| Overview
In an era in which cruise lines -- even luxury-minded ones -- are trying to convince us that bigger really is better, Silversea's Silver Wind remains firmly rooted in the less-can-be-more camp.
Silver Wind (along with Silver Cloud, its near identical sibling) is the smallest luxury cruise ship to feature both private verandahs and a two-deck-high grand theater. Even within the Silversea line, which has, since Silver Wind's 1995 debut, unveiled Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow (two other larger and, yes, somewhat glitzier twins), this ship feels special. Officers and crew socialize with passengers, and learn names by day two (if not earlier). So many folks onboard are regulars that there's already a convivial spirit -- and even though every cruise will vary, we found passengers on Silver Wind, repeat cruisers or no, to be unusually welcoming and friendly.
Another plus? Silver Wind, as befits the Silversea mantra, offers one of the industry's most all-inclusive policies -- wine and spirits are included in the fare as are gratuities and port charges. Cuisine, particularly in the ship's main restaurant and alternative eateries, and most notably at lunch and dinner, is not only adventurous (in addition to traditional steamed lobster, for instance, a recent voyage featured lobster medallions breaded in chick pea flour and served with chorizo sausage chutney), but also consistently top-notch.
Select areas of the ship recently underwent refurbishment. Improvements included a completely new library and Internet center (created out of what was, before, two passenger cabins). An annex off the main dining room was used to create La Saletta, a new alternative restaurant.
This trip -- a South America round-the-horn voyage in December -- was our second on the cruise line (last year we had sailed on Silver Whisper), and in most aspects lived up to the Silversea ethic. Still, there's a sense that this ship is still trying to find its way.
Service, traditionally a Silversea hallmark, was oddly erratic. On the "wow" scale was the sommelier whose love for wine was incredibly contagious and who, upon learning of our interest in Argentinean wines, made it a mission to find varietals for us to enjoy. The waiters in the Verandah, the ship's elegant buffet restaurant that offered evening theme dinners, were personal and warm. The Filipino bartender at the Pool Grill immediately memorized preferences (a gin and tonic with lemon instead of lime) on the first day of our sailing.
But there were jarring incidents, too, and these have no place on a cruise line of this quality. One morning in The Restaurant, waiters and an assistant maitre d' argued quite audibly over whose job it was to tell the chef a passenger's dish wasn't right -- as the embarrassed traveler squirmed nearby. And our first experience with the ship's shore excursion office was so disappointing we nearly bailed out of ship-organized tours altogether.
There were some signs of cost cutting; Silversea, like all cruise lines since the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, has had to cut prices and, as such, reduce costs to some degree. Verandah furnishings -- even in the top suites -- still consist of the kind of white plastic chairs you can pick up at Target for $5. At a desultory lunchtime grill by the pool, which consisted of salad fixings, hot dogs, hamburgers and pre-grilled chicken, a couple of bottles of "Wishbone" brand low-fat dressing, with disgustingly grimy labels, were propped up in the salad area ... little things, perhaps, but not acceptable for a luxury cruise line that wants to be considered the industry's ne-plus-ultra. However, it's anticipated that Silversea, which has recently resumed its upgrading activities (and hired some well-regarded hotel-oriented cruise executives from companies such as Disney and Crystal) will regain its previous form.
Ultimately, what we liked best about Silver Wind was the easy, friendly atmosphere of fellow passengers, officers and crew, the ship's informal yet elegant decor, and its lack of pretension (despite the luxurious surroundings).
Fitness and Recreation
While limited by size, Silver Wind makes great use of its upper deck area for fitness-related activities. There's a gym with Stairmasters and treadmills and also a small area for workout classes. The pool area is surprisingly plain and unadorned -- yet we grew to appreciate its simplicity -- and features two whirlpools as well as the main pool. There's also a jogging track.
The ship's spa is operated by Mandara, now part of the Steiner company (which operates facilities on ships from Carnival to Celebrity). While the facility itself is lovely, this spa is short-staffed, and badly run (for instance, the one stylist in the beauty salon is required to make appointments and check passengers in for treatments -- all the while giving a haircut or manicure). We booked a Balinese massage and were given an "around the world" treatment instead, with no explanation. And, horrors (!): following the treatment we were subjected to Steiner's infamous product sell, which we had been told was forbidden on Silversea.
Dress Code
Passengers like to dress up on Silver Wind. During the daytime, most wear country club casual daywear; at night (even on casual evenings) most men wear suits and women wear dresses or cocktail pants outfits. Formal nights really are formal -- all the men wear tuxedos.
Gratuity
Gratuities are included in the cruise fare and unless passengers want to reward a particularly exemplary staffer, none are expected.
Family
There are no dedicated facilities for younger folk, and families with small children will not find this an ideal ship (though staff will rustle up some activities if required).
Cabins
Silver Wind features only outside suites and all come with king bed (converts to twins), separate seating area with cozy couch, desk, vanity, walk-in closet and marble bath with bathtub. All also have mini-fridges which are stocked twice daily.
