Silver Moon ship tour: luxury cruising on Silversea
- Tricia B
- Aug 24
- 7 min read
I recently had the opportunity to tour Silversea’s Silver Moon while she was docked in Vancouver. I explored several of the ship’s restaurants, bars and lounges, stepped inside four different suite categories, and visited the pool deck, spa, beauty salon and fitness center.
From the moment I stepped aboard, one phrase came to mind: quiet luxury.
The ship felt elegant, calm and beautifully refined, but never flashy or overdone. Rather than grand spaces designed to impress with their size, Silver Moon offers intimate restaurants, comfortable lounges and thoughtfully designed suites. It feels more like an elegant boutique hotel at sea than a typical large cruise ship.
During my tour, I visited the restaurants, bars and lounges, explored four different suite categories, and saw the pool deck, spa, beauty salon and fitness center. Here is a closer look at what stood out.
How big is the Silver Moon cruise ship?
At 40,700 gross tons, Silver Moon accommodates up to 596 guests and has approximately 411 crew members. That is a very different experience from today’s large resort-style ships, which typically carry 3,000 to over 6,000 passengers.
The smaller size gives Silver Moon a noticeably more intimate atmosphere. Public spaces feel comfortable and inviting, and there is a greater emphasis on personalized service, dining and destination-focused experiences.
There was also something pleasantly peaceful about the ship. You are not surrounded by crowds, announcements or people trying to sell you a drink package, specialty dining plan or another upgrade. Many of the things that cost extra on mainstream cruise lines are already included with Silversea.
This does not mean Silver Moon will be right for everyone. The ship does not offer waterslides, Broadway-style productions or a long list of organized activities. Guests might spend their time attending trivia in a lounge, relaxing by the pool, visiting the spa, listening to live music, reading in the library, taking part in a S.A.L.T. cooking class or enjoying a long dinner.
For travelers who prefer a full schedule of high-energy entertainment, Silver Moon may feel too quiet. For those who want excellent food, attentive service and a sophisticated place to relax between destinations, that quietness is part of its appeal.
Spacious suites with butler service for every guest
Silver Moon is an all-suite ship, and every suite includes the services of a butler.
During my visit, I toured four categories:
Superior Veranda Suite
Silver Suite
Grand Suite
Owner’s Suite
The Superior Veranda Suite gave me a good sense of the accommodations most guests will experience. Silver Moon’s main veranda suite categories offer the same basic design and size, with the category largely determined by the suite’s location on the ship.
The suite included a sleeping area, a separate sitting space, a walk-in closet, an elegant bathroom and a private veranda. It felt residential and comfortable rather than simply being a room to return to at the end of the day.
The Silver Suite offered considerably more room, with separate living and sleeping areas that would make a longer voyage especially comfortable.
The Grand Suite and Owner’s Suite elevated the experience further, providing expansive living spaces suited to travelers who want more room to relax or entertain. These suites felt much more like private apartments than traditional cruise accommodations.
In-suite dining is a must-do as part of the Silversea experience
One experience I would not miss on a Silversea cruise is having dinner served in your suite.
This is not simply a room-service tray placed on a desk. Your butler can arrange a full in-suite dining setup with a white tablecloth, proper place settings and attentive service. Guests can dine inside their suite or outside on their private veranda.
Imagine enjoying dinner overlooking the ocean as the ship sails away from port, without needing to dress for a restaurant or leave the privacy of your suite. It is one of those experiences that captures what Silversea does particularly well: making luxury feel personal and effortless.
Dining options aboard Silver Moon
Dining is central to the Silver Moon experience with many restaurants options, especially relative for the size of the ship and number of guests. Reservations are usually not required with the exception of certain popular venues.
Silversea’s distinctive S.A.L.T. program
One of Silversea’s most distinctive offerings is S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste), an immersive culinary program that connects the food and drinks served onboard with the destinations visited during each voyage.
Guests can sample regional dishes at S.A.L.T. Kitchen, enjoy locally inspired cocktails at S.A.L.T. Bar, and learn about regional recipes and traditions through hands-on classes and demonstrations in the S.A.L.T. Lab. It brings the destination onboard, allowing guests to experience its culture through food even after returning to the ship.
S.A.L.T. Kitchen
One of Silver Moon’s most distinctive venues is S.A.L.T. Kitchen, part of Silversea’s Sea and Land Taste program.
The restaurant offers two different menu concepts. The Terrain Menu features dishes inspired by the day’s port of call, while the Voyage Menu explores the broader culinary traditions of the region through which the ship is sailing.
The concept allows the dining experience to evolve throughout the cruise, connecting what guests taste aboard the ship with the places they are visiting ashore.
Atlantide
Atlantide is one of Silver Moon’s main dining rooms, serving an elegant menu in a polished, contemporary setting. Its rich colors and sophisticated design give it a more formal feeling, while still maintaining Silversea’s comfortable approach to luxury.
I enjoyed a wonderful lunch of beef carpaccio salad, mediterranean sea bass, and a lemon meringue tart.
