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Silver Dawn is the third ship in Silversea Cruises' Muse Class, but the 596-passenger ship differs slightly from its siblings Silver Muse and Silver Moon, not necessarily in the ship itself, but in what's provided onboard. After having success revamping its culinary offerings through the S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program on Silver Moon, Silversea turned its attention to the spa, with not only a new space for wellness but a bunch of luxurious touches that you can do in your room, making your downtime even more relaxing. Entertainment, too, on Silver Dawn seemed edgier than previous Silversea sailings, with a cruise director who wasn't afraid to poke fun at herself and entertainers who were seen about the ship more than usual (including leading dance parties at 10 p.m.). Silversea CEO Roberto Martinoli has said the line is looking to up its entertainment game next, taking cues from sister cruise line Celebrity Cruises. We saw a preview during the ship's christening, which juxtaposed balletic dance with high-tech optics and music -- if this is where Silversea is going, they are on the right track. Overall, the atmosphere on Silver Dawn felt less formal and, dare we say, more enjoyable than we've witnessed on other Silversea cruises. All the trappings of luxury cruising -- massive arrangements of fresh flowers, free-flowing Champagne, caviar on demand, in-suite butler service -- are still there. Dining still feels like an occasion, and people still dress up more than you see on most cruise lines. (For those fashion-starved by the pandemic, the people-watching is a treat with luxury brand names the rule and not the exception.) Silversea regulars will not be disappointed with Silver Dawn. But there's a freshness onboard Silver Dawn that we think will appeal to people who might not have tried a luxury cruise before.
Silver Dawn incorporates the Line's first Otium Spa. The deck plan for Silver Dawn groups most of the restaurants, theatre, spa and activities at the back of the ship, with the suites predominantly in the front. This ensures that most of the rooms will be blissfully quiet but also means it might take you a while to figure out exactly what floor has the restaurant you want to go to. The biggest changes have occurred in the new Otium spa, which is unlike any wellness areas in the rest of the fleet. Inspired by the Roman concept of baths and wellness, the Otium spa now has a new relaxation area, with adjoining thermal saunas and steam rooms. Designed to be an area for people to linger, either before or after their treatments or during certain open hours, this relaxation area offers alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, complimentary scrubs and decadent treats for noshing. What you won't find: the for-fee thalassotherapy pool that appears on the other two Muse-class ships. While we missed having a water element in the thermal suite, we did appreciate the clever Otium extras -- and also the expanded space for the fitness center.
Silver Dawn and Silversea overall exude luxury, from the cashmere blanket on your balcony to the quietly replenished minibar and the foie gras burger that now appears on the Otium room service menu. We would argue, however, that Silversea's continuing desire to innovate, improve and delight is perhaps the hallmark of the "new luxury." Now excuse us. We have some Champagne to consume.
The Venetian Lounge serves as Silver Dawn's main theatre. It's a reasonable size, and we love that many rows had tables where you could put your beverage. The cruise director on our trip, Vicki Van Tassel, was a breath of fresh air, with a humorous and sarcastic edge that we've never seen on Silversea before. Don't miss her cabaret show, held once per cruise. The Voices of Silversea singing and dancing troupe were enthusiastic and energetic, putting on a show almost every night. They would then move to the Panorama Lounge to get the crowd going with dancing. During the Silver Dawn christening, guests were treated to some balletic dancing set to high-tech 3D technology that was somewhat otherworldly (and certainly like nothing we've seen on luxury cruise ships before). Roberto Martinoli has said that Silversea will tackle entertainment next, taking some cues from sister line Celebrity. If what we saw at the christening is pointing toward the way forward, then expect Silver Dawn entertainment to level up.
As a luxury ship, Silver Dawn keeps the daily schedule somewhat light. Trivia games on Silversea can be quite competitive with teams that meet early in the voyage and stick together for the sailing. The S.A.L.T. program has two onboard components that add excellent enrichment to the daily mix. Cooking classes in the S.A.L.T. Lab are complimentary and reflect the area where you're sailing. S.A.L.T. lectures take advantage of guest speakers onboard. On our Portuguese sailing, a well-known food journalist from Lisbon talked us through some of Portugal's main food trends, which we found helpful when we dined at the S.A.L.T. Kitchen later in the trip. Tip: Make reservations for S.A.L.T. cooking classes early, as space is limited and they fill up. Also don't worry if you aren't Julia Child. The lift is very easy, consisting primarily of stirring and a bit of chopping.