One of the major improvements made to Silver Wind during its refurbishment were the soft goods in the suites -- and the bedding is fabulous (you only wish they sold it in the gift shop) with duvets, firm (but not too firm) mattresses, and cheery color schemes.
On the "needs improvement" scale, we wished the in-house television system had more interesting choices (we could get news, for instance, on the German-owned DW network, but not on BBC or CNN). An alarm clock and a CD player would also be nice touches. Each suite comes with a VCR, and videotapes are available for borrowing from the library.
The ship has 36 "vista" suites -- no verandahs -- which are otherwise no different than those with balconies. The "verandah" suites are, at 295 square ft., moderately sized. Larger options include three "silver" suites (541 square ft.), an "owner's" suite (827 square ft.) and two "royal" suites (1,031 square ft.). All suite residents get complimentary laundering. For the ultimate splurge, the "grand" suites (1,314 square ft.), which come in one- or two-bedroom configurations, feature multiple teak verandahs, separate living rooms, high-tech toys (like plasma televisions, DVDs and CD players), a full dining table and more. Fellow Passengers
While generally in the 50-plus age range, what's intriguing about Silver Wind's passenger base is its international scope. On our trip -- and this is not unusual -- countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Canada, Switzerland and Mexico were represented.
Entertainment
Very low-key and very traditional, sea days on Silver Wind feature activities like napkin-folding, golf putting, shuffleboard, wine tasting and fitness classes. The entertainment staff works hard to fold in a few itinerary-centric activities as well; on our South American trip, there were daily enrichment lectures on Argentina (i.e. "historical evolution of the Argentine pampas"), the wine tasting featured Argentine wines as well as French, and there were, in one port, several performances by local performers.
At night, there's a pianist who plays popular tunes, a quartet, and (most nights) a "main show," which could range from a Broadway vocalist performing tunes from a musical to a relatively recently released film.
The shore excursion program onboard and its staffers were easily the weakest link on the cruise. We anticipated that an ultra-luxe line would offer interesting, exotic sightseeing options; what few there were typically were cancelled due to lack of demand -- and no other assistance was available to travelers who wanted to go beyond the usual.
Dining
Dining, particularly at lunch and dinner, is a highlight of the Silver Wind experience.
The Restaurant is the ship's main dining room, all open-seating (and with plentiful tables for two). The menus are daring and delicious -- and yet also offer solid basics (one night's appetizer menu, for instance, featured exotic options such as Sevruga caviar with buckwheat blinis and a curry clam soup with apples, along with more traditional fare, like a cup of fresh berries and a mixed green salad). American-style steamed lobster is on the menu one night; another you can try a different take, for which the chef breaded lobster medallions with chickpea flour and served it with chorizo sausage chutney. On the always-available list -- if you want simple food -- are items such as salmon, sirloin steak, pasta, and mashed potatoes.
One distinction on Silver Wind (not to mention all ships in the fleet) is that, via Silversea's relationship with the oh-so-fabulous Relais & Chateaux international network of exclusive inns and restaurants, chefs from those properties contribute recipes -- and these dishes are great fun (and tasty, too) for adventurous gourmands.
Taking that partnership to a new level is La Saletta, the ship's alternative restaurant. La Saletta, inspired by Joachim Koerper, the chef owner of the Michelin two-star Girasol, in Moraira, Spain, has fashioned a variety of seasonal-based menus with the intent to offer cruising's most gourmet onboard experience.
Fully appreciating both venues, we found that we loved evenings at the Terrace Cafe. Each night, this buffet restaurant is transformed -- via candlelight -- into a different themed eatery based on international cuisines. Among the menu themes included French, Italian and Indian. The food was delicious, of course, but we also loved the casual, bistro-style atmosphere, particularly after a long day in port.
Silver Wind offers a flawless room service option. Beyond its 24-hour operation -- and a more-varied-than-most-lines' standard menu -- passengers can also order from The Restaurant's menu during lunch and dinner. The meal is served course by course. Service, from ordering via phone to delivery and clean-up, was consistently stellar.
Breakfast and lunch was offered daily in both the Terrace Cafe (unmemorable) and in the dining room. One highlight -- not to be missed -- is a fabulous brunch buffet in the dining room, held usually once per cruise on a sea day.
Public Rooms
Thanks to its small size, Silver Wind is quite easy to navigate and what it lacks in variety of rooms (don't expect themed bars here!) it more than makes up for in attractive and comfortable venues. During the daytime, the indoor "action" is typically focused on the Panorama Lounge, which handles everything from early-riser coffee to afternoon tea to pre-dinner cocktails. As befits the name, the views from this top-deck lounge are lovely.
Another option, at night, is The Bar. We love the way it flows into the first floor of the two-deck-high Show Lounge; the show lounge, unusual for ships of this size, has tiered seating and mini-tables mixed in with comfy wide chairs and couches. There is a small, well-stocked library (with books in various languages and a couple of sections of videotapes) and an Internet nook -- private and quiet -- with six stations. Other features include a card room that can be converted into a conference facility (or wine tasting room).
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