When I stepped onboard the newest Silversea cruise ship, I realized almost immediately this wasn't going to be my typical cruise experience.

I'm no stranger to cruises, but some of the changes Royal Caribbean Group have made to its loyalty programs have made it so much easier to jump between the lines. It honestly compelled me to try another luxury cruise.

Part of the appeal was that I'd enjoy top-tier benefits on Silversea because of my Pinnacle Club level on Royal Caribbean. Plus, Silversea's S.A.L.T. program is expanded on its newest ships, to integrate more of the local flavors into the onboard dining. But the other thing drawing me in was the prospect of seeing more of the world.

Some places are only accessible by a smaller cruise ship, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to jumpstart my first Mediterranean adventure and knock off a number of must-see places from my travel list.

Silversea invited me to be their guest on an 11-night Portugal and Spain cruise aboard their newest ship, Silver Ray.

Here's what it's like to sail on Silversea and why their newest ship is the perfect onboarding option for someone used to megaships.

Silver Ray was like a boutique hotel in downtown Lisbon

I didn't want a travel delay to ruin my trip, so I flew in two days early to Lisbon, Portugal to get on my ship. I had time for any potential travel delays and beat jetlag.

I boarded the ship in Lisbon. While Silversea doesn't have an app like Royal Caribbean, their embarkation was quick thanks to the fact there were so many less passengers to contend with.

Silver Ray is about 800 feet in length and has a maximum capacity of 728 passengers. I was given a 2:00 arrival time, so I practically walked on the ship.

The ship is a fraction of the size of Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships, and it was so easy to get anywhere onboard.

Because Silversea is a luxury cruise brand, everything felt calmer, more intentional, and noticeably more refined. That's not a surprise, but I think it's something that stands out immediately.

Every cabin is a suite

You won't find inside cabins on a Silversea ship, because all the ship has are suites.  Every suite comes with a stateroom attendant and a butler.

In terms of function, the stateroom attendant is the same as you'll find on Royal Caribbean. But the butler is a very neat person you'll interact with everyday of the sailing.

You share the butler with a few other cabins, but I never would have known it because he was always readily available anytime I picked up my cabin phone to dial him.

Butlers don't have a firm set of duties, but I've picked up on a number of things they can do from speaking with other guests:

• Order and deliver room service
• Unpack for you
• Pack for you
• Draw a bath or prepare a steam shower
• Bring you popcorn
• Stock your minifridge with soft drinks, beer, and any alcohol you want
• Offer pillow choices

They're sort of like a Royal Genie on Royal Caribbean, but their role is limited to while you're in the suite. Nonetheless, I was continuously surprised by the touches he made throughout my cruise.

I booked the entry-level deluxe suite with verandah.  It was plenty of room for just me on a solo cruise.

The room layout reminded me more of a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean, until I got into the bathroom.

The bathroom was enormous with a giant shower, double sink, and upgraded features all around. 

I was surprised my suite had no bathtub, but I heard from the ship's officers that many guests prefer the shower over a tub from a safety perspective.  It's just easier to get in and out of a shower.

The food on Silversea isn't just great, it's the best part of Silver Ray

I love to eat on any cruise, but the food quality, variety, and how much is included blew me away.

Silversea ships are all-inclusive, so pretty much everything is included in your cruise fare.

Silver Ray has a number of restaurants you can dine at, ranging from French to Italian to Japanese, and more.

A few restaurants change based on the time of day. La Terrazza is a buffet for breakfast and lunch, but becomes a sit-down restaurant at night. 

The Marquee is an open-air steakhouse, pizza place, and breakfast nook. It's a beautiful take on al fresco dining.

The line's S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program is where things really step up. 

On Silver Ray, there is a lab to cook foods from the region your ship is visiting, Chef's Table to enjoy a carefully curated meal paired with wines from the places you are visiting, and the Kitchen to enjoy a menu that changes every few days to reflect what local cuisine. The S.A.L.T. Bar offers a few local drinks, but it's really the ship's specialized cocktail bar.

It's such a smart idea, and it goes well beyond what you'd get on any other cruise ship. The top two reasons people book a cruise are the destinations and food.  The S.A.L.T. program combines both into one, and it's a foodie's dream.

There's still a Main Dining Room venue in Atlantide, which has a standby menu that never changes along with a regular menu that changes every few days.

If that wasn't enough, there's a brunch held on one sea day that was absolutely incredible in terms of how much variety you'll find. 

To further exemplify the difference in food on Silversea to Royal Caribbean, they were shaving off as much black truffle as you'd like on your food. Your butler is happy to bring you a bottle of your favorite liquor and leave it in your cabin. There's sushi served every day at lunch at the buffet.

