Silversea Cruises: ultra-luxury ocean and expedition voyages booked with Virtuoso privileges
Silversea is an ultra-luxury, all-suite cruise line operating twelve ships - eight ocean vessels and four expedition vessels - carrying between 100 and 728 guests. Butler service comes with every suite regardless of category, and the fare covers dining, unlimited wines and spirits, Wi-Fi and gratuities.
Founded in Monaco in 1994 and owned today by Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea reaches more destinations than any other luxury line, including Antarctica, the Arctic, the Galápagos and Australia's Kimberley Coast.
StarsDesk books Silversea as a Virtuoso member agency: Virtuoso Voyages amenities on qualifying sailings, fare-type analysis that usually decides more of your total cost than the suite does, and one advisor from deposit to disembarkation.
What Silversea is - and what it is not
Entity clarification
- Silversea Cruises
- An ultra-luxury cruise line founded in 1994 in Monaco by the Lefebvre family together with V-Ships. Its first vessel, Silver Cloud, was christened at Monte Carlo on 30 May 1994. The brand pioneered the all-inclusive model in luxury cruising.
- Owned by Royal Caribbean Group
- Royal Caribbean acquired a 66.7% stake in 2018 from Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, and purchased the remaining shares in July 2020. Silversea now operates as a wholly owned brand of Royal Caribbean Group while retaining its own management, ships and identity. It is not part of Royal Caribbean International, which is a separate mass-market brand under the same parent.
- Both an ocean line and a genuine expedition operator
- Unlike most luxury lines, Silversea runs a real ice-class expedition fleet with Zodiac landings, expedition teams and polar programming. This is not marketing language borrowed from elsewhere: four of the twelve ships are purpose-built or converted expedition vessels.
- Not the same as Silver Explorer
- Silver Explorer left the fleet in 2023 and now sails for another operator as Exploris One. It is no longer a Silversea ship, though it still appears in older listings.
- Silversea versus the other ultra-luxury lines
- Nearest comparisons are Regent Seven Seas, whose fare includes unlimited shore excursions in every port, Seabourn, which runs smaller ships with its own expedition vessels, and Explora Journeys, a newer and more contemporary product. Silversea leads on destination breadth and expedition access.
The three Silversea fares, and why the choice matters
On 11 September 2025 Silversea replaced the previous Door-to-Door, Port-to-Port and Essential fares with three new fare types. A great deal of published information still describes the old structure, so this is the single most common source of confusion when comparing quotes.
The critical point: the onboard experience is identical across all three fares. Butler service, every dining venue, unlimited wines and spirits, Wi-Fi, the stocked minibar, 24-hour in-suite dining and gratuities come with all of them. What changes is how shore excursions are handled and how flexible the booking is.
| All-Inclusive Plus | All-Inclusive | Last-Minute | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full onboard inclusions (butler, dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Shore excursion credit on Classic voyages | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Refundable deposit | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Fare Guarantee price protection | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Flexible cancellation schedule | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Available on expedition voyages | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Eligible for World Cruises and Grand Voyages | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Payment terms | Deposit | Non-refundable deposit | Paid in full at booking |
| Booking window | Any | Any (ocean only) | Within 5 months of sailing |
Two things the table cannot show
The shore excursion credit is not a fixed number. It scales with the length and region of the voyage, and it can be spent on one significant experience or spread across several. Anything above the credit is topped up. Unused credit expires at the end of the cruise. On a long Mediterranean itinerary the credit can be worth several thousand dollars per suite, which frequently makes All-Inclusive Plus cheaper in real terms than the fare that looks cheaper on paper.
Expedition voyages work differently. All landings, Zodiac tours, expert lectures, in-country charter flights and pre- or post-cruise hotel nights required by the destination are included regardless of fare. The fare choice on an expedition sailing is about deposit terms, not about what you get.
What the fare covers on board
Silversea's onboard inclusions are among the most comprehensive at sea and they do not vary by fare or suite category:
- Butler service in every suite, from entry-level Classic Veranda to the Owner's Suite
- All dining venues, with two named exceptions below
- Unlimited wines, spirits, champagne, specialty coffees and soft drinks, excluding a short list of premium labels
- 24-hour in-suite dining from full restaurant menus
- Minibar stocked to your preferences and replenished daily
- Unlimited Wi-Fi, Starlink-equipped fleetwide since 2023
- All onboard gratuities, pre-paid
- Port charges and government fees
Two venues carry a surcharge: La Dame, the French fine-dining room with menus developed with Relais & Châteaux, and Kaiseki at dinner. Both are reservation-only. Every other restaurant on the ship is included with no cover charge and no limit on visits.
