Silversea

Let’s be honest right from the start – if you’re looking at cruises from Silversea, you either don’t know much about the brand, or you have the money to treat yourself to a really special kind of vacation – that, or you like to dream.

Silversea Cruises is not a cruise line for the mainstream. It is very much a luxury cruise brand, reflected in its incredible food, beautiful ships, stellar service, and price.

But even beyond the price, there are some downsides to such a fantastic cruise line… First, though, the reasons that justify the cost.

Silversea Cruises Advantages

Here’s a list of the main ‘pros’ of Silversea, and why you should consider them for your next cruise.

1. All-Inclusive Cruising (Almost)

With Silversea, almost everything is included in your fare – more so than almost every other cruise line sailing (the only major cruise line that is similar would be Regent Seven Seas, another ultra-luxury option).

However, there are different fare options. Door-to-Door includes your flights and chauffeur transfers (more on that below), while Port-to-Port is just for the cruise element. And then the newest fare option is Essential, which removes the shore excursions for added flexibility, but only on some cruises.

When you book a cruise with Silversea, you really don’t have to pay anything extra:

• Flights – Your flights are all included in your fare, with Business-class upgrades where possible, if you choose a Door-to-Door fare
• Hotel – If your flights get you into your embarkation port a day early, or if you can’t fly out on disembarkation day, your pre- or post-cruise hotel stays are included
• Gratuities – All of your tips and gratuities are covered in your fare
• Excursions – You get at least one free shore excursion in every port you visit, unless you’ve chosen the Essential cruise fare
• Food – Your dining in the main dining room is included
• Drinks – All drinks are free onboard, including alcoholic beverages. You’ll even enjoy free Champagne!
• WiFi – Internet access is included

There are a few things you may want to pay for, but they’re always completely optional.

2. Private Transfers Included

Your luxury cruise with Silversea doesn’t begin when you get to the ship. It starts much earlier – from the second you step out of your home.

That’s because another included feature on the Door-to-Door fares is executive private transfers. You don’t need to arrange your own taxi to take you to the airport, it’ll all be done for you – in a stylish luxury car too.

It’s one less thing to worry about, and it means you can start to enjoy that VIP treatment the second that your holiday starts.

3. Stunning Service

Silversea ships are all-suite, and as part of that, it means every single room has a butler offering white-glove service. They are available round-the-clock for anything you need, whether that’s unpacking your suitcases for you, shining your shoes, or just making sure your minibar is stocked with all your favourites.

It’s not just the butlers that are a beacon of excellent service, though – every crew member that you meet is trained to the very highest standards. Everywhere you go on the ship, you’ll be greeted warmly by the most dedicated and helpful staff you could hope to meet. Nothing is ever too much trouble.

4. Gourmet-Quality Dining

Every restaurant on Silversea offers truly stunning gourmet-quality dining. The Restaurant is the main dining room, with a vibrant and ever-changing menu that will often reflect the local dishes of the destinations you visit.

But the ships have other restaurants on board too, including specialist Italian fare, Japanese and Indochine cuisines, fine French options and succulent steak and seafood fare.

No matter how adventurous (or not) your palate, you will delight in sumptuous food throughout your entire cruise.

5. Absolute Enrichment Onboard and Ashore

It’s worth reiterating that you get one included shore excursion in every port that you visit, meaning you get the chance to sample the local culture and major attractions without having to pay a penny extra.

But these are not excursions that are just thrown together. Each one is tailored to truly highlight the best features of every port, where possible.

It doesn’t mean you’ll see everything, because there’s often so much to do that it wouldn’t be possible. But you will get a fantastic insight into each destination.

This insight is only strengthened by the expert lecturers on the ship, offering extensive talks on every destination you’re sailing to. These free lectures are the perfect way to brush up on your next port of call before you visit, and broaden your horizons.

6. Smaller Ships

Silversea’s fleet of cruise ships does not include the gigantic behemoths of the more mainstream cruise lines.

Indeed, the largest ships in the fleet are Silver Nova and Silver Ray, both of which have a gross tonnage of 50,051 – that’s around a fifth of the size of the biggest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas.

And that’s absolutely by design. Smaller ships mean more intimate service from the crew and a more relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. It also means that the ships are capable of exploring ports that larger ships simply can’t get to.

And that’s before you consider the specialist Expedition ships, which are smaller again and are built for the most hard-to-reach places in the world, such as the Antarctic.

Read more: Silversea Cruise Ships Compared

7. Choice of Destinations

It’s not just about being able to reach destinations off the beaten track – Silversea also excels in sailing to destinations all over the globe.

