Reviewed by: Meg Hill and Tina Wheelock, Cruise Express

Sailed: ex Lisbon, Portugal

Date: April 2022

Cruise line and ship: Silversea – for the official launch of  Silver Dawn

Size of ship: 40,700 GT

Passenger capacity: 596 passengers maximum (411 crew)

Year built: 2021

Currency onboard: USD$

Where the ship cruises:  The Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the British Isles, Transoceanic and the Caribbean

 

Pre-cruise – Silversea ‘Door to door’ experience – We were met in the Arrivals Hall at Lisbon Airport by a local English speaking guide and escorted to the transfer area and our Mercedes mini-coach for the transfer to our downtown hotel. Brief orientation en route (approx. 20 minutes). Overnight stay at the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Hotel, a 5-star hotel in the heart of the downtown area, surrounded by designer label stores and a short stroll down Liberdade Avenue to the commercial centre for shopping, dining and sightseeing. Extensive buffet breakfast included before transfer by coach to the pier.

OPTIONAL Panoramic Lisbon and Tagus River cruise included this morning

 

Embarkation – Short transfer by 45-seat coach to the pier. Luggage transferred separately and delivered to Suites onboard. On arrival, passengers need to present passports (held for the duration of the cruise), proof of full vaccination, proof of a negative COVID-19 test (PCR within the past 3 days or RAT within the past 24 hours). RAT testing is also available at the pier but will slow down the embarkation process.

Complete health declaration form (similar to past norovirus forms) and undergo a temperature check (wand on inner wrist). Overall, the process was very smooth with extremely helpful and friendly staff…perhaps 20-30 minutes total.

Suite – Though not ready on arrival (approx. 2pm) it was available by 3.30pm.  We stayed in a Deluxe Verandah Suite #707 (located forward, starboard side on Deck 7). Single vanity, separate bath and walk in shower, walk in wardrobe with chest of drawers, hanging space and shoe racks. Hangers include some satin-topped for knitwear, etc. Racks set up for suitcases. Spacious main cabin area with twin or queen bed set-up, quality linens and pillow menu.  

Each Suite has a Butler rather than a cabin attendant and they will assist with unpacking if required. Bottle of Pommery champagne set up in ice bucket in the sitting area – two-seat sofa plus armchair with a cashmere blanket.

Balcony with sliding glass door, two sun chairs and a small round table. Large enough for drinks and snacks but not full meals.

Other in-Suite facilities – a device charging plate also with USB point, swivel tv, mini bar with still and sparkling water and mixers.

Your Butler will stock the mini-bar with your alcohol and soft drink preferences – for example a bottle of whisky or gin and/or wine. Replenished daily at no additional cost! Snacks such as nuts (cashews with truffle oil) are also replenished daily and canapés are available daily on request.

Announcement made at 4pm. Lifeboat drill at 5pm, preceded by mandatory video viewing in the Suite.

PUBLIC AREAS

Dining – 8 restaurants

La Dame – French inspired fine dining serving a degustation dinner menu nightly (Cover charge of USD60 per person)

La Terrazza- Serving breakfast and lunch buffet style (served by wait staff). Dinner a la carte Italian. Offers inside and outdoor deck dining

Arts Cafe – A small venue serving tea and coffee, fruit-infused waters, fruit and cheese plates, sweet pastries, cookies and sandwiches during the day

Atlantide – Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner a la carte with the evening emphasis on steak and seafood dishes

SALT Kitchen – A light and airy room with fresh herb pots as centrepieces on the tables. Serves food using the local ingredients of the region the ship is cruising in (Portugal in our case). Wines are also available from the region

Kaiseki –A small Japanese restaurant serving lunch (included) and dinner ( cover charge of USD40 per person). Lunchtime offers an extensive sushi and sashimi menu as well as udon and ramen bowls. At dinner, choose from an a la carte menu of up to six courses per person (the Chefs’ recommendation). Japanese beers and sake, matcha tea, etc are offered as well as the usual wine list

ScappaNapoli – A wide selection of authentic oven baked Italian pizzas served between 11am and 11pm. A small anti-pasta platter (olives, cheese and bread) is served whilst waiting for the pizzas. As the venue is outside on deck there are overhead heaters and lap blankets available if the weather is cool

Pool Grill / Hot Rocks – Serving burgers, fries, mezze plates, salads, etc poolside throughout the afternoon. In the evening the venue offers a ‘hot rock’ dining experience where hot stones are brought to the table with your choice of meat (steak, chicken, prawns, salmon, etc) and you cook at the table. Again, as the venue is outside there are overhead heaters and warm shoulder wraps to keep the cool night air at bay.

Entertainment

Nightly in the Panorama Lounge – A selection of shows including tributes  (The Beatles, Queen, etc)

Silver Note – a late night supper club atmosphere with live jazz from 8pm to late. Serving small  dishes 

Dolce Vita Lounge – Piano tunes

Inclusions – All meals at most restaurants onboard, all drinks including mini bar set up and daily stocking, premium coffees and teas, room service, wifi, onboard gratuities, a shore excursion in each port of call, shuttle bus service from pier to downtown.

PLUS – Door to Door
Executive car transfer from home to airport (and return), small vehicle transfer from airport to hotel and hotel to pier, local orientation tour, one night pre-cruise in the city of embarkation including breakfast.
OPTIONAL return airfares with Business class upgrades.

POINTS OF EXCEPTION

Butler Service
Prior to hosting a Facebook Live segment from the ship, we asked our Butler if he would make up our Suite early (by 9am) and add an ice bucket, champagne and glasses as if on embarkation day. His eyes lit up and he then proceeded to list all the things he would be happy to arrange for us:

• A bath with salt crystals, candles, a portable speaker playing classical music, and a glass of champagne
• A breakfast tray set up on one of the beds with tea for two
• Truffle popcorn and blankets for an in-Suite movie night
• Hot chocolates with liqueurs on the balcony table

All with a wide smile and included as complimentary in-Suite options for all guests at any time during your cruise!

On the last night of our cruise, the official christening of the ship, we were due at the first official function at 5.45pm, a black tie event. At approximately 5pm Tina had a serious dress ‘malfunction’. We paged the butler to ask for his help and he was on the doorstep in less than 5 minutes and said he would take the dress to the tailor to see what could be done. A few minutes later he called to say they were working on a solution. By 5.30pm the dress was back, good as new!

SALT – Sea and Land Taste
New and exclusive to Silversea, this is an immersive experience for guests to learn more about the fresh produce, cuisine and dishes of the region the ship is travelling to/through. Dine in SALT Kitchen, enjoy pre or post-dinner drinks in the SALT Bar, choose from a selection of SALT shore excursions and take part in cooking demonstrations and food tastings in SALT Lab, a purpose-built kitchen with nine cooking stations.