The Silversea fleet
Twelve ships in 2026: eight classic ocean vessels and four expedition vessels. The spread in size is unusual for a single brand - from 100 guests in the Galápagos to 728 on the newest Nova-class ships.
Ocean fleet
| Ship | Entered service | Guests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Ray | 2024 | 728 | Newest in the fleet. Nova class, hybrid LNG and battery power, outward-facing asymmetrical design |
| Silver Nova | 2023 | 728 | First Nova-class ship. Largest space-per-guest ratio in the fleet, eight dining venues |
| Silver Dawn | 2021 | approx. 596 | Debut ship for the Otium wellness programme |
| Silver Moon | 2021 | approx. 596 | Introduced the S.A.L.T. culinary programme |
| Silver Muse | 2017 | approx. 596 | Eight restaurants, no single main dining room |
| Silver Spirit | 2009 | approx. 608 | Lengthened and refitted; S.A.L.T. added in the 2026 refit |
| Silver Whisper | 2001 | approx. 388 | Millennium class; long-haul and Pacific deployment |
| Silver Shadow | 2000 | approx. 388 | Millennium class; intimate scale, loyal repeat following |
Expedition fleet
| Ship | Entered service | Guests | Deployed to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Endeavour | 2021 | approx. 200 | Antarctica, Arctic, Greenland. Highest polar class in the fleet |
| Silver Origin | 2021 | 100 | Galápagos exclusively, year-round, Ecuadorian naturalist guides |
| Silver Wind | 1995 | approx. 274 | Converted to ice class. Arctic, Antarctica, Kimberley |
| Silver Cloud | 1994 | approx. 254 | The original Silversea ship, converted to polar expedition |
Expedition, Antarctica and the Galápagos
Expedition is where Silversea separates itself from every other ultra-luxury line. The 2027–2028 deployment alone runs 143 expedition voyages out of 414 total, and the 2026–2027 season carries 131 expedition sailings across 400-plus destinations in more than 85 countries.
Antarctica, including the fly-cruise
Silversea operates the Antarctica Bridge programme: a roughly two-hour charter flight from Punta Arenas in Chile directly to King George Island, skipping the Drake Passage entirely in both directions. It removes about four days of sea time and the single biggest deterrent for travellers worried about rough water.
In the 2027–2028 season, 43 voyages visit Antarctica and 32 of those are fly-cruises with hotel overnights in Puerto Williams. Conventional sailings from Ushuaia continue alongside, reaching the Falklands and South Georgia.
The Galápagos
Silver Origin was purpose-built for the archipelago and carries just 100 guests with Ecuadorian naturalist guides. Since July 2025 Silversea has run charter flights between Quito and San Cristóbal, cutting the journey to about two hours and removing the Guayaquil layover, with pre- and post-cruise hotel stays and tours in Quito.
Seven-night itineraries operate year-round. All shore excursions, Zodiac landings, kayaking and snorkelling are included.
Arctic and Greenland
Svalbard, the Northwest Passage, Baffin Island and the Scoresby Sund fjord complex in eastern Greenland. Polar bears, walrus and Arctic communities, with expedition teams of historians, glaciologists, ornithologists and marine biologists.
Kimberley Coast and warm-water expeditions
North-western Australia with helicopter excursions, guided cultural experiences with Traditional Owners and wildlife viewing. Silversea has also been expanding warm-water expedition itineraries, including the Great Barrier Reef and Borneo.
Dining and the S.A.L.T. programme
S.A.L.T. - Sea And Land Taste - is Silversea's destination-driven culinary platform and its clearest point of difference at the table. It runs across S.A.L.T. Kitchen, the S.A.L.T. Lab for hands-on sessions and the S.A.L.T. Bar for regional drinks, with menus rebuilt for each region the ship sails through rather than a fixed fleet menu. From 2026 S.A.L.T. shore excursions are offered across all ocean-going ships.
In July 2026 Silversea launched its first dedicated S.A.L.T. Culinary Voyages collection, opening with seven western European sailings on Silver Dawn and Silver Spirit built around the autumn harvest in Portugal, Spain, France and the United Kingdom.
At the 2026 Wine Spectator Awards, Silversea earned 16 Awards of Excellence across La Dame and S.A.L.T. Kitchen - the most the brand has received.
Venues across the fleet
- The Restaurant - main dining room, open seating, no fixed times or tables
- La Terrazza - Italian, buffet by day and à la carte in the evening
- Atlantide - seafood and grill, on Muse-class and newer
- Indochine - pan-Asian, Muse class
- Silver Note - jazz supper club with tapas-style plates
- Spaccanapoli - Neapolitan pizza, served alfresco
- The Grill - hot-rocks cooking on deck
- S.A.L.T. Kitchen - regional menus tied to the itinerary
- La Dame and Kaiseki at dinner - the two surcharge venues
Venue count varies significantly by ship. Silver Nova and Silver Ray carry eight; the Millennium-class ships carry fewer.