Everyone asked if I was bored on a luxury cruise

The top question I was asked by readers once they heard I was on Silversea was if I was bored.  They also wanted to know if it was all old people, and if I was the youngest person onboard.

No, I was far from the youngest person onboard. And while I missed having certain Royal Caribbean venues, I really don't think I was bored.

First and foremost, our itinerary was packed with port stops. I booked this cruise specifically for the places we would go, so I only had 3 sea days across 11 nights.  

I would never compare Silversea's entertainment to Royal Caribbean, but it's not that bad either.

They have a show of some kind every night in the theater.  The musical revues I saw were no worse than any of the similar shows I've seen on a Freedom or smaller class ship.

While docked in Malaga, they brought a Flamenco dancing group onboard to perform. Plus we had a comedian, different musical acts, and more.

I went every night to the S.A.L.T. Bar because they had a guitarist there to sing songs. Similar in idea to the English pubs on Royal Caribbean, and I really enjoyed seeing Lucas perform there every night.

I'll keep an eye on Silversea's entertainment because they recently brought over Mike Szwajkowski from Royal Caribbean. Mike was best known as being one of their best Cruise Directors, and he is about a month into the job as Silversea's Senior Director of Entertainment. I suspect changes will be coming to improve things there.

Nonetheless, I would never book a Silversea cruise for the entertainment. It's the places and level of service that make it stand out.

The places you'll go are a major reason to book Silver Ray

As impressive as Silver Ray was, I loved my time ashore.

Smaller ships can fit in ports big ships cannot. Plus, Silversea's approach to cruising seems to be to hyper focus on itinerary. It's why you'll see their ships sailing to parts of the world that Royal Caribbean never does.

Our sailing took us from Lisbon to Barcelona, with stops in Gibraltar, Cadiz, Malaga, Alicante, and Valencia. 

Silversea fares come in three flavors, and some include a shore excursion credit (expedition voyages include shore excursions as part of the experience). Regardless, it's easy to find tours, excursions, or the opportunity to go on your own and explore.

Plus, we had two ports with overnight stays (although one of those was the result of an weather-forced itinerary change).

The combination of high quality dining and destinations are why I want to go back on Silversea again

Looking back on my nearly two weeks on Silver Ray, I was absolutely sold on this style of cruising.

After more than 100 cruises primarily on Royal Caribbean, I thought I had a pretty good sense of what to expect at sea. But this ship reset that baseline. From the way space is used to how service unfolds throughout the day, Silver Ray showed me just how different cruising can feel when nearly everything is included and designed around fewer guests.

One of the higher barriers to entry will always be price, as a luxury cruise ship will command higher prices than on Royal Caribbean.

A couple could probably get a similar 9-night booking to the sailing I took for about $10,900. For perspective, a Grand Suite on Icon of the Seas in April 2027 would cost $14,609.86 and that's only 7 nights. 

If you value higher quality onboard dining, little-to-no crowds, and want to see more of the world by cruise ship, I think Silversea is the vacation you'd be interested in.

I was so impressed by the level of service and how much a cruise ship could feel like a boutique hotel.

I'm looking forward to sailing with Silversea again, perhaps to knock out one of my bucket-list destinations like an expedition cruise to the Galapagos. Or maybe I'll explore another region of the world on a daily basis, with evenings spent at the S.A.L.T. Bar.

Silversea recently announced upcoming changes that are sure to please loyal cruisers. 

From its elegant suites to white-glove service, refined culinary program, and more, Silversea has set a high standard for ultra-luxury cruises. 

You won't find any water slides, high-diving shows, ice skating rinks, or rock climbing walls aboard its small fleet — and that's intentional. Silversea's draw has never been about adrenaline-pumping attractions or Broadway-caliber entertainment. 

Rather, the experience focuses on upscale lounges, intuitive service, and world-class cuisine that rivals even the best restaurants on land. 

And with the newly announced updates, the brand is refining its already elevated experience to feel even more luxurious and personalized. 

Here's a look at Silversea's recent changes — and why they matter for first-time and returning sailors alike. 

Enhanced loyalty benefits and milestones

Effective July 1, 2026, Silversea is revamping its Venetian Society loyalty program to provide more ways to earn status, earlier recognition, and extra benefits throughout the sailing. 

For starters, two new tiers, 15 VS Days & 50 VS Days, will be added to the program. These are designed to reward guests sooner. Currently, the second tier of the Venetian Society is 100 VS Days, leaving a sizable gap between entry-level members and more seasoned cruisers. 