While some other cruise lines will primarily stick to sailings in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, Silversea offers a huge amount of choice across Europe, all of North America and South America, Australia and New Zealand, Asia and both polar regions.

There are also some truly stunning Grand Voyages and World Cruises, if you’re lucky enough to have time to see more of the world in one holiday.

Silversea Cruises Disadvantages

Now let’s look at some of the ‘cons’ of Silversea that may put you off.

1. High Cruise Fares

You knew this was coming.

Understandably, when you’re sailing with an ultra-luxury cruise line that is almost all-inclusive, the cruise fares for Silversea are pretty high in comparison to other cruise lines.

Whereas a 9-night cruise around Europe with Royal Caribbean will likely start at around £1,300 ($1,500) per person, expect Silversea Cruises prices per person to start at around £6,000 ($6,900).

Of course, that Royal Caribbean fare won’t include the same features as the Silversea one, and that is for the lowest price stateroom in each – which with Silversea will be a suite. A Royal Caribbean suite would of course be much more expensive than £1,300 per person.

It comes down to your own personal budget, but for many people, the high Silversea prices are not unjustifiable – they are actually great ‘value’ for the quality of service you get, and for everything that is included.

2. Some Restaurants Aren’t Included

Unfortunately, not everything is included in your Silversea cruise, despite the marketing which describes them as being ‘all-inclusive’.

One of the main things you’ll need to pay extra for is dining in some of the speciality restaurants, which can cost around $60 per person.

That’s not extremely expensive for a gourmet-quality meal, but you might just prefer to stick to the main dining room, since it’s included in your fare and the food is still exceptional. It’s your choice again, but if you do want more variety and more specialist cuisines then be prepared to pay extra.

3. Not Well Suited to Families

Is this really a disadvantage? It depends on your own travelling party. But Silversea cruises are not really suited to families. They are not ‘adults-only’ but they don’t have any features on the ships really tailored to younger guests.

This might be something you see as an actual benefit, if you want a quieter cruise. There’s a very low chance that there will be any children or teenagers on board your cruise. But if you do have a family, be prepared for the fact that your kids may not enjoy the time spent at sea.

If you want a cruise that’s more upmarket but is accommodating to children too, consider premium cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises instead. Or a family-friendly cruise line such as MSC, with a premium area like the Yacht Club.

Suggested read: The Best Cruise Lines For Families

Is Silversea Worth It?

Whether Silversea is worth it depends on the type of cruise you want to experience, your budget, and how much you appreciate exemplary service.

It’s a stunning cruise line, making every guest feel like they really are a VIP, so if you like the idea of butler service, fine dining and expert guides to your destinations, it’s safe to say that Silversea is absolutely worth your money.

But if you need a little more convincing, there are plenty of Silversea reviews out there from past guests, which can tell you a lot about the typical experience onboard.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Silversea is one of the world’s most luxurious cruise lines. The standards of service on a Silversea ship are arguably unrivalled, with every guest feeling like they’re a truly special VIP from the moment they step on board.

So it may surprise you when you find out who owns the cruise line – although when you look at it from a perspective of success, it’s actually no surprise at all. 

Silversea is part of one of the biggest and most successful ocean cruise companies in existence – let’s take a look at the line’s current ownership and history.

Silversea Was Acquired By The Royal Caribbean Group

Silversea Cruises is owned by the Royal Caribbean Group, and has been since July 2020. It was the most recent cruise line to be acquired by the group, which already owned various cruise lines including its flagship Royal Caribbean International brand.

While the brand ‘Silversea Cruises’ is owned by the Royal Caribbean Group company, you could argue that the cruise line is owned by various different investment groups, since it is publicly traded. 

Capital Research & Management is the largest shareholder in the Royal Caribbean Group, owning over 16% across multiple subsidiaries.

The Royal Caribbean group owns three cruise lines outright – as well as Silversea, it owns Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean. The company retains a 50% share in TUI Cruises, having sold half of the cruise line. And it currently owns two defunct cruise brands – Pullmanter and CDF.

The group did previously own Azamara as well, but sold that cruise line to Sycamore Partners in 2021.

In terms of net worth, the group is one of the most valuable in travel. As of November 2023, the net worth of the Royal Caribbean Group was $21.85 billion – around $7 billion more than Carnival.

The CEO Of Silversea Cruises

Roberto Martinoli is the President and CEO of Silversea Cruises. He has been with the company since 2016 and oversaw the cruise line’s acquisition by the Royal Caribbean Group. Originally from Italy, he has also studied in the US before embarking on a career in cruise.