Off the ship, the S.A.L.T. excursions change from port to port. They can come with a hefty price tag, but they definitely give you something different from the norm and bring you places that you would never find on your own. In Portimao, on Portugal's Algarve coast, our S.A.L.T. excursion to a canning museum seemed pretty dull. But then, our guide took us to Maria do Mar, a small shop/cafe specializing in 300 types of tinned fish, an essential part of the Portuguese diet. Tray after tray of sardines, tuna and anchovies came to our table, accompanied by local rose wine. At one point, the proprietor brought out a small blowtorch to char already cooked octopus. The convivial afternoon ended with shots of a local liqueur. We toddled back to the ship happy; I definitely felt that I learned something. Likewise, our S.A.L.T. excursion in Lisbon took us to a small cafe located well away from the tourist areas. We dined on a variety of traditional dishes, including bone marrow, that looked positively prehistoric. While we didn't love every dish, again, we loved the camaraderie that came with a shared experience and plenty of local wine. Note: If you have dietary restrictions, be sure to let the ship know before you book a S.A.L.T. excursion so you can find out more about the venue you're going. While the organizers of the S.A.L.T. program told us that they can accommodate allergies and restrictions, the places where our excursion took us were very small establishments, with only one cooking galley.
Evenings on Silver Dawn generally consist of cocktails, a nice dinner and a show, with the latter taking place at 10 p.m.; this is a ship and line that generally moves on European time. There is a small casino onboard, open when the ship is sailing in the evening.
Drinks are included and free-flowing on Silver Dawn, including the craft cocktails at the S.A.L.T. Bar. You can also get a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, and specialty coffees are available at both the Arts Café and in Dolce Vita. There's also a self-serve coffee machine in the underused Observation Lounge on Deck 11.
For the Cocktail Lovers: The small and atmospheric S.A.L.T. Bar on Deck 4 has an impressive menu of locally designed and sourced cocktails that change depending on port and itinerary.
For Friendly Conversation: The Dolce Vita lounge on Deck 5 is the social heart of the ship, and it's the perfect place for afternoon trivia, a pre-dinner drink or a morning cappuccino.
For Afternoon Reading: The Observation Lounge tucked up on Deck 11 has lovely forward views and few people.
For Jazz Lovers: You don't have to eat at Silver Note to enjoy the live music that takes place there every night; there are a handful of seats at the bar.
For Cigar Lovers: The small Connoisseur's Corner on Deck 9 has an indoor and outdoor area for smoking, plus it's just a few steps away from the late-night Panorama Lounge.
For the Dancing Queens: The Panorama Lounge on Deck 9 attracts the late-night crowd, for DJ spins (don't worry, it's all songs that an older demographic will know) and outdoor chats, thanks to comfy outside seating and heat lamps.
The main pool on Silver Dawn is an attractive space, with comfy cushioned loungers. The line added more steps into the pool to make it easier for people to access. There are two whirlpools near the main pool and another tucked at the very back of the ship on Deck 10.
Silver Dawn has plenty of deck loungers surrounding the pool on Deck 10 and also above on Deck 11. There is also a separate seating area near the funnel on Deck 11 that proved to be popular on sunny days.
Silver Dawn has a reception area and a shore excursion desk within the Dolce Vita Lounge on Deck 5. In theory, however, you'd never have to come down here as your butler is available to take your requests and solve issues for you. The Boutique on Silver Dawn is slightly different than what you find on other Silversea ships. The line has branched out into more high-end luxury goods, with pre-owned Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Hermes bags for sale. (There was even a Birkin onboard, for the cool price of $19,000.). If the bags are too rich a souvenir, there are also super cute Hermes shoes that have been fast sellers, we were told. Wi-Fi on Silver Dawn is included in the fare. We found it easy to log on, with few gaps in coverage. With the premium package, we were able to log into work Zoom meetings. The Silversea app was a little more difficult to access. We ended up more frequently referring to our paper program, which was delivered to our room every night.