"Guided by guest feedback, we’re introducing new milestones, enriched benefits, and more ways to earn VS Days— helping members unlock rewards sooner. These updates reflect our appreciation for our members' loyalty and Silversea's commitment to celebrating our extraordinary Venetian Society community," reads Silversea's website. 

Read more: 11 things that surprised me about my first luxury cruise on Silversea

At 15 VS Days, guests will get an exclusive one-time offer delivered via email. At 50 VS Days, loyalty members receive $150 shipboard credit per person for new reservations. However, per the terms and conditions, the benefit is not combinable with last-minute fares. 

These new tiers will change the Royal Caribbean Group status match program. For example, those who have 100 VS Days currently status match into Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society as a Platinum cruiser and Celebrity's Captain's Club as a Select member. 

Moving forward, 15 VS Days will match Platinum, while 50 VS Days will match Emerald. 100 VS Days will boost to Diamond within the Crown & Anchor Society and Elite within the Captain's Club. 250 VS Days will also jump to Diamond Plus and Elite Plus. 

Another change Silversea is making to its loyalty program is that they're making it a little easier to earn VS Days. Cruisers will continue to earn one VS day for every cruise day sailed, but they'll also receive one VS Day for each day spent on the cruise line's City Stays and Land Programs. 

Additionally, solo travelers (sailing with a 200% total fare) will also earn an additional VS Day per cruise day.

Silversea relaxes evening dress code

Because Silversea is an ultra-luxury cruise line, it makes sense that its dress code would be stricter than that aboard Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships. 

However, according to an update on the line's website, it appears they are slightly relaxing the dress code, effective on voyages departing on or after June 1, 2026. 

Previously, Silversea's evening dress code expected women to wear things like trousers, a blouse, a skirt, or a casual dress. The updated guidelines broaden what's appropriate for "Elegant Casual" nights, including trousers, refined denim, casual dresses, and skirts. 

The same goes for men, who were formerly expected to pack things like open-collar shirts and dress pants. Moving forward, they, too, can wear dress pants or refined denim. Jackets will no longer be required on formal nights or in the La Dame restaurant, either. 

The biggest and most noticeable difference is that the dress code explicitly states that "refined denim" is accepted on board after 6:00 p.m. Previously, the rules prohibited jeans, shorts, hats, caps, sneakers, and flip-flop-type footwear in the evenings. 

Although the new policy is more flexible, the ship still expects passengers to maintain a certain level of decorum and bans ripped or distressed denim, shorts, short pants, ball caps, gym sneakers, T-shirts, and flip-flops from venues after 6:00 p.m.

Cruisers took to social media to express their excitement over the upcoming changes to Silversea's dress code 

"This makes me happy as I have a favorite pair of stylish, dark denim jeans that I wear 'going out on the town' at home with cute shoes and a fancy top," commented one user on a Cruise Critic forum. 

Another passenger added, "Overwhelming majority of [Silversea] guests wanted a more relaxed dress code, in line with most other lines, otherwise they wouldn't do it. But those who want to dress up can still do it, so win win for everyone."

"Thank goodness the dress code is being relaxed... [On our] last Silversea sailing we made the decision to pass on dress up night, and either ate dinner in the Grille or in our room on dressy nights. It is nice to know we will no longer be considered second class passengers because we don’t want to drag along a collection of dress clothes," someone else chimed in. 

Read more: 7 Things I'd do differently on my next Silversea cruise

I tried Silversea for the first time last year and it changed my perspective of cruising, but when I go again, I've already come up with some changes for the second round.

I went on Silver Dawn in summer 2025 to try out Royal Caribbean's luxury cruise line sister brand, and it was not at all what I expected. Having done Celebrity Cruises, I thought it would be more of the same, but I was very wrong.

The core cruise experience is still the same, but so much of what you experience onboard and ashore impressed and surprised me.

Thanks to Royal Caribbean Group's new Points Choice offering, I was reflecting on the amazing 7-night Norwegian fjords cruise. Maybe it's just how my mind works, but I look at past cruises for opportunities to make the next one better.

I came up with seven things I'd change when I try Silversea again.

I want to try their newest ships

Silver Dawn wasn't an old ship by any means, but I really want to prioritize their newest ship to see how that stacks up.

Silversea's newest ship class are the Nova Class, and there are two ships: Silver Ray and Silver Nova.  Like Royal Caribbean, new ships tend to represent the latest and greatest features.

While Silversea doesn't have a waterpark, rock wall, or carousel, it does lean into experiences a lot more.  I'm curious what the very best this luxury line has to offer is like, and how it compares to a slightly older ship.

