Gillian's Silversea Cruise

Join Gillian as she embarks on a journey aboard Silversea’s brand-new ship, the Silver Ray. This state-of-the-art vessel offers the ultimate in luxury cruising, blending modern elegance with personalized service. From stunning ocean views and fine dining to world-class amenities, Gillian's journey was filled with adventure and relaxation.

Journey there

Who did you fly with?
Outbound: EasyJet, Edinburgh to Dubrovnik  
Inbound: KLM, Split to Inverness via Amsterdam

Did you get any connecting transport from the airport?
Private transfer from airport to the port, took around 2 hours. For the return we jumped in a taxi from the port as our flight was later in the day and this allowed us to enjoy the facilities for longer.

How was the journey?
All flights were delayed as very busy time of year but were smooth once we got going.

Did anything memorable happen?
Inbound flight was delayed which meant I missed my connecting flight up to Inverness. KLM looked after me and arranged a hotel (with airport shuttle), food vouchers and booked me on the early morning flight the next day so I arrived back just in time to go to the Nairn Show!

Accommodation

Where did you stay?
Spent 3 nights on the new Silver Ray in a Deluxe Suite.

Were there any special features?
All cabins on board the Silver Ray are suites and come with a butler. Our butler, Jamal, gave us a tour of our suite when we first arrived. He kept the mini bar stocked with our choice of beverages. He also arranged canapes for us to enjoy one evening whilst we got ready. There was a turn service every evening so when we came back to the cabin after dinner the curtains were drawn, the cushions etc. removed from the beds and a little chocolate along with the room service breakfast menu left out.

What was your stay like? Did you enjoy it?
Stay was absolutely amazing. The beds were extremely comfortable (Bedding worth over £1500). The suite was spacious with a walk-in wardrobe which had sufficient space to unpack. Jamal was very attentive.

Did you receive any special service/treatment?
The butler polished my sunglasses and left a Silversea cleaning cloth under them!

Any recommendations?
Everyone must experience a Silversea cruise.

Activities

Where did you go?
Embarked the ship in Kotor (Montenegro) then travelled to Bari (Italy), Dubrovnik (Croatia) and finally disembarked in Split (Croatia).

What did you see/do?
In Bari we explored the shops and Old Town area. In Dubrovnik, we went up the cable car to enjoy the view and then went for a walk in the walled town. Our first evening we danced the night away at a pool party. The second night we enjoyed cocktails in the S.A.L.T bar. On the final evening we enjoyed a dance show in the Venetian Lounge. Onboard we also took part in a cooking class where we learnt how to make fish stew with polenta.

Did you learn any fun facts or see anything exciting?
Silver Ray has a unique asymmetrical design meaning many key elements are offset from the centre. The elevators are not in the middle, there are two all-glass banks on the exterior of the ship, one port side and one starboard side. The pool is on the starboard side with all the chairs oriented towards the side of the ship. Silver Ray’s Godmother is Dr. María Josefina Olascoaga, an ocean scientist and Professor of Ocean Science at University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science.

What was the weather like?
Very hot and sunny! High of 37°c. I managed to survive until the last morning before getting sunburnt.

Any recommendations?
There is an excursion available at each port, but you can also just get off and explore the area at your own leisure, just make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get back onboard.

Food/Drinks

Did you go to any restaurants/cafes?
On the first day we had delicious pizzas for lunch at Spaccanapoli followed by dinner at The Grill. The second day we went to Arts Café for a light lunch and then Atlantide in the evening. The third day we had buffet lunch at La Terrazza and then our final meal at the wonderful S.A.L.T. Kitchen.

What did you enjoy eating/drinking?
All the food was incredible, with different bread served as an appetiser in every restaurant. My favourite dish would have to be the Duo of Chilean Seabass and Scallops I had at Atlantide. The best drink I had was the Cosmic Ray cocktail from the S.A.L.T. bar. Blue curacao liquor, framboise liquor, gin malfy lemon, lemon juice, violet bitter and egg white.

Did you try any new dishes? What did you think of it?
I tried some beef tartare, which was surprisingly nice.

Did you go to any quirky places for food/drinks?
The Grill had the option for you to cook your chosen meat on a hot rock at the table. This was a very unique experience and not something I had done before.

Any recommendations?
All the restaurants we visited were amazing, booking in advance is recommended to make sure you do not miss out. Your butler can also make reservations for you.

Conclusion

Would you recommend this holiday and who to? 
Silver Ray is beautiful and would be perfect for those who enjoy luxury and good quality food/drink. The attentive staff mean you are very well looked after.

If you are interested in planning a Silversea cruise, get in touch with Gillian:
[email protected]
0808 169 8208