Silver Spirit Review (Updated 2018)

Silver Spirit Cruise Review (Updated 2018)

The largest ship in Silversea’s fleet: Silver Spirit anchored in Hvar, Croatia. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

Originally published in 2009, our Silver Spirit review has been updated for 2018, and will be updated again following Silver Spirit’s high-profile lengthening this spring. See our live report from the shipyard: Engineering Marvel: Silver Spirit Gains 49 Feet, New Restaurants & Suites

When introduced in 2009, Silver Spirit was a radical new design for Silversea Cruises. Once the largest ship in the Silversea fleet, she was eclipsed in 2017 by the 596-guest Silver Muse. Now, Silversea has embarked on ambitious plans to lengthen her in the spring of 2018, adding new features and Silver Muse-style amenities to make this nine-year old vessel new once again.

I’ve cruised the entire Silversea fleet, and I find something to appreciate in each vessel. At times, the smaller sizes of Silver Wind and Silver Shadow appeal to me. At other times, I appreciate the larger size — and the broader range of choices — that Silver Spirit offers. In order to help you decide what’s best for you, let’s look at what is different about Silver Spirit when compared to the rest of the fleet.

See On Silver Spirit, Assessing The Cost Of Luxury Cruises: Ten Value-Added Extras; What’s The Real Cost?

How Silver Spirit Differs From The Rest Of The Silversea Fleet

1. Passenger capacity. Silversea’s other non-expedition vessels — Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, and Silver Whisper — range from guest capacities of 296 guests to 382 guests. With a capacity for 540 guests, Silver Spirit, by contrast, is the second-largest ship in Silversea’s fleet, coming in slightly smaller than the new 596-guest Silver Muse launched in 2017 — yet retains the generous passenger-space and passenger-crew ratios that have become Silversea hallmarks. Nonetheless, some Venetians disliked the larger size, preferring instead the line’s smaller vessels.

Large, but with lots of choices on board, Silver Spirit docked in Venice. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

If you feel that sharing space with more than 500 other guests is more than you can tolerate, look to the line’s other ships, and if even they are too large, consider Silversea’s expedition vessels — Silver Cloud Expedition, Silver Explorer, Silver Discoverer and Silver Galapagos — that carry around 100 guests each.

2. Larger ship. About 25 percent larger than the majority of her fleetmates, Silver Spirit, as mentioned, might be too large for some. The larger size, however, allows Silver Spirit to pack in several new onboard options — including restaurants not on the other ships. If you want choice, choose Silver Spirit over the line’s smaller vessels.

The Bar: A popular watering hole on Silver Spirit. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle — The Art-Deco-style Bar: A popular watering hole on Silver Spirit. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

One of those choices not available on the other Silversea vessels is the midships bar, a popular meeting spot located right next to the ship’s reception area. Open throughout the day, it serves specialty Italian coffees, tapas and cocktails.

Other public rooms include the clubby Connoisseur’s Corner, where you can sink into a cushy red leather chair to enjoy a cognac and cigar; the Panorama Lounge on Deck 9, offering afternoon tea, piano entertainment, views out over the stern, and an open-air patio furnished with two-guest sun-beds; the Observation Lounge on Deck 11, offering a view forward as well as astronomical maps, and binoculars for guests who like to keep track of their course; and the Show Lounge, offering full shows, soloists and movies.

A great way to end the evening: fine cognacs and other spirits coupled with quality cigars. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle — The Connoisseur’s Corner: A nice way to end the evening for those who enjoy fine cognacs and other spirits coupled with quality cigars. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

There’s also the fleet’s largest casino and boutiques; a library stocked with books, magazines, newspapers, and DVD movies; and a card room that’s popular for bridge games and tournaments.

3. Art deco design. Until Silver Spirit, Silversea’s design could be described as resembling upscale, European hotels. In fact, the entire fleet represents veritable floating advertisements for refinement and taste. Everything aboard the vessels whispers class, from the no-hair-out-of-place design and decor to the exquisite service and cuisine, high-end amenities and free-flowing champagne.

