Silver Spirit

The 2009-built MS Silver Spirit cruise ship is the largest vessel in the Silversea fleet, with a design similar to the newest fleetmates Silver Muse (2017) and Silver Moon (2020).

The vessel (IMO number 9437866) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311022500) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Silversea Cruises is a Monaco-based privately owned cruise company and a top luxury travel brand. It was established in 1994 as a joint venture between V-Ships Monaco (fka Vlasov Group) and the Lefebvre family of Rome Italy. In 2018, RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd acquired two-thirds of the company. Silversea now operates a fleet of smaller boutique cruise vessels with passenger capacity ranging between 100 and 700 guests. The company’s business model focuses on yacht-like vessels in the industry’s ultra-luxury all-suite category. Silversea’s all-inclusive fares include beverages (including selected wines), gratuities (tipping is not expected), travel insurance, port charges, and one or more shore excursions per voyage.

The 600-passenger Silver Spirit is an all-suite luxury liner and became the largest ship in the Silversea fleet when she entered service as the company’s sixth vessel in 2009. Spirit is considerably larger than the other ships in the fleet. The vessel’s original (before the 2018 lengthening) space-per-guest ratio (6,700 ft3 per passenger) was among the best in the luxury cruise industry. The ship often attracts a slightly younger clientele, including families traveling with teenagers.

At the end of September 2017, Silversea announced plans for the company’s first-ever ship lengthening project.

MS Silver Spirit was lengthened in 2018 by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri at the Palermo shipyard (Sicily, Italy). During drydock 2018 (March 5–May 1), the vessel was extended by inserting a prebuilt midsection (15 m / 49 ft long). This made Silver Spirit the world’s first stretched luxury cruise ship. The new section (hull and superstructure) added a total of 34 new cabins. During the drydock refit, the ship was also extensively refurbished and upgraded.

The vessel’s GT tonnage (volume) increased from 36,009 to 39,519 tons. Crew capacity rose from 376 to 412, while passenger capacity increased from 540 to 608 (12%). Dining capacity grew by 15%, and outdoor seating capacity by 20%. The refit project cost approximately USD 70 million and involved more than 500 workers, around 450,000 man-hours, 846 tons of steel, 360,892 ft (110 km) of new cables, and 26,247 ft (8 km) of new pipes.

Decks and Cabins

Silver Spirit staterooms (270 total) are all suite-category accommodations (11 cabin grades, including 4 wheelchair-accessible units). All suites are outside-facing, among the largest in the fleet, and 95% feature private step-out balconies. Cabin sizes range from 300 ft2 (28 m2) to 1,480 ft2 (138 m2). Each suite includes a walk-in closet, electronic safe (located in the closet), chest of drawers, spa bathrobes, and slippers.

The ship has 12 decks, of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 8 contain cabins.

All cabins are fully wireless and equipped with iPod stations, hairdryers, alarm clocks, binoculars, and umbrellas (available for use during the voyage). Additional amenities in top-grade suites include two hours of complimentary worldwide satellite phone usage, in-cabin dining with afternoon canapés, and dinner at the Officers’ Table. Each suite is attended by both a junior attendant and a dedicated butler.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Silver Spirit features six distinct restaurants. The menu selections are not only creative but also elegantly presented. Signature dining experiences include The Grill’s hot-rock cooking concept and La Terrazza’s robust evening menu. As with other Silversea ships, gratuities are included in the cruise fare and no additional tipping is expected.

Follows the complete list of Silver Spirit restaurants and food bars.

• The Restaurant (open-seating dining room offering top-quality gourmet cuisine; features Mediterranean-inspired dishes and a standard menu with daily specials; all three meals are waiter-served and à la carte)
• Le Champagne (24-seat French specialty restaurant offering signature dishes by Relais & Chateaux; dinner only; reservations required)
• Seishin (24-seat Asian cuisine specialty restaurant; reservations required)
• La Terrazza (Terrace Cafe; complimentary buffet-style restaurant offering indoor seating and an alfresco terrace; wine is complimentary; also offers Afternoon Tea service; in the evening between 7:00 and 9:30 pm it transforms into an Italian specialty restaurant with an à la carte menu, reservations required)
• Pool Bar & Pool Grill (serves the pool deck area with fast food and drinks during the day; in the evening the outdoor area becomes an al fresco dining venue featuring seafood and steakhouse-style selections, plus vegetarian and healthy options)
• The Grill (offers gourmet dining under the stars with signature dishes including lava-rock grilled meats, seafood, Mediterranean vegetables, baked potatoes, and salads; wines are complimentary except premium selections from the Connoisseur’s Wine List; features the line’s interactive “Black Rock Grill Experience,” allowing guests to cook their own meat and seafood)
• La Dame, Indochine, Atlantide, and Seishin were added during the 2018 drydock refurbishment.
• Silver Note is a dinner-only restaurant and supper club featuring a five-course menu with live jazz and blues performances and a dance floor. Dishes are served tapas-style. The cuisine is international with seasonal specialties. Dinner reservations are required, and the venue operates between 8–10 pm.
• Spaccanapoli is an outdoor restaurant offering casual dining under the stars. During the day, Spaccanapoli Bar serves fast food, drinks, and refreshments on the sundeck.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Silver Spirit introduced several modern amenities, including movies-on-demand and interactive TV services. Passengers can check messages, review onboard accounts, or select from hundreds of movies. Television sets are state-of-the-art flat screens with programming that includes CNN International, Fox News, ESPN, and BBC World. Seven complimentary self-service laundry rooms are available, with detergent provided. Paid services such as laundry, dry cleaning, and pressing are also offered.