Now that I think about it, down the line I'd like to try an older ship too to see what that's like. But a new ship is high on my must-do list.

I need to preplan with my butler better

If there's one area of my first Silversea cruise that missed the mark, it was my interactions with my butler.

I had a great butler, but I didn't think I took advantage of what they offered as much as I should have.  And in retrospect, I think that's because I didn't communicate in advance as much as I should have.

My butler did a good job at guessing my needs sometimes, but next time I'd try coordinating times and then committing to them better.

I regret not having dinner in my suite at least once, just to experience it.  I think picking a port day (instead of a sea day) would be best so I could come back from a tour and not have to worry about getting dressed up for dinner.

I know it sounds silly, but the fact the genie will draw a bath for you was much better than I expected. Bubbles, music, and a glass of wine was the perfect way to relax after a long day of touring.

The thing is I need to start my day with times and ideas for what to plan for so the butler can have it ready for me later. 

I'd rethink my dinner plans

I ate great on my first Silversea cruise, but it became clear I misjudged the culinary offerings after a couple of nights.

I ended up loving Atlantide, which is similar in nature to the Main Dining Room.  It had so many fantastic choices that really jived with the sort of food I typically order.

In fact, the complimentary dining was outstanding. I made a point to hit up La Terrazza for their morning and lunch buffets because the quality and selections were terrific.

Another lesson learned was you really need to pre-book specialty dining to get a good time.  La Dame and Silver Note were fabulous, but I had to shoehorn them in because I took too long to book it.

I think I went in assuming reservations wouldn't be as critical as Royal Caribbean, but I was wrong on that.

Speaking of Silver Note, I thought I would have made it back there for a drink at the bar to enjoy the jazz but never did.  I need to remedy that the next time around. I love a good drink coupled with live music, and the entertainment at Silver Note was really good.

I want to try the cooking class again

I tried the S.A.L.T. cooking class on Silver Dawn, and even though I clearly have terrible cooking presentation skills, I'd love to try it again.

The idea behind the S.A.L.T. Lab is you get to cook a dish inspired by the cuisine of the region you're visiting.  All of the ingredients and supplies you need are prepared for you.  Heck, they even clean up after you!

To be fair, berry compote isn't easy to prepare or serve because there's a fine line between burning it and then keeping it all together so it's not falling apart. Nonetheless, I thought it was a lot of fun.

I thought it was such a different idea and something you'd never find on Royal Caribbean. While I have no aspirations to be a cook or teach myself how to make these dishes at home, I think it's just a fun thing to try.

I'd plan to go to more activities

Just like other cruise lines, there are a good assortment of activities around the ship.  In fact, I probably I didn't try as many as I should have on my first cruise.

Trivia is by far the most popular activity on Silversea. There's a progressive nature to it, and I'd love to give it a try on day one so I can get in on the fun. Plus, it's a great way to meet other passengers.

Because a Silversea ship is relatively smaller than any Royal Caribbean ship (just a few hundred passengers), it's much easier to meet other passengers, especially at bars or during events.

I got to chat to a few people around the ship, but I think going to activities helps that cause too.

If I have a cruising fault, it's I fall into the same routine and I need to force myself to get out there and try new things.  Next time on Silversea I intend to do that!

Arts Café is the best place for work

The coffee shop on Silversea is probably the best spot I've found on any ship to get work done while staying properly caffeinated.

I used to think Celebrity Cruises' Café al Bacio was the gold standard, but I think Arts Café has it beat.

The service is great at both, but the staff at Arts Café knew my coffee order very quickly and kept the refills coming. 

Since any cruise I go on is a "work trip", finding good places to work is important.  My cabin works fine, but the chairs aren't as conducive for long periods of sitting and typing.  I try to find chairs and tables with a good height so I'm not leaning over the keyboard too much.

Plus, the views inside and outside at Arts Café were fantastic.  When the weather cooperates, a scenic view to go along with my iced coffee is all I need.

More pool time

To be fair, we were in Norway and the weather wasn't always great for hanging out at the pool. Nonetheless, I wish I spent more time there.

Unlike Royal Caribbean, there's no crowds on the pool deck and I wish I had spent more time there just laying out and enjoying being outdoors more than I did.

On one particularly warm day, I was in the pool and hot tub and it was great. The pool was heated, and it felt great to hang on the edge and close my eyes.

Next time, I'd like to visit the pool more than just once.

I knew my first luxury cruise would be different from Royal Caribbean, but a few aspects truly surprised me.

I've been on almost 100 Royal Caribbean sailings, but I was intrigued by the prospect of trying something completely different.