Booking Silversea through StarsDesk
Virtuoso Voyages amenities
Silversea participates in the Virtuoso Voyages programme. On qualifying sailings, guests receive a complimentary benefit - typically a curated shore event, an onboard credit, a private car and driver experience or a personalised experience credit, depending on the departure.
Availability and the benefit on offer are set per sailing by Virtuoso and Silversea. We confirm exactly what your voyage carries before you deposit rather than quoting a fixed figure, because none exists.
Fare-type analysis
The gap between All-Inclusive Plus and All-Inclusive is often larger than the gap between two suite categories once the excursion credit is priced in. We model both against your actual itinerary and how many excursions you realistically want.
Suite and deck placement
- Category selection weighed against laundry entitlement, veranda size and ride quality
- Midship for stability, aft for terrace space, forward for views
- Connecting suites for families, requested early
- Waitlist placement on sold-out categories
Loyalty and status
Silversea's loyalty programme is the Venetian Society. Since June 2024, Royal Caribbean Group has run a status match across its brands, so Crown & Anchor and Captain's Club members can carry reciprocal tier status into Venetian Society. If you hold status with any RCG brand, tell us before we book.
Land arrangements
Pre- and post-cruise stays booked through our hotel preferred-partner programmes - Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Rosewood Elite, Marriott STARS and others - so those nights carry their own upgrades and credits rather than being bought at rack rate.
Solo and single travellers
Silversea offers reduced single supplements on selected voyages and categories, usually in the lower suite grades. These are not published consistently and move with inventory, so they are worth asking about on specific dates.
When to book
12–18 months out
- Full choice of category and position
- The only realistic window for World Cruises, Grand Voyages and Antarctica
- Connecting suites and multi-suite groups
6–9 months out
- Reasonable choice across most categories
- Enough runway to arrange air independently at sensible prices
Under 5 months
- Last-Minute fare becomes available on select ocean and expedition voyages
- Lowest entry price, but paid in full and non-refundable
Silversea's deployment now opens very far ahead. The 2028–2029 collection, 278 voyages across 497 destinations in 71 countries, opened for booking in July 2026. Grand Voyages and World Cruises within those collections sell heavily to returning Venetian Society members in the first weeks.
Frequently asked questions about Silversea Cruises
Are Silversea cruises all-inclusive?
The onboard experience is, on every fare: butler service in every suite, all dining venues except two, unlimited wines and spirits, 24-hour in-suite dining, unlimited Wi-Fi, minibar and all gratuities. What is not automatically included is shore excursions, which come as a credit only on the All-Inclusive Plus fare for ocean voyages, and air, hotels and transfers, which are add-ons on every fare since September 2025. Expedition voyages include all landings and excursions regardless of fare.
What are Silversea's fare types and which should I choose?
Since 11 September 2025 there are three: All-Inclusive Plus, All-Inclusive and Last-Minute. All-Inclusive Plus adds a shore excursion credit on ocean voyages, a refundable deposit and the Fare Guarantee, and is the only fare eligible for World Cruises, Grand Voyages and expedition sailings. All-Inclusive is ocean-only with a non-refundable deposit and no excursion credit. Last-Minute is available within five months of departure, paid in full and non-refundable. The onboard product is identical across all three.
Who owns Silversea Cruises?
Royal Caribbean Group. The company was founded in Monaco in 1994 by the Lefebvre family in partnership with V-Ships and remained privately held until 2018, when Royal Caribbean acquired a 66.7% stake from Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio. Royal Caribbean bought the remaining shares in July 2020. Silversea operates as a distinct brand with its own ships, management and loyalty programme, separate from Royal Caribbean International.
How many ships does Silversea have?
Twelve in 2026. Eight ocean ships - Silver Ray, Silver Nova, Silver Dawn, Silver Moon, Silver Muse, Silver Spirit, Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow - and four expedition ships: Silver Endeavour, Silver Origin, Silver Wind and Silver Cloud. Capacity ranges from 100 guests on Silver Origin in the Galápagos to 728 on the two Nova-class ships. Note that Silver Explorer left the fleet in 2023 and now sails for another operator.
Is Silversea a high-end or ultra-luxury cruise line?
