Silversea occupies a rare position in luxury cruising: large enough to sail every ocean, small enough that the captain learns your name. The fleet spans classic ocean ships carrying 596 guests, expedition vessels built for polar ice, and the asymmetrical Nova-class ships that redefined what a 728-guest vessel could feel like. The S.A.L.T. culinary program, Sea and Land Taste, sources ingredients from the ports you visit, so your dinner in Lisbon tastes different from your dinner in Reykjavik. Butler service comes standard in every suite, not just the penthouses. Wi-Fi is unlimited and free. Gratuities are settled before you board. The experience is designed so that you never reach for your wallet, and never feel like you should. What separates Silversea from the rest of the ultra-luxury field is range. They sail Antarctica with purpose-built expedition ships. They cruise the Mediterranean with floating galleries of contemporary art. They spend summers in Alaska and winters in the South Pacific. If you want one cruise line that can take you everywhere at the highest standard, this is the one.
No: children welcome, but no dedicated kids' facilities. Minimum age varies by itinerary.
Elegant casual most evenings. One or two formal nights per voyage on classic ships; casual on expedition vessels.
6 months on most voyages; 1 year on expedition and Galápagos sailings
Venetian Society, tiered benefits including suite upgrades and shipboard credits
Fort Lauderdale (winter), various European ports (summer)
Butler service in every suite · Premium wines, spirits, and champagne · Unlimited Wi-Fi (Starlink) · Gratuities · Multiple dining venues, no surcharges · Shore excursions on expedition voyages · S.A.L.T. culinary program
Everywhere, literally. Silversea is one of the only luxury lines covering all seven continents in a single season. The Mediterranean dominates summer with up to six ships deployed across the western and eastern basins. Alaska runs May through September with two ships. Northern Europe and the British Isles get dedicated summer sailings. Winter rotates between the Caribbean, South America, Antarctica, Australia and New Zealand, and Asia. Expedition vessels operate year-round in polar regions, the Galápagos, and warm-water destinations including Indonesia, the Kimberley coast, and Papua New Guinea. The 2027-2028 deployment is their largest ever: 414 voyages across 12 ships, including Silversea's first dedicated Japan summer season and expanded warm-water expedition itineraries.
Barcelona → Rome (Civitavecchia)
Barcelona → Monte Carlo → Portofino → Florence (Livorno) → Corsica (Bonifacio) → Sardinia (Olbia) → Amalfi Coast → Sorrento → Rome (Civitavecchia)
S.A.L.T. Lab cooking class using ingredients from the Portofino market. Overnight in Barcelona.
Vancouver → Seward
Vancouver → Ketchikan → Juneau → Skagway → Glacier Bay (scenic cruising) → Hubbard Glacier → Seward
Glacier Bay scenic cruising with onboard naturalist commentary. Pre-cruise Vancouver stay available.
Buenos Aires → Ushuaia → Antarctic Peninsula → Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires → Ushuaia → Drake Passage → South Shetland Islands → Antarctic Peninsula → Elephant Island → Falkland Islands → Buenos Aires
Zodiac landings at penguin colonies. Onboard expedition team of 20+ naturalists. Polar plunge opportunity.
Silversea is the line we recommend most often, and not because they're the most luxurious on any single metric. Regent is more all-inclusive, Ritz-Carlton is more intimate. What Silversea does better than anyone is breadth without compromise. One line, every ocean, consistent quality. If you're planning your first luxury cruise and don't know where to start, start here.
We will tell you which ship in the fleet, which cabin category, and whether another line would suit you better.