North to Alaska on Silver Nova

By Gerry Barker

Photos/Video by Gerry Barker

Our recent Alaska cruise marked several firsts.

It was our first time to visit Alaska, and also our first time to cruise on Silversea, and needless to say, our first time on one of their newest ships, Silver Nova. How was it? Words that come to mind include amazing, jaw-dropping, awesome — take your pick.

This is Silversea’s 30th anniversary year. Long recognized as a leader in upscale, luxury cruising, Silver Nova, the 12th ship in their fleet, launched last year to rave reviews, and after seven days aboard, it’s easy to see why.

Our cruise started in Seward, Alaska, which meant a long travel day that took us from West Palm Beach to New York and on to Anchorage, where we had a pre-cruise hotel stay (given the uncertainties of travel these days, it’s always a good idea to arrive the day before your cruise starts).

As you might expect, the weather was not what we left in Florida. Most days were overcast, with temps in the 50s/60s. Be prepared for rain: It does that at lot here. But the biggest adjustment are the long hours of daylight, with sunsets at 10 pm and sunrises at 6.

Along with our fellow guests, Silversea bused us from Anchorage to Seward — where we got a taste of the unparalleled beauty that is our 49th state — and then stepped on what would be our new home for the next week, Silver Nova. And what a home it is.

The first Nova-class ship from Silversea, it boasts a unique, asymmetrical design as well as environment-friendly propulsion. It hosts 728 passengers (our cruise had just over 700), and 544 crew — almost one-to-one, and evidence of Silversea’s commitment to customer service. We were greeted personally by the cruise director, Adam, and were soon off to lunch as we waited for our luggage to be delivered to our stateroom.

The ship is a marvel of technology, with looks to match. Decorated in neutral tones, with understated elegance and artworks befitting any five-star hotel, it doesn’t take long to learn your way around its 11 decks. The efficient, glass-walled, touchscreen elevators move you quickly from floor to floor. Silver Nova makes wide use of “contactless entry” — you simply swipe your wrist Star Trek-style to open doors. A side note on that: The elevators boast a wheelchair button as well. Press that and the touchscreen condenses so any wheelchair-bound guest can easily touch (or simply use their wrist) where they want to go. Impressive!

It’s an all-suites ship, and ours was a Classic Veranda on deck six. At 357 square feet, it was roomy. In fact, another first — we had a king-sized bed. And another personal first of note: This was the first cruise we’ve taken where Pam and I had more storage than we needed — there were actually shelves and drawers we didn’t use (If you’ve seen Pam’s suitcases, you know how really amazing that is).

A glass wall by our balcony optimized views — which were quite stunning — and there were plenty of connections for electronics and devices. We had a privacy curtain that could be used to close off the bed area, a small walk-in closet and a beautifully-appointed bathroom, with a large shower, dual faucets over a large sink and upscale toiletries. Pam especially appreciated the private vanity area with a magnifying mirror.

The bed itself was a dream, literally, with pillows so plush and soft you could lose yourself in them. And just in case they weren’t to your liking, your room attendant is happy to provide you more from their selection.

There was a pre-stocked minibar and a large, flat-screen TV with a decent number of live channels, on-demand entertainment, all kinds of information about the ship and the cruise, a daily agenda and your own personal calendar. Each suite also has a digital control (both mounted and on a tablet) where you can change the lighting from daytime to evening, or select a mood, like movie lighting. We liked that.

But the best thing? Every guest on the ship has the services of a personal butler. Ours was David, who hailed from Kenya, and he was incredible. He took care of our laundry, made reservations, brought us afternoon canapes, stocked our minibar with our favorite wines (including Coke Zero for me) and on two occasions, served us breakfast in our room.

One night, he arranged for a “shower experience” that involved selecting a fragrance steamer, matched with candles and a Bluetooth speaker delivering soothing music, as you indulge yourself in luxury. Does it get any better? It does, in fact. Let’s talk food.

As you might expect, there’s no shortage of top-of-the line food on Silver Nova, available throughout the ship and 24 hours a day via room service. Whether you opt for the main dining room, Atlantide, La Terrazza (Italian fare) or one of the ship’s specialty restaurants, like La Dame (French) or Kaiseki (Asian), you can expect to be treated to a five-star, food and service experience.

One of their signature programs is SALT (Sea and Land Taste), which incorporates the local cuisine of where the ship is cruising. For our cruise, that meant dishes featuring salmon, crab and other regional seafood. There’s a SALT restaurant, as well as the SALT Kitchen and Bar on deck 10, where you can sign up for cooking and mixology classes. For my part, I learned how to make salmon cakes and smoked salmon dip.

Two of our personal favorites were Kaiseki, with its intimate, minimalist setting (don’t miss the Choya sake) and the Silver Note, a small venue modeled after 1920s jazz clubs, featuring live music and amazing food presentations. Word to the wise: Make your reservations as soon as possible for the specialty and in-demand venues.

