Walking the Decks of the Muse

The Mediterranean sun rises over Silversea’s Silver Muse on her first full day in service, April 4, 2017. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

To celebrate my first morning aboard Silversea’s brand-new Silver Muse, I was up at six and on-deck half an hour later, just in time to catch the sun rise over the sea off the French Riviera. We’d come to almost a total stop; with so little distance for us to travel from Genoa to Marseille, France, where we’ll arrive tomorrow, there’s just no need for us to be underway.

Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

So while we bob here in the Mediterranean, I’ve made it my mission to begin exploring this great ship. This is one of Silversea’s brightest and most beautiful vessels yet, and there are spaces that you will fall instantly in love with. No two people have the same opinion, but I notice that there are already rooms that speak to certain people. Passenger flow is much better than aboard the Silver Spirit, and Silver Muse boasts more bars, lounges and dining options than her predecessor.

One of the things I’ve noticed about Silver Muse is just how wide, open and inviting her outdoor deck space is. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Seats are more plentiful (and less crowded) than aboard Silver Spirit. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Crew have been busy all day making this new ship sparkle even more than it already does. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Before I begin today’s report, three readers have already contacted me, inquiring about the dress codes for each dining venue onboard. Here they are, courtesy of today’s Silversea Chronicles:

• Atlantide (Deck 4): Formal
• Indochine (Deck 4): Informal
• Kaiseki (Deck 4): Informal
• La Dame (Deck 4): Formal
• La Terrazza (Deck 7): Informal
• Silver Note (Deck 7): Informal
• Hot Rocks (Deck 10): Casual

Dolce Vita

Perhaps the most glitzy space onboard, Dolce Vita is also one of the largest public rooms of any Silversea ship. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

It’s the first space most of us will see when we step aboard Silver Muse: the gorgeous Dolce Vita. Located on Deck 5 adjacent to the ship’s Reception and Shore Excursion desks, Dolce Vita is the largest bar onboard. It’s a big departure from the teal and blue, Art Deco-styling that Silversea applied to its entire fleet after the concept aboard Silver Spirit proved popular, but one that lends the space a sort of grand opulence that you don’t really see on many ships these days.

I enjoyed pre-dinner drinks here tonight, and found the chairs comfortable and the acoustics good. The live music was easy to hear, and I really enjoyed the ambiance of the overall space.

There’s more than enough seating for everyone, and oversized windows let in more natural light than ever before. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Who’d have thought a space like this would exist on a 596-passenger ship? There certainly is a ‘wow’ factor to it! Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

My only disappointment with Dolce Vita: while the drink menu folders are superbly designed, the actual cocktail list within is the same one that Silversea has had for years. Wouldn’t it be nice, in a gorgeous bar named Dolce Vita, to have some Italian-themed cocktails that are unique to this space?

It’s also a little on the big side. Okay, it’s cavernous, and probably two to thee times as large as The Bar on Silver Spirit. But that’s a small detail, and I have no doubt Silversea will see how traffic in the room goes once the ship’s formal revenue voyages begin. Right now, though, it’s a heck of a great place to lounge around with a good book and a drink, size and all.

Indochine

New is Indochine: one of two new restaurants intended to replace the under-utilized main dining room. Silver Muse lacks this traditional cruising space, and I must say I haven’t missed it yet. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

In the afternoon, I did a “pub crawl” of the ship’s different dining venues. First up: Indochine. This is only open most nights for dinner from 7:00pm to 9:30pm, though check your Silversea Chronicles for exact timings.

One of two venues that replaced the main dining room aboard Silver Muse, Indochine carries no surcharge and recommends Informal attire for its dress code. I haven’t dined here yet, but the décor is easily some of the most unique aboard Silver Muse.

