We have wanted to try a luxury cruise for sometime. We have cruised about 15x on various lines including Princess, Carnival, Celebrity, MSC and Royal Caribbean. Here are some things to consider if you are used to standard cruise lines and debating on higher cost of luxury. Pros for us are fewer people, no crowds, food is amazing! There are 4 different dining venues and 2 specialty ($40 & $60pp). Regular dining room, Asian style, tapas style and our favorite cooking on a hot lava stone. Food was so good we did not do specialty restaurants. Room service has an extensive menu, available any time and Butler sets up linen table setting. You can get “room service” any where on ship when other venues are not open, like between breakfast and lunch. All inclusive is a plus. We have added drink packages on to previous cruises but it is very nice not having to sign every time you get a drink. Room is stocked with what ever you want, wine, beer and liquor. We asked for vodka and they brought a full size bottle! When we drink our bottle of wine it was replaced with another one. There is a butler and he was great but besides making sure our fridge was stocked I am not sure this was a big difference than a cabin steward. Maybe we just did not ask for much. They will shine your shoes, make dinner reservations... The cabins are fantastic, major pro! We typically do balconies or mini suites. All cabins are suites. Bottom ones are window, then floor to ceiling window, next are balconies. We had a deluxe veranda, booked last minute so not much choice. Lots of room, bathrooms are the best we have had. Great shower with rain head and hand held. The cons (for us) are the ship is reallly quiet, very few activities or entertainment. We do not go to shows in the theater but if you do know you will not find that here. We do enjoy a band playing in a lounge and music pool side. There are limited bars and they are not really set up for socializing around the bar. The main lounge has a small bar off to the side and the couches and chairs. There was a solo guitar player, really not much in terms of lively entertaininment. We would have loved an upscale bar with views to relax at in the evening and chat with other guests, A nice martini bar with mixologists would fit well on this ship. There is not main/grand staircase or center bar/entertainment area like you find on other ships. MSC has very attractive boats and I am fond of the rich wood look in lounges on Princess. Celebrity has some attractive areas as well. I am not a fan of goudi look of Carnival. The decks and public areas are very nice on SilverSpirit but could use a bit more elegance in lounges. Rich woods or maybe crystal lights, just something. The carpeting in hallways needs to be replaced, many stains and dirty looking, the walls are tile and I found them unattractive for a luxury ship. This may seem picky but when paying a much higher price your expectations do go up. The gym is super small, so if you work out you may be disappointed. I did a yoga class that was on a small out door deck, 6 of us barely fit. One day it rained so another fitness class was done inside in weight room area. There were 7 of us and barely had space to move, not to mention how warm it got in that little room. The instructor mentioned the week prior no one showed for a single class so I think 7 was a mass crowd. We were in port until 10pm or later but most shops close early so not a lot of things to do after dark. The casino can only open when at sea so it was open very late and the size was like an arcade. We are not big gamblers so this did not matter to us. You just have to think about what matters to you most. Overall the service, cabin, food and small number of passengers were a major plus! We had a very good vacation but most likely will not book again with SilverSeas. It was too quiet for us and not sure the high price tag was worth it. We would love to find a higher end option with more areas of entertainment and mingling. Read Less