Prior to his role at Silversea, Martinoli held senior positions with Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa Crociere.

Silversea was founded in Monaco as a joint venture between the Vlasov Group of Monaco and the Lefebvre family in Italy. The cruise line still has its headquarters in Monaco.

The cruise line’s parent company, the Royal Caribbean group, does have its headquarters in the US but it is registered in Liberia.

Silversea Cruises History

Silversea Cruises was founded in 1994 by two groups – the Lefebvre Family of Rome and the Vlasov Group of Monaco. The two had worked together previously as the owners of Sitmar Cruises. They were based in Monaco but did add a US sales office.

They were the first cruise line to run with a marketing strategy around all-inclusive cruises, giving guests a fare that included drinks, tips, shore excursions and more.

Growth In The Fleet

Silversea was founded with one ship, the Silver Cloud, but this was quickly followed by the Silver Wind in 1995. It was then another five years before two more ships joined the fleet, the Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper.

The fleet has expanded slowly since. The next ship to join was Silver Spirit in 2009, before the company purchased Canodros S.A., a tourism company based in Ecuador. This led to the formation of Silversea Expeditions, and the launch of Silver Explorer and Silver Galapagos. Silver Discoverer became the third Expeditions ship in 2014.

Since then, the Silver Muse, Silver Moon and Silver Dawn have launched. The newest Silversea ship, Silver Nova, set sail in July 2023.

Read more: List of Silversea Cruise Ships

Acquisition By Royal Caribbean

In 2018, Royal Caribbean made an offer to purchase two-thirds of Silversea for a cost of $1 billion. At the time, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, the son of co-founder Antonio, was the sole owner. The deal was agreed upon, and Silversea ordered three new ships.

Then in 2020, the Royal Caribbean Group bought the rest of the shares and took the cruise line into full ownership in the group.

In 2022, Silversea bought the Crystal Endeavor ship from the now-defunct cruise line Crystal Cruises. The ship cost $275 million and has been renamed Silver Endeavor.

What To Know Before Buying Shares

Silversea Cruises does not have its own stock, but you are able to buy shares in the parent company Royal Caribbean Group (listed as RCL on the New York Stock Exchange). This is one of the highest-price cruise line stocks you could buy.

Interestingly, there are currently no benefits to owning stock if you were to then sail on a Silversea cruise. Usually, when you’re a shareholder in a cruise company, you are entitled to an onboard credit allowance on every sailing you book.

And indeed, that same offer applies to Royal Caribbean Group shareholders when they sail with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises. If you own 100 shares in the group, you can enjoy up to $250 to spend on-board on every Royal or Celebrity cruise that you take.

But despite being a part of the same corporation, that benefit has not yet been extended to Silversea sailings. When questioned, the Chief Commercial Officer of the cruise line confirmed that they are looking into ways to partner with their sister cruise brands more and that one of those could be in the shareholder benefits offered.

Bear that in mind if you were hoping to buy shares in the Royal Caribbean Group in order to earn free onboard spend on your Silversea cruises – as it stands, you won’t be entitled to it. Though it is potentially a nice perk just to say you’re part of the Silversea ownership, one of the world’s most luxurious cruise lines.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Shareholder Benefits Explained

How To Buy Shares

If you want to buy shares in Silversea Cruises, you’ll instead need to purchase Royal Caribbean Group (RCL) stock. You can’t buy shares in the individual cruise line, only the parent company. Use a stockbroker – either in person or online – to make your purchase.

It’s up to you whether you work with a stockbroker in person, or you just log onto a platform on your laptop or smartphone to buy the shares yourself. Stockbrokers charge higher fees but can offer financial advice, whereas you take the risk on entirely yourself if you just use an online platform.

I can’t advise you which is the best, but I personally chose to buy my RCL shares through an online investing platform called etoro. I chose this one because it is one of the most popular platforms with 20 million registered users and has great reviews and low fees.

I’ve been very happy with my share-buying experience and found it really easy to do.

(eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.)

Read more: Should you invest in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd?

To Conclude

Silversea Cruises isn’t just one of the most luxurious cruise lines in the world, but it’s part of arguably one of the two biggest cruise companies in existence too. The Royal Caribbean Group may now only hold three brands, but they are some of the very best names in mainstream, premium and luxury cruising.

If you want, you can invest your own money to become a part-owner if you buy stocks. Just remember that trading stocks and shares is a risk, and you could lose all your money if things worked out really badly.

And while at the moment you wouldn’t get any benefits on a Silversea cruise as a shareholder, you would if you decided to try a Royal Caribbean or Celebrity cruise instead.

Related Posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me