So Ken and I boarded the Silver Ray yesterday. Some of our clients have been raving about the two new Silversea ships, the Ray and the Nova. Asking me to check these ships out. So I got approved on the Ray last week and here I am sitting in my cabin which is VERY nice.

First Impression overview after just 24 hours - lot to learn still.

Regent new ships are American with the WOW factor with lots of glitz.
• Entry - Greeted by high ceilings and a beautiful chandelier and magnificent stairs, lots of marble.
• Main dining room. A different wow factor with each ship – the Grandeur is stunning with the fabulous white tree ceiling.
• Higher ceilings in the public areas
• Lots of glitz in the restaurants, lounges
• Standard F & E suites have a bigger closet, both shower and bath, bigger sq.ft.

Silversea is European with the conservative classy style, soft subtle colors in most areas.
• Entry, just enter into the ship at the stairway.
• Lower ceilings on the ship no high ceiling areas, except the main show lounge with upstairs seating.
• Main dining room dark colors like an old time steak house restaurant
• Elevators are on the outside of the ship where you can see the sea - thats neat.
• The four lower priced suites are exactly same. Priced based on location. Extremely well designed, smaller but do not feel smaller.
I will take photos as we go. Some have a shower and some have a bathtub.

I was told initially the food was not as good on Silversea but I think the ships are equal on the food. Both ships have pros & cons on this subject. There are two additional cost restaurants on Silversea.

I will keep updating this thread as we will learn more as we continue the cruise.

OBSERVATION LOUNGE - having some issues posting these pictures. Will do my best and will get them up when I can.


This is the Library in a room off the Observation lounge, with the stunning ceiling which is carried through to the Observation lounge in the carpet. The Observation lounge has two areas. The bar where there are lots of chairs and groups of chairs. Then you go through a door to a different area that is shown on the following pictures.

.
There is a nice coffee / tea self serve area in the middle of this part of the lounge


Singular groups of chairs along the window.


The "games" area is at the end of the circular windows chairs.

Thank you Ngaire.

Going on a tour tomorrrow but if I have time in the afternoon I will share the pictures of the suite, all of the four types of suites are the same just location on the ship determines the pricing.

Will be interested in seeing the pictures.

The ladies vanity. Notice the drawer and all the dividers.



Bathroom is large. On each side of the main counter top there is a deep drawer that has a sliding part in the drawer that moves from front to back. Making storage capacity huge! Unique idea and this is in place in the desk with the TV as well. The dividers are fantastic. The shower is large has a rain shower and the hand held. There is a bench to sit on in the shower.

There are many drawers we did not use them all.









The closet is not as big as Regent but it has a long hanging bar and then a two tier hanging bars right inside the door. Plus a safe and 3 drawers and 4 shelfs. Worked just fine for us.



I love the two desk areas. The vanity I am using for my desk and Ken is using the other desk. It is a well designed suite. Feels bigger than the quoted square footage. Two full length mirrors. One in the bathroom and one in the main cabin.

This cabin does not have all the glasses that fill up a lot of the space on the main cabinet area. Just two champagne and two drinking glasses.

This glass piece is in La Dame. Picture does not do it justice.


Kaiseki the Asian restaurant.


The Arts Cafe (like the coffee corner) This was on boarding. Still have nice things but not like this on every day.


Atlantide the main restaurant no reservations required.

SOME QUICK COMPARISONS

Tough Choice - Regent or Silversea. Both are excellent cruise lines things are just a little different between the "American" concept and the "European" concept. .

Dinner - Silversea has 2 pay restaurants at night. La Dame $160pp and Kaiseki $80 pp. More international dishes in the main restaurant.
Regent has a different menu each night and also at dinner they have the "Always Available" menu which offers something for everyone.Both great with a nod to Regent.

Breakfast and lunch about the same on both ships. Buffet bigger on Silversea but not necessarily better. If you like pizza there are tons of options on Silversea.

Cabins - both great! Silversea great design, Regent 100 sq ft bigger.

Staff outstanding on both lines. Silversea has more staff from all over the world. Regent has more Filopino's.

Guests - Silversea has a lot of Europeans and Regent has mostly English speaking guests, changes the atmosphere a little.