Silver Spirit, Montreal to NYC. Have sailed too many cruises to list but over the past 12 months have been on Crystal and Queens Grill in Cunard. This Silver Spirit cruise was a return to Silversea having sailed on Cloud, Wind, Shadow and Whisper in the past (and had all very nice cruise on those other Silversea ships) Ship: Looks brand new, loved the cabin and and cabin bathroom. I found the ceilings too low on some decks and the ship really chopped up (a bit claustrophobic here and there). Some public rooms were too small to handle the ships passengers (Panorama) and some too large (Dolci Vida - which looks like an airport business class lounge). I'm still unsure about the new decor direction, it was really repetitive and kinda boring/cheap looking in some areas. Lighting was awful, in the dining rooms and la Terrazza were all lit like shopping malls. Also on the smaller ships La Terrazza was a beautiful space, on the Spirit, it looked like a mass market ships buffet restaurant. Cabins: Great, they were nicely updated, loved the bathrooms and our butler and cabin steward were tops. No complaints! Food: This is where Spirit falls and falls hard vs her competition. The non changing menus coupled with the new ipad ordering is a mess and will prevent me from sailing Silversea again. You are asked prior to every meal for your room number and name; super mass market. The ipads are slow and not flexible resulting in missed courses, incorrect orders, etc. The first night I never got my entree, was told kitchen was now closed and to order from Room Service, really? Second morning never got my breakfast, only or it to show up on day 7. Want your steak medium, order it rare was the given direction. I also hated the new slate type dishes in Atlantide, it felt like those dishes were all preprepared just waiting for your meat and sauce selection. All veal chops on the ship were inedible (even our waited guided away from ordering them). So in 10 nights, I had the same soup 5 times, same salad and three different steaks that all tasted about the same. Sad for a luxury line. Lunch in Atlantide was great, great daily menus and diverse food selection. We tried LaTerrazza, it was ok, I had the veal - bad choice. Silver Note was fun, but a one and done place. We cancelled LeDame as we didn't want to risk paying $240 for four of us to have the same dreary dinner food we had been having all week. Ports: We missed two and weather was awful, but thats not the ships fault. Its still a beautiful part of the world Service: Overall fine, but really a sense that there are rules to be followed, want a dish from next door? No. Would a bar server ever remember my room number or drink, Nope. Other passengers would let others know alternative menus were available, but never from the staff. 45 minutes between courses, yup...The whole experience felt too mass market compared to Seabourn or Crystal. We had fun thanks to the DJ and other passengers we met, always great meeting others. Since this seems to be the new direction for Silversea, I hope that they get guidance from Royal Caribbean or at least the cash they need to bring their experience levels back up to prior cruises. Read Less

We just returned from a ten day trip on the Silver Spirit, Montreal to New York City. Out of 25+ cruises this was hands down the worst because of the weather. It was 29 degrees F in Montreal, we got stuck in Quebec City because of a blizzard, Saguenay port was closed because of the weather, Baie-Comeau was closed because the dock was wrecked by the storm and it was rain, snow, sleet and fog in all but Newport RI. So I must give this trip two marks, overall trip a 2 while just the Silver Spirit a 8. I blame the weather 50%, myself 25% for booking a trip to Canada this late in the season and Silver Sea 25% for selling a trip this late. The attitude aboard the ship from Captain on down was it was too late in the season. The Ship: The Spirit looks like a new ship and just like the Muse in many places. She was very clean and organized with no problems that I encounter. The crew was great, service top notch. The unlimited internet and the interactive TV worked great. We were in cabin 1117, a new Silver Suite added when she was stretched. Great cabin in a great location. Very quite and right by the elevator and midships enough motion wasn’t a issue. Food: The Spirit now has the same restaurant arraignment as the Muse and the same room service. I really do not like the fact that the menus do not change at all in the evening in any restaurant, it gets very boring. Some will say they do change however after 23 days on both ships I have never seen a change, I also find the room service menu boring, almost like a Diner. I tried to get a lobster dinner, which is a special order, and just got the run around. I am really not impressed by the food. I never got a bad meal however there is no wow factor in any of it. I can not recommend SS to a foodie. Accitivies: For a ship with a very small stage their group did a great job. There were six singers who put on various shows, all very good. There was a three piece band which was OK along with a male and female singer who worked the lounge, also OK. I was surprised they didn’t bring in any guest acts. There was a lecturer onboard also. Overall I like SS but after trying them twice I just can’t get excited about their restaurant concept. I would sail them again however at their price point there are better options I believe. Read Less

