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With its 2017 debut, Silver Muse became Silversea's flagship cruise vessel; with 596 passengers, it's the biggest in the fleet and provides a blueprint for how the Italian luxury cruise line plans to evolve. With a monochromatic yet elegant colour palette in brown, tan, beige and cream, Silver Muse personifies a "European luxury," which whispers rather than screams. And you'll see the same materials -- rich fabrics and gleaming marble -- used in your suite as you'll find in many of the lounges and restaurants. It's beautiful in its simplicity.
Silver Muse feels like a hotel, but in the right ways. It has a lovely central staircase that features two winding sets of stairs all the way from bottom to top, and wide corridors. The decor has a strong point of view in that it's so simple. You won't find anything that makes you stop and say, "Wow!", but you'll just genuinely appreciate that everything is comfortable and quietly elegant.
Suites onboard are a highlight, with even the smallest measuring almost 400 square feet, counting the veranda. All suites have lots of things the modern traveller loves: plenty of storage, gorgeous walk-in closets, more outlets than you need and high-end touches like ultra-high thread count sheets and towels. Cabins are personal, quiet and comfortable.
The pool area, too, is a big win. We love the long, wide pool, with space to lounge. Throw in some really excellent casual fare – pizza, salads and burgers -- and it's idyllic for a sea day. In fact, Silver Muse has lots of open outdoor space; the back of Decks 7, 8 and 9 all feature casual outdoor seating.
Silversea put a whopping eight restaurants on Silver Muse, eschewing the traditional main dining room. It's a controversial change that has gone through some tweaks since the ship launched. Originally, all dining was made by reservation, but the line changed Atlantide and Indochine to open seating due to passenger demand. (Dropped, too, was the concept of a dress code attached to each restaurant; attire for evenings is now standardized.) We found food in both venues to be outstanding; on this ship, it's some of the speciality restaurants that don't live up to their billing or extra fees.
Still, passengers who are looking for the outstanding service that's a hallmark of luxury cruising will be pleased on Silver Muse. Butlers take care of your reservations and appointments, wait staff learn your wine preferences, pool attendants suggest drinks and clean your sunglasses. Although it's larger than other Silversea vessels, Silver Muse still feels refined and relaxed -- and so will you during your voyage.
Silver Muse follows a casual dress code during the day, when passengers wear comfortable and weather/activity-appropriate clothing. Shorts, jeans and T-shirts are common around the ship and in port. Swimwear is de rigueur poolside, though not indoors. No jeans, shorts or flip flops are permitted in indoor venues after 6 p.m.
After 6 p.m., the ship has a dress code that changes daily: casual, informal or formal. Casual means women wear pants, blouses, skirts or casual dresses, while men wear open-neck shirts and slacks. Informal is still dressy on Silver Muse; women usually wear nice dresses or pants and blouses, and men wear dress shirts and slacks, often topped with jackets (though no tie). Formal night brings out evening or cocktail attire for women, while men wear suits or dinner jackets with ties; you'll see a few tuxedos.
(If you don't like formal dress, don't worry: on formal nights, you can schedule your meals in Spaccanapoli and Hot Rocks, which always accept casual wear. Just keep in mind that these are outdoors and if the weather's bad, they will be closed. On formal nights, La Terrazza, Kaiseki and Silver Note remain informal.)
On shorter sailings of seven or eight days, Silver Muse probably will visit a port each day. Itineraries vary by destination, but, generally, you will spend fairly long days in port, with some overnights in places like Monte Carlo or Livorno. The most popular excursions on Silver Muse are the ones labelled "highlights" or "guided tour." These excursions tend to take place by coach in larger groups, and they involve minimal walking. They focus on at least three highlights of any of the cities Silver Muse visits.
Other options include Silver Shore Expeditions, which focus on adventure excursions, such as hikes or bike rides. Groups for these tend to be intimate. In some ports, passengers also can book Silver Shore Good Citizen excursions, which support local communities by visiting orphanages or preserving wildlife, for example. Some excursions require the use of the Silver Shore Sotto Voce, where guides speak into microphone transmitters while passengers listen through earpieces. This is common in churches or museums, where loud speaking is a no-no. A shore excursions concierge can arrange private or small group tours in virtually any port.
