sea” label refers to the history-making expeditions of explorers as they sought to map uncharted territory and understand other cultures. The cruise culminates, fittingly, in Portugal, the homeland of many famous explorers, including Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan.

Destinations: The Curious and the Sea

This unique will visit more than six dozen destinations, including 26 that are probably new to Silversea’s Venetian Society loyalty members. These destinations are as varied as Bari, Italy and Nouméa, New Caledonia. The ports of call cover 37 countries and six continents, from Australia and India to the Polynesian islands of Tonga and Vanuatu. Take a look at the  segment-by-segment maps  for World Cruise 2026.

Silversea’s 2026 world cruise departs Jan. 6 from Fort Lauderdale and culminates on May 27 in Lisbon. The voyage is divided into nine segments that total 140 days, including 62 days at sea.

The cruise will be aboard Silversea’s Silver Dawn, which debuted in 2022. The 596-passenger ship boasts a Roman baths-inspired spa and wellness area; the renowned S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) culinary program; a creative entertainment offering; and the line’s hallmark touches, from butler service to top-shelf cocktails and caviar.

Bookings for the  2026 world cruise  with Silversea opened to Venetian Society members on June 14, 2023, and to the public on June 22. Despite the 2.5-year lead time, these cruises often book up far in advance. Inclusions when you book this cruise include business class airfare and private transfers, $1,000 in onboard credit per guest and one complimentary Otium spa treatment each.

Not included: meals at specialty restaurants such as  La Dame  or  Kaiseki ; personal training sessions; spa treatments beyond the one included; some premium shore excursions; purchases in the boutique or gambling in the casino.

Pre-cruise logistics

Passports and visas

Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date of the last port you visit (many countries require at least six months validity for admission). You’ll be in good shape if your passport is valid at least through the end of 2026. World travelers also understand that obtaining visas can be an obstacle course, but luckily, Silversea includes a visa package with this particular cruise that can help reduce red tape.

Vaccinations and precautions

For a trip of this breadth, you will want to visit a travel clinic to check on medications you may need or vaccinations that are required. Before that, check with your primary care physician to be sure that your routine vaccinations are current, including tetanus. The rabies vaccine is optional, but not uncommon for world travel. To embark on a Silversea vessel, all passengers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two weeks before departure; boosters are recommended.

Health care and insurance

When it comes to standard health insurance, travel insurance, medical evacuation clauses and filling your prescriptions for four months away, you must have this sorted out well before embarkation.

If you don’t have a travel insurance plan that covers medical evacuation, buy one. This kind of policy is designed for emergencies in far-flung places (some of the ones you will be visiting) and should include being air-lifted to the closest hospital on the mainland. Silversea has a doctor on board, but the cruise line does not cover the cost of medical emergencies or prescription refills, which can be difficult to find in some countries.

Have a conversation with your doctor about what you need to stay healthy and functioning for one-third of the year at sea. This includes obtaining months’ worth of prescription medications, and over-the-counter remedies for common ailments such as heartburn, nausea or upset stomach. Some physicians will prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic that could be helpful to have on hand.

Money matters

You can order foreign currency from your bank, but given that 37 countries are involved, your best bet is to take some nations-specific cash with you. Trying to keep track of dozens of different monetary units, some you might only need for a day, can be a hassle.

Make sure you have a couple of credit cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees and ideally reward travel purchases. A debit card attached to your bank account is also helpful for withdrawing local currency from an ATM.

In both cases, alert your credit card provider and your bank that you will be traveling to various countries for several months. That should help prevent your account from being frozen because of what the institution may deem “suspicious activity.” Keep these cards close at hand and your pin numbers private. (Note that some banking institutions require a four-digit card number.) If you suspect that you have misplaced a card or are a victim or fraud, call to freeze your own account right away.

Dedicate some time before this big trip to making sure your technology — mobile phones, tablets and any other electronic devices — are in working order and that you have a phone and data plan that make sense for you.