When loyalty status matching was updated, I jumped at the opportunity to try out Silversea.  It meant going on a luxury ship without truly abandoning what I'm familiar with, because Silversea is owned by Royal Caribbean.

After spending a week on Silver Dawn, I came home with 11 surprises from the experience that I wasn't expecting.

The butlers are very different from a Royal Genie

I was excited by the idea of having a butler for the first time on a cruise, but the experience was very different from the Royal Genie service.

Luxury cruise ships are known for offering each suite a butler, but in practice, it's not what I expected.

I suppose in retrospect it makes sense that your butler is only available to help you in your suite.  If I had a butler in my house, they would be there too.

I asked a few different cruisers I met how they maximize their butlers, and most told me the same thing: you basically have to live in your suite to get the most out of it.

That's a bit different from the Royal Genie in Star Class suites, where their services can be used around the ship.

Moreover, I liked I could message my Royal Genie through WhatsApp.  On Silver Dawn, I could only get a hold of the butler by calling them from my cabin phone.

That's not a big deal, but on a few occasions it would have been more practical to message the butler to prepare something as I make my way back to my room.

I expected a stuffy dress code, but most people wore collared shirt and no jacket

If I had a concern before my first Silversea cruise, it was the dress code requirements.

I came into the cruise worried about having to wear a suit every night, but the truth is it's not as formal as I expected.

Silversea relaxed their dress code standards fairly recently, and it was no where near as formal as others had warned me about.

There wasn't even a formal night on our sailing. Evidently I have to be on a longer cruise to have one.

The basic dress code was no jeans or shorts after 6pm, and you needed to have a collared shirt in the restaurants.  Jackets were optional.

And yes, the crew did enforce the rules. I spoke with various guests who told me about how they or someone else were informed they didn't meet the dress code standards.  In those situations, men were offered a jacket to borrow.

During the day, I had no issues wearing what I would wear on Royal Caribbean. Shorts, t-shirts, flip flops were all perfectly acceptable.

Far fewer men than I expected wore a jacket to dinner, so it wasn't nearly as strict as I once feared.

No lines anywhere

One thing I quickly noticed on Silver Dawn was that there were basically no lines or crowds.

You often hear about how cruises have long lines and crowds, but Silver Dawn didn't have them at all.  In fact, a few times I went to figure out where everyone was because so many areas were completely empty.

When I asked cruisers onboard why they picked a luxury ship, many said they did it to avoid crowds. They could appreciate what the big ships offer, but didn't want to deal with competing for lounge chairs or lines.

I certainly didn't think the ship would feel as crowded as an Oasis Class ship, but I never thought it would be as empty as it felt.

The incredible service by crew members

No matter which cruise line I've sailed on, crew members have always worked incredibly hard to stand out.  But on Silversea, it went to a different level.

Because the crew to passenger ratio is lower on a luxury ship, I think it was easier for the crew to learn passenger names and what they liked.

By the third day of the sailing, I could count on walking into a bar or lounge and at least one crew member greeting me by name  as soon as I walked in.

Food selections are incredible, even at buffet

I expected the food would better on Silversea than on Royal Caribbean, and I wasn't disappointed.

I think it's fair to assume a luxury cruise would have better food, and it was exemplified at the buffet when they had every day a large selection of sushi.

There were cooking stations at the buffet too, but the dishes came out looking like something I'd get from a specialty restaurant.

In the ship's Main Dining Room, every night there was filet mignon, lobster tail, shrimp, and other cuts of steak to choose from. 

When I ate at the ship's French specialty restaurant, La Dame, there were some really high-end food served, such as foie gras.

My favorite place for food was at the S.A.L.T. lab and restaurant, which sources food from the areas your ship visits.  

Not only is it a really smart idea to incorporate the ship experience into the region you are visiting, but there were fantastic food choices. 

Surprised the premium WiFi costs extra

Considering Silversea is all inclusive, I was surprised there were tiers of internet service.

The cruise fare comes with basic WiFi included, but it's fairly useless.  It's heavily throttled and works only for messaging.

I paid $365 to upgrade to a 2-device premium WiFi package. Not only was that a high cost, but I think a luxury cruise line that says it's all inclusive should include the high speed internet.

In case you're wondering, Silversea uses Starlink too, and the speeds were great.

The only furnishings that disappointed me were the balcony chairs

From the pool chairs, to the lounges, to the towels in my cabin, everything felt luxurious except for my balcony chairs.

It's a minor thing, but I spent time on my balcony on numerous occasions and noticed the chairs and table out there were almost identical to the ones you'd find on a new Royal Caribbean ship.

