In December, I was invited to sail the Caribbean on Silversea's Silver Ray on an 11 night cruise from Fort Lauderdale. This was my first Silversea cruise and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about — and frankly, is Silversea worth it? The ship departed Fort Lauderdale on December 12th and we visited Puerto Rico, St. Barth's, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. John USVI, and Tortola BVI.

If you've been curious about luxury cruising — or if you're quietly wondering is Silversea worth it for your next big trip — but haven't yet taken the plunge, keep reading. This might be the push you need.

Throughout the sailing, I paid attention to the details: the service, the food, the suites, the pacing, and the overall experience — because the real question people ask me is always the same: is Silversea worth it?

Ready to talk luxury cruising? Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.

The petite Silver Ray takes just 702 passengers. The MSC Virtuosa, which I spotted in St. Kitts, takes 6334 passengers. Which would you rather experience?

The Ship Itself: Stunning

Let me start by saying the Silver Ray is BEAUTIFUL. This ship carries 700 passengers, so you get that sweet spot of feeling intimate but still having enough to do. The public spaces are gorgeous—lots of marble, beautiful lighting, and thoughtful design everywhere you look. Silver Ray is the sister ship to the Silver Nova. Read more about both ships and their room categories and facilities here.

There are bars and meeting areas dotted all over the ship. Shelter, the bar on Deck 3, became my go-to spot for an evening pre-dinner cocktail. I loved the live music.

Honestly, the ship was so spacious that sometimes, I wondered where everyone was! One thing I immediately noticed — this is a ship that is great for anyone with mobility issues. I took care of my mom for five years and with Parkinson’s Disease, we went from cane to walker to wheelchair. I am quite familiar with doorways that are too narrow for wheelchairs and hallways that make walkers difficult for anyone with mobility issues. Silver Ray’s wide hallways and open spaces — plus its use of automatic sliding doors — made getting around the ship a breeze.

The spa was wonderful—I highly recommend booking a treatment or two; I had an excellent facial.

The casino was refreshingly tiny—gambling is clearly not the focus on Silversea, which I appreciated. If you want a Vegas-style casino experience, this isn't your ship. But if you want to feel like you're on an elegant floating hotel where the destination matters more than the slot machines, Silver Ray delivers. Again, you can read more about the ship and its facilities here.

View of Tortola from the hot tub on Silver Ray

Another favorite spot? The glass-walled hot top on the very top deck! I am not a big hot tub person — I call hot tubs “people soup” — but this hot tub was just so beautiful and clean and fresh looking that I could not resist.

My Cabin

My cabin was a standard Veranda suite—even the entry level cabins on Silver Ray have balconies —and it was lovely. Comfortable bed, nice bathroom, HUGE shower—HUGE—and a balcony that I actually used.

Every cabin gets a butler on Silversea. Our butler was pleasant, though I'll be honest—he always seemed busy and not quite as available as I expected from a luxury cruise. One day I asked him to make a reservation at the Chef's Table and he told me to call reception myself. Notable when you're paying for this level of service. I traveled with a number of other advisors on this cruise and my experience was the exception.

Champagne and caviar all day, every day on Silversea Silver Ray

The Food: Steak, Caviar and Champagne Anyone?

If you love steak, this is the cruise for you. Night after night, I saw filet mignons, ribeyes, and New York Strips flooding the dining rooms. I like a steak…occasionally. But not every night! I seemed to be in the minority.

This is also the cruise for you if you like caviar and Champagne. Nearly everywhere you turn on Silversea, someone is seriously offering you caviar and Champagne.

The main dining room was very very good, and I need to give a huge shoutout to Giuseppe, the maitre'd. This man is incredible. He remembered every diner, noticed everything, and made the dining experience truly special. How he manages to remember 700 guests and their preferences, I will never know. Mind like a steel trap!

The sommelier, Zachary, was equally fantastic—charming, knowledgeable, and always appeared magically whenever you needed him. These two elevate the entire dining experience.

Now, my favorite dining experience on the ship? Hands down, the cooking class where we made Caribbean steak sandwiches with homemade jerk seasoning. SO GOOD. I loved getting hands-on and the flavors were incredible. Our instructor was fantastic too. The Chef's Table dinner was also a highlight—creative dishes, all with Caribbean flair, and an intimate setting that made it feel special. (There was a supplement for the Chef’s Table.)

I also really enjoyed S.A.L.T., which focuses on regional cuisine. For some reason, it was always empty when we went. (Maybe because most guests preferred more standard fare?) But I thought the food here was interesting and well-executed.

The buffet was...fine. But if you're someone who loves a wide variety of international cuisines—particularly Chinese and Indian food—you might find the buffet a bit limited. The food would appeal to more standard American/European palates. I didn't think the Japanese restaurant was anything special, though oddly enough, the sushi at the main buffet for lunch was very good. Note one of my friends that I was traveling with asked for a special Indian dinner and Silversea more than delivered! My friends said their meal was incredible. (Silversea will deliver anything you ask for—within reason—with 24 hour notice.)

The Ports: Guadeloupe Stole My Heart

Let's talk about the ports we visited because I have opinions! But firstly I would like to point something out. Many clients tell me that they only want to leave from Florida ports. Bear in mind that it takes two days to sail from Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, or Miami to Puerto Rico. Two full days! Cruise ships travel at about 24 mph. (Not the 200 mph that a lot of people think they travel at. LOL.) So if you want to see a lot of the Caribbean, start your cruise in Puerto Rico or Barbados. You cannot avoid sea days if you leave from Florida. This particular itinerary had 4 full sea days — 2 at the beginning and 2 at the end — and I have decided that that is two too many sea days for me. 2 is fine. 4 is…not fine. I get bored easily.