For such an extended trip, you’ll want to consider buying a travel-specific SIM card and/or a mobile hotspot that gives you better access to high-speed Wi-Fi. Silversea world cruisers have unlimited premium Wi-Fi for up to two devices per person.

With a strong enough Wi-Fi signal, VOIP — Voice Over Internet Protocol or a voice call over a Wi-Fi signal like your ship’s — is possible. Common services that use VOIP include WhatsApp (app required) and FaceTime if you have an Apple product. T-Mobile has a great built-in international plan with its standard service and some easy upgrades. Some destinations will be just too far-flung to expect reliable cell or Wi-Fi signal.

Securing your home

Maybe you live in a gated or residential community, or someone will still be at the house to keep everything running, but chances are you might be leaving your home empty during your 140-day cruise. This requires a few logistical measures on your behalf before departing.

Consider putting a hold on your mail while you’re gone. If not, sign up for the U.S. Post Office’s  Informed Delivery  service that shows what is being delivered each day.

Do your plants need watering? Will your sidewalk need shoveling if it snows? Make sure you hire someone — or have incredible friends — to be on call for any maintenance or emergencies (burst pipe) while you are halfway across the world.

Pets are not allowed onboard, so start researching well-rated kennels that will board your dog or cat long term. Or you can strike a deal with a dependable friend or family member with whom the pet might be more comfortable. Birds or reptiles might be harder to place in a formal facility.

Smart home security systems, including the  Ring camera and doorbell , are now almost ubiquitous. These services function off an app and require Wi-Fi but might be able to provide some peace of mind while you are so far from your front door. In any case, a trustworthy human to occasionally check on your property and valuables may be the most reliable choice in the end.

Packing for a World Cruise

How much can I bring on board?

A Silver Shore baggage valet will assist with two bags of up to 50 pounds each, per guest, or 100 pounds of stuff per person for your 20-week expedition. That limit does not include carry-on luggage such as a purse, backpack or duffel bag. Sometimes less is more, especially if you’re looking to purchase a lot of souvenirs during your travels. Be reasonable!

How do you pack for a world cruise?

First things first: Don’t try to pack for all 140 days. You’re going to want to stick to versatile clothing items (pants you can dress up or down, or a sundress that is easily gussied up) as well as tried-and-true staples in your wardrobe. Scan destinations for average weather during the time you’ll be there, and pack for comfort. Even if Egypt looks toasty, the ship is air-conditioned, so you’ll need a light sweater, a jacket and a windbreaker at various points during the trip. Layers are better than bulk. Pack plenty of socks and underwear.

It’s not the time to buy brand-new shoes and see if they work out onboard the ship. If you decide to stock up on some new gear before embarking, do so at least a few weeks in advance. This gives you time to break in any new footwear.

There will be some formal evenings, especially on Silversea’s marquee world cruise events, but practicality is the running theme here. If you’re dining among ruins at night, leave the stiletto heels in your suite (or at home). Certain religious or cultural dress codes may require women to cover their heads, shoulders or knees; out of respect, always adhere to any local dress codes.

Reversible swimsuits; classic dresses or dress shirts in neutrals; nice leggings that can pull double duty are ways to game the packing system. Dressing up the mighty black dress or well-tailored suit jacket, by buying scarves or pocket squares, pashminas or ties in ports along the way, is fun. And these double as mementos.

Despite Silversea’s lenience about how much you pack, there are some restrictions. For example, no full-face snorkel masks from home. Be sure to read through the fine print before you take something prohibited that could have made space for something else.

How does laundry work?

Laundry service is included in your world cruise fare. There are self-service launderettes onboard if you miss the experience of doing your own. These services are arranged through your butler.

The on-board experience

Does my cabin choice matter.

All rooms onboard Silver Dawn are suites, starting at 335 square feet with a large picture window for ocean views called a Vista Suite. Most suites feature a full, private balcony and luxurious amenities. Expect a pillow menu, plush robe, stocked mini bar, luxury bath products and Champagne upon arrival, no matter which suite you are booked in.

Other premium offerings on Silver Dawn include  Otium spa-inspired experiences , facilitated by your butler, including a balcony hot chocolate service; premium sunbathing experience; or an indulgent drawn bath.

