I sailed on Silversea's new ultra-luxury cruise ship and was blown away by all the perks you get for $650 a day

Brittany ChangJul 2, 2024, 22:54 IST

See all the amenities cruisers get on ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea's new 728-guest Silver Ray ship, from caviar room service to glass elevators with sweeping views of the ocean. Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Silversea invited me on a complimentary five-night cruise on its new 728-guest ship, Silver Ray.
The ship's cheapest 2024 itinerary is a seven-day cruise for $4,550 per person.

Silver Ray is not where you go to watch travelers in their mid-20s drink cheap margaritas.

No. Silversea's new 728-guest ship is the cruise to go on when you want to be surrounded by 60-some-year-olds who enjoy Champagne, quiet vacations, and $180, 11-course dinners.

In mid-June, the ultra-luxury cruise line's latest and 12th vessel, Silver Ray, set sail on its maiden voyage. At 801 feet long and 54,700 gross tons, it's markedly larger than Silversea's previous ships. And with it, an equally large price tag, starting at $4,550 for a weeklong cruise in 2024.

A vacation that costs $650 per day might sound outrageous, but wait until you see the ship's amenities.

The ship has a modern, high-end feel without being garish and over-the-top.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

No need to fear dingy interior staterooms. Every cabin on Silver Ray has a balcony.

The largest Otium Suite has a library, dining table, bar, living room, walk-in closet, bedroom, bathroom, and private outdoor lounge.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Most cruise lines offer butlers to guests who've booked the most expensive suites.

Guests can order complimentary room service caviar.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

No need to stay in your cabin to indulge in fine cuisine.

Kaiseki is only complimentary for lunch.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

It's not the only place that serves up lunchtime sashimi.

The buffet has an al fresco dining area.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

In the evening, the dining room transforms into the Italian restaurant La Terraza, serving options like whipped mortadella with pecorino chips.

The restaurants all come with complimentary bread. Pictured is the bread selection from La Terraza.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Like the buffet, Silver Ray’s alfresco dining room also wears several hats.

The 220-seat restaurant, designed to resemble a town square, has three menus. For lunch, diners can get dishes like poke and pizza.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Guests in the mood for a more upscale dining experience can pay for La Dame and S.A.L.T. Chef's Table instead.

S.A.L.T. Chef's Table includes a cocktail, wine pairing, and dessert.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

During the day, Chef's Table is home to Silver Ray's complimentary cooking class, S.A.L.T. Lab.

Guests must pre-reserve a station for S.A.L.T. Lab.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

There's also SALT Kitchen, a more approachable and complimentary answer to SALT Chef's Table.

In Lisbon, dishes at 160-seat S.A.L.T. Kitchen included grilled sardines served with a grilled lemon wedge and a small salad.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

It's one of eight bars and lounges on the ship, which include a Champagne-focused one and another for whiskey and cigar enthusiasts.

Dolce Vita has "free-spirited" cocktails like the Pink Lady, prepared with Lyre's London Dry Spirit and Orange Sec, lemon, egg white, and grenadine.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

The bars are a great antecedent to the entertainment at the two-floor, 370-seat Venetian Lounge theatre.

Some of the shows reflect the destination's culture, like a flamenco showcase while Silver Ray was in Cadiz, Spain.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

All of the lounges have non-alcoholic cocktails.

The Arts Café had small bites for a do-it-yourself afternoon tea.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

The observation lounge also has a brew-it-yourself coffee and tea station.

The library is hidden inside the observation lounge.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

You might need that caffeinated pick-me-up after a few hours at the spa.

The sauna and steam room are separated into a women's and men's area. Both sides meet at the gender-neutral thermal pool.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Like any traditional cruise, the largest pool is on an open-air deck.

The ship has a thin sun deck perched above the pool for guests who want to lounge near, but not next to, the swimmers.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

Cruise classics like a casino and shopping also appear on Silver Ray.

Silver Ray's stores sell high-end clothes, perfume, and jewelry.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

But that's assuming you haven't already blown past your vacation budget just by booking the new vessel.

Silver Ray is Silversea's second Nova Class ship. Its predecessor, Silver Nova, debuted in 2023.Brittany Chang/Business Insider

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