Silver Spirit features beautiful artwork throughout. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle — Space to spread out. Beautiful artwork throughout Silver Spirit. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

With Silver Spirit, the ship’s interior designer, Giacomo Mortola, used the larger available space to craft rooms that mix classic old-world elegance with hints of art deco. Either you like the art deco touches or you don’t.

Most rooms, however, are perfectly designed and proportioned to deliver exquisite experiences. And like all Silversea ships, except for the three expedition vessels, Silver Spirit is designed with the vast majority of her public rooms located between midships and the stern, while staterooms and suites occupy the ship’s forward half.

4. Six restaurants, including two not on other Silversea vessels. Dining is one of Silver Spirit’s great highlights, with six restaurants from which to choose.

In Stars Supper Club on Silver Spirit, I enjoyed sampler menus and the musical talents of Mickki Brown. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle — In Stars Supper Club, only on Silver Spirit, I enjoyed sampler menus and the musical talents of Mickki Brown. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

New for Spirit is the intimate Seishin, serving an Asian fusion menu that may include Kobe beef, spider lobster and a selection of sushi. A second option, Stars Supper Club, emulates the great supper clubs of the 1920s and 30s, serving a small-plate menu of regional and seasonal delicacies, served along with music, dancing, and nightclub-style entertainment.

Dessert in the main dining room: rice pudding, served with an edible spoon and bowl. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle — Exquisite refinement, exemplified by dessert in the main dining room: rice pudding, served with an edible spoon and bowl. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

The other four restaurants on board are the standards available across the Silversea Fleet: the Relais & Châteaux–designed Le Champagne for six-course wine-pairing meals in an intimate art deco atmosphere; the Restaurant, an elegant, crystal and candlelight room that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and La Terrazza, an indoor/outdoor space that offers buffets at breakfast and lunch and in the evening serves an Italian menu created on “slow food” principles — locally grown, sustainable, and fresh.

Celebrating Silversea's Italian heritage in La Terrazza. The food looks almost too good to eat. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle — Celebrating Silversea’s Italian heritage in La Terrazza. The food looks almost too good to eat. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

The Pool Bar & Grill also serves casual lunches and dinners, the latter featuring the fun hot-rocks experience, in which guests can grill their own meat or seafood at their table on a preheated volcanic rock. You can also order lunch and dinner served course by course in your cabin, from the day’s menu at the Restaurant.

See Video: Silver Spirit’s The Grill

At The Grill, we cooked our own steaks on hot lava stones. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

5. Silversea’s largest pool & spa. Silver Spirit’s pool area is the largest in the fleet, as is its 8,300-square-foot spa, which offers nine treatment rooms and an extensive treatment menu, indoor/outdoor relaxation areas with a spa whirlpool and bar service, a Thermal Suite furnished with heated tiled lounges, a Turkish bath chamber, men’s and women’s saunas and steam rooms, a gym, and a beauty salon.

See Silversea Cruises Spa Ranked #1 By Conde Nast: Avid Cruiser Has The Video

I enjoyed some relaxation time in the largest spa in Silversea's fleet. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle — I enjoyed some relaxation time in the largest spa in Silversea’s fleet. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

Even though the space represents Silversea’s largest, I found the fitness room to be too small for a 540-passenger ship. I often looked for other ways to exercise on my cruise on Silver Spirit, including a rigorous hike in Kotor, Montenegro.

6. Stateroom configurations. Similar to its fleetmates, Silver Spirit features seven suite configurations, ranging from 312-square-foot (29-square-meter) Vista Suites with large windows to the 1,292-square-foot (120-square-meter) Owner’s Suites, expansive luxury apartments with separate living/dining areas and bedrooms (either one or two, the latter by booking and opening up an adjoining standard accommodation), a large teak veranda, and a marble bathroom with separate shower and whirlpool tub.

All accommodations on board come with butler service, a bar setup stocked with your preferences, wifi access, European bath amenities, fine Pratesi linens and down duvets and a choice of nine types of pillows.

Veranda Suite on Silver Spirit. — Veranda Suites on Silver Spirit are larger than those on other Silversea vessels as well as those on Crystal Cruises or Seabourn.