Passengers can book excursions online or with their travel agents from 90 days to a week before they sail, but they also can book onboard at the shore excursion desk or through their butlers. Paperwork explaining each excursion is left in your cabin or you can see it at the shore excursion desk. Symbols designate what type of activity you'll be doing -- Sotto Voce or Expedition, for example -- and they'll also let you know the activity level and whether wheelchairs are permitted. Not all excursions or coaches can accommodate wheelchairs, but passengers can work with a shore excursions concierge to book private wheelchair-accessible excursions. Silver Muse will provide an aide for solo wheelchair travellers, for a fee.
The ship's main entertainment venue is the Venetian Lounge located on Deck 5, a lovely space that includes a small stage and rippled fabric draped across the ceiling. Vocal music is the focus of production show entertainment on Silver Muse, and the line has put together shows that highlight great voices across several genres. (The performers actually are called the Voices of Silversea.) We loved the blues and jazz classics, big-band favourites, Sinatra hits and nods to Nina Simone; it's targeted to baby boomers and older. On select sailings, Silver Muse brings onboard guest entertainers, such as violinists and magicians; these can vary dramatically in quality. On our South America trip, a samba troupe got the audience up on its feet while a gaucho act sent people slipping out the side door.
The ship's small casino is located on Deck 7. It offers a variety of slot and table games and never seems crowded.
During the day, passengers can compete in trivia, attend destination lectures, participate in golf putting, pool volleyball and shuffleboard tournaments. There also are pop-up games, such as Name That Tune or Liars' Club. Occasionally, Silver Muse brings onboard gentleman hosts to offer dance classes; at other times, such classes might be led by the cruise director. Martini tasting and cocktail-making sessions are offered poolside. Bridge tournaments, which take place in the card room, might be organized during sailings. An occasional traditional English pub lunch might take place in one of the ship's bars on a sea day.
At night, there might be themed parties, such as a '60s party or black and white gala.
Lectures onboard Silver Muse focus on destinations -- specifically, the destinations you'll visit on your cruise. On longer voyages, the ship also brings on other lecturers; on our South America sailing, we had two -- one a celebrity biographer who talked about Hollywood glory days and another who spoke about South American politics. The onboard cruise consultant also will speak about Silversea's itineraries on both its luxury and expedition brands. International hostesses teach beginning language classes.
Many of the restaurant venues have their own bars, and passengers generally meet there for cocktails before dining. After dinner and the production show, the party usually moves to the Panorama Lounge, which stays open as late as passengers want to hang out (how late depends on the demographics onboard).
Atlantide Bar (Deck 4): Open from about 6 p.m., Atlantide Bar is an actual room just off the main restaurant. It includes a small bar as well as a couple of tables with couches and chairs. Passengers meet here while waiting for dinner, but it's also a comfortable, quiet spot after as well.
Entoca (Deck 4): Really a spot for a pre-dinner drink if you're eating in Indochine and waiting for a table, Entoca offers Asian-inspired cocktails, such as Singapore Slings, and beers like Tsingtao and Sapporo.
Dolce Vita (Deck 5): By far the biggest lounge onboard, Dolce Vita is decorated in a monochromatic brown colour scheme, with leather and velvet chairs and couches, white lamps, low brown tables and marble-covered pillars. The lounge stretches from the reception and shore excursions desk at the back to a small bar at the front; a divider in the middle keeps it intimate. It includes a baby grand piano, and live music is performed at various times throughout the day and into the evenings. There's no dance floor. Dolce Vita and the Pool Bar are the only lounges regularly open during the day.
Silver Note Bar (Deck 7): Open roughly at 8 p.m. each night, the Silver Note Bar lets passengers hang out and listen to jazz, even if they've skipped dinner in the tapas restaurant. Performers sit on a small stage, which includes an even smaller dance floor. It closes late at night.
Arts Cafe (Deck 8): This little cafe is the best spot onboard to grab great coffee, lattes, cappuccinos and espressos. It also has lovely views, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. If you're feeling peckish, you can grab pastries in the morning or scones and biscotti in the afternoon. It's one of the more bustling areas onboard.
Connoisseur's Corner (Deck 8): A quiet lounge, Connoisseur's Corner offers fine whiskey, wines and cognac as well as a selection of cigars. Prices are fairly consistent with what you'd find on land; it's nice to see Silver Muse eschew a high markup. It's the only indoor venue that permits smoking of any kind: cigars and cigarettes.