Indochine serves up Asian cuisines, from Vietnamese Pho to tasty Indian curry and Paneer. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Indochine also sports its own bar, open for guests to waltz in and enjoy a cocktail. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Indochine, like nearly every restaurant on this ship, has its own dedicated bar area. It’s a super cool idea, and its one that really isn’t being promoted all that heavily by Silversea. It should: it’s a great opportunity for guests to enjoy their surroundings onboard Silver Muse, regardless of their diner reservations. In fact, you can start off with cocktails in one restaurant, make your way to another for dinner, and enjoy a nightcap in a third restaurant.

La Dame

La Dame, the newest iteration of the Relais & Chateaux dining experience known as Le Champagne on the line’s other vessels. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Just off the main dining entry ‘spoke’ on Deck 4 is La Dame, the new iteration of the Relais & Chateaux restaurant known as Le Champagne on the rest of the fleet. This elegant, intimate experience (the room is seldom allowed to fill up completely at any given time) costs $60 per person, and formal dress is required.

La Dame does not have its own bar, but it is anchored by a fabulous wine cellar that is situated in the center of the room.

At the heart of La Dame: a wine collection to make even connoisseurs drool. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Silversea wisely kept the gracious styling of this room that was developed for Silver Spirit. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Décor and design here is similar (one might say nearly identical) to that of Le Champagne aboard Silver Spirit. But it works great there, and it works just as well here, too. If it’s not broke, why fix it?

The Grill

At The Pool Deck: The Grill gets a new menu of casual fare. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

I had lunch at The Grill today. The most casual dining venue aboard, the Grill on Deck 10 is casual all day, every day – though people usually put on slightly dressier clothes at night, when it turns into Hot Rocks: an interactive dining venue that allows you to cook your own cuts of meat or seafood atop a piping-hot slab of volcanic rock.

Hard to mess with a classic – but I love the lighter, more colourful place settings, cutlery and glassware. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

The luchtime menu for this poolside dining venue has changed somewhat from past ships. New to the menu: a selection of wraps and sandwiches that those looking to watch their food intake will no doubt love. The burger selection has been paired back, and the gourmet burgers that were introduced about a year ago have mysteriously disappeared. But all the favorites, like the tasty hot dogs and the chips

Make sure to flip the menu over; it has a second page hiding behind the first that’s a bit tough to see!

Silver Note

Silver Note, on Deck 7, is the latest version of the STARS concept that was developed for Silver Spirit. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Similar in design and concept to Stars aboard Silver Spirit, Silver Note combines small-bite tasting plates with smooth live jazz music for a decidedly entertaining, supperclub-style experience.

I ate here tonight and greatly enjoyed the live music, which was as superb as I remember it being aboard Silver Spirit. However, the layout – including the tables and chairs – have a more “restaurant” feel to them here, which should eliminate what many thought was Star’s greatest issue: was it a causal drinks venue, or a proper sit down restaurant?

Based around the concept of small-plate dishes served over the course of the evening, the food here is accompanied by some great live jazz music. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

We tested a modified menu made specially for our small media group by Silversea’s culinary director, Rudi Scholdis. Because of that, I can’t really comment on what the exact menu for Silver Note will be. However, it would be reasonable to expect high quality from this imaginative dining venue that is frequently packed to standing-room only aboard Silver Spirit.

Nighttime Pool, Muse-style. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Finally, I enjoyed tonight the things that I have always enjoyed on Silversea ships: a nightcap in the Panorama Lounge, with its high-energy disco vibe; followed by a stroll out on deck before retiring to my suite for the evening. It’s great to have a new ship with lots of bells-and-whistles and newfangled features, but it’s even better when you’re still able to do the things you’ve always loved to do on past ships. And Silversea’s new Silver Muse certainly fulfills that requirement.

Goodnight from onboard Silversea’s Silver Muse! Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders

Our Live Voyage Report from the opening voyage of Silversea’s Silver Muse continues tomorrow with more from the ship and her first-ever port of call, Marseille, France! Follow along on twitter by following @deckchairblog.

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