Here is my (not so glowing!) report on Silversea when I recently sailed on a 10 day round Iceland cruise - with a one day peel-off to the Faeroe Islands.
It is reasonable that I compare my Silversea experience with that of Regent (with whom I have sailed twice) as they are both high end all-inclusive ships.
In fact I should also compare it to Uniworld river cruises as I have sailed with them many times - and they too are high end and all-inclusive.
In terms of the vessel (Silver Moon), facilities, shore excursions, fellow guests and staff - it was excellent - and much the same as Regent and Uniworld - so no grumbles on that score.
In fact there is not much more to say on that as both the Regent and Silversea vessels are near enough identical.
Silversea has more speciality dining restaurants with some at an additional cost.
The maximum number of guests is around 600 and there were approx. 580 on board - despite the vessel being not far off the size of the QE or QV.
So nowhere is ever crowded and there is loads of space everywhere - a big plus in my book!
Despite the fact that all transfers are included there was nobody to meet me at Reykjavik Airport.
After some time I asked a Viking Rep. and she very kindly made some calls - whereupon a dishevelled guy in a wacky, scruffy T shirt arrived some 30 minutes later.
I was then driven to a fairly good, but basic, hotel 10 minutes drive from the airport.
Pre and post cruise hotels were included in the price and necessary owing to the flight from/to Glasgow times.
The post cruise hotel was in Reykjavik itself and of a higher standard - but a 45 minutes drive from the airport.
The food was often below the standard I'd been expecting from Silversea.
Some examples are:
1) My eggs Benedict at breakfast one morning had a skin over the whole dish - as it had obviously been kept warm under a heat light.
This made it unappetising and I never ordered it again.
2) At dinner one night the Lobster tail was tough and tasteless - so I left it and just ate the veg.
3) I ordered cod another night and it was dry - not flaky - and turned up at the edges.
Clearly this too had been kept hot under heat lights.
I sent it back and asked for the salmon - to be cooked properly and moist - which it was!
The salmon took a while to come which was fine as it was probably being cooked properly and "to order".
4) I ordered Venison which was cooked OK but all of the veg on the plate were bordering on cold.
So I left them - which was enough to spoil my enjoyment of the Venison.
(Have you ever tasted cold mashed potato?)
5) Invariably the soups were only on the cool side of warm - but never hot.
6) On my last night I ordered what was was billed as (something like) "The Famous Faeroese Lamb".
It was tasteless in terms of tasting like lamb and only tasted of meat of some kind or another.
So I left that too as it was unappetising.
I was offered an alternative but declined as by that time I was so disappointed in general and the cruise was nearly over.
7) At the Grill restaurant the food comes on "Hot Rocks" either for cooking yourself or they'll do it for you at the table.
No problem for me either way as I've cooked on hot rocks many times over the years.
BTW - the rocks are square/oblong and flat, if you've never seen them before.
Anyway I ordered "The Butchers Rack" which comprised many different meats, fish, seafood, fish cakes and other bits and pieces - all raw.
But there was too much food and it was hanging off the rock around every side.
An attempt to get everything on to the rock caused everything to stick together as it all cooked.
Then when it came time to lift anything off to transfer to the plate it was still stuck together and fell apart into an unholy mess!
That was enough for me - I gave up and ate none of it - none at all.
I go to restaurants to EAT food, not to fight with it and especially if I'm going to lose!
The problem was that there was too much food for the rock or they should have had bigger rocks.
In my humble opinion it was a simple case of bad planning of a dish.
Nobody else around my table had that dish so I can't say how others got on with what I had.
Often the veggies were cold or warm but rarely hot - which makes me think that they had already been plated up for some time awaiting the guests choice of main dish to be added.
9) After only 2 or 3 days it had got to the stage that I didn't dare go to proper lunch in case I was disappointed - so just went to the Arts Cafe to have a couple of filled rolls and a cup of tea - which were delicious.
10) Underneath a salad were two biscuit looking things - quite thin - light brown in colour and approx. 3" in diameter.
I tried to cut them withe the fork I was using for my salad but nothing happened.
So I tried again using the knife - but despite "sawing" until my arm was aching I could not cut through them!
Naturally I just gave up and ate the salad only.
I don't know to this day what they were and am not sure if I particularly want to know.
Again - a disgrace.
Others around the many tables I shared had the same opinion as those of mine above.
After a while I realised that it was only the Silversea "fans" or those who had sailed many times with them who were praising Silversea and would accept any old thing as they could not see past Silversea.
All the first timers like me, or who had sailed with other lines, were more discerning.
Early on I became friendly with the staff at reception - we had many laughs together and there was an element of trust between us.
Towards the end of the cruise when I mentioned the above to them they asked if I wanted them to make a formal complaint on my behalf.
I told them I'd just let it go as Silversea would probably take no account of it since they fill up their ships every time.
The 3 staff just looked at each other in silence and nodded in agreement!
Food on every other ship I've sailed on in the past has been better/perfect - including Regent and Uniworld!
I should say at this stage - that when the food was good it was above the standard of the Queens Grill on Cunard ships.
This did not surprise me as I've held that view for a long time after years of sailing with other lines.
I dined in all of the restaurants so the above is not from just only one.
In terms of everything else - the ship, facilities, shore excursions, fellow guests and staff - it was great - and much the same as Regent - so no grumbles on that score.
There are many bars on board which are always well staffed - so no problems in getting the all-inclusive drinks.
The guest to crew ratio is approx 2:1 - about normal for the high end ships.
Entertainment, including lectures, were excellent and more or less the same as on other ships.
Having sailed on both Ocean and River Cruises since the year 1999, often 2 to 4 times per year, and with various companies I believe I am sufficiently qualified to give an honest and valid opinion on Silversea - with whom I shall never sail again.
These are the first food complaints I've made about ANY ship - and, as I said, I've been sailing since the year 1999!
So in summary - I'd say that Silversea let themselves down on the food - and for me it will be Regent in future (Uniworld on rivers) - and given that they are all (apparently) 6 star boutique ships I think it is perfectly fair to compare.
In terms of "class" - both Silversea and Regent have dress codes but they are not as strictly adhered to as on Cunard.
A Forum member mentioned the "snob" word in connection with Silversea.
I can absolutely assure members that both Regent and Silversea are by far the most friendly and non-snobby ships I have ever sailed on - in terms of the guests.
Everyone is so friendly - to the Nth degree!
The staff/crew on both are also the most friendly and attentive I have ever experienced.
I've only ever experienced snobbishness on Cunard ships.
For me - the bottom line is Regent/Uniworld 1- Silversea 0.
Now I am looking at Ponant, Windstar and Scenic - all being high end and all-inclusive ships.
Here endeth my review!
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Oct 31, 2023, 09:38 AM