CRUISE GPS

8 Reasons to Sail to
Alaska on Silver Nova

Editor at Large Ignacio Maza shares why visiting Alaska with Silversea is top choice.

This past summer, I boarded Silversea’s new Silver Nova for a seven-night voyage from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seward, Alaska. While there are more than 50 different ships that sail to Alaska, here’s why Silver Nova stands out.

My first impression: There’s light everywhere. Why? Silver Nova’s asymmetrical design. Because of its unique deck layouts, the public spaces are larger, the ceilings are higher, and the expansive windows bring the destination and ocean views within. The smokestack is on one side of the ship, rather than centered, and the swimming pool, public spaces, jacuzzi, elevators, and restaurants all face outward.

Silver Nova is an all-suite, all-veranda ship. The starting category is the Classic Veranda, offering a generous 350-square-foot layout (with a sofa bed for a third guest). I loved the bathrooms with two sinks and plenty of closet and drawer space. If you want even more space, Silver Nova features 12 other categories, including suites facing the back of the ship all the way up to the Otivm suite, with 1,300 square feet of space and a large terrace. All suites come with a dedicated butler, which is a welcome touch.

There are nine venues on the ship, including Kaiseki (Japanese), Silver Note (Silversea’s jazz supper club), La Dame (gourmet dining), La Terrazza (Italian), Chef’s Table, S.A.L.T. Kitchen (destination-focused menus), Marquee/Grill/Spaccanapoli (rooftop casual grill and pizzas), Atlantide (all-day dining), and room service. Food and wine enthusiasts should consider the cooking classes at the S.A.L.T. Lab test kitchen. There are also nine bars throughout the ship, from casual to elegant, indoor to alfresco.

Silversea’s itineraries provide a wide range of activities ashore, which allow you to have richer, deeper experiences in Alaska. There are shore excursions included with every port, plus additional activities offered at a fair price (compared to what you would pay shoreside). A number of private luxury experiences can also be booked ahead of time at an additional cost. When the ship called at Juneau, for instance, there were 30-plus activities to consider (from easy to challenging), such as hiking, kayaking, biking, glacier trekking, helicopter sightseeing, fishing, whale watching, cultural experiences, and more. Silversea also offers pre/post packages for guests who want to extend their journey in either British Columbia or Alaska—including Denali National Park.

With Silver Nova, you get the best of both worlds: all the facilities of larger ships, yet on a small luxury vessel. Silver Nova has an expansive and popular spa, Otivm, as well as shops, a fitness center, casino, library, test kitchen, and observation lounge. There is plenty of entertainment throughout the day and night, from destination lectures to bingo, jazz and blues to classical music, shows to trivia to late-night disco. Traveling solo? Silversea hosts a special nightly gathering in the Panorama Lounge, which is a wonderful way to meet other guests traveling by themselves.

Silversea is an all-inclusive luxury cruise brand. Your fare includes drinks, tipping, butler service, many excursions, entertainment, dining at most restaurants (some, like Kaiseki, have a surcharge), and more. Silversea features two main pricing formulas on Alaska itineraries: Door to Door, which, as the name suggests, includes the cruise, airport transfers, airfare, in-destination transfers, and included shore excursions; and Port to Port, which includes the cruise and featured excursions in your destinations.

With a staff to guest ratio of nearly 1:1, you’ll experience a higher level of service as soon as you board Silver Nova. Everyone—from the captain to the suite steward—makes certain that each guest is well looked after. Long after you return home, it is the warmth of the Silversea staff that you will remember.

Silversea’s cruises are simply phenomenal.