Chose cruise to see Alaska in luxury with excellent food. We had booked the train from Anchorage to Seward but it was only running to a few miles short of Seward so Silversea decided to transfer everyone by bus whereas we were told other cruise ships were collecting people by bus from the train. We were reimbursed by Silversea but it just seemed easier for Silversea to move everyone the same way! Embarkation worked well and was very quick but cabins were not available when boarded ship for at least another hour Ship was luxurious but food was disappointing especially in premium La Dame restaurant where our main course was served cold and service was below par. Our 2nd visit to La Terrezza was poor - they had run out of bread, we struggled to be served with water and wine and then main course special which was tuna which was asked to be served rare was totally over cooked (even if asked for well done) and inedible!! By this time we didn’t want the replacement which was offered Silver Note was good and singer was impressive. Shows were adequate but nothing special Management of the Spa was not good and staff were clearly incentivised on a sales commission basis for additional products. Making appointments was a time consuming and a difficult activity, and even with a confirmed appointment in writing that morning when I went for my appointment it was not in the system!!!!!! Also my wife went for a hot stones massage (also confirmed in writing) and the masseur delivered a cheaper massage and when questioned said hot stones was not booked. On completion of massage my wife went to sign bill and was not given the discount for 3 premium treatments because her last treatment wasn’t premium even though it was their error. On complaining to management it was eventually resolved but left a sour taste !! Excursions were good although quite expensive. We enjoyed Mendenhall Hike but not as strenuous as led to believe. Bear watching was good and saw bears catching salmon although guide was iffy. Sea kayak was enjoyable. Based on price of cruise we felt that Silversea should have been better but would go back to Azamara as felt everyone enjoyed themselves more and food in the speciality restaurants much better than Silver Muse. On Azamara Quest the Cruise Director was very proactive and had a great rapport with both the captain and the guests whereas on Silver Muse it all seemed rather muted and staid Read Less

A group of 18 friends gathered for an Alaska interior trip followed by the 7 day southbound cruise. The interior part of the trip was an incredible opportunity to see animals up close in a carefully managed national park. As this is a cruise review, i will focus on the ship portion but highly recommend the pre-cruise adventure. Room: We were in veranda room 908, adjoining with 906. The room was incredible - appointed with luxury linens, toiletries, decor etc. as you might expect The size of the room was great considering 3 ladies were sharing the room. The bedding was firm (i prefer plush) and slightly more narrow than a normal twin. The sofa turned into a twin bed and was made each night by the butler. The walk in closet provided plenty of room for our overpacking and offered 6 drawers and a safe. The long counter in the living area had 3 more drawers so everyone had a place to store things, along with a nightstand with drawer and cubby. The bathroom featured a handheld shower as well as rainfall showerhead. We always had hot water and water pressure. The marble bathroom also included a full sized tub, which we did not use. There were shelves in the bathroom above and below the sink. Our butler kept our Bulgari products well supplied. As shower gel was provided, they also had the "scrubby puffs" for best lather. We were able to put 2 large pieces of luggage under each "twin bed" although luggage racks were also kept under the beds. Our room was quiet and we got our exercise since the activities were usually on the opposite end of the ship. When docking, we did feel and hear the engines but it was not something that bothered us. The butler kept us stocked with champagne and kept the refrigerator full. He kept us supplied with water and even distilled water. The clock in the room was marked as having wireless charging but i did not find that to work with the iphone. I brought a small extension cord with multiple outlets for charging our appliances, apple watches, etc. and would recommend the same if you like to charge everything at once Dining: While we did have grilled lobster and caviar, 3 times, in Atlantide, we really did not enjoy the food nor its timing. Dinner hours began at 7 pm. Breakfast was unavailable after 10 am and Lunch stopped at 2 pm or sooner. Since i have cruised major lines over the years, i noted the missing "all day buffet" from other ships. We had to plan around the hours that the food would be available. This was not a deal breaker but is worth noting if you are not a planner. Food taste was nothing noteworthy as i would have expected but i am a foodie. We enjoyed La Terrazza twice for dinner (and many times for buffet breakfast and buffet lunch which was great) , Indochine was one interesting but not to the taste of our large group. Our waiter suggested serving multiple items family style (and we ordered extra short ribs which were incredible) and this was a great way to try the unusual menu. the Arts Cafe served great capuccino and lattes with little snacks all day. Spanicapolo (sp) had delicious pizza and the Grill served hot lava rocks for you to cook your own steak. We tried that one night in the rain and were surprised by how nice it was but the side items were lacking and got cold while you cooked your steak. Service: The ship has mastered service. The ratio of staff to guest was amazing. My wine glass was never empty, cocktails were always offered and service was prompt. We really enjoyed being taken care up so well. Everyone seems to enjoy the job. Spa: i had two services reserved before boarding and learned about a 3 service package on board. I added acupuncture to my massage and facial and got 3 services for $495. The individual facial and massage were $229 each and included the gratuity although i left extra. They tried to sell me something in every service but i was able to resist. This is my least favorite part of the spa experience. There are no showers that i saw but lockers are provided in a small changing room. We had amazing weather until Sitka and actually did not do our excursion and it was too late to cancel. Lots of end of summer bargains in the shops in ports, especially Ketchikan. The group really enjoyed the excursions with lots of adventures in helicopters, with dog mushers and glacier hikes. There was always plenty to do in port. Onboard, we enjoyed the last show - a Queen tribute and played (free) bingo and trivia in Dolce Vita every day at 4pm. We had great service while playing. Overall: this was my 1st luxury cruise of 15 cruises. I would probably not do it again but will look at upgrading to a suite on the major lines for a similar price. The ship was small and never seemed crowded despite the large group we had. I loved the size of this ship and it is one reason to return to Silversea. I was spoiled by the service but the food just did not wow me. I am happy to answer any questions. Read Less

