My Honest Silversea Silver Spirit Review: The Ship, Food and Ports
Silversea’s Silver Spirit is a beautiful ship with spacious suites, polished service and enough room that it never felt crowded. Our voyage from Southampton to Lisbon included everything from an unexpectedly wonderful day in Guernsey to rough seas, a canceled port, memorable wine experiences in Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, and a few European cities I would happily return to.
It was not a perfect cruise. The food became repetitive, the reservation system could be frustrating and our butler was occasionally a little too attentive. But the ship itself was elegant and comfortable, the staff was exceptional, and the itinerary introduced me to places I might never have chosen for a standalone trip.
If you are considering sailing on Silver Spirit, here is my honest review of the ship, the service, the food and each stop on our cruise.
First Impressions of Silver Spirit
Silver Spirit is elegant without feeling enormous or impersonal. The ship has plenty of attractive common areas where you can meet friends for a drink, play trivia or simply sit and read. Even when everyone was forced indoors during two rough days at sea, I never felt as though the ship was crowded.
That may have been the thing I appreciated most. There were always quiet places to escape, yet the ship also had comfortable lounges and gathering spaces when we wanted to spend time with the friends traveling with us.
The staff throughout the ship were friendly, attentive and eager to help. Service is one of Silversea’s greatest strengths. Requests were handled quickly, staff members remembered preferences and the overall atmosphere was warm rather than formal or stiff.
Our Silver Spirit Suite and Butler Service
The suites on Silver Spirit are impressively large by cruise-ship standards. Having room to spread out made a real difference on a longer voyage, particularly when bad weather kept us onboard. The bathroom included a bathtub, another luxury that helped the suite feel more like a hotel room than a typical cruise cabin.
Every suite comes with butler service. Our butler filled our water bottles each day, arranged special requests and could have cocktails waiting when we returned from an excursion. He also helped with the onboard wellness program and was especially useful when we needed to change a dinner reservation at the last minute.
He also delivered afternoon canapés, which were a nice touch when we wanted to relax in the suite with wine we had purchased ashore.
My only quibble is that our butler was almost too attentive. He frequently checked to see whether we needed anything, and at times it felt a little like hovering. I realize that is hardly a serious complaint. Some passengers will love that degree of attention. I simply prefer to ask when I need something.
The Spa and Hydrotherapy Area
The spa was one of my favorite areas of the ship. After our Brittany call was canceled because of the weather, we faced two very rough days at sea. We decided to make the best of it and purchased the hydrotherapy package.
It gave us access to a more private sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and relaxation area. My best strategy was to visit at less popular times, particularly during lunch. I often had the entire area to myself, which turned an uncomfortable stretch at sea into something much more relaxing.
I also booked a massage, which was excellent. If your itinerary includes several sea days, or if you simply enjoy spa time, the hydrotherapy package can be a worthwhile indulgence. The experience will be best if you can use the facilities when most passengers are eating or ashore.
Dining on Silver Spirit: My Honest Opinion
Food is highly subjective, but dining was the weakest part of the cruise for me. The food was fine, but I would not call it memorable. Menus felt limited, reservations were sometimes difficult to secure and after several days I grew tired of seeing many of the same choices.
There was an emphasis on beef and seafood, with surprisingly few simple chicken dishes. If you are not an adventurous eater or do not want rich food at every meal, the options can begin to feel repetitive. I expected more variety from a luxury cruise line.
The Arts Café was a bright spot and a good place for afternoon snacks. We also enjoyed having wine, meats and cheeses in our suite after returning from port. The afternoon canapés delivered by our butler made those informal evenings feel special.
The dining reservation system requires a little planning. Our butler was extremely helpful when we wanted to change a reservation, but passengers who prefer completely spontaneous dining may find the process frustrating.
Entertainment and Sea Days
Silver Spirit is not a ship built around nonstop entertainment, and that suited me. During our unexpected days at sea, we played bingo and trivia with friends, read and relaxed. The ship’s many lounges and quiet spaces made it easy to create our own rhythm.
This is a good ship for travelers who enjoy conversation, reading, cocktails and unhurried time with friends. If your idea of a cruise requires water slides, elaborate attractions or constant organized activity, this is probably not the right fit.
Laundry on Silver Spirit
One of the most practical amenities was the complimentary self-service laundry. It makes packing lighter much easier, especially on a longer European itinerary.
The laundry rooms can get busy. I found the best times to use them were early in the morning or while the ship was in port. Starting a load before breakfast or when most passengers were ashore generally meant less waiting.
Southampton: The Beginning of Our Cruise
We departed from Southampton, and embarkation was uneventful. That is exactly what you want from the first day of a cruise. We settled into our suite, explored the ship and began getting accustomed to the many restaurants, lounges and common areas.
Guernsey: The Unexpected Surprise
Guernsey was one of the biggest surprises of the cruise. I knew relatively little about this Channel Island before arriving, but I found it beautiful, welcoming and full of character.
The coastline and cliffs were dramatic, while the village was pleasant to explore on foot. We visited a World War II museum, an important reminder of the island’s wartime history, and spent time simply walking around and talking with local people. Everyone we met was exceptionally friendly.
Guernsey felt less overrun than many European cruise ports. It offered scenery, history and a genuine sense of place without requiring an elaborate itinerary. I would definitely return and spend more time exploring the island.
Brittany: The Port We Missed
Our next scheduled stop was in Brittany, but the weather deteriorated and the port was canceled. The seas became very rough, leaving us with two consecutive days onboard.