Moreover, Royal Caribbean suite balconies have more plush chairs with ottomans. 

I felt like it was an easy fix, and perhaps Silversea's newer ships already have them.

Beer selection is surprisingly bad

I think the only double take I did on my cruise was when I asked about the beers to order.

Royal Caribbean's beer selection has always been disappointing, but Silversea's beers are even worse.  You'll find just the generic beers, with little flavor discrepancy.

As you can see in the photo, there isn't much in the way of IPAs, craft beers, or some of the trendier malt beverages.

I'm guessing the average Silversea cruiser doesn't ask for them, but considering how much wider their liquor selection was than Royal Caribbean, I was surprised how limited the beer options were.

No app or check in

I thought I did something wrong when I couldn't find the Silversea app, but turns out there isn't one.

From what I understand they are working on developing an app, but in the meantime there isn't an app.

Truthfully, you don't need the app onboard because there's a mobile website you can access once connected to the WiFi and it had what I needed: activities, my bookings, a copy of the newsletter, and more.

I was equally surprised to find a lack of an online check-in option, but maybe that's just because I'm conditioned to have one on Royal Caribbean.

When I arrived at the ship for check-in in Copenhagen, there was no line at all and just one person ahead of me.  I suppose you don't need a fancy online check-in if there's not a crowd issue to contend with.

Reservations needed for the popular specialty restaurants

Another nuance of the luxury cruise experience is how specialty dining works.

There are essentially three tiers of restaurants on Silversea:

1. Included restaurants that don't require reservations (Main Dining Room)
2. Specialty restaurants that are included in your cruise fare (Silver Note, The Grill)
3. Specialty restaurants that cost money (Kaiseki, La Dame)

How all the reservations worked was more confusion than I anticipated pre-cruise.  

Some restaurants absolutely require reservations or you pretty much cannot dine there. Kaiseki and La Dame pretty much sold out almost immediately, whereas Silver Note and The Grill had more flexibility.

The takeaway here is just because restaurants are included, you can't go in anytime you want. I'd recommend making reservations as early as you can to ensure you can get in.

Status matching was easy, but it didn't get me much

I tried Silversea because of the status matching offered, but it really didn't get me much.

That's a bit misleading, because Silversea includes so much more in the cruise fare than Celebrity or Royal Caribbean.

If you think about all the best benefits you get from Crown & Anchor Society or Captain's Club, they're almost all perks that included with a luxury cruise.

I got free laundry, which was a godsend to not have to ration clean clothing. 

Speaking of status, there isn't as much recognition of status like you do on the other lines. Your Seapass card doesn't have your status level listed or different colors to your card. That's fine with me, just a different approach.

I've been cruising with Royal Caribbean for 20 years, but a recent change in the loyalty status matching opened my eyes to trying a luxury cruise.

Royal Caribbean Group owns three primary cruise lines: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.  Thanks to an improvement with status matching across all the lines, I thought this was the perfect time to try Silversea.

The idea of going on a small ship that can get into places the bigger Royal Caribbean ships cannot, along with an elevated touch through with cuisine and service, sounded like something worth trying.

Thanks to an invitation from Silversea, I was able to sail on Silver Dawn on a 7-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords. In the interest of full disclosure, Silversea paid for my cruise fare, dining, and shore excursions onboard.

I had just completed a Norwegian fjords cruise on Independence of the Seas, so I was excited to compare the experiences.

Silver Dawn: A new ship with enough to keep me busy

A luxury cruise is quite different from a Royal Caribbean cruise, yet it retains the basics of both.

It launched in 2021, which makes it the same as as Odyssey of the Seas.  That's effectively still a new ship, and I've always gravitated towards new ships because they offer the latest and greatest features onboard.

The ship boasts have only suites as its cabins, numerous restaurant choices (including the S.A.L.T. program), and the Otium spa and wellness concept. 

I chose this ship and itinerary for two reasons: I wanted to be on a newer ship so I could enjoy the best features, and I wanted an itinerary to take advantage of the ship's size.  

Silver Dawn has 11 decks (although decks 1 and 2 are not accessible to passengers), and it can accommodate 596 passengers. 

Like all Silversea ships, it's all-inclusive, which means much more of the cruise experience is included in your fare.  Drinks, most specialty restaurants, basic Wi-Fi, and even some shore excursions are included.

A different way to cruise

There are two aspects of a Silversea cruise that stood out to me from the get go that intrigued me.  They are all inclusive and everyone gets a butler.

While the core cruise experience is the same, nearly every nuance of it is different on Silversea and it was an interesting change.