My lifelong motto has been that I hate the idea of cruising. The hoards of people, the mass quantity of low quality food, the tiny rooms, and silly excursions. I’ve been on two short cruises to appease family before, and just didn’t like it. Well, when my other half suggested taking a luxury cruise through Alaska, I was not a fan of the idea. But, after watching a few videos, reading a few reviews and realizing he wasn’t kidding, we booked the Silversea’s Silver Muse 7 day Alaska cruise that started right before Labor Day weekend. The thought of the Butler Service, the suite with a bathtub and a balcony of our own, I had high hopes, but was very worried that my distaste for cruising would taint my experience. Spoiler Alert - I loved Silversea and would cruise with them again. This doesn’t feel like cruising - its luxury living. We booked the train transfer from Anchorage to Seward, and when I learned about the timeline of this, I was not pleased. First, the train didn’t leave until noon or later, so you wouldn’t get on the boat until after 5pm. Luckily for me, there was flooding on the railway tracks so they shut down the train, and we were instead going by motor coach, which meant we’d get to the ship by 2pm. I was so glad, so in hindsight, I’d recommend the bus transfer (or getting to Seward on your own), just so you can have a light lunch after embarkation on board and spend time wandering around the boat, checking things out. The boat is exactly as everyone else has described - contemporary, modern and new. The suite exceeded our expectations - I mean, who has a full size bath on a boat? The bed was extremely comfortable. I read that people didn’t like the way the TV worked. We loved it, because we could look at the restaurant menus, read about the next destination, watch videos of different cruises, and occasionally watch a movie or documentary. Why would anyone actually watch TV on vacation?? The butler service was outstanding. We became accustomed to breakfast in our room daily, along with a bottle of champagne waiting for us each afternoon. We were well taken care of, but it wasn’t intrusive at all. We only used the gym twice during our cruise, I walked on a treadmill on the day at sea and did one of the exercise yoga classes. The gym was clean and the treadmill was new and worked great. I liked that you were watching out the back window of the boat, but the class was just okay. Don’t expect to come onboard and get fit. The yoga class I took was very basic and ended up being cut short due to the raffle that day. Also the room for group classes is tiny, maybe 8 people can attend each session. Thank goodness for us, the cruise was mostly adults, and the ages varied. We are in our late 40’s and did not feel out of place. There were people of all ages, but there were definitely a lot of people well past 60, and everyone seemed to be retired. There were only about 3 babies/toddlers on the cruise, they were part of big family groups, so I don’t think it was a “choice” to be on this cruise with a child, since Silversea is definitely not designed for families or young ones. We seek out trips where kids are not allowed, so this was a plus in my book. The enrichment sessions for the Alaska cruise were good. There were several sessions, one on Glaciers, one on Totem Poles, another on Bears, one on Alaskan Bush Pilots and I’m sure there were others, all by the same person. One thing we loved was that if you missed the session, they recorded it and put it on the TV! We only attended one of the evening “shows” and it was fine. (but this is the part of cruising I hate, cheesy shows that are just embarrassing to watch). However, I will admit, the way Silversea did the show was classier than most, really just simplistic singing of songs from multiple eras. Also, the ladies that were singing in Silver Note were also very good. We sat at the bar twice and listened to them. Others have mentioned that this boat did not feel crowded. They are absolutely correct. The way they manage the restaurants, the activities, and the fact that the boat is quite large, you never feel crowded. We ran into people here and there, but overall, it was so different from other cruises where you feel like herded cattle. The only time you really noticed large groups was during the safety briefing and the last day while you wait to exit the ship. Now, onto the food onboard. My favorite dinners were at Kaiseki and Indochine - do not skip these!! Indochine had the most flavorful, unique food on the boat. I did enjoy La Terrazza, they had great house-made pasta. La Dame was very nice, but the food isn’t all that much different or better than Atlantide, which was great for formal night and the food was very nice. We ate at the pizza restaurant twice for lunch, and loved it. The Grill was a complete miss for me. I didn’t like the cook on a rock thing, and being pescatarian, my choices were limited. I opted for the shrimp, and it was gross. I couldn’t even eat them. The texture was awful. However, someone immediately noticed I was not eating them and offered me everything and anything to make up for it. We never dined at Silvernote, since we didn’t make a reservation early on, so we never got to dine there. Many people said it was great. The excursions we took were overall outstanding, well organized and timed well. While we could have booked some of these things on our own, we liked the idea of being with the companies that the cruise ship hired, so we knew they’d get us back to the ship ontime. Here are reviews of the ones we did: In Juneau, we did the Mendenhall Glacier Dog Sledding Trip. This was the highlight of the trip for me. From the thrilling helicopter transfer to the high country dogsled camp where you could see and hear over 300 dogs barking and getting excited to run, to the actual dog sled ride we took, and then we got to pet all the dogs and even held some 8 week old puppies. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this excursion. In the afternoon in Juneau, we did the Whitewater Rafting trip, which was super fun. The “rapids” were very mild and easy to navigate, but it was a nice way to spend the afternoon. They give you rain boots and waders, so as long as you have a rain coat, you’ll stay dry. We did get a few fun splashes along the way, but there was never a fear of falling out. In Skagway, we did the Chilkoot Lake Wildlife Quest. This was just okay. We took the public ferry to Haines, got in a small coach with 5 other couples and drove around looking for wildlife. We saw several bald eagles, but no bears. The lunch they served was nice, but overall, I would not choose this excursion again. Being active people in our 40’s, we would have liked a more adventurous back country experience. This would be a great experience for someone with mobility issues, but wants to see wildlife. In Sitka, we opted to take the Indian Falls Waterfall Hike. This was a no joke, 10 mile hike. We walked 5 miles in, and 5 miles back and it took the full 6 hours to complete. It was gorgeous getting well into the rainforest and our guide was a fantastic 21 year old local who knew so much about the area, the flora and fauna, and just a very pleasant person to spend the day with. If you opt for this strenuous excursion, make sure you have a good raincoat, good sturdy shoes and water resistant pants. The last 30 minutes of the trail we got dumped on, and I learned that my older raincoat was no longer as effective against the elements...... In Ketchikan, we took the Alaska Bear Adventure, which meant we took a float plane to a remote part of the island, got on a bus drove a bit, and then walked down to the viewing platform over the river to see bears. This was an AMAZING experience. We saw several bears fishing for salmon in the quick hour we were on the viewing platform. HIGHLY RECOMMEND this excursion. Bring binoculars and a camera! Tips: 1. Book dinners for later than you think. We often opted for 6pm or 7pm reservations, and in hindsight, 8pm would have been much better. Time flies between returning from an excursion and going to dinner, so having an extra hour to take a bath, relax or use the steam room, and get dressed for dinner would have been nice. I feel like this was our ‘rookie’ mistake being less experienced cruisers. 2. Do all your research on excursions before the booking window opens up. Then, go online the day they open up and reserve the ones you want immediately. The smaller group and more exclusive excursions were full within 24 hours. We did this and got to do every excursion we wanted! 3. Make dinner reservations right away as well, La Dame and Kaiseki were both full immediately after the booking window opened. 4. Do dress up for Formal Night! We ate at Atlantide for the formal night and that appears to be where many people go for the formal night. How dressy should you go? Totally up to you, but I saw long gowns, short cocktail dresses, sparkly pant suits on women and the men were in dark suits or tuxedo’s. 5. Things to bring: bring bath bombs (or bubble bath) for your bathtub; Pack a outlet converter for the UK, (while they have both US and UK outlets in your suite, having the converter made my life easier) and make sure you have comfy lounge clothes for time in your suite. If I decided to cruise again, I would definitely go with Silversea. This is a classy, upscale experience that offered great excursions, which is the only reason I would cruise, to see something, do something, or experience new places. Read Less

