A Visit Onboard Silver Dawn

I was delighted when Silversea invited me recently to take a tour of their cruise liner Silver Dawn.  I live right by the Firth of Forth and look out on the cruise ships as they come into Edinburgh. The Silversea ships are much smaller than your average cruise liner and I have always thought that their sleek, elegant lines spoke of a certain style and class. Thus, I went onboard for my ‘day trip’ with high expectations.

Wowsers! The reality was even better than I had imagined.

The moment you board Silver Dawn there is a sense that this is a very special ship. It feels like the Gucci angels have scattered their style spell around the place – which is perhaps not surprising given Silversea’s Italian heritage. To spend any amount of time on Silver Dawn is to immerse yourself in luxury. That quiet, understated, timeless luxury that you come across in only the very best hotels. And with a crew to passenger ratio of near 1:1 you are assured of excellent, attentive service whilst onboard.

The Suites

Silver Dawn is all-suite accommodation with nine categories of suite to choose from. Each one is butler service and comes with those finishing touches that you would expect from a 5-star hotel; plush bathrobes, pillow menu and the like. You are made to feel special from the moment you board; all guests are welcomed with a bottle of champagne in their suite. And if you let your butler know your preferences, they will ensure your refrigerator and bar are appropriately stocked for the voyage.

The suites themselves are spacious and all have an ocean view. Great care has been taken in designing and furnishing the suites so you have everything you could possible need; HD TV, unlimited wifi, walk-in wardrobe, personal safe, writing desk and more. (I was especially pleased to see Illy coffee!) All suites come with a marble bathroom complete full-sized bath and separate shower. Most have balconies, although I wouldn’t get hung up the balcony/no balcony thing – after my day onboard I can’t imagine that were I on a Silversea cruise I would be spending a huge amount of time on a balcony to be honest!

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What to do whilst onboard

So, where would I spend my time as a passenger?

There are, of course, boutiques, a casino, the pool deck, various bars and an observational library. Personally though, I think I would be drawn to the gym. It’s kitted out with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment and runs a range of classes including yoga (big plus for me!). Or I could push myself with a couple of tours round the jogging track up on deck 11.

Then maybe I’d take in some art. The whole ship is like a beautiful floating art gallery. Wherever I am in the world I try to visit art galleries, they soothe me – so what a joy Silver Dawn was to me! Honestly, I could have spent my whole visit just looking at the art! If you’re cruising with Silversea, an art walk is offered, where a crew member talks to each piece. My photos (see carousel below) will hopefully give you a taste of what’s on display. I should also mention the Lalique at La Dame restaurant. The famed French glassmaker Lalique was commissioned for this work which appears on board Silver Dawn and three other Silversea ships. Breath taking!

After my art schmooze, I guess the natural thing would be to pop to the Arts Café for a bite to eat. The Arts Café showcases paintings and sculptures and, in the daytime, entices guests with a delicious deli bar. It’s all change in the evening when the venue becomes a cocktail bar where you can relax with a pre-dinner drink and watch the world float by.

Food and Drink 

Talking of dinner, there are 8 restaurants onboard, ranging from Neapolitan pizza to gourmet fine dining. The food in all is of the highest quality and the service exceptional. I was lucky enough to take lunch onboard. We ate at Atlantide, the four-course lunch was delicious (my steak was cooked to perfection) and the paired wine choices as presented by the sommelier were genius. Of course, you can select your own wine if you prefer.  

I am a bit of a foodie, so were I cruising with Silversea I would be sure to spend some time exploring S.A.L.T. The Silversea SALT initiative, Sea And Land Taste, gives guests the opportunity to explore cuisine appropriate to the region or port being visited. The SALT bar, similarly offers local drinks and cocktails – whisky was a big feature when I was onboard in Edinburgh. The staff take time to explain the history and heritage behind local produce and dishes.  A step beyond this, the SALT lab allows guests to cook alongside the chef and to learn hands-on about new ingredients and recipes. Some cruises include an optional SALT excursion where guests can, for example, try their hand at pastry making at an authentic Sicilian Pasticceria. For me, this sounds like holiday heaven!

With dinner complete, I might take in that evening’s show at the onboard theatre, watch a movie in my room or take a nightcap under the stars before retiring to my cabin. I could also ask my butler to bring me a Silversea signature hot-chocolate to my suite. Ahhhhh, and r-e-l-a-x!

Award Winning Onboard Spa 

I want to spend a couple of lines talking about Otium. For me, this was the cherry on the icing on the cake. Otium is the Silver Dawn onboard spa, inspired by the traditions of ancient Rome the ethos here is to combine leisure with pleasure. The spa on deck 6 offers a range of treatments in the most sumptuous of settings, with champagne and a multitude of sweet and savoury delights to enjoy alongside your spa experience. And if you don’t feel up to the journey to deck 6, you can take advantage of an in-suite Otium treat. There are 4 on offer, including the Otium bathing experience. Your butler will present you with a choice of bespoke Otium bath salts and then draw you a perfect temperature bath complete with comfortable back and neck pillows, low level lighting, ambient music and a ‘delicious selection of delicacies to pamper the taste buds’. I’m quoting direct from the brochure there as I really can’t think of a better way of putting things. How wonderfully, decadently lush does that sound?

Did I enjoy my visit to Silver Dawn? You bet I did. Would I take a holiday with them? Absolutely, though with so many on-board treats available, I can imagine that the actual port calls and shore visits may become an inconvenience!

If you are inspired to cruise with Silversea then Contact me  to find the perfect voyage for you. 

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