We were sadly disappointed from the start when the Muse "broke" and we we didn't depart until a day later than scheduled. We had already spent two days in Vancouver exploring the city, so the offer of a "free excursion" to see the city was of no interest. We had already seen everything offered! We're still waiting to hear the details of the "15% credit of our cruise cost for a future cruise." After three phone calls and two emails there has been no response. We then missed our Ketchikan stop, and spent almost 2 days at sea. Given this was the last Alaska cruise of the season it was apparent most of the staff was burned out and "just going through the motions" required of their jobs. Food was good, but not great, and for the cost of the cruise our expectations were much higher. Decor was benign and boring, and the "artwork" of stacked hairdryers painted gold in the grand stairway was just weird! Our butler was nice, but forgetful. The room steward was great. The restaurant reservation system was odd, as the restaurants that were "booked" were often only half (or less) than full at peak hours. Were they just saving on costs? Entertainment and food was repetitive, and got boring even though it was only a 7 day cruise. On a high note, the cabin (deluxe veranda) was nice, bed comfortable, and balcony clean, but the wifi was TERRIBLE! I need to work while on vacation, and the lack of connectivity made this close to impossible. This is only my third cruise, but the last with SilverSea. Oceania was MUCH nicer, food better, and cost less. True, the alcohol wasn't included, but I couldn't drink the price difference if I tried. Read Less

This was our first cruise with Silversea (my first with any line) but will not be our last. We felt pampered and enjoyed our meals consistently throughout the 7 days. The ship and our cabin were bright and clean. The staff were cheerful and polite. We were fortunate to have sunny and fairly warm weather in Alaska throughout our cruise. Going in September we were concerned a bit about this, but it turned out great. Breakfast in LaTerrazza gets the day off to a great start. It is a buffet type arrangement with an incredible assortment of fresh fruit, breads (sweet rolls were irresistible to one of us, ok, I tried them all), eggs, cereals, cold cuts, cheeses, juices and more. Coffee is served at your table, and it is possible to order a custom breakfast from there as well. The lunch buffet is also excellent, but don't pass up the superb pizza at Spaccanapoli or the wide selection of lunch choices at the Grille. Dinner in Atlantide and Indochine were both superb, out of the many dinner orders between us, only one was disappointing. Not sure why DW decided to order vegetarian that night... Entertainment was fine, the performers are enthusiastic and talented. The musicians playing in various locations around the ship were very good. Vlad, a guitarist/vocalist, caught our attention while we were walking about. We sat down and enjoyed an excellent set of music while being served the fine included-in-fare sauvignon blanc. Our favorite excursion was whale watching out of Juneau. We were perhaps lucky in seeing about 10 whales, but the guides seemed confident we'd find them from the outset. Embarkation and disembarkation were a breeze. A vigorous hike and river float ride in Skagway also made for a great day. The ship had an unexpected technical issue after we boarded causing us to stay in Vancouver the first day, and so we missed our Ketchikan stop. Silversea provided free excursions to Vancouver and a cash credit on a future cruise, which we considered fair compensation. As the rest of the cruise went so well, the issue was evidently fully resolved. We are happy to give overall 5 stars for a truly memorable cruise! Read Less

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

This was our 9th Silversea cruise all previous being on Spirit and Shadow, so we were keen to sample the Muse. We stayed in Fairmont Waterfront pre cruise, and exceptional hotel, top tip, choose a harbour view Gold floor room. It was a mixed experience on the Muse. The new Musification decor and the ship did not disappoint, a stunning ship and much improved over the older ships. The crew as always were superb, always friendly professional and a delight. However, we for sure noticed a slipping of previous standards. The main points we noticed, all small, but it's the small detail that counts: This was an Alaskan cruise, with the spotlight on scenery and wildlife, previous Silversea cruises always had binoculars in every cabin, wow, not any more, when I asked the reply from the Cruise Consultant was, it cost to much as guests steal them, a lowering of standards. I was surprised to see on the open forward deck, Zodiacs and Kayaks tied down, very unsightly. It became clear during the cruise that this cruise was partially an Expedition cruise, unfortunately this was not made clear in any pre cruise matterial. One day of the cruise was modified, without any pre cruise notice, to facilitate the expedition element as the ship moored for 12 hrs in Rudyard Bay, yes lovely scenery but after 12 hrs looking it became tiresome, it was all for the Expedition and tours using Zodiacs and Kayaks. Dining in the La Terrazza restaurant was very disappointing, the changes have created a more open cafe concept, very noisey taking away its previous charm. Top tip, try it once but dine in Atlantide, Silver Note or La Dame, these are all very good. We noticed the service was not as before, standards from Silversea are dropping, these points are small but important, to me all drink measures are smaller, canape are meager, one other guest called it the "Meega Muse" Also lacking was the old Silversea luxury of a waiter taking ladys by the arm to escort to table. Sliding standards. And what happened to the luxury touch of your butler giving you a choice of toiletries for your cabin. Sliding standards. If you have this option, take the Juneau Silver King Lodge tour, amazing wildlife and lunch. To summarise; Yes Silversea are exceptional and I would certainly cruise with them again and recommend them. However, the new Musification is missing something, I'm not sure what but they seem to have just taken there eye off the ball, and are cutting back on small luxury items, but I would suggest that it's just those small luxury touches that have made Silversea. Read Less