I travelled with family and they recommended this cruise line having sailed with them before. The ship is smaller than what I have previously cruised on so I was concerned about motion - turned out to be a non-issue (not sure if it was just the ship or the calmer waters we sailed mostly in Alaska). We were traveling with my senior citizen mother so the smaller ship was a great size for her to easily navigate. Although the ship was at capacity we never felt crowded, never waited in any line, and service was impeccable. Cabin was spacious (Verandah Suite Deck 8) and we had 3 in the room with no issues. Bathroom was very spacious and the shower was wonderful with great water pressure. Loved the towels and bath amenities. Our butler was excellent, and it was a nice service. We booked tours in all our ports independent of the ship so I cannot comment on this aspect. Entertainment was basic and we did not do much during the day other than bingo while at sea, which was fun. The evening entertainment was just OK. The best show was the tribute to Queen. Casino is small but not overly crowded. One table each for blackjack, poker and roulette and there were some slot machines. The ship was beautiful and well kept, service outstanding as I mentioned. A few blips to be aware of: 1. Embarkation timing could be seriously improved. We arrived in Anchorage the day before the sailing and took the scenic railway to the ship with the cruise line the next day. Our bus to the train did not depart until 1230pm, so the morning was quiet and sort of boring with not much we could do. The train ride was pleasant, scenery was beautiful, but the ride was long and we arrived at the boat close to 6pm. We were on the last car of the train so last to exit and get on board. As soon as we got on board it was muster drill time, we did not even have time to walk around the ship and get acclimated. After muster we had to get ready for dinner and felt very rushed to unpack and get organized. Rather than keep us in Anchorage, it would have been better to have us depart and arrive at the ship an hour or so earlier to allow passengers to get their bearings. I know most passengers arrive on the train so it gives the crew max time to prepare the ship, but there should be a happier medium. 2. Remember to bring converters. The USB ports did not work and there were not enough USA outlets. There were no converters available to us when we asked our butler and we did not read that converters were recommended to bring- our fault for not asking I guess. 3. Restaurants were overall pretty good. Some blips in service and food quality during dinners in both Atlantide and La Terrazza. I thought the food was good but I think I expected better given the luxury level of the line- it was not much better than I have experienced on other 'less luxurious' ships. What was nice - service was outstanding all over the ship, maitre d's addressed you by name within 24 hours of being onboard, staff was friendly everywhere, and the available wine and any beverage you want anytime were certainly nice! So overall we had a wonderful cruise on the Muse and for our Alaska trip but I am not sure I would book again with them at this time. I reserve the right to reconsider my comment though if I cruise again and see significant advantages to Silver Sea. Read Less

Our first mistake was assuming that, like Viking, Silversea cruises would be adults only. In fact, out of 580 passengers, 76 were children, about two thirds of those under 5 years old, or even babies. There are virtually no facilities for young children on the ship, so they were mostly bored and amused themselves running up and down the stairs and corridors uunsupervised. The swimming pools and hot tubs were completely taken over by the kids, even though under 12's were not supposed to use the hot tub. They also made their presence felt in the dining rooms, crying and tipping over chairs, and rather spoilt some of the excursions. We were particularly shocked when, on the first day, young children were helping themselves from the buffet using their hands. Aside from the children, there were several other things that were disappointing. The restaurant menu only changed once and then only a few items were different. We had one instance of shockingly rude service in the grill restaurant. The alternative restaurants were fully booked months ahead. We found that there were few places to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee and that these were usually very crowded indeed. The room service meal we had one evening was supposed to be served course by course within 20 minutes. In fact, it took an hour to arrive and then it all came at once, except the wine, which took a further 15 minutes to arrive and the meal was only warm, not hot. The room was not always as clean as I would like and the bath supplies were not replaced except when I asked. We had been advised to have a low floor cabin for wildlife viewing, but we were over the lounge and had quite a bit of noise from the activities there, notably the bingo, quizzes and late night music. On the plus side, the cabin was amazing and the bathroom was superb. The bed linens were very luxurious, as were the toiletries and there was a choice of pillows. All the food and drink was included, and this was mostly of a very high standard. We also had a selection of fresh fruit in the cabin every day. The scenery and excursions were excellent and we were very lucky with the weather and wildlife sightings on the trips. However, overall the experience fell well below what we had expected from this luxury brand. Read Less

