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Click on pictures to see them full-size. Close new window to
return. All photos taken on August 28th, 2001
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If ever there was a ship that personifies the term
"understated elegance", it must be SILVER WHISPER. Christened on
June 18th, 2001 in Genoa, Italy, Silversea Cruises' latest vessel exudes a
feeling of class; six star class to be precise. Measuring a comfortable
28,258 gross register tons, the 597-ft (182 m) long ship has a capacity for
only 388 passengers, giving SILVER WHISPER and her sister SILVER SHADOW the
highest passenger space ratio in the world. Repeatedly voted the most
luxurious cruise line, Silversea offers a totally decadent cruise experience
on their fleet of 4 small to mid-sized ships. Most suites come equipped with
roomy teak balconies; there is no tipping and no paying for drinks either! When
visiting the ship in port of Amsterdam on August 28th, 2001, I was surprised
at SILVER WHISPER's friendly atmosphere. While definitely catering to a
relatively small slice of the world's cruising potential pie (a "Fun
Ship" it ain't!), the service and atmosphere is such that most people
will feel comfortable on board. This is done by making the ship look
"natural" on the inside, without any vaguely reminding of brass,
glitz or glamour. Indeed, it could
best be described as
"understated elegance"! Unfortunately my time on board SILVER WHISPER was very limited. While we were expertly guided around the ship and were treated to a refreshing glass of Moët & Chandon in the Panorama Lounge, there was not much time for photo stops. I did manage to capture most public rooms though, so we'd better start our ShipTour of SILVER WHISPER right away. |
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The amidships stairtowers connect all of SILVER WHISPER's major public areas |
On a ship that carries less than 400 passengers, a full-blown atrium with glass elevators would look grossly out of place. Instead, SILVER WHISPER's design team has come up with an open central stairtower arrangement on both port and starboard sides, which creates an "open" feel and connects most public areas. Done in soothing earth tones, with wooden handrails, wood veneer panelling and beautiful brushed steel artwork spanning the height of the stairtower, this is about as elegant as it gets. Exuding a warm, natural yet lively atmosphere, this area sets the tone for the rest of the ship. |
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Artwork |
Shopping Arcade |
Looking down |
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On deck 5, an oval lobby houses the Purser's Office, Hotel Manager's office and Shore Excursion Desk, with doors leading out to a small Promenade Deck. I was taken by the gold framed Renaissance inspired artwork in the Lobby, making the area look very classy. From the Lobby, an arcade leads forward to the suite accommodation on this deck by way of a small shopping area and Casino. As can be expected on a six-star ship, merchandise in the Boutique is quite upmarket, with good-quality souvenir items available. The adjacent Bvlgari outlet sells the more glittering (and more expensive) items, the pride and joy of all four Silversea vessels. On port side, the casino is nicely sized, with all the major games of chance available, as well as a separate bar area. During my visit the Casino was closed (the ship was in port after all), and consequently I was not able to take any photos of it. But then, if you have seen one Black Jack table, you have seen them all! Let's swiftly continue our tour of the SILVER WHISPER by taking a sneak peek into one of the stunningly beautiful suites. |
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All photos
and text: © 2001 Bart de
Boer
This ShipTour
was first published on October 27th, 2001