Silversea Arts Cafe - fancier than the coffee corner with lots of cakes and cookies. Seating on lush couches and chairs with tiny tables. Very European. Regent Coffee Corner different concept. Looks like a coffee shop. Chairs and tables which to me is more comfortable when eating and drinking. Very American. Some will like the Art Cafe some will like the Coffee Corner.

Tours - Silversea has at least one tour in each port included in your fare. Least expensive tour was around $60 pp. But many were very expensive. I was told that Silversea has guests meet in different shipboard locations for tours so not the "big" Regent crowd in the theatre. I thought that was a good idea. HOWEVER on this cruise all tours met on the dock. First day light rain and heavy wind. Today a really heavy wind and everyone was blown to pieces. They stood out there for a long time. Seems to me meeting on the ship is better even if it is a big crowd.

Laundry - Silversea for a charge. After 100 nights on Silversea you get free laundry. Regent laundry is free for everyone.

Butlers - Silversea has a butler for all cabins and only one room steward. Regent has two room stewards and only has butlers for large suites only. Personally I do not need and do not like having a butler. On rare occassions it has been helpful to have a butler IT ALL DEPENDS on the Butler.

WHAT IS BETTER - SILVERSEA OR REGENT?

SILVERSEA: Not all inclusive - costs for tours, restaurants, no laundry. Wines are mostly European. Ship is nice with an understated decor I am sure less expensive to build than the Regent ships. Diverse passengers create a different atmosphere. I have been on other Silversea ships but the RAY and NOVA are quite different. Both identical except interior finish out.

REGENT: True All Inclusive. Built with focus on first class with "everything" the new ships have the "wow" factor. I am sure they are more expensive ships. Free tours, free laundry, all restaurants included. Primarily Amercian, Canadian & Australian and English speaking guests.

Any questions? Post on LCT or email me at keene@keenetravel.com

I am not doing anymore Silversea Expedition Cruises. Been almost everywhere Expedition ships go. So I am looking at Silversea classic cruises now with a few options with a lower price point for any one who wants to try out Silversea. Under consideration now is the following. I will decide for sure and send out a flyer when I get back.

SILVER RAY - 4/16/2026 to 4/27/2026 - 11 days - Spain and a day in Morroco
Barcelona - Ibiza - Plama de Mallorca (2 days) day at sea - Cadiz - Tangier, Morroco, Malaga - Carttagena, Valencia, Barcelona

Port to Port starts at $5,950 per person - that puts the fare at $540 per person per day.
Remember the four regular cabins are identical, location dictates the price.

MISSED ONE DETAIL THAT IS GREAT

EMBARKATION ON THE SHIP IS ON DECK 2 OR DECK 3 - NO BIG LONG GANGWAY TO WALK UP TO GET ON THE SHIP.
JUST BOARD FROM THE DOCK OR A SLIGHT RAMP TO GET INTO THE SHIP NOT STEPS. SO SENSIBLE!!!!!

Interesting reading on the comparison between the two cruise lines. Thank you for taking the time to do that.
The one thing you did not mention was a comparison on the dress codes. Does Silversea still require the men to wear jackets for dinner at all restaurants?
June

Only has to wear a jacket on FORMAL nights - no tie required just a jacket. Every other night is like Regent.

June,
Also, jackets are required for men when dining in La Dame. Looking forward to seeing you and Ralph in Stockholm!

Hi there
Ralph and I are looking forward to seeing you and Alice again in August on the Stockholm to Hamburg and beyond cruises.
Thanks for the info on the men’s jacket query. Ralph probably can’t remember the last time he wore a jacket !
June

Hi June.. we’ve recently done 2 cruises on the Silver Nova which is much the same as the Ray. Really enjoyed the different experience. Dress code is exactly like Regent except jacket for men on formal night in most of the restaurants but many who didn’t want to do this ate at the Marquee, a beautiful indoor outdoor casual dining area open all day and evening. It’s where you can do the Hot Rocks if you wish. We went there several times for dinner and enjoyed the ambience. Another dining venue we enjoyed very much was Silver Note, a nightclub atmosphere with dining and piano player and singer.