Disclaimer - this was our first cruise and perhaps our expectations were unrealistic. The ship was beautiful. The food and service were spotty. We enjoyed the food and experience at Silver Note, Kaiseki and Indochine. Atlantide was the most disappointing. The service was inconsistent (i.e. at the empty Grill at lunch it was hard to get anyone's attention for a second glass of wine and when it finally came it was not with a smile!). We couldn't get a decent steak on board. Our son ate steak at practically every restaurant and a request for 'medium' came back either blue or brown - never pink! That was a real let-down. The Hot Rocks concept was gimmicky and not worth the effort. The over-sized dentist bibs they provide did not protect our clothing from getting spattered with grease. La Dame and Terrazza both had decent food and the service was outstanding - especially the maitre d' (Rodel) in La Dame - he was a real charmer! Service is where we feel Silversea really dropped the ball. We had a large suite with a separate dining area so we decided to have breakfast in the suite each morning. It arrived cold every day and on the second day I asked our butler how many suites he serviced. He responded 14, which surprised me. I asked him what happened if everyone wants breakfast at the same time and he said he tries to get his colleagues to help. He was hardworking but rushed off his feet. It wasn't unusual for him to be paged by another suite while he was with us and he would then use our phone to call and see what his other guests needed. While 1:1 service is impossible, one man servicing 14 suites will never equate to luxury service. We felt bad for him so tried to ask for as little as possible. He was also off-duty from 12-4 and during that period no one answered his phone. We never used his service after 6pm so I'm not sure if the timing of the break is the most sensible? Silversea offers a 'dedicated butler' which I think means only that you'll always see the same face? In our experience it put too much pressure on one person and it would be much better to have a team helping each other and ultimately the guests. Echoing other reviewers, the pool area, while pretty, was not restful. It was teeming with young kids. We traveled with our mid-teens and although they fancied going for a swim or in the hot-tub the atmosphere was always off-putting. We loved the afternoon trivia, ping-pong and the kids appreciated the large selection of streaming media. This was our first time in Alaska and we were impressed by the ports and the people. We didn't do any shipboard excursions but we thoroughly enjoyed the trips we privately arranged - whale watching in Juneau, Emerald Lake/Yukon tour in Skagway, Wildlife Boat Tour in Sitka and Anan Creek Bear Tour by float plane in Ketchikan (this is a must do if you don't mind the small plane). One of the on-board highlights was the afternoon at Hubbard Glacier. Having the forward deck was a huge plus. I thought that the Captain turned the whole ship 360 at the glacier, but all it did was pivot to port and starboard a few times. We saw plenty of spectacular calving. We had fully intended to re-book Silver Origin for the Galapagos while on board but our experience just wasn't compelling enough. On our return we were offered a sizable incentive to re-book but we decided to try Celebrity Flora instead - even though it was slightly more expensive. I waited a few weeks to write this review to see how the experience settled on us, and while I wouldn't say it dissuaded us from cruising again, I don't think we'd ever revisit Silversea. Read Less

We were so excited to sail with Silversea through Alaska. I must say the excursions have been great, the rooms are nice and the food very good (although no healthy options available.) Where the boat really fails is it’s amenities. The gym is very poorly equipped and overcrowded (weights do not go over 20kg and it is cheap equipment.) Where it really fails is the pool. It is a very small pool that I’m sure it nice but we haven’t been able to get into it since we’ve been here. The pool is filled with kids every hour of the day. Parents are not watching, kids are sliding all over the wood and pushing each other into the pool. It’s a safety hazard and inconvenient for anyone who is looking to have a relaxing vacation, or a swim after a hot day. If you want a room and food Silversea is great. But I believe most people go on a cruise for the full experience. If so, you’re better off on a different boat. We will not be cruising with Silversea again. Read Less

I booked two back to back cruises going for 30 days from Seward, AK to Hong Kong, but ended up disembarking in Hiroshima 11 days earlier, because I could not stand the ship food anymore as well as the change in itinerary. I wished I could have disembarked earlier, but I could not do it because of a Typhoon that hit Japan. The transfer from Anchorage to Seward was an awful 4 1/2 hours packed up on a hot train most of the time under the sun because of the transparent roof, while by road a bus takes less than 2 hours. The ship is showing its age. The TV set is old, small, with awful image and terrible sound. Small maintenence issues here and there, such as rust on the floor metal at the veranda and the wood rail that has not been varnished in ages. The mattress needs replacement. Shore excursions in the Aleutian Islands, that have very little to offer, are primitive although expensive and not what I expect from aso called 5 star ship. The main complaint is the bad quality of the food ingrediens and the cooking style. Very fancy names for the dishes but poor execution. Ship sailed two days through one Gale Storm with 100 mph winds an through the Trami Typhoon with 100-120 mph winds. Scary and uncomfortable days rocking and rolling at the midle of nothing to say the least. Because of weather conditions the Captain changed the itinerary and skipped 2 ports, one of which was a highlight of the cruise (Osaka for Kyoto). Due to poor planning another highlight of the cruise was skipped: Incheon for Seoul. The reasons givenfor this change were not believable. Read Less

