Silversea Cruises
Silversea is a luxury cruise line with executive offices in Monaco and operations offices in Miami. It was founded in 1994 by Antonio Lefebvre d'Ovidio of Rome and V-Ships of Monaco, former co-owners of Sitmar Cruises, and it launched all-inclusive fares with its first ship, Silver Cloud. Royal Caribbean bought a majority stake in 2018 and the rest of the company in 2020.
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About Silversea Cruises
The 12-ship fleet runs from the 100-guest Silver Origin to the 728-guest Evolution-class Silver Nova and Silver Ray, which use LNG, fuel cells and batteries. Classic ships include Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Spirit and the three Muse-class ships, while Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Endeavour and Silver Origin form an expedition fleet, a line of business Silversea started in 2007, that sails to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Kimberley and the Galápagos.
Most voyages run port to port rather than round trip from a fixed base, with Grand Voyages and world cruises for longer trips. Fares are all-inclusive, and the line highlights butler service in every suite, its S.A.L.T. culinary program and the Otium wellness program.
What Silversea Cruises is known for
Silversea is known for all-suite ships with a lot of space and crew per guest, all-inclusive fares and butler service, and its expedition fleet, including the polar-class Silver Endeavour, is one of the established luxury options for Antarctica, the Arctic and the Galápagos. The Evolution-class ships added a distinctive asymmetrical design and hybrid power intended to cut emissions.
The main criticism is price: fares sit at the top of the market, even with drinks and gratuities included. The experience also varies by ship, since the classic ships from 2000 and 2001 have fewer venues than the newest builds, and some older ships were reconfigured for expedition use. Silver Shadow drew attention in 2013 when she failed a surprise US public-health inspection after crew reported food being hidden from inspectors.
Who it's for
Luxury · small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included
- Couples
- History and culture
- Adventure seekers
- Food lovers
Silversea suits experienced travelers, mostly couples, who want small ships, port-rich itineraries and an all-inclusive luxury fare, and who value food, service and space over onboard attractions. Its expedition ships appeal to adventurous travelers heading to Antarctica, the Arctic or the Galápagos who still want suites and fine dining, and its Grand Voyages and world cruises suit those with time for long trips.
Families with young children, travelers on a budget and anyone looking for water slides, big production shows or a lively nightlife scene will find better matches on mainstream or premium lines. Travelers who want a fixed home port for an easy round trip should check itineraries carefully, since most Silversea voyages are one way.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 5/5
- Dining
- 5/5
- Entertainment
- 3/5
- Service
- 5/5
- Pools & decks
- 5/5
- Value
- 3/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 12 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Silversea Cruises sails
Ships
Best rated
#14.3 ★Silver Cloud1994 · 17,400 GT · 254 guests · Antarctica · South PacificSilver Cloud was Silversea's first ship, entering service in April 1994 after her hull was built at the Visentini yard near Venice and finished by T. Mariotti in Genoa. She was…
#24.3 ★Silver Dawn2022 · 40,700 GT · 596 guests · Northern Europe · MediterraneanSilver Dawn, the third Muse-class ship, was delivered by Fincantieri at Ancona in November 2021 and welcomed her first guests in spring 2022; she was christened in Lisbon on 31…
#34.3 ★Silver Endeavour2021 · 20,649 GT · 220 guests · Antarctica · Northern EuropeSilver Endeavour was built by MV Werften in Stralsund, Germany, for Crystal Cruises and sailed her maiden voyage as Crystal Endeavor on 17 July 2021, a ten-night trip around…Every ship, by class
Evolution class
2 ships · 2023–2024 · 54,700 GT · avg 4.3 ★
Muse class
3 ships · 2017–2022 · 40,700–40,791 GT · avg 4.3 ★
Other ships
7 ships · 1994–2021 · 5,800–39,519 GT · avg 4.3 ★
- Silver Endeavour2021 · 20,649 GT · 220 guests4.3/5
- Silver Origin2021 · 5,800 GT · 100 guests4.3/5
- Silver Spirit2009 · 39,519 GT · 636 guests4.3/5
- Silver Whisper2001 · 28,258 GT · 392 guests4.3/5
- Silver Shadow2000 · 28,258 GT · 392 guests4.3/5
- Silver Wind1995 · 17,400 GT · 274 guests4.3/5
- Silver Cloud1994 · 17,400 GT · 254 guests4.3/5
Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Explorer | 2008–2023 | 6,072 | November 2023 |
| Silver Galapagos | 2013–2021 | 4,200 | January 2021 |
Where to fly in
- Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH)1 Silversea Cruises ship sails from Piraeus, Greece9 lounges on Lounge Frog
- Fa'a'ā International Airport (PPT)1 Silversea Cruises ship sails from Papeete, French Polynesia
- San Cristobal Island (SCY)1 Silversea Cruises ship sails from San Cristóbal, Ecuador1 lounge on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is Silversea Cruises known for?
