Marc, our Digital Marketing Coordinator, was lucky enough to spend six days in absolute opulence on board the Silver Moon ship from Silversea. After a quick trip to Melbourne (where the ship was docked), Marc was more than ready to soak in the all-inclusive luxury that Silversea is known for.
Silversea offers an intimate, lavish experience at sea. You can think of them as a floating 5-star hotel. Expect butler service in every suite, personalised experiences, and culturally immersive culinary offerings. Silversea will go above and beyond for its passengers. You can explore the Silversea itineraries promoted on our website, or contact a Tour + Cruise Specialist to learn more.
The Silver Moon Embarkation Process
Embarkation days can sometimes be a little daunting, with every cruise port and ship having a slightly different security and check-in process. Though I am pleased to report that any anxiousness was quickly washed away by the friendly Silversea staff.
There was a crew member at every single touch point – and between! Bag drop couldn’t have been quicker or easier. All they needed was my suite number and the number of bags and passengers. I was then directed towards the actual ship and the check-in desk, where I was formally welcomed by various smiling crew members along the way.
First, I was prompted to fill out a declaration form, confirm my details (passport, credit card, etc), and have my photo taken, before passing border patrol and entering the ship. Written it may sound like a lot, but the process was pretty straightforward to follow as a newbie. The luxury commenced virtually the second I arrived on board. I was offered a hot towel within seconds, which was quite refreshing after my flight. As well as a welcome drink.
Silver Moon’s Personalised Experience
I had a few minutes to settle into my suite and heard a knock. I was greeted by my very own butler, special thanks to Ian. He poured me a glass of champagne and gave me a brief tour of my room. He assured me he was there to meet my every need. Would you like to have your shoes shined? It’s covered. Can’t seem to get that tie done up right? Pick up the phone. In the mood for Silversea’s signature bath experience? It’ll be drawn in no time. I can’t say I utilised my butler as much as other guests. When it came to ordering food (or their caviar tasting experience), they were incredibly timely and efficient.
One thing to note, passengers did have to watch a quick safety video and check in at our respective safety points before we had access to certain features. Namely, the television. This was a relatively quick process, and truly nothing to complain about.
When I left my room each morning, someone would go in and reset everything. They would replace any used amenities. Like the bath bombs I had utilised the night before. Each night? They would come in again and leave me a sweet treat before bed. As well as the ship’s itinerary for the next day and the in-suite breakfast menu. I thought it was great because it allowed me to look ahead and see if there were any events or lectures I was interested in.
One day, when I decided to have a particularly slow morning, the staff came and asked what time I would like them to clean, which was appreciated. You’ll quickly notice just how impressive their attention to detail is. For example, I had left my glasses on the bedside table and was delighted to see a Silversea-branded microfiber cloth neatly folded beside it when I returned.
This level of personalisation and detail spread across the entire ship. Waiters would try their best to remember my name (though they would occasionally use my middle name, but it’s the thought that counts). The barista would remember my coffee order from the previous morning. Even bartenders would try their best to make a cocktail they knew I would love.
The Silver Moon Suites
I was in the Deluxe Veranda Suite and couldn’t have been happier with my stay. As a solo traveller, the room was incredibly spacious, but I’m certain couples would share the same sentiment. The main area of the room consisted of the bed, a living space with lounge chairs and a coffee table, as well as desk space. There was also a minifridge which had water, soft drinks, and beer. This went out into the balcony area, which had two chairs with footstools and a smaller outdoor table – this was the perfect space to relax and take in the ebb and flow of the ocean, especially if you’ve ordered in some food to go with it.
The bathroom was impressively sized as well. This included both a shower and a bath, which is appreciated as everyone has a preference. One thing to note is that the shower space is rather small, which might be something to consider on a person-to-person basis. As I’m quite small, it didn’t bother me much. The bath was pretty standard. I know some of the larger rooms have baths with jets. However, the standard still made for a calming experience.
In regard to WiFi, standard access is included, but I did find it to be a little slow. Especially when it comes to loading photos and videos. There was the option to upgrade, but I wasn’t interested in doing so. As a welcome gift, Silversea provided me with two reusable water bottles that were refilled daily by my butler – this was useful to have around, but I did find them to have a bit of a metallic taste.
Activities & Amenities on the Silver Moon
I think any passenger would struggle to run out of things to do on the Silver Moon. Though certain experiences lend themselves to certain demographics.
For me? A lot of time was spent on Deck 10 and 11. This is where you’ll find the pool, a lot of sun beds, even a Jogging Track, and two fantastic restaurants. It was honestly the perfect place to sit back, relax, tan, and read your book of choice. The Jogging Track was such a thoughtful inclusion and was heavily utilised by many guests who wanted to get their steps in and their bodies moving.
