Silver Wind

Launched in 1995, MS Silver Wind cruise ship is the second oldest vessel owned by Silversea Cruises. Her sister and fleet mate is Silver Cloud (1994).

History - construction and ownership

Silversea Cruises is a Monaco-based privately owned luxury cruise line. It was established in 1994 by a joint venture of V-Ships, Monaco (known previously as Vlasov Group) and the Lefebvre family of Italy (Rome). Silversea pioneered all-inclusive cruising with the launch of its first ship, Silver Cloud. As of early 2014, Silversea Cruises owns eight boutique cruise vessels, each carrying only 100 to 540 guests. The business model of Silversea is to operate cruise ships in the small, ultra-luxury, all-suite category. The new all-inclusive fares of the line offer such features as beverages (including selected wines), gratuities (none are allowed), travel insurance, port charges and one or more complimentary shore excursions in every itinerary.

The 17,235-ton, 319-passenger cruise ship Silver Wind is quite small, and it will take you a few minutes to work out “what-where”. The friendly atmosphere and Silversea Cruises all-inclusive drinks policy do a lot to get more selling points and promote friendliness, especially when you are cruising alone. However, if you’d like to do more than eat, read books and sunbathe, and if the perfect holiday for you includes a huge casino, silly pool games, and aimless “enrichment activities”, Silver Wind is not the ship for you.

Ship's 2016 refurbishment will take place during October 2016 dry dock. The refreshed suites will boast dark emperor marble floors in their bathrooms. The sun deck will receive new loungers and a newly tiled pool. The Restaurant and La Terrazza will feature new furniture as well as hard-wood parquet or carpet. A couple of new satellite antennas will provide increased Internet speeds. On-demand movies and interactive TVs will be added to all cabins. The pool deck will feature all new teak decking for a yacht-like feel.

Cruise itinerary program

Silver Wind itinerary program is based on luxury Mediterranean itineraries with departures from Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Caribbean cruises leaving from Fort Lauderdale, Barbados and Puerto Rico, with Transatlantic repositioning crossings.

Cabins

After Silver Wind refit, the same suites’ number was left – 143 (all of which Suites, 15 connecting, 2 wheelchair-accessible) in 8 grades, mix of balcony, ocean view, “super” suites (the very big rooms, extra amenities). Cabin sizes vary from 240 sq.feet for the Vista Suites to 587 sq.feet for two Owner’s Suites.

All suites offer minibars (that are fully stocked and drinks are included in price), flat-screen TV’s, DVD players, marble bathrooms with full-size baths and showers, hair-dryers, a choice of Acqua di Palma or Bulgari toiletries, slippers, and bathrobes, personalised stationery, a choice of pillows. Upon arrival, a welcome Pommery Champagne will be waiting, along with flowers and fresh fruit. Top suites’ passengers have additional free butler service, laundry, and espresso machine. Top-level suites have separate dining and sitting areas, a second TV, bathrooms with separate showers and baths. Owner’s suites even offer guest toilets.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Food onboard the Silver Wind cruise ship is, without exception, extremely tasty. One dining room (The Restaurant) is provided, open for breakfast (8:00 - 9:30 a.m.), lunch (12:30 - 2:00 p.m.) and dinner (7:30 - 9:30 p.m). All meals, including dinner, are open-seating, and you can eat when and sit with whom you choose. Ladies are escorted by the maitre d’ or waiters to their tables – a nice touch. Another breakfast option includes the 6:30 a.m. “early-risers” buffet in Panorama Lounge and (6:30 - 10:00 a.m.) coffee in Observation Lounge. Continental breakfast is available at pool grill (8:30 - 10:30 a.m.), and breakfast buffet – in La Terrazza (8:00 - 10:00 a.m.), where you can also have lunch between noon and 2:00 p.m. As for Silver Wind gratuity, have in mind that the all-inclusive Silversea packages include tips, too. Nothing is left for extra paying, and the crew really don’t expect additional gratuities.

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

• The Restaurant (open-seating dining room with top-quality gourmet cuisine; features the most the Mediterranean themed meals, and always available standard menu with daily specials; all three meals are waiter-served and a la carte)
• Le Champagne (20-seat French cuisine speciality restaurant; offers signature dishes by Relais Chateaux; dinner-only; reservations-only)
• La Terrazza (Terrace Cafe; complimentary buffet-style restaurant, offers both indoor seating and an alfresco terrace; wine is complimentary; there is also Afternoon Tea service; La Terrazza transforms each evening between 7:00 and 9:30 pm, into an Italian speciality restaurant, reservations-only, with a la carte menu)
• Pool Bar & Pool Grill (serve ship's pool deck area with fast food and drinks during the day; in the evening, the outdoor area becomes an al fresco dining venue with classic seafood and steakhouse choices, plus vegetarian and healthy selections)
• The Grill (offers gourmet dining under the stars with signature meals including lava-rocks grilled meat, seafood, Mediterranean vegetables, baked potatoes, salad of the day; wines are complimentary, except the premium ones from the Connoisseur’s Wine List; The Grill implements the line’s interactive dining concept “Black Rock Grill Experience”, which allows guests to cook their own meat and seafood). 

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Silver Wind offers everything for a perfect holiday from eating and reading to all kinds of entertainment. Silver Wind also specialises in more adventurous itineraries all around the world and gathers people from a variety of countries.

Despite its small size, the Silver Wind spa offers a full therapies’ range, including facials, massages, body wraps, detox programmes. However, the prices are steep. 75-minute stone massage costs $210, 100-minute body scrub – $178, Sole Delight pedicure – $84. Special offers for booking more than one treatments at once are provided. The female and male changing areas are separate, each with a steam room and sauna. Through the spa, on Silver Wind port side, there is a small gym offering four treadmills, two cross-trainers, two cycles, and some weights. There is a daily fitness schedule including yoga and Pilates – all free. The fridge is always full of free water. 

Additional amenities include a Launderette, Medical centre, complimentary 24-hour Room Service, Internet/WiFi Access.

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

• The Casino (with slot machines and gaming tables; served by The Bar)
• Boutique shops (both offer duty-free shopping: luxury jewellery and watches, brand perfumes, fashion, designer handbags, photo/video accessories, Silversea logo merchandise, special occasion gifts, convenience goods)
• The Bar (lounge with ample comfortable seating; offers live music performances, large dance floor, complimentary cocktails)
• Parisian Show Lounge (former Venetian Lounge - ship’s 288-seat theatre for live music and show productions; the daily enrichment program offers trivia games, dance classes, language lessons, lectures, media presentations)
• Conference Room (hosts group meetings and conferences; it is adjacent to the Card Room and the Internet Cafe)
• The Swimming Pool (with saltwater; heated during cool-weather cruises; the sunbathing area has teak chaise loungers, 2 whirlpools and tennis tables)
• Connoisseur’s Corner (formerly known as Humidor - ship’s smoking lounge furnished with leather armchairs and selling brand cognacs, vintage wines, fine cigars)
• Panorama Lounge (served by its own bar; offers live music and dancing, Continental Breakfast and Afternoon Tea)
• Observation Lounge (with 270-degree panoramic views and a radar screen; serves early breakfast with coffee)
• The Library (with audio listening stations and on-demand movies)
• The Spa at Silversea (features treatment rooms, and spa therapies including body wraps, massages and facials; sauna and steam rooms)
• Beauty Salon (provides a full range of services: hairstyling, manicures, pedicures)
• Fitness Centre (offers a treadmill, stationary bike, weight machine, elliptical trainer)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track, Golf Cage, paddle tennis, golf putting green.