I recently enjoyed a 10-night Silversea cruise from Barcelona to Rome aboard Silver Ray, Silversea’s newest ship. Upon boarding, we were warmly welcomed by many members of the crew, including the captain and several senior officers. We stayed in a Superior Veranda suite, which offered more than enough space for the two of us. The cabin was excellent, with a walk-in closet and a large bathroom. While there were many other suite categories available, I would have no hesitation staying in a Superior Veranda again.

Silver Ray has a maximum capacity of around 700 guests, and there were approximately 600 passengers on board during our sailing. It never felt crowded; if anything, it felt remarkably spacious. The ship shares the same asymmetrical design as its sister ship, Silver Nova, and makes excellent use of glass throughout the public spaces. Silver Ray is one of the most spacious ships ever built, offering an exceptional guest-to-space ratio.

We had two days at sea, both of which were formal nights. We were curious to see whether the dress code would be strictly enforced or feel overly formal, but it never felt stuffy. We wore tuxedos on the formal evenings, while some other guests chose slightly more relaxed attire, which still felt entirely appropriate. During the day, the dress code was casual beachwear, and after 6:00 p.m. the expectation was no shorts or thongs, with a more elevated evening atmosphere. We always felt comfortable in a collared shirt and smart slacks, as did most of the other male guests.

The restaurants were excellent, with very high-quality food throughout. There were several dining options, including Italian, French, sushi, and a number of cocktail bars. The food far exceeded my expectations, and there was always plenty of variety to choose from. What stood out most consistently, however, was the service. From housekeeping to senior management, every interaction was outstanding. Every crew member we met was professional, friendly, and genuinely eager to help with anything we needed.

There was also nightly entertainment onboard, which we really enjoyed. The ship had an in-house band, a casino, and a bar at the back of the ship with a DJ each evening. During the day, guests could take part in bingo, trivia, card games, and other activities designed to suit a range of interests.

We also enjoyed several shore excursions, including a tour in the south of France that took us to Avignon and the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine region. We stopped in Monte Carlo and explored the city while preparations were underway for Formula One, and we also took a tour of Pompeii in Italy. All of our excursions were arranged through Silversea, and our guides were excellent. I spoke with a few other guests who had mixed experiences on different tours, with some mentioning underwhelming guides or a lack of enthusiasm. We seem to have been very fortunate, as I genuinely couldn’t fault any of the tours we did.

All in all, Silversea was excellent. Sailing on their newest and most modern ship was a wonderful experience, and I’d be interested in trying some of their older vessels as well. If the level of service we received on Silver Ray is consistent across the fleet, I would have no hesitation in recommending Silversea, whether on one of their newer ships or an older one.