Ultra-luxury, which is the tier above premium. The markers are all-suite accommodation, a crew-to-guest ratio close to one to one, butler service in every category, ships between 100 and 728 guests rather than thousands, and fares that bundle dining, drinks and gratuities. By passenger capacity in the ultra-luxury segment, Silversea is the largest operator, ahead of Regent Seven Seas and Seabourn.
Why is Silversea so expensive, and is it worth it?
The cost structure follows from the product: roughly one crew member per guest, no inside cabins to subsidise the fare, and drinks, dining and gratuities built into the price rather than sold on board. The honest comparison is not against a mass-market cruise but against a comparable land holiday with a five-star hotel, all meals, all drinks, transport between cities and daily excursions. Whether it clears that bar depends on how much you would actually spend on those things separately.
Can you wear jeans on Silversea?
Yes, within the evening standard. Silversea's dress code is elegant casual: dark, well-kept jeans with a collared shirt are acceptable in most venues. Distressed denim, shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops are not appropriate in restaurants after 6:00 pm. Longer voyages schedule optional formal evenings where cocktail attire or a dark suit is suggested. Daytime is resort casual throughout, and expedition voyages are considerably more relaxed.
What is the average age of Silversea guests?
Silversea does not publish an average age. In practice the ocean fleet skews toward experienced travellers aged 60 and above, with roughly half the guests from North America and the rest largely from the UK, Europe and Australia. Expedition voyages and the shorter Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings tend to draw a somewhat younger mix, including travellers in their forties and fifties. There is no children's programming, which shapes the demographic more than any other factor.
Does every Silversea suite have a butler, and do you tip them?
Yes to the first - butler service comes with every suite category, which is unusual even among ultra-luxury lines and is one of Silversea's genuine differentiators. On tipping, gratuities for the butler and all crew are pre-paid in the fare and no additional tipping is expected. Some guests choose to recognise exceptional service at the end of a voyage; it is entirely optional.
Does Silversea sail to Antarctica and the Galápagos?
Both, with a purpose-built expedition fleet. Antarctica is served by Silver Endeavour, Silver Cloud and Silver Wind from Ushuaia, and by the Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise programme, which flies guests from Punta Arenas directly to King George Island in about two hours and skips the Drake Passage. The Galápagos is served year-round by the 100-guest Silver Origin, with charter flights from Quito to San Cristóbal since July 2025. Landings, Zodiac tours and expedition gear are included on both.
Are Silversea cruises kid friendly?
Children are welcome but the ships are not designed for them. There are no kids' clubs, no dedicated facilities and no children's programming. Connecting suites exist in limited numbers and must be requested early. Families travelling with teenagers who are comfortable in adult company generally do well, particularly on expedition voyages where the wildlife and landings hold attention. Families needing structured childcare are better served elsewhere.
Is the Wi-Fi good enough to work from the ship?
Unlimited Wi-Fi is included on every fare and in every suite category, and the fleet has been Starlink-equipped since 2023, which changed the experience substantially. Email, browsing and messaging are reliable. Video calls and large uploads are more variable at high latitudes and mid-ocean, and higher-bandwidth premium packages are sold on board. Suites above the entry categories support more simultaneous devices per person.
Why book Silversea through StarsDesk
StarsDesk is a New York luxury travel agency and an independent affiliate of OvationNetwork, a Virtuoso member agency since 2001. Our cruise practice covers Silversea alongside Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Four Seasons Yachts and Explora Journeys - which means we can tell you when another line fits your itinerary better, and we do.
Same fare, more on it
Silversea's published pricing applies. Virtuoso Voyages amenities sit on top of it on qualifying sailings.
The fare decision, modelled
We price All-Inclusive Plus against All-Inclusive with your actual excursion plans, rather than defaulting to whichever number looks smaller.
One advisor throughout
The same person handles the quote, the deposit, the excursion strategy, the hotels either side and anything that moves en route.
Ocean or expedition, honestly
These are two different holidays sold under one brand name. We will say which one you are actually describing.
Comparing advisors first? Our breakdown of leading Silversea specialists sets out what to look for. If you are weighing Silversea against another ultra-luxury line, start with how Silversea compares with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, or browse the full luxury cruise and yacht portfolio.
Share your travel preferences below. Our team will provide bespoke voyage recommendations aboard any Silversea ship — including Silver Dawn, Silver Nova, Silver Ray, and more — and contact you with availability, exclusive amenities, and tailored options.
A dedicated Silversea voyage specialist will reach out within 24 hours to assist with your cruise planning and exclusive benefits.
StarsDesk is an independent affiliate of OvationNetwork, a Virtuoso® member agency since 2001. Silversea, S.A.L.T., Venetian Society and related marks are the property of Silversea Cruises Ltd. Fares, inclusions and amenity programmes vary by sailing and are subject to change.