We chose this cruise because we had been on Silversea twice before and enjoyed the complete luxury as well as the intimacy of a small ship. We had never been to either Alaska nor Japan so we thought that it would be a great experience. Knowing that there would be several sea days we thought that we would play bridge on those days ( or read). What was a real treat for us was the enrichment lecturers; each of them was very well prepared and so elevant to our cruise. The first lecturer was a professor of Migration economics who lectured about each destination in great detail before we arrived there. He went into detail about the history as well as the economy and demographics of our destinations. The second lecturer was a professor of the theater. Each sea day he would discuss a different show about East meets West. He went from the Mikado to South Pacific to The King and I and Miss Saigon. In each of these he discussed how the show portrayed the West meeting Eastern cultures. As an added treat on the last sea day he discussed Hamilton in detail. As always on a Silversea cruise the food was fantastic (as were the bar selections). While we could have dined alone at each meal we chose to sit with others each night at dinner, thereby meeting many others all of whom we thoroughly enjoyed dining with. I do have some problems with a few foods but the Maitre D' took care that each of our waiters were aware of my food allergies and I never hhad problems The ambience on the Silvershadow makes you think of the Italian influence on Silversea. This was especially evident in the bar which makes one think of an intimate European living room. Here we would enjoy cocktails and canapés as well as lovely piano playing each night before dinner. Our suite was lovely ( and very well located mid ship). As on all Silversea ships we were served by a butler as well as a steward. Needless to say, we wanted for nothing. The ports were interesting, especially the Japanese Northern most islands, which we would never have visited but for this cruise. The island of Hakodate is well known for its fantastic sushi but which we enjoyed. However, a real treat were the peoples themselves. Our first port, Kushiro, is a tiny port on the bottom of the island. Here the people went out of their way to treat us to a cultural show with Japanese dance, music and origami. As we sailed away those of us on port side were treated to Japanese music and dancing. ( We also had this at another Japanese port, Aomori. All in all, we could not rave about this cruise enough My only complaint is that my husband has mobility issues and there were very few shore excursions that he could do. Read Less

Our cruise started with the check in for the private train from Anchorage to Seward. The train departs from the rail station adjacent to the airport and our bags were quickly taken but then we were left to find our own coffee etc. in the airport until it was time to board the train. The waiting area for Silversea passengers was way too small, nowhere near enough seats for all the cruise passengers and many people were left standing for a long time. No beverages or snacks in this area at all. Once aboard the train we had 4 seats with table for just the two of us. Others were 4 at a table. The train was comfortable, carriage hostess very good, food OK but we had to pay for that. The journey was nearly 4 1/2 hours and it seemed a long time, despite some nice scenery on the way. We were fortunate to disembark quickly from the train and get checked-in on the ship and into our cabin speedily. However others were in a long queue and some only just got into their cabins as the safety drill was starting. Our first meal in the main Restaurant was very disappointing. Our salmon was very bland and flavourless, the worst salmon meal we had on our five week vacation. Unfortunately we found this to be a theme. The menu choices were very limited, cooking quite poor and the bland flavours a theme. Buffet breakfasts in Terraza restaurant were OK but if you wanted eggs these had to be ordered from the table waiter and took at least 5 minutes to arrive, so not really a full buffet. Lots of waiters eager to carry your plate to your table, some may like this but it seemed silly when the table was just a few paces away. We found that most meals we ate in different restaurants on the ship served food which was not very hot. We were surprised to be offered just one red and one white wine at mealtimes. Usually these were acceptable but on one occasion my husband said he did not like the white wine offered. He asked for the previous day's wine and this was brought to him. However the head Sommelier then came to our table as asked my husband 'How do you know that you don't like this wine if you haven't tried it'. Now that may well be true but is this really the way to speak to a fare paying passenger on an expensive cruise line? The Grill or Hot Rocks (why two names for the same restaurant) served excellent food. Staff so much friendlier than all other restaurants. However this was an Alaska cruise and evening were very cool. I did not expect to have to eat dinner with a sweater and thick coat on just to get a good meal. I was looking forward to trying the afternoon tea. This would have been nice but the cakes were 7 different types of chocolate cake and a few sandwiches. No scones and jam or other savouries. Our Verandah cabin was OK but rather small with the TV shelf sticking out which I kept bumping my head on when placing items on the shelf below, and pinch point with chair to desk opposite coffee table so not possible to walk through to sofa/verandah when chair occupied. We booked most of our excursions privately but did one through Silversea which was OK but not excellent. It was troubling that we arrived at one port where tenders were required and the Captain announced that the first three tenders would be for Silversea excursion passengers only. We had arranged to meet our private tour company as soon as possible for a seaplane trip and they were waiting for us. We went down to the excursion concierge to explain and she said yes, just go down talk to the staff and get on the first tender. We did and they were charming and said plenty of room do come aboard. Thank you Captain for worrying us. We felt that most staff were charming and helpful. However the very senior staff seemed less friendly and cheerful. On several days when we had shore excursions we had breakfast in our cabin. This was not very good at all. On each occasion the toast was burned on one side and uncooked on the other and cold. The fried eggs were very cold and on a cold plate. Fruit selection the same every time and not very good. All the cabin staff were excellent. Cheerful, helpful and eager to please. Other passengers we talked to who had cruised with Silversea previously noted that there was a deterioration in both food and wine quality and choices. We were really disappointed with Silversea. Read Less