Silver Dawn's Otium spa is different from what you find on sister ship Silver Moon, as the ship is the proving ground for the line's new wellness concept. The new Thermal Relaxation room is spacious and carries through the Otium spa's Roman theme. What is nice about Silver Dawn's Thermal Suite is that it's complimentary to all guests during certain hours. There are two sets of steam rooms and sauna, separated by gender, with showers available for both. Tip: Look at the murals on the walls to know which one is for you -- the male god signifies men, while the goddess side is for women. There is no thalassotherapy pool, unfortunately.
On the bright side, the Thermal Suite has an array of scrubs and loofahs that you can choose when you enter. Also new and key to the Otium concept: a selection of snacks, cocktails, mocktails and Champagne to enjoy while you relax. Tip: Imbibe carefully before you enter the steam room and sauna, as alcohol and heat are not always friends. The Otium spa menu has also been redesigned with an eye toward more 75- and 100-minute treatments. The four 100-minute treatments are decadent in their description, and the one I tried, the signature Otium, was a cross between a hot stone massage and a regular deep tissue. There were some issues with soundproofing in the treatment rooms -- I could hear a presentation going on in the theatre below. The Otium spa also has a salon and barber shop, with more new Roman-themed treatments and Champagne also available.
Silver Dawn's gym and fitness centre is larger than what you find on the sister ships. There are free weights and machines, as well as a nice array of cardio equipment. The room also has a nice view out of the back of the ship, with towels and bottled water available. Silver Dawn has an outdoor jogging track on Deck 11; eight around the funnel, upper deck and pool area is one mile.
Silver Dawn has eight restaurants onboard, plus full room service menus that you can access any time you want a snack. High-end ingredients and dishes are the norm, not the exception -- although you can still get a hot dog or hamburger at the Grill or by room service (where there's a foie gras option, to give you a benchmark). Dining is an event on this ship, particularly at dinner. People still dress up on Silversea and what's described as "informal" is still the upper end of resort wear. No jeans are allowed in any restaurant after 6 p.m. and there is no buffet where you can retreat if you don't want to dress up. The casual option for dinner on board is Hot Rocks, where you grill your own food. The Arts Cafe and the Spaccanapoli outdoor pizzeria are also open for lighter options until 11 p.m.
New on Silver Dawn is the Otium comfort food room service menu, which is anything but down market. You can also order anything from Atlantide in your suite, which will be served course-by-course. Drinks are included in your Silversea fare, and a selection of wines is presented every evening at dinner. If you don't like the varietal that's featured that night, just tell the sommelier and they'll bring you a different one. A menu of premium wines is also available for sale.
Atlantide (Deck 4): Open for all three meals, this elegant restaurant serves as Silver Dawn's main dining room. The menu is extensive and upscale, with an array of options for starters, salads and soups, entrees and desserts. Multiple vegetarian entrees are available; for all other diets, allergies and gluten issues are noted in your profile, and the waiter will reconfirm with you before you order. Caviar is a particular favourite with Silversea regulars, and the Oscietra appetizer comes with blinis and all the traditional condiments (you can also order caviar on demand in your room 24/7, a Silversea hallmark). The menu has very few disappointments, and the presentations are inventive and sometimes unexpected. Tip: Even if you're a chocoholic, step out of your comfort zone and try one of the changing fruit-based desserts. They are among the best we've had at sea; the lemon meringue tart was both delicious and Instagrammable.
La Terrazza (Deck 7): This expansive space does double duty for dining. For breakfast and lunch, it serves as the ship's buffet, with loads of stations and choices. Favorites for us include the daily sushi and sashimi, the pasta/noodle station and the array of desserts that are so nicely portioned controlled, you don't feel bad indulging. You can sit indoors or outdoors for al fresco dining. At night, La Terrazza turns into an incredible high-end Italian restaurant. You could just get a burrata salad and pasta if you want, and you'd be fine. But we recommend coming hungry, as you're going to want to eat as many courses as you can. All pastas can be ordered as full or half portions. It's worth noting that the service in this restaurant was the best we had on the ship, with a waiter who worked overtime to make sure a person in our party with a nut allergy could avoid having issues and brought special treats to the table throughout.
