My first look at the Silver Nova starts off in the best possible way with my fastest embarkation ever. Possibly Silversea’s too.
In the space of a minute, my taxi drops me off on the wharf at Sydney’s White Bay Cruise Terminal, the cheery staff at Silversea’s welcome tent relieve me of my luggage, I stride up the gangway, scan in with my digital ID, and it’s ‘Welcome aboard, Mr O’Shea, enjoy your cruise.’
It helps that the Silver Nova had docked the day before, having come up from Melbourne and Eden on the start of its 47-day, 23-destination grand voyage of Australia. Now most passengers are out and about, exploring Sydney, and the terminal is having a quiet siesta in their absence. Things will liven up when everyone returns.
Those passengers who are on board for the full grand voyage will have roughly 170 shore excursions to choose from, including a pit stop in Bali along the way. I’m here to do the four-day Sydney-Newcastle-Brisbane sailing and I’m really looking forward to it. As far as I’m concerned, any cruise, short or long, is a tonic.
Comfort zones
Soon I’m waving my newly issued electronic keycard at door number 8006 – Open Sesame! The door is very obedient and obliging. My classic veranda suite is port side on deck eight, not far behind the bridge. With 33 square metres, including the balcony area, there’s room for a pony, as Hyacinth Bucket of Keeping Up Appearances’ renown might say.
Facilities include a queen-size bed, a large sofa, a vanity table, a writing desk, a large flat-screen TV, a coffee pod machine and a walk-in robe area. The bathroom boasts a spacious shower and a large vanity, which Hyacinth would no doubt tell you has double faucets.
Tempting treats
I won’t go hungry even in the generous confines of my room. The welcoming array of snacks and drinks includes chocolates and a bottle of Duval-Leroy Brut Réserve chilling among other beverages in the mini-bar fridge. Each suite comes with an attendant and a personal butler who, as part of Silversea’s all-inclusive experience, will replenish whatever I consume. As I get stuck into the chocolate-coated strawberries, I tell myself I must try not to be greedy.
The suite’s more than adequate for me, but I suspect the ones that Hyacinth would most covet are Silver Nova’s two mighty 123 square metre Otium Suites. Just imagine how many ponies you could fit into them!
Art forms
Time to go exploring. The Silver Nova has 11 decks, and numerous bars, restaurants and seating areas. While acquainting myself with my emergency muster station on deck four, I discovered the prime coffee station, the Arts Café. This is where, over the course of the next couple of days, I will turn balancing a cup and saucer in one hand and a plate piled with cakes, pastries and sandwiches in the other into an art form.
Another pleasure in various passageways is stumbling across the 30 Years Through The Eyes of Steve McCurry exhibition – stunning photos from around the world that the famed American photographer took while voyaging with Silversea. Some I recognise instantly, others I’ve never seen before. They all emphasise what a wonderful and varied world we live in.
D is for deliziosi
As the sun sets, a sense of anticipation rises: passengers return from shore excursions, freshen up and dress up (evening dress code is elegant casual). Soon, the 10 bars on board are buzzing with convivial pre-dinner drink conversations (S.A.L.T bar is the place to go for craft cocktails), then it’s time to wine and dine.
Tonight, I’m sampling the “traditional and deliziosi” Italian meals at La Terrazza on deck four. After the Gamberoni Crudi (thinly sliced red prawns with burnt citrus zest dust, cucumber and fresh herbs), I opt for a minestrone soup, then Pappardelle al Ragu d’Agnello (homemade pappardelle pasta with braised lamb and tomato ragout). I don’t have room for the ‘Piatto Principale’ but miraculously find space for a lemon, almond and saffron sorbet dessert.
Take a bow
My next major meal won’t be so impressive, I fear. Why? Because I’m the one who’s going to cook it. But I’m hoping to lift my game at a cooking class in the S.A.L.T lab (S.A.L.T. stands for Sea and Land Taste).
Our first assignment is Barramundi San Choy Bow. My classmates’ lettuce bows look elegant; mine resembles a green blob. Nevertheless, it passes the taste test. So too does my second dish – Pippies with XO Sauce and Vermicelli Noodles – though I might have been a bit heavy on the Chinese rice wine. We get elegant printouts of the recipes and cooking instructions to take home. I’ll practise till I’m perfect, then invite friends over.