A ship suite may be smaller than a full house or condo, but the entire ship is your oyster. You’ll find ample public spaces where you can relax and unwind. After all, you will be spending so much time on shore tours that you will probably be tired from your explorations and ready to climb into bed.

Will I be with the same passengers all the time?

Some cruisers will embark along with you in Fort Lauderdale and leave as cruising family four months later in Lisbon. Some guests, however, book world cruise segments or partial world cruises. This means that at eight points along the way, other guests may join the voyage or leave it. Think of it as a change of scenery and the possibility of dinner companions throughout your lengthy holiday.

Will food choices begin to repeat?

If you’re wondering whether salmon will be on the menu more than once during this months-long sailing, yes, it will. But Silversea and its food and beverage teams work tirelessly to plan the menus for these world cruises so there is as little repetition as possible across venues and throughout the days and weeks.

The entire crew will get to know you, as well as your preferences (and most importantly, dietary restrictions) from Day 1. Likewise, after dining at each venue multiple times (and there are eight to choose from, not including room service, plus the S.A.L.T. program), you will get to know the best spot for that steak, sushi or salad, depending on what you’re craving.

The 2026 cruise is offering its guests two exclusive  S.A.L.T. dining experiences  ashore, included in the cruise fare.

What role will S.A.L.T. play in World Cruise 2026?

Silversea’s distinct  Sea and Land Taste program  will thrive on the 2026 World Cruise . The S.A.L.T. Kitchen will create 80 distinct menus based on places visited. A rotating lineup of visiting chefs, regional food experts and authors will come aboard to teach a variety of S.A.L.T. Lab classes and also will take up residencies, offering intermittent lectures.

Besides hands-on culinary experiences (onboard and ashore) as well as the distinct itinerary-inspired epicurean menus, the S.A.L.T. Bar transforms local flavors into liquid form. With more local wines offered than ever before, as well as beers and exclusive spirits, guests can sip on regional beverages as well as attend tastings hosted by sommeliers and mixologists. About 70 custom and regionally inspired cocktails will be featured on the 2026 World Cruise.

How can I stay in shape onboard?

Endless weeks of rich cuisine can take their toll. You are likely to stay active just from exploring the many ports you’re visiting, but if you would like to take a more organized approach to your routine, Silver Dawn’s fitness center comes complete with free weights, machines and cardio equipment. Personal training and classes are offered for an additional fee. Guests can also do laps in the onboard pool or jog the top-deck track to keep the blood pumping. Don’t forget about the sauna and steam room.

What will entertainment be like on the ship?

During sea days or days spent onboard, guests can count on enrichment, including lectures, wine tastings and cooking classes. Activities will rotate in and out throughout the trip.

The Venetian Lounge is host to musical and theatrical performances from a variety of onboard cast members and visiting artists, including production shows and operatic performances. Cabaret-style seating keeps the atmosphere intimate, even when the offering is a first-run feature film.

Silver Dawn has a small casino if you’re inclined to test Lady Luck, and there are occasional late-night dance parties in the Panorama Lounge. You can choose from among a half-dozen bars and lounges for a little libation and conversation.

How are holidays and events celebrated?

The 2026 World Cruise kicks off after the New Year, but no matter what hallmark holidays or religious observances you recognize from January to May, there will be a way to celebrate them onboard. From Valentine’s Day to Passover, your crew is dedicated to making each memory and occasion special. This includes special food and drink. Nondenominational services are typically held onboard on Sundays. Catholic, Protestant or Jewish clergy will be brought onboard when possible for select holidays.

Celebrating a birthday, anniversary or another milestone onboard? Notify Silversea (or allow your travel advisor to do so) at least a month before departure to arrange the proper festivities.

How will I keep in touch?

Nearly everyone travels with mobile devices, so you need not rely on the costly satellite phone service onboard the ship, unless for some reason it’s the only option. Be sure to bring information on your phone plan, including contacts for troubleshooting. Staff is available once you’re onboard to walk you through connecting your phone, laptop or tablet to the free shipboard Wi-Fi.