Awesome service, accommodations and great culinary options! My husband and I boarded this cruise too celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and had a wonderful experience. Despite the bad weather, and missed ports, we enjoyed all the ports we did get to visit! The staff on board accommodated our every whim and the dinning options were fabulous. The rooms are very spacious and serviced twice a day which was very nice. We loved all the common areas and the numerous activities that were offered. We especially enjoyed trivia play each day at 4:45pm. Who doesn't like drinks, friends, and some trivia! We made some wonderful friends on board as well! The ports were beautiful and full of fun and exciting excursions suiting every level of activity. Because of our ship's size we could get into most ports without having to tender to shore. I would definitely recommend this cruise and especially Silversea cruise line. We can't wait to book our next cruise. Read Less

We took advantage of an opportunity to board a Silversea cruise in our hometown of Portland, Maine. This was an eight day cruise to Montréal that actually started in New York. Overall, we give this cruise five stars out of five! When we cruise, food and service are very important to us, and both were excellent on the Spirit. Less important for us are entertainment and excursions, especially in North America. On this cruise, the entertainment was the weak link. We’d give it three stars out of five. We could have used help with our luggage at embarkation in Portland. I realize this was something of an experiment for Silversea but we all (about 30 of us getting on in Portland) had to bring our own bags on board. Debarkation was easy with two restaurants plus room service available that morning. We had a deluxe veranda suite and it was very spacious although the balcony was something of a waste on this cold-weather cruise. We did not dine in Hot Rocks or Seishin, but all the others were very good to excellent. We found the food and service to be equally good, and the included wines were up to the task. Our butler, Neil, was certainly very attentive and there were several crew who remembered us from a previous cruise on the Muse in April. That made us feel at home. The DJ in Panorama was good, and we really enjoyed the Art Cafe and The Bar in Dolce Vita (hello, Albert!) There was an unusual vibration, one night in particular, that was annoying. We heard several other passengers comment on it as well. I hope it goes fixed before a long trans-Atlantic voyage. The weather was cold but we really didn’t take this cruise for the ports. That said, we really enjoyed the trip up the Saguenay. The scenery was beautiful! All in all, we had an excellent cruise in Silversea! Read Less

After an illness in the family, we needed some "away" time, but not too far away. So we selected a 10-day cruise up the east coast and down the St. Lawrence to Montreal. Our first cruise on SilverSea and we were not disappointed. Our cabin was larger than on many other cruise lines, the food and service were excellent, our butler and attendant were incredibly friendly, attentive and helpful -- Any request received an almost instant response -- we wanted to bring those two home with us! Staff on the ship were amazing in the way they seemed always to remember our name! Cruise Director, Jimmy Kovel was a real card and always entertaining as well as being on top of many many aspects of the cruise. We have sailed with seven companies; and SilverSea is right at the top of the list! One suggestion would be to engage some experts in various fields for informative lectures on board, especially on days with no port of call.. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we love the service on Silversea and wanted a small ship experience in cruising the St. Lawrence Seaway to experience fall colors. The timing was perfect as we were able to see the fall colors throughout New England and Canada over the 10 day cruise. The excursions allowed options that customized our experience and we chose a variety including, but not limited to, a seaplane flight in Saguenay, bike ride in Quebec, and a mansion tour and walk along the cliffs in Newport, Rhode Island. There were many opportunities to enjoy local food through tour options. We loved the Lobster Lunch in Halifax and the Sugar Shack in Trois Rivieres! In Bar Harbor, we rented electric bikes on our own at the Pedego Store located right at the dock where we tendered and enjoyed our own ride through the Acadia National Park and town. The remodel of the ship has increased options for dining, however the cold weather limited the options as the Pizza Restaurant and the Grill are outside. That said, they do have outside heaters and blankets so we did choose our favorite dining place, The Grill, a couple of times. The Atlantide, Indochine and La Terrazza allowed a variety of types of culinary experiences. If you book on Silversea, be sure to make restaurant reservations online ahead of the cruise. Some restaurants do not need reservations, but specialty venues do and they fill up. There is always seating in Atlantide and Indochine. The Arts Cafe is fun any time of day, but limited seating with the cold weather. When it is warm outside, there is extended seating on the deck off the back of the ship, however, they did allow us to sit next door in the Silver Note during the day when the Silver note was not serving dinner. We also dined in our suite the first night and our butler delivered, wine, appetizers and main courses all elegantly served in our suite. As for entertainment, the shows were always fun, however we tend to choose only a few that spotlight our taste in music and songs. We loved listening to the piano and guitar music in Doce Vita Lounge on most nights either after the show, or instead of the show. The Silver Note includes a Jazz singer and pianist during dinner, but you can also go in for drinks after the last seating. The layout of the Silver Note in the Spirit is not as nice as the Muse however as the bar is not actually in the restaurant which we really liked in the Muse, so we could actually sit at the bar any time of the evening. We did not care for the destination lecturer on this trip, however he was knowledgeable, but we thought he was a bit boring. On other trips we have enjoyed the lectures, it just depends on personal preference. The lectures can be attended or watched on the TV in your suite later. The cruise director, Jimmy, was outstanding. He happened to be on our last cruise and we were glad to see he was again our director as he is outstanding. All service from the time you step on the ship, till the time you depart, is personal and excellent. We are repeat customers of Silversea due to their service and overall experience. Our next cruise with Silversea will be an expedition to the Galapagos and then bak on the Muse for 14 days in Australia and New Zealand. Read Less