Panorama Lounge (Deck 9): Located at the back of the ship, the Panorama Lounge is decorated with fresh flowers and pops of muted green. It features a small bar with a handful of stools as well as ample seating for three or four around marble-topped tables. It opens to an outdoor seating area featuring white chairs with plush blue cushions. (This area also has a small smoking section.) During the day, the Panorama Lounge is quiet, but the open-air extension gets a bit of use when the weather is pleasant. At night, the lounge turns into a nightclub after dinner, with a DJ spinning dance hits. This is the most popular spot onboard for dancing and late-night drinks; on our South America sailing, this was full well after midnight.
Silver Muse presents a distinctive dining experience, boasting eight designated restaurants sans a central dining area. Throughout the day, various spots offer light bites, and patrons have the freedom to dine at any restaurant of their choosing as frequently as they desire. While reservations are recommended for all venues except Atlantide and Indochine due to their limited capacity, the ship reserves several tables in each venue for walk-in diners.
All restaurants adhere to a similar ethos, emphasizing diverse cuisines with menus rooted in the slow food movement, prioritizing locally sourced, high-quality ingredients whenever feasible. Sustainability is a key focus, with efforts to minimize the use of frozen ingredients common on cruises. Noteworthy are the premium ingredients such as high-quality beef and specialty cheeses like pico, an Italian delicacy with a short shelf life of five days.
The waitstaff utilizes a remote ordering system, ensuring meticulous recording of passenger preferences, dietary requirements, and allergies to enhance personalized service. While dietary restrictions can be indicated prior to sailing, passengers are encouraged to communicate with the maitre d' upon boarding for seamless accommodation. Although some menus may not explicitly denote vegetarian or low-sugar options, the attentive waitstaff readily assists in navigating dining choices.
Menus at Atlantide and Indochine are extensive, refreshed weekly, and feature daily specials reflecting local flavors. Conversely, specialty restaurants offer fixed menus. Notably, the quality of cuisine at the de facto main dining rooms, Atlantide and Indochine, surpasses that of smaller and supplementary fee-based restaurants — a departure from typical cruise ship norms, prompting the addition of more seats to Atlantide to meet demand.
Silver Muse boasts a fine selection of complimentary house wines encompassing various varietals. Patrons seeking a more upscale experience can opt for premium brands at prices akin to those on land, available by the glass or bottle across multiple restaurants.
Kaiseki (Deck 4) offers Japanese fare with a focus on sushi and sashimi during the day, transitioning to a teppanyaki restaurant for dinner. Indochine (Deck 4) stands out with its elegant ambiance and Asian-fusion cuisine inspired by Marco Polo's voyages. Atlantide (Deck 4) serves as a European-style seafood grill for dinner, offering an array of delectable options. La Dame (Deck 4) presents an upscale French dining experience with classic dishes sourced from France. Silver Note (Deck 7) doubles as a jazz club and offers Peruvian fusion cuisine in a lively atmosphere. La Terrazza (Deck 7) transforms from a buffet for breakfast and lunch to an Italian restaurant for dinner, featuring traditional Italian fare. Arts Cafe (Deck 8) serves as a vibrant gathering spot offering light snacks and beverages throughout the day. The Grill/Hot Rocks (Deck 10) offers a casual dining experience with lunch options and an interactive grilling experience for dinner. Spaccanapoli (Deck 11) specializes in freshly made pizza served in an open-air setting. Room service is available 24/7, offering a diverse menu including breakfast selections and an extensive array of dishes.
A noteworthy feature is the All Around Dining service, allowing passengers to order from the room service menu anywhere on the ship outside of restaurant hours.
All cabins on Silver Muse are suites, with spacious balconies in most. They feature elegant décor in shades of brown, grey, and cream, with plush furnishings and amenities. Each suite includes comfortable bedrooms with flexible bedding arrangements and luxurious linens. The living areas vary by category but typically offer a cosy space with a couch, desk, and marble accents. Additionally, suites come equipped with a stocked mini-bar, bathrobes, slippers, and various amenities for guest use.
There are ample sockets and USB ports for charging devices, along with flat-screen HD TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are adorned with marble and offer both tubs and showers, with premium bath amenities provided. Teak balconies provide outdoor relaxation space, furnished with patio furniture.
Every suite enjoys personalised butler service, assisting with various tasks and requests throughout the cruise. Accessible cabins and connecting suites are available, accommodating different needs and preferences. Certain suites offer additional features such as two-bedroom configurations or expanded verandas.
Guests staying in higher-tier suites receive enhanced amenities, including complimentary internet, laundry service, and exclusive dining options. Royal and Grand Suites offer spacious layouts with multiple bedrooms and lavish furnishings, while Owner's Suites provide apartment-style living with versatile configurations.