Entertainment onboard Silver Spirit is generally relaxed and refined. Daytime activities include bingo, team trivia, golf competitions, and occasional film screenings. Evening entertainment features Broadway-style productions and live jazz performances in venues such as the Stars Supper Club.

The ship’s spa offers an extensive range of massages, body scrubs, and treatments, including a thermal ceramic-tiled suite with heated lounge chairs. The spa complex occupies approximately 8,300 sq ft and includes a fitness center, beauty salon, nine treatment rooms, two steam rooms, and two saunas. Treatments include the Private Hammam Experience (an Arabian-inspired scrub therapy), bamboo massage, facials, acupuncture, cellulite reduction treatments, and various body wraps.

The Gym is open from 6 am to 8 pm and includes treadmills, ellipticals, resistance machines, and free weights, all equipped with TV screens. Fitness classes such as Pilates, stretching, and yoga are offered by a dedicated trainer at no additional charge. For jogging, Deck 10 provides an outdoor track where ten laps equal one mile.

Additional amenities include launderettes, a Medical Center/Infirmary, complimentary 24-hour room service, and Internet/WiFi access.

Follows the complete list of Silver Spirit lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• The Casino features slot machines and gaming tables and is served by its own bar.
• Boutique shops offer duty-free shopping, including luxury jewelry and watches, branded perfumes, fashion items, designer handbags, photo/video accessories, Silversea-branded merchandise, and gifts.
• Arts Cafe is a multipurpose venue featuring live performances and gourmet coffee and tea selections.
• Dolce Vita is the ship’s Atrium Bar lounge offering live grand piano performances, a large dance floor, and complimentary cocktails.
• Venetian Lounge / Show Lounge (320 seats) is the ship’s theater for live music and stage productions. The daily enrichment program includes trivia games, dance classes, language lessons, lectures, and multimedia presentations.
• Conference Room hosts meetings and conferences and is located adjacent to the Card Room (bridge lounge).
• The Swimming Pool features saltwater and is heated during cooler voyages. The sunbathing area includes teak chaise loungers, three whirlpools, and table tennis.
• Connoisseur's Corner (formerly Humidor) is the ship’s cigar lounge furnished with leather armchairs and offering premium cognacs, vintage wines, and fine cigars.
• Panorama Lounge is served by its own bar and hosts live music, dancing, Continental breakfast, and Afternoon Tea.
• Observation Lounge offers 270-degree panoramic views and includes a radar screen. Early morning coffee and light breakfast are also served here.
• The Library includes audio listening stations, on-demand movies, and an Internet cafe.
• Zagara Spa offers treatment rooms and premium spa services, including massages, facials, and body wraps, as well as sauna, steam rooms, a Thermal Suite, and hydrotherapy pool. A new Health & Fitness Center was added in 2018.
• Beauty Salon offers hairstyling, manicures, and pedicures.
• Fitness Centre features treadmills, stationary bikes, weight machines, and elliptical trainers.
• Power Walking/Jogging Track, Golf Cage, paddle tennis, and a golf putting green.

Itineraries

Silver Spirit’s itinerary program focuses on all-inclusive luxury voyages in Europe (including the Black Sea and Mediterranean) departing from Venice, Barcelona, Piraeus-Athens, and Istanbul. The ship also sails Caribbean itineraries departing from Barbados and Fort Lauderdale, as well as Transatlantic repositioning cruises.

Silversea’s “flight and cruise” package deals (through the company’s “Silver Sky” program) include the luxury cruise fare, discounted round-trip airfare (Economy Class), and airport–pier–airport transfers.

Silversea’s “hotel and cruise” package “Silver Shore Simply Hotel” offers overnight stays at 5-star luxury hotels with optional transfers or upgrades. The upgraded cruise-and-hotel package (“Silver Shore Grande Hotel”) includes 1–3-night stays at landmark or boutique hotels and private transfers (airport–hotel and hotel–pier).