We chose Silversea's Montreal to New York based on the itinerary and reputation of the cruise line. The Silver Spirit is definetly upscale with design and excellant, friendly service throughout the ship. The dining options were plentiful and good , not great , which was a bit disappointing . For a 10 day cruise , even though the dining options were varied, the menus stayed the same . It would have been nice to have a more varied menu. The one thing that was nice was the availability of the all around menu at every venue , which did give some additional variety. The Silversea Cafe on deck 8 was a daily staple , with snacks and lattes from 6:30am ... The itinerary lived up to the expectations, excursions we're well planned , and for the most part small. One negative would be the alloted time in some of the ports. The excursions were that good ,but we felt rushed because of time contraints on getting back to the ship. The tour guides were very good other than one on food tour Quebec City , disorganized and tour not as advertised. The major disappointment for those who like to workout was the small exercise area with limited machines and very small area for classes. This could certainly be an enhancement for SilverSea to consider. One suprise was the quality of the entertainment . A very talented troupe of singers and dances (Voices of Silverseas) were absolutely entertainng with the variety of song and dance that we didn't miss a show . Read Less

Choose this cruise for the fall colors and Ports it was going to. The wait staff, Bar and room staff were absolutely wonderful. There were lots of restaurant choices and all the ones we went to were great. The Spa was also very good and the service was great. The transfer from the Hotel to the ship was anything but smooth and organized. The people in charge had no organizational skills what so ever. Very very disorganized. Going trough immigration in Bar Harbor was also a major cluster disaster. What was on the daily sheet was not the same as the people in the halls. Very confusing and totally dis organized. And then there was getting off the ship. If we though the other times were bad we had no idea that getting off the ship was going to be worse. The colored tags on the bags made no difference in how the hole process was going on. The excuse was the we were late on the account of wind. I can't see how you can blame stupidity and no organizational skills on the Wind. I was very disappointed in the way things were handled. Not at all up to the Silver Sea Standards we have Been accustom to. I sure hope you get your act together in the future. Not sure at this time if I will go back with Silver Sea may have to try some other's. Read Less

We chose this trip with 3 other couples for a luxury ship fall foliage tour; weather was mostly bad, but that is just bad luck. Excursions handled by the ship were poor to average and the entire experience was not quite what we had expected or paid for. The cabin was excellent and the food was very good as well. Service was a little spotty as the ship was completely full, but I still expected more attentive service; the best service was from the butler & room staff. The fitness center was very small & very disappointing; several people that were in there while I was working out made the same comment. We had a problem with the flight set up by the cruise line, and the issue was handled very, very poorly which put a bad taste in our mouths even before we finally arrived at the ship later in the trip. Overall the experience was not a 5 or 6 star one and was less than we had expected. Read Less