S.A.L.T. Kitchen (Deck 4): Perhaps one of the most ambitious restaurants at sea, S.A.L.T. Kitchen offers an experience that would be classified as a specialty restaurant on almost any other cruise line. The S.A.L.T. Kitchen concept is to be as local as possible, and to that end, the menu at the restaurant changes almost daily, depending on the port. During our Portugal cruise, the menu highlighted the country as well as other dishes from the larger Iberian Peninsula. The specific Terrain menu went deep into Porto, where we had stopped that day, while the larger Voyages menu was broader, with other Portuguese ports, as well as Spain represented. The wines served were from Portugal. We loved having such a specific culinary lens into the destination onboard. For adventurous eaters, S.A.L.T. is unlike anything you'd find on any other cruise line. I'm still dreaming of the serradura, a Portuguese caramel creme that, the menu taught me, is also popular in the former colonies of Macau and Goa. Tip: You can scope out the menus at S.A.L.T. Kitchen from your TV to figure out what port you'd enjoy the most.
Silver Note (Deck 7): Romantic and quirky at the same time, Silver Note serves as both a restaurant and a jazz club. Small plates are the focus here, although they are not meant for sharing; each of you orders several of your own. Expect both raw and cooked options and interesting presentations.
The Grill/Hot Rocks (Deck 10): Silver Dawn's pool grill has sandwiches, burgers and fries, appetizers such as hummus platters and salads. The sweet potato fries are excellent. At night, the Grill turns into Hot Rocks, a Silversea favorite where patrons grill their own food over lava stones. It's not our cup of tea -- we like professional chefs for a reason, plus we're wary of hot oil -- but people do love its more casual nature and al fresco vibe.
Spaccanapoli (Deck 11): If you're looking for authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, this outdoor eatery is your spot. The crust is perfectly crackly and there are a variety of options -- or you can build your own. Tip: If it's chilly or windy, ask the waiters to bring you an outdoor shawl. There are also heat lamps. Another tip: Save room for the housemade gelato.
Arts Cafe (Deck 8): This sunny coffee shop is the perfect place to start your morning with a latte, a mini fruit smoothie and -- in our case -- the perfect cronut. You can also get wraps and light bites here all day long, as well as pastries and cookies (including a selection of gluten-free).
Room Service: Room service is not an afterthought on Silver Dawn, as Silversea recognizes that not everyone wants to go out to dinner every night on a longer cruise. You can put out the hanger in the evening for a complete breakfast in your cabin; have a pizza delivered to you any time of day or set up your own romantic course-by-course dinner for two. New for Silversea is the Otium comfort food menu. These bites are particularly decadent and range from truffled popcorn to a lobster and crab roll. Our only sadness is that the Otium items are only available during the dinner hour, as we really wanted that foie gras burger for lunch one day.
Kaiseki (Deck 4): Silversea's Japanese restaurant is another that does double duty. At lunch, it's a complimentary sushi bar. And at dinner, it turns into a high-end restaurant, with an omakase menu that has more cooked than raw items -- think kushiyaki and yakitori skewers and tempura and cooked main courses such as Maine lobster and Wagyu beef surf and turf and miso-glazed black cod.
La Dame (Deck 8): If you're looking for a special occasion meal on a special occasion ship, La Dame is your venue. High-end French is the order of the day, and you'll definitely want to make your reservation as soon as you board, as seats go fast. (On Silver Dawn, La Dame is slightly larger than on other ships, just to keep up with demand.) Come hungry and know your tolerance for rich food, as La Dame has them all -- foie gras, escargot, caviar, beef, lobster, Chilean sea bass and a work-of-art souffle and cheese plate at the end.
You'd be hard-pressed to find better entry-level cabins on a luxury cruise than on Silver Dawn. Silversea calls all of its 298 rooms "suites," but not all have a true two-room layout. Still, all rooms have at least a heavy curtain that you can pull out to divide your living space from your sleeping space. At 334 square feet, even the entry-level rooms are comparable in size to the average U.S. hotel room and the vast majority of the cabins onboard have a private balcony. All cabins have basic Wi-Fi included in the fare, but suites have faster streaming service. A big bonus is that all cabins also have butler service -- you might think you don't need this personalised service, but once you have it, you'll love it!