This was only our second cruise, the first being a Celebrity Eclipse S1 Suite cruise from Southampton to St Petersburg. This one week cruise on the Silver Shadow Veranda Suite cost £400 less than the two week cruise on Celebrity, so we expected it to be a step up, but for us it was a step down, in fact it was a step down in every respect, I can't think of one thing that was better on Silversea. The Celebrity was a much bigger ship, I think nearly ten times as many passengers, but being in a Suite means you have a dedicated dining room and lounge, so it didn't feel that way, except for the fact that there were way more facilities on the celebrity. Also, the Celebrity was very smooth even in some quite rough weather in the North Sea, whereas the Silversea rolled quite a bit in what looked like quite smooth waters. Boarding was OK, but rather drawn out and we were lucky in some respects. We used the embarkation via the train service from Anchorage Airport Station. We arrived at the airport early, which meant we got a seat in the waiting area, whereas lots of people didn't and had to stand around. It also put us in the first train carriage, which meant we were first to get off and embark the ship, once on board and in our suite we could see people still embarking the ship a long time later. The room was disappointing, smaller than the Celebrity S1 Suite and looking very old and tired. The dressing room sounds a great idea, but in practise it is cramped and takes space away from the room, wardrobes would be better. Similarly the separate shower and bath tub sounds nice, but it eats up precious space that could be better used. The bathroom lacked cupboards to put toiletries away, it all had to sit in the open or in your sponge bag. Dining was probably the biggest disappointment. Without writing a book on it, the menu choices were limited and the cooking was uniformly bland. It was just dull and we gave up on the main restaurants and for the last three nights had steak at the grill on the top deck, which was good, but boring. And you have to eat with a blanket round you at that time of year in Alaska. Service in the main was good, the face-to-face crew were friendly and helpful, in particular our butler and cabin service guy were wonderful. But the more senior level were nowhere near as friendly, they didn't interact and many stood around looking sullen. Having said that, the manager of the Grill restaurant was very nice. Even the Captain's daily announcement was dull and matter-of-fact, whereas the Celebrity Captain was cheerful and amusing and always ended with "life is beautiful." Our excursions were all privately booked apart from one Silversea and all were very enjoyable. We saw some great wildlife and wonderful views. The towns en route were fun, but were rather tourist oriented, with lots of almost identical souvenir and T-shirt shops. An hour or two in those was enough. Getting on and off in port was easy. At one stop there was no dock so we anchored out and had to use the tender which was fine. Although I noted a sign that said it was a tender for 80 and a lifeboat for 150, it was by no means full, but seemed crowded, I wouldn't have liked trying to get 150 people in it in an emergency! The route taken by the ship was often disappointing too, although parts were good and we got really close to the Hubbard Glacier. But other times the ship seemed to be taking a route out in the Pacific and the land was just a grey line on the horizon. Even the last day all at sea cruising the inside passage was mainly well away from the land with not much to see. Disembarkation was fine and again we were lucky, being among the first to disembark. They turfed everyone out of their cabins at the same time, so some people would have been sitting around for a couple of hours. Overall, disappointing sums it up. The ports we visited and the excursions we had were great and that was the main reason we went. But the Silversea experience did not live up to expectations, it was more "Holiday Inn" than "The Savoy." If we cruise again, I doubt we'd choose Silversea. The final irony was that when I got home there was a message on my answer machine to call "Jamie" from Silversea and he left his direct number. I guessed it might be in response to the rather negative feedback form I left. So, I called the number, but he wasn't there and I left a message. He never called back. Read Less

I wanted to see Alaska and stay over night in Alaska. I now have slept overnight in all 50 states. The cruise over all was very good. Room was outstanding; food and service was very good. Outside of ship needs better maintenence i.e. rusting, flaking paint and corrosion Ports of call were great, once you got by the jewerly hucksters. The embarkation procedure both coming and going is poor. We had to be out of our room at 8:30 AM and we were not allowed off the ship untill 9:30 AM. When we got on the ship we had to stand in line for 30 minuets to check-in after a 1/4 mile walk to get to the ship. They should have triple the people for check-in and not make you leave your room until five minuets before you can exit ship. The airfare was set-up by Silverseas and they were really bad flights, going a 7 hr. on American with no food. Coming a 4hr. layover in Salt Lake City to clear customs which actually occured in Vancover BC. Unless Silverseas offered me a tremedous discount I would not use them again. Read Less

We chose Silverseas after reading lots of reviews and from recommendations of friends that had previously sailed. It was our very first cruise and we were pleasantly surprised time after time of the attention we received throughout the voyage from all members of the crew whether it was from our personal butler, the restaurant staff, the bartenders, the casino staff, the receptionist, etc. We really enjoyed all the entertainment options that was available but the evening shows were just the best and all great. After seeing a show, then having dinner, we also enjoyed the music from the trio upstairs and the nostalgic music of the 50's & 60's. We did sign up for an excursion at every port and they were all very good and we learned a lot about Alaska and got to see lots of whales and sea lions. We would highly recommend this cruise line to our friends and family. Read Less

We wanted to try an upscale line and were very impressed by the Silversea experience. Service, food and overall ship was excellent. We were very satisfied. The itinerary was great, especially since we enjoyed perfect weather for the whole cruise. We did a couple shore excursions and really enjoyed them, whale watching in Juneau with Gastineau Guiding was especially wonderful. We also took the train in Skagway which was very fun and had amazing scenery. Our cabin on level 8 was spacious, well organized and always perfectly cleaned. We were very comfortable and enjoyed the excellent cabin service, even the late night pizza and Prosecco room service! We enjoyed all the restaurants onboard. We loved the Hot Rocks Grill, that was a delicious and very fun experience. They even had fleece blankets to keep us all cozy as we dined under the stars. We tried the La Dame restaurant and were blown away by the delicious, beautiful and perfectly served dinner, what a special experience! La Terraza was a great alternative a couple nights to the also wonderful main dining room. You just can't go wrong anywhere you eat! We enjoyed the speaker onboard and learned a lot about Alaska and the sites we were seeing. Also the singers and dancers onboard were very entertaining and put on a couple of really great shows. We were onboard with several other couples and it was just a fabulous trip, very enjoyable and highly recommended! Read Less