The Panorama Lounge, Silver Note, and the Venetian Lounge often hosted singers, bands, DJs, and other types of performers. It was lovely to see a lot of the elderly passengers dancing and enjoying their dinners/drinks with a show. In particular, the Venetian Lounge was host to a range of different lectures and presentations. Here you can find sessions from entertainers such as Tom Seals (AKA The Piano Man), in-depth presentations on subjects such as Tanzanite, and music lectures on the 1950s Legends of Rock n Roll, my personal favourite.
When all else fails, passengers can browse through the boutique. The clothing and jewellery here seemed targeted towards an older demographic. As such, they weren’t for me personally. However, they also held useful essentials. For example, I had left my universal travel adaptor at home and bought one there. These shops are only open when the Silver Moon is sailing in international waters.
The same goes for the ship’s casino. In this space, passengers could find a few slot machines and tables that hosted games such as Blackjack. I dabbled on one of my more sociable nights onboard. I can’t say I spent much time in this space. They also held a torment on one of the sea days for those interested.
Lastly, we have the Zagara Spa and Fitness Centre. This is an area many love to use to fill their days at sea. Be it catching up on some much-needed exercise or taking it easy with a deep tissue massage. I’m not one to utilise the spa, but I have on good authority that the experience was incredibly refreshing – and they made great use of hot rocks. The fitness centre was decked out with machines and weights. It was pretty much everything you would need to pick up where you left off on your usual exercises from back home.
From yoga to bingo to trivia nights, Silversea knows how to keep its guests occupied during their time at sea.
S.A.L.T. Experiences
While I didn’t partake in tours or excursions, as I preferred to make my own plans and explore each port independently, I was excited to get involved with some of the S.A.L.T. experiences offered. S.A.L.T. stands for ‘Sea and Land Taste’ as it brings together flavours from the ocean and cultures of the land.
My personal favourite was the S.A.L.T. Lab cooking class. These classes have passengers personally prepare several dishes under the instruction of a professional chef. We were able to cook a Baramandi San Choy Bow with the help of a physical demonstration. This was such an immersive and interesting experience, definitely a highlight from my time onboard. The chef would offer assistance and guidance, which added a really great educational aspect as well. Of course, we were able to eat our creations for lunch. It was super tasty if I may say so myself… I was pretty proud.
Then we had the S.A.L.T. Cocktail Class. This one didn’t quite live up to the S.A.L.T. Lab. Don’t get me wrong, the instructor was fantastic, and the information was incredibly interesting. However, I did expect the class to be a little more hands-on, as with the cooking class. Instead, we stood behind a bench and watched a physical demonstration in a more intimate lecture-like structure. My only piece of advice would be to have guests get a little more involved.
Dining Onboard the Silver Moon
I was truly blown away by the dining options available on the Silver Moon. Across their 11 Decks, there’s a total of 12 venues to dine, drink, and socialise. The restaurants included Atlantide, La Terrazza, Kaiseki, La Dame, S.A.L.T. Kitchen, Silver Note, The Grill, and Spaccanapoli. Dolce Vita and S.A.L.T. Bar were the bars found onboard. Then there was the Arts Cafe, which was the perfect place to start the day with a coffee, a pastry, and a view. Each held its own and stood out in both aesthetic and menu. La Dame was all about French food, La Terrazza spotlighted Italian cuisine, and Kaiseki was focused on Japanese.
My personal favourite was Spaccanapoli as it was a pizza restaurant. The menu options felt endless, but the Diavola had my full attention. This spot held a fantastic view of the pool and ocean. I had to revisit this one so I could try some more flavours – the Sei Formaggi was another delicious choice. The Grill (located below Spaccanapoli) was the ideal place to find a steak cooked to perfection, which is medium rare to me. Their Blooming Onion and S’more dessert were their standout dishes.
After a sociable night out or post-dinner drinks? The S.A.L.T. Bar is the place to be. The vibes are immaculate. It feels like you’re in a far-off cocktail bar. The bartender was super charismatic and seemed like he could make anything you requested. They make a great Espresso Martini… and if you’re feeling adventurous, ask for a Tasmanian Devil.
Final Thoughts on the Silver Moon
As my first luxury cruising experience, I’d say my expectations were well surpassed. The ship itself has been elegantly designed, and the suites were incredibly spacious. The onboard dining experiences were expansive and delicious. Service went above and beyond for guests, with a crew that would go out of their way to ensure a personalised journey. Lastly, from spas and gyms to performances and classes, the facilities onboard the Silver Moon ensure no guest would fall into boredom even during long days at sea.
My experience with Silversea was simply exceptional. I couldn’t recommend sailing with them more. If you would like to learn about this cruise line, contact a Flat Beds Tour + Cruise Specialist today.