As for organizing calls with friends and family, leave them with a printout of your scheduled itinerary, so they can have an idea of where you are and when. Time zones will change many times throughout your journey, and it will be hard to keep track.

On an iPhone, you can add the destinations and time zones where your friends and family live by going to Clock > World Clock. This is a convenient shortcut when you’re guessing whether your sister-in-law is awake to chat.

The Wi-Fi onboard should be solid, but it will change depending on your location and how many people are accessing it at the same time. It should be a strong enough signal to browse the internet, send a text or an email, but not always reliable for a video call. Manage expectations.

What happens in case of emergency?

Things happen. A storm could brew, a political event could take place that might prevent you from entering a country or from Silversea deeming it safe. The encouraging thing about a cruise ship is that it moves and is generally flexible about schedule changes (as should you).

Many storms can be avoided; ports can be replaced or skipped if there is a threat. Someone could get sick onboard and be sent home. Silversea is equipped to handle these emergencies — especially on a lengthy cruise.

Spending time ashore

How many overnights are there?

There are nine sets of overnights on the 2026 world cruise: Callao (Lima), Peru; Easter Island; Auckland, New Zealand; Hobart, Tasmania; Singapore; Cochin/Kochi, India; Mumbai, India; Safaga (Luxor), Egypt; and Antalya, Turkey.

What kind of exclusive events can I expect?

Silversea’s unmatched world cruise promise exclusive events. Watch this space for information, but all are guaranteed to be unique.

Are overland programs offered?

There are three optional overland programs during Silversea’s 2026 World Cruise. These immersive overland tours incur an additional fee.

Uzbekistan (April 16-25)

Depart Mumbai for nine days exploring this unusual country, from the historic commercial hub of Tashkent to the UNESCO heritage site of Bukhara.

Luxor, Egypt (April 26-31)

From the port of Safaga, guests will spend five days seeing the iconic ancient wonders of Egypt, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Temples of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and yet another cruise — the one along the Nile River.

The Balkans (May 11-14)

Learn about the complicated history of Yugoslavia with a three-day overland trip to Serbia. Centered in Belgrade, guests will visit museums, temples and local towns to connect with residents.

Are shore excursions included?

One shore excursion per port, per day, is included for each guest onboard a Silversea world cruise. Shore excursions range from active hikes or snorkel and dive trips to guided walking tours and local workshops. While your plans — or whims — may certainly change, it’s a good idea to browse through these detailed offerings prior to boarding to select the tours you are most passionate about joining to secure a spot.

Of course, you can never predict how you might feel on any given day, but timing some relaxation and recovery between all your active exploits is its own preventative maintenance. This is vacation, after all.

Must I get off at every port?

No. A voyage lasting four months is a marathon, not a sprint. Even though you might be confident about booking a full-day excursion in each new port, your body might signal that it needs a break. Listen to your body.

Despite how thrilling a World Cruise experience can be, you are human and will no doubt need some downtime to rest. It might be prudent to schedule these rest periods, if possible, around destinations and events that you don’t want to miss. On the other hand, world cruises do factor in plenty of sea days, so there are plenty of opportunities to chill out.

Is it safe to explore independently?

Silversea would never take guests to a destination it deemed unsafe. The cruise director, shore excursions team and other staff onboard are your go-to experts for best practices in every port. Recommendations are also made on each daily program.

Some larger cities could be overwhelming to navigate, but not expressly dangerous, while smaller island nations may prefer you stick with your guides on an organized tour rather than wander into private or protected lands. When in doubt, use common sense.

What happens if the ship skips a port?

Sometimes weather or other unforeseen events mean your ship might have to skip a port. It’s unusual, but not unheard of, especially with about nearly six dozen ports of call. The cruise contract you sign when you book outlines the possibility of these types of cancellations. There is typically no refund. Any paid shore excursions or other experiences booked in a port that’s missed will be refunded to your account.

Ready to learn more about one of the best world cruises you can book?  Find more information here .

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