I’m much more in my element later on the cruise when I do a mixology class at S.A.L.T bar. My cooking might be poor, but I was born to pour. Cheers to that!
Gastronomic heaven
The epitome of fine dining on board the Silver Nova is the 11-course (!!!) meal at the S.A.L.T. Chef’s Table with wine pairings to match. The portions are small, the presentation is artistic, and the taste is heavenly. Tonight’s homage to Australian ingredients includes Kingfish crudo with finger lime; Lamb, macadamia crust, river mint; Emu pie, foie, shiraz, bush chutney; Davidson plum sorbet with meringue; and Wattleseed and white chocolate millefeuille.
Other restaurants I can sing the praises of are Silver Note (a jazz club-style venue with delicious small-plate servings), Alentide (refined global dining), La Terrazza (Italian), Keiseki (exotic Pan-Asian dishes) and the bright and breezy, open-air Marquee on Deck 10.
Make a splash
Time to burn those calories! I eschew the lifts and take the stairs to level 10, the pool deck. I love swimming, but on some cruise ships the pool areas are uninviting: pool plonked in the middle, encircled by deckchairs and bar areas, everyone facing inwards, like spectators at a sports stadium. It can be noisy and feel claustrophobic.
In contrast, the Silva Nova’s pool deck boasts a gorgeously daring asymmetrical design. The main pool hugs the starboard side midships, with a full view of the horizon through glass safety panels. Equally alluring is the Cliff Whirlpool, a glass-fronted infinity-edge hot tub on a port-side terrace above.
Kick up your heels
I have the pool to myself for a spell while the ship is docked in Newcastle. Admiring the distant views of this underrated city, I devise my own aqua aerobics routine. Karate kicks, can-can kicks, donkey kicks, mermaid flicks … The water sloshes about with gusto.
My brain cells get revitalised too. Out of nowhere, lines from an old Hues Corporation smash hit come into my head while I’m kicking up my heels…
I’d like to know where you got the notion
(To rock the boat), don’t rock the boat, baby
(Rock the boat), don’t tip the boat over!
Smooth operator
It would take a lot to rock the Silver Nova, which was launched in 2023 as the first of Silversea’s new Evolution Class of ships. It’s one of the smoothest ships I’ve sailed on and feels really solid. I’m so impressed with the design that I go all nerdy and do a deep internet dive to find out who designed it (Gem in Genoa and Boston-based Wilson Butler Architects) and who built it (Meyer Werft in Germany).
Its maximum passenger capacity is a mere 728, based on double occupancy. This means it’s spacious enough that no matter what deck you’re on, you can find a quiet spot to yourself when you need one.
Even catching the lifts is fun. On most cruise ships, the elevators are placed in the middle of the ship, enclosed by walls and with nothing exciting to look at. The vibes can be claustrophobic and socially awkward (silence and lots of staring at the lit-up floor number panel, for example). In contrast, Silver Nova has spacious glass-walled panoramic lifts that protrude outside the ship’s sides, giving scenic views, views, views. They’re places that you’ll enjoy loitering in, even if you have no intention of going up and down.
The verdict
There are many cruise ships that are fine for a one- or two-week sailing. The real test of quality for any cruise ship is to ask: Would I be comfortable going around the world for 100-plus days on it? The answer with the Silver Nova is a definite yes. I’d have to swap some lifting weights on the plates at the Arts Cafe for sessions in the gym, of course, should I ever get so lucky.
If you’re a cruise sceptic, this would be a great place to start. Silversea’s 2027-2028 voyages collection is out now. Its largest-ever voyage collection for summer 2027 and winter 2027-2028, scheduled to depart between February 2027 and May 2028, includes 414 new voyages on 12 ships, ranging from six to 77 days. Of these, the Silver Nova and its sister ship Silver Ray (launched in 2024) will host guests on 57 voyages in the Mediterranean, and 11 sailings in the Caribbean and Central America. More at silversea.com
The writer travelled as a guest of Silversea.
