My wife and I recently completed our first-ever Silversea cruise. We were aboard the Silver Whisper for its December 20 -- January 5 transit of the Panama Canal.

First, and foremost, we had a great time on the cruise. The ship was beautiful, clean and in tip-top condition. The Silversea "all suite" accommodations were spacious and well-appointed. We have been on over a dozen cruises, and this was our first cabin with a walk-in closet and bathtub. Our butler, Chan, was terrific . . . always eager to help us and to anticipate our every need.

Dining on the Silver Whisper was exceptional. The food, the service and the atmosphere were all superb. We never tried Le Champagne. All the other venues were so good, there was no need to go elsewhere. We really liked the Hot Rocks Grill as a delightful change of pace, especially after we learned that we could pre-order lamb chops. (I wish they had been on the regular Hot Rocks menu.) Sometimes we would dine alone at a table for two, but we also liked how the staff would facilitate putting us with other folks at a larger table if we so desired. We met many new friends that way. Our one less-than-satisfactory breakfast dining experience was on the pool deck. I ordered an omelet from the menu, not realizing it would have to be cooked somewhere else and brought up. It seemed to take forever, and I had to leave before it arrived. We ate breakfast at La Terrazza from then on and it was always wonderful: great variety, selection, quality and service. Read more