T+L’s Evaluate of Silversea’s Silver Ray Cruise Ship

With the Spanish metropolis of Cadiz in full view, I used to be gleefully dancing round an expansive, resort-like pool deck prefer it was the Eighties. A stay British band was taking part in George Michael, the Eurythmics, Tears for Fears, and even David Bowie. I solely wished I had packed greater shoulder pads.

Once I took a break, it was for sips of complimentary Champagne as a result of this was no high-end night time membership however somewhat a luxurious cruise ship—one that provides all its facilities as a part of the package deal.

Need your butler to ship caviar with all of the trimmings? You bought it. The truth is, my butler thoughtfully added a bottle of Champagne. Otherwise you would possibly ask for a classy cocktail to sip with countless views. Or you might ask for the surf and turf, embellished with foie gras—or get some implausible vegan delicacies.

No matter your model of extra and decadence is perhaps, odds are good you could find it on the over-the-top Silver Ray, a 364-cabin ship with a crew of 544.

Like its sibling vessel, Silver Nova, which debuted in 2023, Silver Ray is among the largest operated by Silversea, the luxurious line. Nonetheless, it’s comparatively small by cruise requirements, with a particular design that emphasizes views of the attractive coastlines this ship tends to frequent.

My take? The Ray is large enough to not really feel crowded, with locations to get away and faux you’re by yourself yacht. There’s additionally magnificence at each flip: a surprising pool on one aspect of the ship, open-air eating areas, plush materials that make you mushy with delight.

Whereas on board for a four-day preview cruise in Portugal and Spain, I relished within the niceties and appreciated the less-formal environment on board. Alternatives to indulge apart, this ship is a extra comfy method to luxurious cruising. Like DeBarge sang within the Eighties: “I Like It.”

Staterooms and Suites

You actually can’t go mistaken: each suite on Silver Ray has a veranda and butler service. Entry-level lodging begin at 301 sq. toes, massive sufficient to really feel like a pleasant lodge room, with a desk and chairs on the veranda, a walk-in closet, and a marble lavatory with both a big glass bathe with a sitting bench or a glass bathe and separate tub. The minibar is stocked, the Egyptian cotton bedding is from Milan’s Rivolta Carmignani, and the pillow menu has a number of selections, together with hypoallergenic choices. If cash is not any object, one of the best digs are two aft-facing Otium Suites, which clock in at 1,324 sq. toes, every with a 421-square-foot wraparound veranda with personal whirlpool.

Bars and Eating places

Meals is a part of the pampering, and so are free drinks. There are eight eating places on board, and whereas many are free, reservations are really helpful. I used to be a fan of the Italian restaurant, La Terrazza, which launched a brand new menu of latest Italian delicacies whereas I used to be on board. The S.A.L.T. Restaurant, named for Silversea’s culinary program Sea and Land Style, has an ever-changing method that tailors menus to the locations the ship is visiting. I used to be impressed by the Cadiz menu on provide once we have been visiting that Spanish metropolis. The Marquee is a pergola-topped, open-air informal venue serving issues like pizza and salads.

For me, one spotlight was the S.A.L.T. Chef’s Desk, a tasting-menu expertise that was restricted to 18 company. Mine was 11 programs of beautiful bites akin to a confit of piquillo peppers and salt cod topped with burnt onion, accompanied by the tales of João Sá, who has garnered a Michelin star for his Lisbon restaurant, Sála. Although Chef’s Desk comes at a hefty further cost, I believed it was properly value it.

Additionally at additional price are a Japanese restaurant, Kaiseki, and La Dame, which affords each a basic French menu and a brand new tasting menu by French chef Jean-Luc Rabanel, who is understood for vegetable-forward, Michelin-star gastronomy. (I discovered it odd, then, that the ship-board menu was heavy on meat.)

The S.A.L.T. Bar, with indoor and outside seating, was serving Spanish gin and different native drinks on our crusing and have become my go-to amongst a number of lounge selections. The outside terrace of the Panorama Lounge is one other good possibility. For a pick-me-up or fast meal, I actually loved Arts Café, which has completely foamy lattes and vegan tofu breakfast sandwiches, amongst different picks.

The place Silver Ray Sails

Silver Ray is crusing within the Mediterranean for a lot of 2025, with journeys that vary from 6 to 16 nights, lots of them hitting the large cruise cities of Barcelona, Civitavecchia (close to Rome), Lisbon, and Monte Carlo. The ship heads to Fort Lauderdale in mid-November for the 2026 Caribbean season, earlier than returning to Europe in late March.

Shore Excursions

Fares embrace a shore tour in each port, although they are usually simple: a go to to a well-known palace, a guided stroll by way of a metropolis heart. I opted for a few the at-extra-cost choices which might be a part of the S.A.L.T. program. One was a tour of the westernmost winery in Europe, Casal de Santa Maria, the place I discovered myself sipping wine and slurping oysters with Baron Nicholas von Bruemmer, whose Latvian grandfather based the place.

Facilities and Leisure

The stylish pool deck is a focus for the entire ship, surrounded by two decks of open area with fabulous views. There’s a comfortable lounge chair for everybody and, as I discussed, room to bop too. Elsewhere, on the ship’s Roman-inspired Otium Spa, I indulged in a soothing and energizing four-technique therapeutic massage. In between remedies and dips within the spa’s small hydrotherapy pool, you’ll be able to sip champagne. At a cooking class within the S.A.L.T. Lab, I discovered to make Portuguese cream tarts (although not, alas, Lisbon’s well-known pastéis de nata).

A vigorous group fills the ship’s small on line casino. Jazz followers head to the supper membership for small bites served with a dose of Cole Porter. And people who discover purchasing for classic Hermes and Chanel baggage a type of leisure will discover that possibility onboard, too. Within the spectacular, two-story present lounge, singers and dancers carry out and you may as well catch a lecture.

Household-friendly Choices

Silversea says children are welcome so long as they’re older than 6 months, however the vibe on board is fairly grownup: there’s no children’ pool, no children’ membership, no babysitting provided. That being stated, the ship has an assortment of connecting suites, together with a two-bedroom Grasp Suite that connects for as much as six company.

Accessibility

Silver Ray has 4 wheelchair accessible Premium Veranda Suites and two, bigger wheelchair accessible Silver Suites. Public areas of the ship are accessible, and crew can present help on the uncommon events that ports require stairs (somewhat than ramps) to disembark. I additionally seen braille signage in public rooms, staterooms, and in elevators—which is one thing not all cruise ships have.