Silversea Cruises

Summary

Typical Per Diems: $400+

Silver Cloud sails the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale & Barbados (winter, spring 2011) and the Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale & San Diego (winter, spring 2011).

Silver Wind is sailing internationally in 2011.

Superintimate and large enough to have multiple entertainment venues, two restaurants, and lots of outdoor deck space, sister ships Silver Cloud and Silver Wind were built in the mid-1990s, just in time to get in on must-have ship fashions such as balconies. Silver Cloud had a major makeover in 2009 (which sister Silver Wind got in late 2008), which created a larger spa and gym, a new observation lounge, and eight new suites, in addition to renovating all of the suite bathrooms and sprucing up cabins, public rooms, and corridors to bring their decor in line with Silversea's newest ship, Silver Spirit.

Cabins

Like their fleetmates, Silver Wind and Silver Cloud are all-suite ships, with balconies on more than three-quarters of the staterooms. All standard 240-square-foot suites have sitting areas, roomy walk-in closets, bathtubs, vanities, new flatscreen TVs and DVD players, stocked minibars, Ferragamo or Bulgari toiletries, plush mattresses and bedding, as well as new furniture, carpeting, drapes, and bathroom fixtures and finishings. The top of the lot, the 1,314-square-foot Grand Suites, have two bedrooms, two living rooms, three televisions, two bathrooms, and a full-size Jacuzzi tub. Color schemes revolve around creamy beige fabrics and golden brown wood. Silver Cloud has swirled peachy-gray marble that covers bathrooms from head to toe, and though indulgent enough, the bathrooms on these ships don't hold a flame to the larger, simply decadent loos on the line's newer fleetmates. Goose-down pillows ensure a good night's rest. A face-lift in May 2009 saw the addition of four new Medallion suites on Deck 8 and four new suites on Deck 7. The Silver Wind face-lift saw the addition of four new Medallion suites on Deck 8, and four new suites on Deck 7.

Dining Options

The formal, open-seating dining room, called the Restaurant, is delicately decorated in pale pink and gold, and elegant candlelit tables are set with heavy crystal glasses, chunky Christofle silverware, and doily-covered silver show plates. The indoor/outdoor La Terrazza cafe, where buffet-style breakfast and lunch are served, is transformed into a nightly spot for more casual evening dining, featuring a scrumptious Italian menu.

Public Areas

Public areas inside and out are spacious and open. High tea is served by day in the windowed Panorama Lounge, which at night hosts piano entertainment. Magic and other acts are performed in the attractive two-story show lounge, and, on most nights, a dance band plays oldies or a DJ spins in the intimate and dimly lit adjacent bar. There's a small casino, too, plus boutiques where you can spend your winnings, including an H. Stern fine jewelry shop with the requisite gold-and-diamond-studded watches.

Pool, Fitness & Spa Facilities

The Silver Cloud oceanview gym occupies a roomy space by itself on Deck 9 (where an observation lounge used to be) on the far-forward part of the deck (oddly, it's not attached to the ship's interior, so one must go out on deck to enter). On Silver Wind, a new, two-floor glass elevator connects Decks 8 and 9; there is an observation lounge at the bow of Deck 9, plus just behind it is a new spa with five treatment rooms, a beauty salon, and fitness center (similar to the layout on Shadow and Whisper). Both ships have a pool and two hot tubs.