Up top on deck 10 is The Marquee, offering al fresco seating, along with The Grill and Spaccanapoli, where you can order “the best pizza at sea,” made from semolina flour. No argument on how good it is — but we would have loved to have it “on demand” by the slice in lieu of a sit-down order or room service. One for the suggestion box.

A popular gathering spot is the Arts Café on deck 4, featuring coffee, tea and assorted desserts and sandwiches. By the way, Silversea may also lay claim to the best ice cream at sea. During the cruise it was my go-to dessert.

Examples of dishes served aboard Silver Nova

In case you were wondering, the dress code for our cruise was “Elegant causal.” But be aware that for guests dining at La Dame, men need to wear a jacket. Cruises of eight days or longer include a formal night, so keep that tux handy, guys.

One thing you can’t say enough about on Silver Nova is the service they provide. Regardless of where you are on the ship, there’s crew close at hand to take care of whatever you may need. In the increasingly competitive world of cruising, this is definitely one of the things that sets Silversea apart.

Silversea is also the cruise line that pioneered the concept of “all-inclusive.” Your cruise fare includes all drinks (except premium-designated beverages), gratuities, a selection of complimentary shore excursions, Starlink Wi-Fi, self-serve laundry and more. Not included items include specialty restaurants, spa treatments and premium shore excursions.

Speaking of shore excursions, Silversea offers an amazing number of options to experience everything Alaska offers, from whale watching and kayaking by glaciers to helicopter treks and dog sledding. In Juneau, we saw the Mendenhall Glacier, rode a cable car and had lunch at the famous Red Dog Saloon; in Skagway, we took a ride in the historic White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad, enjoying stunning vistas along its 20-mile ascent; at Sitka, we saw bald eagles at the Alaska Raptor Center, then hiked rainforest trails lined with totem poles at the Sitka National Historic Park, while at our stop in Kitchikan, we went deep into the rainforest on a guided tour and saw a native totem pole carver at work.
Other takeaways from our seven days on Silver Nova:

— The Hubbard Glacier. Located some 200 miles northwest of Juneau, Hubbard Glacier spans six miles at the point where it meets the ocean. Over 400 feet high, we crowded around the upper decks and Observation Lounge as the captain steered us through mist and fog to view this magnificent natural wonder. Ships have to keep a respectable distance — you don’t when the glacier will calve its next four-story iceberg.

— Entertainment. Shows are held nightly in the two-story Venetian Lounge, and we really enjoyed the high-energy singing and dancing from the Silver Nova show troupe. We also appreciated that after the show, the performers, along with the cruise director, lined up at the exit to thank us for coming. This is also where guests came for the lectures. On our cruise we heard from Dr. Palma Ingles, an anthropologist and photographer who has worked extensively in Alaska, and retired Major General Craig Whelden, who provided insights into the current state of the world. One night, the ship hosted the Alaska String Band, a local family group that offered a wide range of musical styles.

— The Bars and Lounges. If you’re looking for a drink or just a place to relax and chill, it’s never far away on Silver Nova. Our favorites included the Panorama Lounge (which one night hosted a great “Rock the Boat” party), The Shelter, a champagne bar on deck three (Pam loves her champagne) and the Observation Lounge on deck 10, which also featured the ship’s library, complete with a starry ceiling. Also popular was La Dolce Vita, a public space and bar on deck 5, and the Dusk Bar, outdoors by the pool. After touring Alaska, what better way to end the day than sipping a cocktail and listening to piano music?

— Casino/Shopping. Silver Nova does a casino, albeit a small one, but adequate if you’re feeling lucky. If you need a gift for that special someone, you can browse their upscale shops. The pool area is beautiful, but with the chilly winds, that’s something for next time. There’s a complete Fitness Center, and the Otium Spa offers all manner of treatments and pampering — something else to check out on our next visit.

–The Inside Passage. On our final say at sea, the ship navigates the Inside Passage on its way to Vancouver. Extending some 500 miles along the Alaska coastline, it’s a feast for the eyes as the ship passes by thousands of small islands, coves and bays. Sharp-eyed guests often spot wildlife along the way — we got a brief glimpse of a whale.

— The Guests. Unlike other upscale cruises we’ve taken, the demographics for this cruise were more balanced. Along with seniors, there were a good contingent of middle-aged and younger adults, including families with children. The ship does have a kids’ activity director, but overall, kids aren’t the primary target audience.

When I interviewed Adam, the cruise director, I asked him what sets Silversea apart. Without hesitation, he said “the crew.” He’s right. From the moment you board until it’s time to disembark, they make you feel both at home and special. Yes, you’ll pay more for the experience, but that’s why their clientele keeps coming back.

Ships like Silver Nova, and her just-launched sister ship, Silver Ray, will go a long way to cementing the brand’s place in the cruise world for the next 30 years.

After seven amazing days, we only had one complaint: We couldn’t take David, our butler, home with us.

(Our thanks to Silversea for hosting us.)