Voyage, Bali to Singapore Silver Muse March 2019
“To unpathed waters and undreamed shores” William Shakespeare
Savvy travellers know the allure of life on board a luxury cruise liner; they are accustomed to having it all! As the audacious cruise traveller needs to grow, so too does the fleet of Silversea. Continually evolving with innovative and even more deluxe ways for you to travel the world, we are witnessing a new era in luxury cruising.
The newest star in the fleet, Silver Muse elevates the standard of indulgence, without compromising on size, onboard intimacy, or individual service. Known worldwide for their attention to detail and warmth of hospitality, the staff on SilverSea work meticulously to bring quality service that is synonymous with the name of Silversea.
I aspire to Wallace J. Nichols philosophy that the water has the power to heal and being near to the water promotes mental health and happiness. I always choose an itinerary with bountiful days at sea, it brings back the nostalgia of sea travel, endless ocean views, sunsets on the deck, velvet nights dining under the stars, and the highly addictive practice of watching the ocean for hours from my balcony, not to mention the most restorative sleep you will ever experience since childhood. It also gives you the opportunity to explore the culture and features of the ship.
The Silver Muse is a floating gallery; it is a revelation discovering new corners of the ship with its eclectic collection of art. The generous employment of teak decking, Italian marble, Chrystal Chandeliers and wall to wall glass inviting in the colours of the sea and sky, cleverly reflected in the softly muted pallet of the interior.
Each suite is meticulously appointed, decorated in calm, soothing neutrals, soft underfoot with deeply comfortable beds. Best of all is the unrivalled service of a personal Butler. Day or night at your service, our ever-cheerful Butler went beyond the call of duty to meet our every need, nothing was too much trouble, he was courteous, thoughtful and in the end, a real friend, who we hope to meet again!
If you are Epicurious like me, you will find your soul as full as your stomach onboard Silver Muse. There is a plethora of dining options, most with a bar in situ, in which you can explore a diverse range of cuisine, cocktails, and fine wines. Like most, we have our favourites, an oldie but a goodie is La Terrazza, we always make it a point on our first night of the cruise to dining table pour Deux by candlelight on delicious Italian fare.
Another must is Hot Rock, laid back cooking on a hot stone under a sky flecked with stars. But the real joy of eating is coming together and sharing a meal with newfound friends, The Atlantide a very elegant grill or Indochine a tempting taste of Asia is perfect for forging new friendships and telling of time-worn stories. I love the cuisine and theatre of the Japanese culture, so I was head over heels with Kaiseki.
La Dame is all about crisp linen, white-glove service, and fine French cuisine. For a taste of the golden days of dancing cheek to cheek and a little old-fashioned romance Silver Note, the supper club is perfect. On those lazy nights and days at sea, kick back at Spaccanapoli the best pizza I have had this side of Naples. Early morning coffee or a late afternoon pick me up, head to the chic Arts Café, a great spot to meet fellow passengers.
On previous cruises, it was the ship’s safety drill that gave me the opportunity to appraise my fellow passengers often inventing their life story in my head, a favourite pastime of mine. But once that was over, I usually didn’t see those same passengers until disembarking.
Not so on the Silver Muse. The amazing nightly entertainment and daily ship activities, something for everyone, flushed us out. The spontaneity onboard was catching, the sail away party poolside had everyone enjoying a Jimmy Buffet moment, dancing in and around the pool, sipping cocktails after all, “It’s five o’clock somewhere!”
The generosity and spirit of the entertainment continued in Silver Note and late-night disco in the Panorama lounge. The Voices of Silversea entertained the guests nightly in the Venetian Lounge, world-class entertainment, the finale performance of the songs of Queen was an unforgettable and very stylish performance.
Silver Muse is genuinely a ship for all seasons, with something for everyone, my neighbours in the suite next to me danced every night cheek to cheek, whereas my neighbours on the other side preferred late-night casino sessions. While my husband was off enjoying enrichment lectures, I was salivating and taking notes at a cooking demonstration.
The choice is yours to enjoy! The combination of endless days at sea with exquisite ocean views and exhilarating days at the port of call is unmatched. As with every detail onboard SilverSea, the shore excursions have been well thought out and planned with individual needs in mind, once again something for everyone.
We boarded in Bali land of the Gods with a rich and diverse culture, with so much to see and do on the island it is a favourite port of call. Sandakan in Sabah also known as the land beneath the wind has an amazing Heritage Trail with glimpses into the Colonial era and the Japanese occupation during WW11.
Romblon Islands in The Philippines is a picturesque island with white sand beaches and historic Spanish forts, it is known for its love of marble. Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is a densely populated bayside city with much to see and do, it is rich in Spanish Colonial History.
Coron one of the most picturesque and Instagram worthy destinations, turquoise lakes, and breath-taking Karst rock formations, is a popular diving destination with entombed WW11 shipwrecks close to the shores. It is also home to indigenous tribes.
As always, the hardest part of any cruise is disembarking; inevitably there is a certain amount of envy for those who are continuing to new ports of call. With heavy hearts, reality bites and we return to the real world. We are already planning the next cruise-in our minds.
Silversea Cruises, It’s all there for you, so do whatever it is that makes you, the savvy world traveller you are.
“Thousands have lived without love, but not one without water” W.H.Auden
Joy Greedy – Travel Writer and Published Fiction Novelist “In the Shade of the Tembusu Tree”. See Amazon