Silversea includes far more in its cruise fare than Royal Caribbean does, although the cruise fare will likely cost more on Silversea.

In speaking with several passengers that had booked the same suite type as me, the cost of this cruise was between $8,000 and $10,000 for two people.

That includes:

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• Food, including all but 2 specialty restaurants
• Butler service in your suite
• Gratuities
• Basic Wi-Fi access

There are no inside cabins here. The most basic of suites has a balcony, bathroom with shower and tub, sofa, dining area, and more.

In addition to the stateroom attendant, the butler will arrange almost anything you can imagine while in your suite.

Your butler can unpack your bags, draw a bath, set up any meal or snack you ask for, bring you drinks, and more.

You share the butler with 13 other suites, but I think I waited more than 35 seconds for my butler to appear after paging him just once.

The downside to the butler is their services work only in your suite. Unlike the Royal Genie service, they aren't available elsewhere.

I asked other cruisers who have sailed with Silversea a lot what's their secret to the butlers, and many said the same thing: to best utilize the butler, you have to basically live out of your suite.

That's fine for some people, but I like to be out and about.  Nonetheless, my butler was very helpful when I needed him and more.  One day I came back from a long shore excursion and he had drawn a bath for me without me asking. I didn't need it, but it did feel lovely to have it.  On another day, there was truffle butter popcorn waiting in my room for a movie night (I just ate the popcorn instead).

The all inclusive nature makes it difficult to compare to Royal Caribbean, especially the Crown and Anchor benefits.

I did a status match before my cruise began with my Pinnacle Club status to Silversea's Venetian Society.

When I did that for Celebrity Cruises, I was impressed how good their top level Captain's Club benefits were.  However, since so much is already included with Silversea, the best I had was free laundry.  To be clear, I used my free laundry benefit a lot, but don't expect much from your equivalent Venetian Society benefits.

The great thing about pretty much all of the food and drinks being included (and even some shore excursions), is you don't fret over what you want to do.

Just like the convenience of a Royal Caribbean drink package, you're able to take full advantage of what the ship has.

What's it like onboard

Speaking of the ship, the onboard experience was probably the second most asked question after the cost by our readers.

Silver Dawn is quite small compared to any Royal Caribbean ship, but it has a pool, hot tubs, bars, restaurants, jazz lounge, observation lounge, and spa.

What you won't find are kids clubs, water slides, adults-only areas, suite-only areas, and the Royal Caribbean level of live entertainment.

Many readers wanted to know if I was bored, and I can honestly say I wasn't.  

There was a production show every night, which is roughly the same quality as any Royal Caribbean production show on a pre-Oasis Class ship.

But I fell in love with the S.A.L.T. Bar onboard.

Silversea's S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program is about integrating local food and drink with the cruise experience.  In the lab, you can learn to cook local food. In the restaurant, you can dine on local cuisines.  In the bar, you can enjoy liquors from the region.

The bar was my go-to spot because they had the best mixologists I've ever had on any cruise. It was a masterclass in cocktails, and they even offered a cocktail making class.

There was a schedule of events each day (printed in a paper newsletter or available on the TV or online), and there was just enough happening to keep you busy. You certainly could attend almost every event in any day.

In terms of dining, there's no question the quality of food offered is better than most restaurants on Royal Caribbean.

The buffet blew me away with always having sushi and sashimi every day at lunch. Atlantide (the Main Dining Room) had filet mignon, lobster, shrimp, and a litany of daily choices to consider.

I tried the S.A.L.T. cooking class, where we made venison and berry tarts.

At Silver Note, I enjoyed a jazz duet while having dinner. And The Grille had hot rocks you could cook on, with filet, lobster, mahi mahi, and more.

And then there's the service onboard.  Royal Caribbean has great crew members, but because the ratio of crew to guests is much lower on a luxury ship, the crew are going to know you very well, very quickly.

On a few occasions, they knew my name before I ever said introduced myself or gave them my card. I still don't know how they did it.

And of course, the ship is small and there are no crowds. I never waited for an elevator, always found seats at the pool and bar, and many times had to go out of my way to try to find where there were a group of people.

Fjords, trains, and berries

One of the best reasons to sail on a small luxury ship is where it can go, and I had a packed itinerary.

Our sailing departed Copenhagen, Denmark and visits 5 ports of call in Norway: Vik, Nordfjordeid, Ålesund, Trondheim, and Åndalsnes.

Because of our ship's size, we could fit into ports that big ships cannot, such as Vik.

I booked a variety of excursions, including boat tours and trains that take you all around.  