A 7 day cruise was the ticket to see the ports of Alaska. The glacier portion was not possible due to 1 1/2 days of rough seas and weather. The rest of the week the weather was more than fine and the excursions were perfect. Service was alaways prompt and courtious. The menus at all the restauants were very limited and the food portions small. The Restaurant had the best food and would accommodate changes . Rafael, our server at every meal was the best. Excursions were with great partners and were on time and very professional. Barmen waiters etc., were always on hand to assist you with any want or need. Pool area was nice and well cared for. Public areas were also well kept and staffed. The windows did leak in the observation lounge during the first day storms. All in all Siverseas did a good job, but not a "high luxury" voyage. Read Less

I chose silver seas based on my travel agent advice. I am so happy that I did. The ship, the staff the food and all of the activities are very well done and exceeded any expectations one may have. Our butler Abraham was very attentive and responded to any request that we had. Another pleasant feature was that you could have your laundry done. It was a godsend when we got home. The food was always amazing. We really enjoyed going to the French and Italian restaurant. All of the wines and champagnes were excellent. It is nice having that all inclusive touch. We also really enjoyed all of our excursions. We did the pre-cruise and were able to see Dinali and also so many grizzly bears and caribou. We also went to the Mendenhall glacier by helicopter and did dog sledding and got to meet all of the dogs and the puppies. This was my first time doing a helicopter tour and it was amazing. We also really enjoyed doing a private fishing charter and fishing for rock fish and salmon. We caught many Rockfish and were able to enjoy eating them at a wilderness camp site. It was truly amazing and an experience I will never forget.We would definitely recommend taking an Alaskan cruise on Silver seas. We will definitely book another cruise with them. Read Less

The help was amazing . Disappointed in the restaurants and the ship is worn and needs to be renovated. I will definitely go on another cruise with Silverseas on a different ship. We did like the size of the ship and the fact that the ratio of help to guest. Breakfast and Lunch were fine. Dinner was an issue. The menu did not vary enough. After 3 days we were bored with dinner. The excursions were all terrific. A little pricey but well worth it. Every suite has a butler and ours went out of his way to make sure all of our needs were mwt. Our daughter and Grandson were also with us on this cruise and again there Butler was terrific, as was the person who cleaned there suite. Every evening there were little suprises left in there room. Again the help on the ship really make the cruise memorable. Read Less

First the good. Can’t say enough good things about every crew member we came into contact with throughout the entie cruise. You were always greeted with a smile and they were eager to please you!. Transfer from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the train in Anchorage was smooth and hassle free. Embarkation was a breeze. Disembarkation and transfer to the airport in Vancouver went just as smoothly and very professionally carried out. The excursions our group booked through SilverSeas were excellent and delivered as promised in the literature. Now for the disappointment. Despite all of the good things I mentioned the negatives were hard to overcome. The first major disappointment was the food. Although the breakfast buffet was good please don’t order breakfast to enjoy in your stateroom. We attempted this twice and had cold eggs and blueberry pancakes, and I don’t mean room temperature, I mean cold. Dinners in the main dining room and LaTerrazza were also a big disappointment. In Alaska I would have expected fresh salmon and halibut. Instead we got frozen red snapper. The entire menu and quality of the food was subpar. Another disappointment was the selection of bourbons which I enjoy. My only choices were Jack Daniels, Makers Mark or Jim Beam. I expected more from a “luxury cruise line”. I also believe SilverSeas should have explained its dress code better. On line it was indicated there was only one formal night and it was ‘optional’. This was an Alaskan cruise we were not cruising the French Riviera. I learned the hard way that casual to SilverSeas means a sports jacket without a tie. Luckily my excellent butler found a jacket for me to use for the five of seven nights I was required to wear a jacket. I was even told I was unable to order a cocktail in the bar without a jacket! I found this a bit extreme and I’m not talking about wearing jeans or shorts. I’m talking about long sleeve button down shirt and dress slacks. I’ve only taken one other high end cruise and that was with Regent. In my humble opinion there was no comparison. From the condition of the ship, the multitude of choices for alcohol and wines, to the quality and variety of foods offered at dinner, Regent was clearly superior and it wasn’t even close. This is only one man’s opinion and based on the large number of excellent reviews from others many would disagree with my assessment but I felt I should offer it nonetheless. Read Less

We traveled with another couple and although we all have cruised before, never on a high-end ship such as Silver Seas. Personally, I enjoyed the itimacy of a smaller crowd. Crew was thoughtful, attentive and courteous the entire trip. Food was excellent, except for The Grill, where the service was a bit slow and food was sometimes luke warm (especially, side dishes). However, in all restaurants we dined at, food was delicious! I had trouble with my room key card not opening my door and had to have a replacement key made-up on a daily basis. The embarkation process went smoothly as well as disembarkation, although we needed a van after disembarking, but one was not readily available. The pros have definitely outweighted the cons on this voyage, but due to the cost, I would probably think twice before travelling on such a high-end ship, but that is not to say that I would rule it out due to the cost. As previously stated, I enjoyed the smaller amount of guests and the food and service was superb! Read Less