All cabins on Silver Dawn have two twin beds that can be combined into a queen, with luxurious bedding and a new Otium pillow menu. Bedside tables have USB ports and outlets for both US and international electronics. You'll also find a sitting space with a sofa, two armchairs and a table, as well as a flat-screen TV. The TV not only has the usual shows and on-demand movies, but it can serve as your control centre, with messages, reservations, menus and daily schedule. You can make restaurant reservations from your TV, from your in-cabin phone direct or ask your butler to make them. A nice touch is that even the entry-level rooms have a walk-in closet, with a safe, slippers and a bathrobe. All suites also have a fully stocked minibar that is replenished daily by your butler -- if you want something specific, just ask! There are a handful of oceanview cabins on Silver Dawn, mostly located on Deck 4. All are either wheelchair-accessible or adjacent to a wheelchair-accessible room. There are a few cabins known as the Panorama Suites that also lack a balcony; these are on Deck 9 and are often booked in conjunction with adjacent veranda cabins for families who want more space. There are no interior cabins on Silver Dawn. There are three types of veranda cabins on Silver Dawn: classic, superior and deluxe. The main differences here are the rooms' location on the ship, as all are 387 square feet. The classic verandas are on the lower levels, while the deluxe have prime midship locations. The balconies are teak and have room for two chairs and a table.
Moving up into the suites on Silver Dawn is mostly about the sheer amount of space you get, as opposed to perks. The Silver Suites are the most plentiful and popular upper suite, and after staying in one, we understand why. The Silver Suites are nearly double the size of the veranda cabins, at 786 square feet that includes a balcony big enough for lounge chairs and a full-sized table. There's a full-sized dining table indoors, too, which makes in-room dining even more enticing. Other extra amenities for the Silver Suites include an in-room espresso maker, a desk with stationary in the living area and a vanity table in the bedroom and two flat-screen TVs, one in each room. These cabins can be considered true suites, as solid pocket doors can be closed to keep the bedroom separate from the living area. At this level, you will also receive complimentary laundry and pressing, as well as daily canapes. (This last perk didn't happen on our cruise, alas.)
There are only two Royal Suites onboard, and one of the best features with these 1,130-square-foot cabins is that you can combine them with an adjacent oceanview suite to make a nice compound for your family. An extra perk here is an included dinner at La Dame. All suites at this level and higher have a dining table that seats six. The Grand Suite is not only the largest cabin on board, at 1,572 square feet, but it also has a prime position at the front of a ship, with a spectacular wraparound balcony. These cabins can also be combined with a smaller oceanview to make room for families, and with all that room on your balcony, you'll have more than enough outdoor space. (Keep in mind, however, that balconies at the front of ships can get quite windy.)
The Owners Suite is smaller than the Grand Suite, at 1,055 feet, but in our opinion, it has a better layout. In these true suites, the bedroom has its own veranda access, which is strangely lacking in the Grand Suites. These Owners Suites are also great for those prone to seasickness, with a prime midship location.
Your bathroom is meant to be a sanctuary on Silver Dawn, and the posh marble space definitely delivers. All rooms except those designed as accessible have deep bathtubs as well as large showers with glass doors. Bath products are from Bulgari, although you can ask for alternate high-end products if you wish; Bulgari feels great but can be rather fragrant. One of the nicest Otium touches is the bath experience drawn for you by your butler -- we highly recommend it, especially after a busy port day! The bathtubs are deep, but there are strategically placed grab bars to help you get in and out. The balcony cabins and below have a single sink. Once you get into Silver Suite territory, your bathroom expands in spaciousness. These suites have a double sink vanity, giving you plenty of counter space. The toilet is also separated into its own room that you can access via the hallway as well as the bathroom. This can be convenient as long as you make sure to lock the doors on both sides.
It's hard to really pinpoint a room on Silver Dawn that isn't up to snuff. Silver Dawn is built so there are no public areas or restaurants directly above living quarters. You won't get claustrophobic in an oceanview room but you will miss on the new Otium balcony experience if you don't have one. Typically, rooms that are in the middle of the ship are considered more desirable, as you feel less of the ship's movement.
Budget: We'd be hard-pressed to recommend that people book the few oceanview rooms, although they are less expensive (an exception: if you have a wheelchair and want easy access to the elevators). A Classic Veranda gives you a bit more space and your own slice of the outdoors.
Splurge: Go with the Silver Suites. The jump in real estate is noticeable, and your trip will automatically feel more special, particularly if you're on one of Silverseas' longer sailings.
Family: We love how Silver Dawn has strategically placed its oceanview cabins next to larger suites to make essentially two-room enclaves for families. This combo is definitely more convenient than two adjoining balcony cabins.
