San Juan, St. Bart's, St. John's, Grenada, Dominica, St. Kitts, San Juan

Ocean view suites. For everyone. Only 296 guests and staff of 212 mean 1.4 guests to every staff member. Fewer guests, combined with more space and Silversea's signature six-star personalized service make for the ultimate sailing experience. Add in world class cuisine, and an all inclusive policy for beverages including alcoholic beverages and you have one of the best winning combinations in cruising.

When Perrier Jouet is the house champagne, you know you're going to have a great time on board. I can't say enough about how convenient it is to have cocktails included. If you like your wine and mixed drinks like I do, this makes a lot of sense.

Sure, it's reflected in the price of the cruise, but you are on Silverseas. After spending a week in the Caribbean, just how much do you think your bar bill will be? At $7.50 a crack for a cocktail of the day on Royal Caribbean, they add up quickly. On Silverseas, wines were not only palatable, they were really good. Get to know the wine steward and you can work your way into even better wines without pulling out your pocketbook.

As you can probably imagine, dining and food is outstanding. Silverseas offers many culinary & wine voyages incorporating master chefs of Relais & Chateaux restaurants from around the world along with wine and spirits ambassadors from top establishments around the world.  For more information see Food & Wine at Sea. There are formal evenings, so a suit and tie, tux, and evening dress are required.

Public space is intimate yet inviting. Classy and elegant, it's hard not to feel comfortable wherever you go. After a few days on board, you feel like you know everyone. Its something you just don't experience on a larger ship. Although spacious, this is a small yacht. It's one more level of intimacy compared to a ship holding 1000 passengers.

Cabins are elegantly appointed, well thought out, and classy. Service is outstanding. There's always someone looking to make your day a little more pleasant without being overbearing.

I wouldn't recommend traveling with children, as they are most likely to be bored without an abundance of activities for them compared to some of the larger ships like Royal Caribbean. An all inclusive luxury cruise on the sea, this is one of the best values on the market now, with prices at all time lows. There are a few cruises offered with a $1,000 cabin credit, along with airfare included.

Silverseas Cruises voted best cruise line for luxury small ships by Luxury Travel Advisor 2008.

Silversea Cruises has been named the winner of Travel + Leisure magazine's "World's Best Award" for 2008.
This is the seventh time the ultra-luxury cruise line has been honored with the highly coveted award.  

About the Authors

Sue and Charlie Shimkus are owners of Lake Zurich Travel & Cruise established in 1974. Sue has served on the travel advisory board for Alaska, Hawaii, & Ireland and executive board of the local chapter American Society of Travel Agents.  Lake Zurich Travel & Cruise is a member of the Signature Travel Network. Visit Lake Zurich Travel for Expert Travel Advice and resources finding the Right Vacation for you!

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