This is my 4th cruise on Silver Spirit which is probably my favourite ship of all as it has my preferred tonnage for a balance of facilities and privacy. I cruise on the same ship a year ago and again this time I am extremely happy with my experience. They have changed quite a bit in restaurant services, now that waiters take order with a Galaxy pad, and I suppose this is good even for customers as it ensures continuous flow in the delivery of meal courses. Throughout 9 days on this trip the weather is great. We missed Mykonos this trip and spent one more night in Athens instead which I am not unhappy with, as I have been to Mykonos many times. The trouble is lack of pier facilities at Mykinos and the captain does not want to use tender in a windy condition, which maybe a good decision for comfort important to a 5-star ship.

Yes, comfort is the key to travel on Silversea, as the cabin is spacious and service in housekeeping and of the butler are great as usual. Silversea restaurant and bar services are also invariably great, particularly I am recognized by many as a return cruiser. I cruise in all ships and it is interesting that 5-star ship crew always try to remember you, while on a big ship they try to pretend that they don't know you even if they do! Perhaps this is the main reason that most 5-star ships get following (4 star ships also get following due to unbelievable cheap fares off season).

The design of the menu of the main restaurant on this ship has much changed, and I would say for the better. I am happier now as there is less (or almost no) Asian fusion on menu items. I find most Chinese or Japanese food on ships are actually Philippine food. The alternative restaurants Le Champagne and Stars, as well as La Terrezza all have my top marking. The Asian restaurant has great service but the food is not really Asian....I would say it is rather American Asian if you like that kind of food. But great that with the only Asian restaurant on any Silversea ship the buffet lunch always includes sashimi (and great that there can't be fusion on raw fish). Good also that the lunch menu in the main restaurant is now also enlarged and good, and now it has as many choices almost as at dinner, while some cruise ships, even 5-star, offer a kind of Hamburger/Sandwich based menu to cater for America taste. All in all, a great trip.