Guadeloupe: This was apparently the first time Silversea had ever stopped in Guadeloupe, and I am SO glad they did. This port was stunning and refreshingly non-touristy. I went to a beach club on a Silversea excursion and it was just lovely—a golden beach and a much more authentic Caribbean vibe than some of the other ports. If you're tired of the same old cruise ports and want to experience something different, put Guadeloupe on your list. It's still unspoiled and gorgeous.

St. John, USVI: I was here about 30 years ago and barely remembered it, so this felt like a first visit all over again. I did an island tour and Trunk Bay was absolutely stunning. I need to go back and do the snorkeling trail there—the water was so clear and beautiful. St. John is the national park island of the USVI, so it's much less developed than St. Thomas. If you want natural beauty over shopping, this is your spot.

St. Barth's: Always a good time! St. Barth's is one of those ports that never disappoints. Chic, beautiful, and perfect for people-watching.

St. Kitts: I did not enjoy this port. The cruise port itself is very tacky—think very bad t-shirts, very bad jewelry stores, and all the very bad touristy shops you're trying to avoid. If St. Kitts is on your itinerary, I'd recommend booking a ship excursion that gets you away from the port area and out into the island itself.

Why You Should Consider Silversea

Here's the thing about Silversea: nearly everything can be included in their fares. Shore excursions, alcohol, and some specialty dining—it's all covered. This means you can actually relax and enjoy your vacation without constantly pulling out your credit card or doing mental math about what's adding up. (Please see this report on Silversea’s recen changes to their pricing which affects shore excursions. )

I also loved that people dressed up. Not formal gowns every night, but everyone made an effort. It felt elegant without being stuffy. If you've sailed on mass market cruises and found yourself wishing for a more refined atmosphere, Silversea delivers.

The ship offers a genuinely luxurious experience with beautiful spaces, mostly excellent food, fantastic service staff (shoutout again to Giuseppe and Zachary!), and itineraries that take you to interesting ports. (The petite size of Silver Ray makes unique and interesting ports possible.) Silversea’s all-inclusive pricing means you can actually enjoy everything without worrying about your bill.

If the thought of 2000 to 7000 people onboard a cruise ship scares you but you’d really like to try a cruise, Silversea with its 100 to 728 passengers per ship could be a great fit for you. If you've been on the fence about luxury cruising, I'd encourage you to take a look at Silversea’s itineraries. Here are a few specific ones I’m eyeing because YES, I’d definitely do Silversea again!

Some FAQs I’ve Already Received

There’s a lot of information about the ship and facilities here but here are the most common questions I’ve received about Silversea.

How old are the passengers on Silversea?

Not going to lie — Silversea skews older. This did not bother me but I’m 51. There were some passengers in their 20s and 30s who still seemed to have a great time. (There were a lot of multigen families onboard given the festive season.)

Is Silversea kid-friendly?

Kids are allowed and there were a few on our cruise, but there isn’t a ton of activities or facilities for them. Kids are probably best served by an itinerary without a lot of sea days. If you’re getting off in port every day, they might be fine. But with a lot of sea days, bring books and toys and movies.

Is Silversea expensive?

To give a very University of Chicago answer…”It depends.” Sometimes I quote Royal Caribbean cabins and it’s $10,000 for two people. If you are okay with that sort of spend, Silversea might be for you. BUT…I just priced out on Caribbean itinerary on an older Silversea ship and it’s under $6500 for two people for a week.

Is wifi Included?

Yes, standard wifi is included. Personally, I found it too slow and upgraded. The upgrade was worth it for me.

Can I use my Royal Caribbean and Celebrity status on Silversea?

Yes, Silversea has reciprocal status with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity who are all part of the same family.

Why should I book a Silversea cruise through you, Krista?

The cruise fare is usually the same whether you book direct or through me. The difference is that when you book through me, you have an advocate — someone who helps you choose the right suite, monitors pricing, coordinates your air and hotels, and steps in if anything goes wrong. Silversea provides a ship. I provide strategy and oversight for the entire trip, including pre- and post-cruise travel coordination. Plus I can add onboard credits and other perks that you don’t always get when you book direct.

Ready to talk luxury cruising? Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.

About Krista

I’m a Virtuoso travel advisor based in West Palm Beach, Florida. I attended the University of Notre Dame for undergrad and I have my MBA from the University of Chicago. Before building my travel business, I spent 20 years in the investment management industry and over a decade living and working in London, England. I’ve personally traveled to 80 countries and now design thoughtful, highly customized trips for travelers who value expertise, access, and a seamless experience.

I offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation for travelers considering a custom itinerary or luxury cruise. Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.

For travel inspiration and real-time updates, you can follow along on Instagram or connect with me on Facebook. I also share a curated list of travel products I genuinely use and recommend in my online store.

What I Offer…

Custom itinerary design for complex, multi-stop trips
VIP hotel benefits through Virtuoso and preferred partner programs (including complimentary breakfast, hotel credits, and priority for upgrades where available)
Luxury ocean, river, and expedition cruises with added onboard credits
Vetted villa rentals with concierge services worldwide
Private guides, small-group touring, and unique local experiences
Private aviation and yacht charters through trusted partners
Airport transfers, VIP arrival and departure services, and full ground logistics
Travel protection and support when plans change

I work best with travelers who want expert planning, trusted partnerships, and someone in their corner from start to finish. That’s what I am best at! Ready to talk travel? Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.

Is Silversea Worth It? I Spent 11 Nights Finding Out.