There were two tours that really stood out in Vik and Ålesund.

In Vik, we boarded a classic train on the Flåm Railway that took us through some of the most scenic areas of the trip.

The railway is 20 km long and takes you through spectacular valleys that offer great views of nature and the exceptional engineering skill to have built the railway itself.

Over in Ålesund, I wanted to experience more of the fjords, so I booked a boat tour of nearby Hjørundfjorden.

We hopped right onto a boat to take us on a journey where we saw steep mountains, deep fjords, and small villages around the way.

Our captain even pulled right up to a waterfall and gave us all a cup of water from it.

The beauty of Norway surrounds you on this cruise, and what I really liked being able to turn almost anywhere and find something to see.

Something else that would never happen on Royal Caribbean is the Captain announced after our visit to Vik, he purchased bushels of fresh strawberries from a farmer he knew and there would be fresh strawberries for us to enjoy.

Sure enough, every morning there were fresh strawberries and it was such a treat.

Who is Silversea for?

I spend most of my week thinking who is a Silversea cruise ideally for, and I came up with three groups of people:

• Someone regularly booking an Owners Suite or Grand Suite on Royal Caribbean
• Someone who cruised with their family, but the kids are older and moved out
• Someone who wants to visit places Royal Caribbean ships never/can't go

That's not the limit, but I think people fitting into one of those categories would find the transition the most opportunistic.

You're going to likely pay much more for Silversea than a mainstream line, but you'll get much more included, along with a lot less people to contend with.

I think the Silversea product is designed for people that value service, fine dining, and no crowds. Plus, the places Silversea ships can visit are incredible.  

You'll find Silversea ships sailing to Antarctica, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, The Galapagos, and offering world cruises. The destinations alone might be the most attractive factor.

Kids are welcome onboard, but there aren't dedicated areas for them. I think my teenage girls would like the butler services and the fact they can order filet mignon every night. My oldest would miss the teen club, but I doubt she'd mind having the pool deck virtually to herself.

My first Silversea cruise spoiled me, and I wanted more

My takeaway from a week on Silver Dawn was the level of service and things you can only find on a luxury ship really stood out.

There's no question there's far less happening onboard than on Royal Caribbean, but I leaned into the luxury experience more and more as the sailing went on.

Because of the ratio of crew members to guests, after a couple of days, you're going to feel like Norm from "Cheers" when you walk into any bar, restaurant, or lounge.  Everyone knows your name, and probably your order.

I thought having a bath was silly, but I used it a few times as a way to unwind before dinner.  I asked once for raspberries from my butler, and then there was a bowl always stocked in my cabin.

When you look at the price of a luxury cruise, there's going to be sticker shock if you're used to booking rooms lower than a suite. But what you get is a different kind of experience that triples down on the service, food, and experiences you can't get on a megaship.

Another cruise line relying on the Healthy Sail Panel will require all of its passengers to be fully vaccinated.

SilverSea, a luxury cruise line part of the Royal Caribbean Group, announced it will require all guests and passengers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

An update on its website notes the new requirement, "All embarking crew and guests must have been fully vaccinated prior to sail date in order to board our ships. This requirement may differ according to region and country obligations."

SilverSea is now the second cruise line with ties to the Healthy Sail Panel that plans on allowing only fully vaccinated guests, following Norwegian Cruise Line's proposal to the CDC to do the same last week.

The Healthy Sail Panel is an independent group of scientists and public health experts, which is a joint venture of the Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

Royal Caribbean International has not proposed to require all guests be fully vaccinated on its ships.  In fact, Royal Caribbean has only committed itself thus far to requiring the vaccine for adults on select ships restarting sailings this summer.  Children can sail with a negative Covid test.

Read more: Everything we know about if Royal Caribbean will require a vaccine

SilverSea has other protocols listed that are similar to Royal Caribbean's plans, including:

• Pre-embarkation health screening
• COVID-19 test prior to boarding
• Potential reduced capacity during first months returning to service
• Shore excursions only booked through the cruise line
• Masks in all indoor public areas
  • Masks will not be required while seated in restaurants, at tables in bars, and in outdoor areas in which physical distancing can be maintained

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has banned cruise ships from sailing from the United States since March 2020 due to operating a cruise ship during the global health crisis.

Cruise lines have been doing just about anything they can in order to get permission to sail again from U.S. waters. Proposals like NCL and SilverSea are seen by some as a move to do everything they can to cater to the CDC's concerns.

On April 3, the CDC released a small update to its recommendations for cruise lines that want to restart operations in U.S. waters, but there was not much hope in the update that cruises sailing again was coming soon.