ABOVE: The Silver Whisper lies at
anchor off St. Peter Port, Guernsey. (The photo was taken from one of the ship's
tenders.)
The ship
The M/V Silver Whisper is considered a small ship in
today's cruise market, but its tonnage of 28,258 grt makes it comparable to
"midsize" ships like Oceania's Regatta and classic ocean liners such as
the Empress of Canada and the Constitution. It just feels smaller
than vessels of similar dimensions because it carries fewer passengers in the
same amount of space. Its rated capacity of 382 is about half that of comparable
ships, and its space-to-passenger ratio is the highest in the cruise
industry.
The decor and ambience of the Silver Whisper are best
described as "elegantly restrained." High-quality materials such as hardwoods
and marble are used throughout the ship, but you won't find massive atriums,
glittering lights, rococo furnishings, or Las Vegas-style glitz in the Silver
Whisper's public spaces. Despite (or perhaps because of ) Silversea's
wealthy clientele, the ship conveys a feeling of upper-class comfort rather than
conspicuous consumption.
The Silver Whisper had its inaugural cruise in July, 2001
and has been cruising the globe ever since. From spring through early fall, the
ship is usually found in the Mediterranean and the Baltic, with occasional
cruises to Spitzbergen, Iceland, the Black Sea, and other destinations that tend
to be overlooked by the mass-market cruise lines. Nearly every itinerary is
different, making the Silver Whisper--and Silversea Cruises--popular with
repeat guests.
Next page:
Silver Whisper staterooms
|