The vast majority of accommodations aboard are Veranda Suites, with private teak verandas, marble bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes. The Veranda Suites have been criticized for being too narrow, even though at 376 square feet (35 square meters) they are larger than the Veranda Suites on Silver Cloud/Wind, which measure 295 square feet (27 square meters), and on Silver Shadow/Whisper, which measure 345 square feet (32 square meters).

The problem, according to some who have cruised on Silver Spirit, is that when the make-up vanity is in use, it is difficult to pass from one end of the suite to the other. The make-up vanity is situated on the wall across from the bed, so when someone is sitting on the stool applying cosmetics, the passage is blocked. It is a minor quibble, of course, but an irritant for some. One of Avid Cruiser’s loyal readers remarked that when his wife does her make-up, he has to “climb over the top of the bed” if he wants to go out on the veranda for an adult libation.

I cruised on Silver Spirit in a Veranda Suite with my son in the summer of 2013. We found the suite to be considerably larger than Crystal Symphony‘s Deluxe Stateroom with Veranda, measuring 246 square feet (23 square meters) and a tad larger than Seabourn Quest‘s Veranda Suite, measuring 365 square feet (34 square meters).

One feature that we appreciated with regard to our Veranda Suite on Silver Spirit was the two televisions, cleverly situated behind large mirrors and with free programming, including new-release movies.

Champagne served in Venice by our butler Rodolfo. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser’s Take On Silver Spirit: Silver Spirit works for me. It has all of the hallmarks that Silversea has built its reputation on — fine dining, excellent service, an all-inclusive luxury experience, spacious accommodations with butler service and more. The larger size of Silver Spirit, and the variety of restaurants she offers, appeals to my desire of having more choices than on the smaller vessels. If you prefer sharing space with fewer other passengers and the intimacy of small vessels, work your way from largest to smallest by first considering Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow, followed by Silver Cloud and Silver Wind, and finally Silversea’s three expedition vessels.

Walk the Decks: Our Silver Spirit Photo Tour

Click here to read our Silver Spirit deck-by-deck Photo Tour

Silver Spirit's attractive pool deck, facing aft. Photo © Aaron Saunders — Silver Spirit’s attractive pool deck, facing aft. Photo © Aaron Saunders

See Luxury Cruises: What Silversea Cruises Does Differently

Silver Spirit en route to Kusadasi, Turkey, as the sun sets on the Aegean Sea. © 2013 Ralph Grizzle

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Silversea Cruises Reviews

To read a review of a particular ship, click the link under "Read the Review." If applicable, our Live Voyage Reports offer a day-by-day overview of an actual cruise onboard. In some cases, there may be more than one report, to be sure to see if your favorite destination is represented.

Ship Review	Live Voyage Report
Silver Cloud Review	An Antarctic Voyage: On Silversea, A Veritable Feast
Silver Wind Review	South African Safari • Rome to Athens • Rome to Malaga
Silver Shadow Review	• Exotic Alaska • Bali to Singapore
Silver Whisper Review
Silver Spirit Review	Athens To Venice • Eastbound Transatlantic
Silver Explorer Review	• Antarctica • Greenland • Arctic • British Isles
Silver Galapagos Review	• Western Galapagos Islands
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Silver Muse Review	• Keel Laying

Articles, Videos and Cruise Reviews Featuring Silversea Cruises Silver Spirit

3 Comments

Fran Camino April 24, 2011

I hope they still keep the former old Acqua di Parma as toilettries selection. Ferragamo or Bulgari is not a nice choice.

Reply
- Anonymous April 24, 2011
  
  Hm? Will have to check that one. I have Bvlgari.
  
  Reply
Dragonly April 20, 2017

We booked a $17,850 “luxury cruise” with Silversea Cruises for our family of four departing March 20, 2017 on the ship Silver Spirit and the experience was so horrible in the first four hours, we walked off the ship before it left port. Although we were led to believe we would get a refund, the tiny little copy at the bottom of the disembarkation request (that we had to sign to get off the ship) said our decision does not “entitle us for any reimbursement” so says Frank Sansone the Director of Guest Relations.

We experienced: horrible customer service, horrible atmosphere, horrible food & horrible communication.

Reply

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