I was on a cruise that happened to be the cruise that a couple of insurance companies seemed to have bought large room blocks to give as prizes to their best sales people. I was very disappointed in the overall "party atmosphere" of the people who received the free cruises from the insurance companies. I chose SilverSea to not have to be confronted with loud, uproarious crowds; therefore, I spent lots of time in my cabin. I understand that the staff on the Silver Shadow did all they could do to lessen the impact of this group on the rest of us. Other than this little problem that there is no way you could have foreseen, my cruise was AMAZING. Maybe a possible solution would be to not allow large room blocks by insurance companies. I would think you could sell out the ship without allowing these poorly behaved guests. Read Less

I chose this cruise because of the size of the ship and the cruise lines reputation. Embarkation was sooo easy... best ever actually... our cabin was huge, loved it. Our butler, Richard was lovely, very attentive and anticipated all our needs. Entertainment was ok... nothing to write home about.... but the ports, service and ship.... perfect! Read so many negative reviews before sailing- was bit worried, and although the ship isn't new or glamorous, it was clean, few wear marks... but i was looking after all i had read. They made no difference to the trip. The staff were amazing... Alaska was beyond what I thought- every port great- we missed Juneau due to weather.. that was :o( as we really were looking forward to it- but that was no ones fault.... The only thing that was bad- truly bad.... we booked the rocky mountaineer for the trip before cruise (not thru silversea) but many were on board that had. To say it was bad, was an understatement,,,, the staff were young, and very impatient, unhappy and entitled. It was pricey... and i can honestly say the worst trip i have ever taken. Silversea may want to rethink their partnership. Reading online after- we saw so many negative reports with the same complaints we did. Think long and hard before you splurge for this- they should be ashamed to charge what they charge. Shameful. 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

There were several factors leading to our disappointment. First, the ship is showing its age. It is clean but is definitely not what one would expect from a luxury cruise. The style was dated and the appointments, chairs sofas and flooring were well worn. Second, the front desk customer service was very disappointing. We requested a room upgrade at check in and we were willing to pay for the upgrade. We were on a wait list to get on the cruise and had to take what was available. We were never contacted about an upgrade either positively or negatively. We spoke to a few couples later in the cruise that got updated for free! Not only did they get upgraded but we were not even offered the rooms they vacated. This is frustrating since we had the worst room on the boat. A room with a window on the fourth level as close to the bow as was possible. We had rough seas and that room was awful! We felt closed in and the bouncing was relentless. I got very sick. Third, as I said earlier we booked very late and could not get neither the restaurant reservations we requested or the better excursions. This did not add to the enjoyment of the cruise. Third, the communication was poor throughout the process. We had to call a few days prior to our leaving to ask where and when to board the ship. We also signed up for the after cruise excursion to Denali. We tried several time while on board the ship to get information about the itinerary and told it would be coming. Nothing came until one day before. It simply said to meet on the forth floor lounge at 7:15 the morning of the departure and we would be briefed. We had no idea where or when we we were staying. We could not let our family know if something went wrong. This is totally unacceptable. Fourth, we were very disappointed that once we left the boat as the various ports we had several other larger cruise ships and their thousands of people to compete with. That also included the few excursions we were able to book. People from the other ships were either part of our excursion or on the same excursion but on a different boat/car/bus. The excursions were not "luxury" but basically what everyone else had access to. That included the Denali add on at the end of the cruise. Same tour and excursions as Carnival, Regent, Princess and Disney. It did not feel in the least bit special. Fifth, the dining experience was very nice. The service and ala carte method of service gave it a very premium feel but the food simply did not deliver. The food quality was not what I expected from a luxury cruise. The wines were good the food was adequate at best. Read Less