Silversea is known for all-suite ships with a lot of space and crew per guest, all-inclusive fares and butler service, and its expedition fleet, including the polar-class Silver Endeavour, is one of the established luxury options for Antarctica, the Arctic and the Galápagos. The Evolution-class ships added a distinctive asymmetrical design and hybrid power intended to cut emissions.
Who is Silversea Cruises best for?
Silversea suits experienced travelers, mostly couples, who want small ships, port-rich itineraries and an all-inclusive luxury fare, and who value food, service and space over onboard attractions. Its expedition ships appeal to adventurous travelers heading to Antarctica, the Arctic or the Galápagos who still want suites and fine dining, and its Grand Voyages and world cruises suit those with time for long trips.
Where does Silversea Cruises sail?
Silversea Cruises's ships in service sail Mediterranean (6 ships), Caribbean (4 ships), Northern Europe (4 ships), Transatlantic (4 ships), Asia (4 ships), Antarctica (3 ships), South Pacific (3 ships), Alaska (2 ships), Australia and New Zealand (2 ships), Canada and New England (1 ship), South America (1 ship) and Galápagos (1 ship).
How is Silversea Cruises rated?
Silversea Cruises's fleet averages 4.3 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 12 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Silver Cloud at 4.3.
How many ships does Silversea Cruises have?
Silversea Cruises has 12 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Silver Cloud, Silver Dawn, Silver Endeavour, Silver Moon, Silver Muse, Silver Nova, Silver Origin and Silver Ray, and 4 more.
What ship classes does Silversea Cruises sail?
Silversea Cruises sails 2 classes of ship in service: Evolution class (2 ships) and Muse class (3 ships), plus 7 ships not in a named class.
Who owns Silversea Cruises?
Silversea Cruises is part of Royal Caribbean Group.
Where is Silversea Cruises based?
Silversea Cruises is headquartered in Fontvieille, Monaco. It has operated since 1994.
What is Silversea Cruises's loyalty program called?
Silversea Cruises's past-guest loyalty program is Venetian Society.
What is the largest Silversea Cruises ship?
Silver Nova is Silversea Cruises's largest ship at 54,700 gross tons, carrying 728 guests.
Cruising with children
Silversea’s classic and expedition voyages should be evaluated separately for a family. Check both the child’s entry requirements and the activities you want to share.
Read the Silversea Cruises family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
House wine is included in Silversea Cruises' fares, so you may not need a drinks package. If you'd want cocktails or premium wines, enter what they cost.
House wine is included in Silversea Cruises' fares, so you may not need a drinks package at all. Silversea ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A typical drink you'd buy on board.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
6drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 5.8 drinks at $13. Over 7 days that's $525, or 41 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $70 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $455
Break-even is a target for your wallet, not a dare for your liver.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
Related news about Silversea Cruises and its ships
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Status matching and moving earned cruise points solve different problems. I would use a match to understand the benefits available on the next sailing, then consider Points Choice when deciding where to build long-term progress. Treating them as the same feature can…
Cruise loyalty
- Royal Caribbean's Points Choice: file the request within 14 days, and you can only move points once
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Silversea guests can send a cruise's points to a sister program. The deadline and the one-time rule are easy to miss.
Cruise loyalty
- PortMiami names 16 new ships for its 2026-27 season, from Explora III to Hero of the Seas
Miami regained the title of world's busiest cruise port. Five Silversea ships arrive this winter, with Norwegian Aura and Hero of the Seas in 2027.
Ports
- 5 things Silversea Cruises does well—and 1 it doesn’t
Five strengths of Silversea Cruises, one clear drawback, and the travelers most likely to enjoy its cruise style.
Cruise lines