This was our 28th Silversea cruise, part 2 of back-to-back Alaska cruises. We chose this for the itinerary, sailing dates, company of friends. Ten years ago, we did a similar cruise round-trip San Francisco. This time, completely different crowd, families, not at all like the cruise in 2008, nor even the cruise the previous week. It was noisy, kids running up and down the corridors, no such thing as "indoor voices". A very loud group of 8 adults completely wrecked the ambiance of of La Dame (guest relations made good on that one). Dress code? What dress code? But not all negative: Best service and food we have ever experienced on a Silversea Cruise. We've never seen the staff so friendly and engaging. Granted, our last two cruises were on the Muse and one was the maiden crossing, like part of the shakedown. So maybe it was the ship, the experience of the staff, the size, itinerary...who knows? Except for the above issues, a most excellent experience. We have 4 Silversea cruises booked and paid for over the next year. We didn't do any shore excursions, preferring to wander around the ports. There were some large cruisers docked at some, but not all, of the ports; they carried 2100-3200 people or more, made for some crowdedness at certain ports.Walked to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka, and shuttled to the SeaLife Aquarium in Seward, walking back. Both hikes worth it. Ketchikan bills itself as the salmon capital of the world. Ketchikan is replete with salmon retailers, but the creek walk is very pretty and entertaining, particularly if you like to browse. Skagway...not enough time at the port to take a Yukon-White Pass RR excursion unless it was Silversea's, so you had to buy from the ship at with the usual markup. Fun place to walk around though. In Juneau on the northbound trip, it rained all day, but we were docked right downtown. On the way back, it was sunny, but we were docked about a mile away from where we were previously. Shuttles were helpful. Read Less

We chose this cruise for the smaller size of the ship. We really enjoyed the cruise. The staff are excellent! You feel pampered. I gave four stars overall as we found the food to be generally very good but not always consistent. The La Dame restaurant was excellent. You need to call on the first day possible to get in. I did not like the fact that all the restaurants booked out early. I thought there should have been a more equitable system. Overall liked the boat very much and Alaska is beautiful. The scenery was gorgeous from our balcony. The ports of call are pretty. Sometimes wished there was a little more time at each. The Hubbard glacier is a highlight. We were lucky to have good weather all the way. I would recommend this cruise to others. It seemed like mostly seniors on board but some young people as well. Read Less

We have tried several other cruise lines, but return to Silversea, time after time because they really meet our needs and expectations. Embarkation and disembarkation is smooth and easy. The dining is excellent, lots of choices and all are good. Services are great - cabin personnel are there to meet your needs and do it very well. They can really met your individual needs and wants. They go the extra mile to meet your individual musts. The entertainment is varied and done well. From group shows to individual programs they are all done well. They provide the guest to guest games and mingling. The ports are well chosen and the excursions are varied, so they is something for everyone. They provide good informative information about every port city plus great information about about the region and it people. We will be on another Silversea cruise in 2 weeks, we are eagerly awaiting it. Read Less

Choose this because of neighbor experience in a prior year. Our first on Silversea. The ship and staff were awesome. Beautiful cabin - great butler and housekeeper. Tried all the dining rooms and all were excellent. Many onboard activities. Some later than our bodies could handle. But all that we attended were terrific. The Port visits were just great and were a super platform for going on our selected shore excursions. Shore excursions that we selected were all fun (with one exception - the canoe trip - which was lovely location with a guide on the boat that was fine, but the rest of the crew for travel to/from and condition of equipment including the bus was marginal).. We did not use much of the fitness capabilities on the ship as we selected shore activities that gave us good work outs. Pre-cruise to Denali was a great start to the cruise. Train trip to Denali was much fun. Grande Denali Lodge perfect for the setting. Trip through the park was long (8 hours school bus) but no other way to see it. Alyeska Hotel was awesome. Matin Buser stop very fun and educational. Jimmie Hendrix brief on his climb was fasinating. We did our own post-cruise to Vancouver - Suspension bridge and Stanley park were great. Read Less

Grand daughter wanted to go to alaska. It was a last minute decision and this fit our schedule. Could not get the type of room we wanted, but the veranda room was ok. Checking in was not handled very well and room did not have a roll-away bed as we were told it would have. The butler and waiters were excellent. Staff at the reception desk were poor. Not very friendly and twice gave me the wrong information, once on the on board credits i had and then on disembarkation transportation. Neither issued has been resolved to my satisfaction. We have been on 21 cruises, mostly on seaborne, twice on around the world cruises. I would rate our experience on silversea shadow as not nearly as good as seaborne. Also was not able to book a reservation at la terraza during the whole trip. Started trying to make reservation right after we made the trip reservation. Again reception desk said they would try to find a way to get us in, but never heard back from them. Food and service were excellent, but the reception staff personal were terrible. Shore excursions were great. Read Less

We chose the cruise because a previous trip to Antarctica has been great - luxurious, such wonderful and unique landscape and plenty of wildlife (albeit emphasis on penguins). The good points of this cruise were great luxury, terrific service, wonderful food and interesting lectures - and lecturers. Put on 3 KG even without deserts... Booze flowed as freely as one could want. Great you say but wait:: The less good: 1) The weather - so much mist and fog in the morning (and we usually arrived at the next location in the early morning). I would question if this is a good time (June) to go on such a cruise. The resulted in the cancellation of several landings onshore. 2) In US waters (and others I heard) Silversea cannot use zodiacs for near shore exploration. This was only communicated to us a few weeks before the cruise. They tried to make up for this as best they could - using a large catamaran (saw good amount of sea life) - and a float plane cruise over Zodiac island (wow saw a bear in the distance...) I predict that this limitation will severly impact such cruises in the future. 3) We had to be contented with seeing ww2 ruins (instead of wildlife) on several occasions. Not turned on by that at all. 4) The wild life was VERY sparce yet the effort by the guides to lead us to where they would be was equally lacking. If there ain't much wildlife then please guide people to it instead of encouraging random walks. 5) On one walk we were given the option of joining one of three walks - yet all three had long since departed and were far in the distance. So much for a guided walk. It was'nt all bad by any means. I would say that on 4 days we saw a decent amount of wild life - and on another three days experienced very nice scenery i.e,.volcanoes. But that is out of 18 days..... Read Less