My husband and I wanted to do an Alaskan cruise and had a good experience on Silver Seas in the Adriatic. The ship was ready when we got to port in Vancouver and our check-in and bag arrival to the room were seamless. Our "butler," Ardvin, was a wonderful human being and attentive without being obsequious or intrusive. Each day, the housekeeper, Wendy, had the room spotless and inviting. Meals on Silver Sea were plentiful, but truly the dining in the evening, even if three courses were chosen, was a filling but not overly bloating affair. the appetizers and soups/salads were modest at best, and the main courses always well prepared. We dined at the other two restaurants for dinner one time each, and the experiences there were equally good. We got attached to one waiter, Henry, who was a polished professional that could easily serve at a Michelin restaurant. All the wait staff were very competent, made accommodations as diners needed (a friend made on the ship had been ill one night and needed a customized dinner to take care of her upset stomach, and Henry was seamless in getting her what she needed). Breakfast had a great buffet - eggs cooked to order if you desired, plentiful and healthy choices (smoothies and fruits) as well as indulgences (pain chocolate and pastries). Each day had MANY choices of outings that included helicopter rides to glaciers, nature centers, kayak tours, etc. All levels of fitness and curiosity were met. Even though this cruise line is generally thought to be for older folks, there were several families with children (I guess given the Alaska focus), and everyone seemed content. That made for easy dinner and casual conversation after returning to the ship. There were lectures available about upcoming interests - wild life, glaciers, indigenous peoples, etc., and they were the best lectures I'd heard aboard a cruise. We had two days at sea without port, and while they were rough days, many folks nauseous, there was plenty to do if you so desired. There was a casino on our ship and my husband played in each of the three blackjack tournaments, we had a winning trivia team (WIldcats!), there were line dancing lessons, and plenty of entertainment from a very talented group of performers. Really can't say enough about Kirk, the cruise ship Director. He is man of grace, talent, patience, and ease. I know there is more I will remember once I closeout this survey, but Silver Seas was stellar! Read Less

This was our first cruise and a trip of a lifetime to Alaska.We looked at many cruise lines and we felt that this would be a good value. We were not wrong. Silver Seas is first class. I do wish that port time was longer but we did cover a lot of ground (or sea)... I cannot say enough about the crew and how wonderful they were. Pleasant, professional and just what was promoted by the cruise line. Our cabin was very comfortable. The service for our cabin was wonderful from the cleanliness of our cabin to room service. The only area that I would have changed would be the port calls. If you had a excursion there was very little time to see the actual port or surrounding area. The ports themselves are the same after a while so it would have been nice to have been able to see the areas around the towns. Also, a bit disappointed that we went to Canada for our kayak excursion? thought that was a bit weird. 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

It was absolutely wonderful. The crew were fabulous and I most impressed by the expedition leaders' knowledge and excitement to share with us. I learned so much and am looking forward to my next trip with Silversea!!! The dining staff and valet service staff were incredible knowing our names from day 1! I was a widow traveling alone, yet I never felt left out at all and felt completely safe. I knew I was in good hands with a capable staff. The lectures were amazing. that is whereI learned so much that I could barely take it all in. the leaders were not only highly trained, but very good at their lectures and video presentations. it was far more than I dreamed of. Silversea seems to have covered all the bases to make your trip a memorable one. My thanks to all on Silver Sea Explorer for a fantastic experience. Read Less

We were looking for a smaller ship with high-end values and we found it on the Silver Shadow. The tours were excellent and our cabin (808) was perfect. We loved our butler and maid. Embarkation and debarkation were extremely smooth and efficient. Would love to do it all over again. Unfortunately, since we booked only 2 months in advance we were not able to book the 2 speciality restaurants. However, the maitre'd was able to fit us in La Terezza on one evening and it was delightful. I enjoyed the very talented singers and loved the opera night. I wished they had done more nostalgic duets on the night of Duos. The Observation Deck is really wonderful and we were so fortunate to see the Hubbard Glacier and take many pictures. We also saw, on some of our excursions, whales, sea otters and bald eagles. The trip to the eagle sanctuary and bear sanctuary was very rewarding. I applaud the staff, cleanliness and comfort of the ship. The cruise director was fabulous, Rico. We had fun afternoons playing the Trivia Quiz; our team won a prize! Read Less

This was our first experience with Silver Sea. We loved the smaller ship (about 400 passengers) and the good mix, with some family groups, some older and some younger than us. We traveled as a couple but enjoyed camaraderie with fellow passengers. Our cabin was a very good size even though it was a standard room with veranda. The attendant and butler kept it in tip-top shape. we didn't really utilize the butler service as we didn't feel a need. We enjoyed the choice of four dining venues for dinner and were able to use them all. The food was excellent and had a great variety. The service was outstanding, and most everyone was friendly and helpful. The entertainment options aren't great but that was OK with us, as we retired to our room around 10 each night after a full day. The ports and excursions had a nice variety. We did some hiking, strolling through towns, whale watching and salmon fishing. I would definitely sail with Silver Sea again - trying to decide where I want to go next! 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