A missed port is always disappointing, particularly when it is somewhere you were looking forward to seeing. But weather is an unavoidable part of cruising, and the crew handled the change professionally. Between the spa, trivia, bingo, reading and time with friends, we found ways to enjoy the extra sea days.
The experience also reinforced the value of choosing a ship you will enjoy even when the itinerary does not go as planned. Silver Spirit passed that test.
Bordeaux and the Margaux Wine Region
Having two days in Bordeaux gave us the luxury of exploring without rushing. Some passengers went into town for breakfast or dinner, and it was easy to stroll in and out of the city during the extended stay.
Bordeaux itself is lovely, with elegant architecture, broad streets and plenty of cafés. On our first day, we visited two wineries in the Margaux region. The experience was enjoyable, but if I am being completely honest, I found the wineries good rather than remarkable. Perhaps my expectations were too high, or perhaps the more structured tasting experience simply did not feel particularly personal.
The city was worth seeing, but the following day delivered the wine experience I had hoped for.
Saint-Émilion: One of the Best Days of the Cruise
On our second day in Bordeaux, we took the train to Saint-Émilion. It was spectacular and easily one of my favorite stops of the entire trip.
My brother had introduced us to a local wine merchant, and we spent a fabulous afternoon with him in a wine cellar learning about the wines of the region. It was personal, relaxed and fascinating, the complete opposite of a more standardized winery tour.
Saint-Émilion itself is impossibly quaint. It is compact and walkable, with historic stone buildings, inviting cafés and seemingly endless places to taste and buy wine. It is also perfect for sitting at a café and people-watching between tastings.
I would return without hesitation and stay for several days. Of all the wine destinations on this itinerary, Saint-Émilion is the place that left me wanting more.
Bilbao: My New Favorite European City
Bilbao was spectacular. In fact, it may be my new favorite European city.
It is green, clean and strikingly beautiful, with contemporary design sitting comfortably alongside traditional architecture. The city is wonderfully walkable, especially along the water, and it never felt as chaotic or overrun as some of Europe’s better-known destinations.
We did not book a tour inside the Guggenheim Museum, but the building and surrounding grounds are worth seeing even if you never walk through the galleries. I especially loved Puppy, the enormous dog sculpture covered in living flowers outside the museum.
From the Guggenheim, we walked along the water to Casco Viejo, Bilbao’s atmospheric old town. Its narrow streets, plaza, cathedral and architecture made it a pleasure to wander without a rigid agenda.
Before returning to the ship, we bought wine, meats and cheeses to enjoy later in our suite. It was a simple day, but one of the most memorable. Bilbao is a city I would gladly revisit for a longer stay.
Porto and Graham’s Port Lodge
Our main plan in Porto was a visit to Graham’s Port Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia. As a Graham, this stop felt especially appropriate, but it would be worthwhile for anyone interested in learning how port is made and aged.
The lodge offered an engaging introduction to the region’s port tradition, followed by a tasting. Its hillside location also provides beautiful views across the Douro River toward Porto’s historic waterfront.
Porto has a wonderfully atmospheric setting, but the steep streets and hills can make even a short visit more tiring than it looks on a map. With limited time in port, focusing on the lodge gave our day a clear centerpiece rather than trying to rush between too many attractions.
Lisbon: Beautiful but Chaotic
Lisbon is undeniably picturesque, but it was also one of the most crowded and chaotic places on our itinerary. The historic neighborhoods are full of tiled buildings, viewpoints and character, yet heavy traffic and dense crowds can make getting around frustrating.
For us, a tuk-tuk tour was the best way to see the city. It allowed us to navigate Lisbon’s hills and traffic while covering far more ground than we could have managed on foot. It was also fun and gave us a useful overview of the city in a limited amount of time.
Lisbon’s central historic areas were quaint, but far too crowded for me to find them relaxing. I much preferred Estrela, a calmer, greener neighborhood that offered a welcome break from the busiest tourist streets.
Avenida da Liberdade is the place to go for upscale shopping and a more polished city atmosphere. Still, Lisbon did not capture me in the way Bilbao, Guernsey or Saint-Émilion did. I am glad I saw it, but next time I would spend more time in its quieter neighborhoods or choose Porto for a longer stay.
Who Would Enjoy Silver Spirit?
Silver Spirit is well suited to travelers who value spacious accommodations, attentive service, a relaxed atmosphere and a ship that never feels overwhelmed by passengers. It is also a strong choice for friends traveling together because there are so many comfortable places to gather over drinks or meet for activities.
The ship is less compelling for travelers who want a vast selection of casual food, completely flexible dining or high-energy entertainment. The menus and reservations were my greatest frustrations, although neither outweighed the things the ship did well.
Beth’s Final Thoughts
My Silver Spirit cruise was defined as much by the unexpected as by the itinerary itself. Guernsey surprised me. Saint-Émilion gave me the intimate wine experience I had hoped for. Bilbao became a new favorite. Lisbon reminded me how much crowd levels can shape my feelings about a destination. Even the canceled Brittany stop and rough sea days showed why the ship itself matters.
Silver Spirit is beautiful, comfortable and remarkably uncrowded. The suites are large, the staff is genuinely kind and the spa is an excellent retreat. Butler service adds convenience and can make special requests effortless, even if I occasionally found the attention a bit much.
Would I sail on Silver Spirit again? Yes, for the right itinerary and at the right price. I would simply go in knowing that the food may not be the highlight and make dining reservations early. For me, the spaciousness of the ship, quality of the service and memorable European ports made the voyage worthwhile.