La Terrazza
During the day, La Terrazza offers a more relaxed dining experience. In the evening, it becomes an Italian restaurant celebrating Silversea’s Italian heritage.
Its outdoor seating would be particularly appealing on a warm-weather itinerary, with the opportunity to dine while enjoying the sea views.
Silver Note
Silver Note is a very popular venue so be sure to plan accordingly and request reservations. This restaurant combines small plates with live music in a stylish, supper-club atmosphere. It appears ideal for guests who enjoy a later dinner accompanied by jazz and other live performances.
The Grill
Located near the pool, The Grill provides relaxed open-air dining. In the evening, it is known for Silversea’s interactive hot-rock cooking experience.
Spaccanapoli
Also found near the pool deck, Spaccanapoli serves casual Italian favorites, including freshly prepared gourmet pizza. It offers an easy option when you want something less formal without giving up the quality of the food. This outdoor venue overlooks the pool but is covered which makes it an ideal setting day or night.
Speciality Dining
Two restaurants have an additional surcharge: LA Dame and Kaiseki. Guests may dine at Kaiseki free of charge for lunch.
La Dame
La Dame is Silver Moon’s intimate French fine-dining restaurant. The setting felt elegant and romantic, making it a natural choice for a special evening during the cruise. This is one of the ship’s specialty restaurants and carries an additional charge.
Kaiseki
Kaiseki offers Japanese-inspired cuisine in another intimate setting. Its smaller scale felt very different from the large specialty restaurants found on many mainstream cruise ships. A reservation and additional charge apply for dinner.
The S.A.L.T. experience
The culinary focus continues beyond the restaurants.
At S.A.L.T. Bar, cocktails are inspired by the destinations visited during the cruise, incorporating regional ingredients and spirits. It is a creative way to introduce guests to the flavors and drinking traditions of different parts of the world.
The nearby S.A.L.T. Lab offers hands-on cooking classes, demonstrations and discussions focusing on local recipes, ingredients and culinary traditions. These experiences are especially well suited to travelers who see food as an important part of discovering a destination.
Bars, cafes, and lounges
Silver Moon has several inviting places to enjoy a drink, listen to music or simply watch the scenery.
Dolce Vita serves as one of the ship’s central gathering places. Its Italian-inspired atmosphere is ideal for an aperitivo, cocktail or conversation accompanied by live piano music.
Panorama Lounge offers expansive windows and views during the day, followed by music and dancing in the evening.
The Observation Library is one of the quieter spaces aboard the ship. Located high above the water, it offers comfortable seating, books and panoramic views. It is exactly the kind of place where I could imagine spending a peaceful sea day with a coffee and a good book.
Arts Café was another standout. It combines art, comfortable seating, coffees, pastries and light bites in a welcoming setting that works throughout the day. In the evening, guests can return for Champagne, wine or cocktails.
When we toured, the cookies and pastries looked incredible and there was a selection of caviar as well, for those looking for some savory bites. This space is bright, colorful, but elegant and I see why it's a very popular place.
For cigar enthusiasts, Connoisseur’s Corner provides a traditional lounge setting where guests can enjoy cigars and premium spirits.
The Venetian Lounge is Silver Moon’s intimate theater, used for performances, presentations and film screenings. Its smaller scale fits the character of the ship—it feels more like a cabaret venue than a large cruise-ship theater.
Pool, spa and fitness facilities
The pool area felt peaceful and spacious for a ship carrying fewer than 600 guests. It is designed for relaxing rather than high-energy poolside entertainment, with loungers, open views and convenient access to The Grill, Spaccanapoli and the Pool Bar.
I also toured the Zagara Beauty Spa, beauty salon and fitness center. The spa provides a calming space for treatments and relaxation, while the salon offers hair, nail, makeup and grooming services.
The fitness center includes cardio equipment, free weights and resistance equipment. Although on the smaller side, it appeared well equipped for guests who want to maintain their routine while traveling.
Who would enjoy Silver Moon?
Silver Moon would be especially appealing to travelers who:
Want a quiet, luxury experience
Prefer small, intimate ships
Appreciate personalized service
Enjoy fine dining and destination-inspired cuisine
Prefer inclusions over repeatedly paying for extras
Value spacious accommodations and private veranda time
See the destination—not the ship’s attractions—as the focus of the trip
It may be less suitable for travelers who want non-stop entertainment, large production shows, extensive nightlife or a busy daily activity schedule.
My first impression of Silver Moon
My tour of Silver Moon offered a very different picture of cruising from the larger ships many travelers know.
The luxury is not about being the biggest, newest or most extravagant ship at sea. It is found in the spacious suites, the high level of personal service, the variety of intimate restaurants and the absence of constant crowds and sales pitches.
Silver Moon feels designed for travelers who want to slow down and savor the experience: a quiet coffee in Arts Café, a destination-inspired dinner at S.A.L.T. Kitchen, live music over cocktails or a beautifully served meal on their own veranda.
Are you wondering whether Silver Moon or a Silversea cruise is right for you? I can help you compare the experience, suite categories and itineraries with other premium and luxury cruise options.
