Everything You Need to Know About Silver Nova and Silver Ray

Doing something well is commendable; doing something new and doing it well defines vision. Silversea’s Silver Ray and Silver Nova, its newest 728-passenger ships, are not only a continuation of a legacy in luxury voyages but also represents a bold way forward for the brand.

The ships are the 11th and 12th in the Silversea fleet.

What makes Silver Nova and Silver Ray so different?

Beginning with its basic structure, the Nova class ships extend to their steel frames. The Nova Class vessels are the largest and most spacious of the Silversea fleet, thanks to a “horizontal” design.

This breakthrough in layout means more square footage to accommodate the plush lounges and extraordinary bars and restaurants.

The design difference of Silver Nova and Silver Ray also extends to its all-balcony suites, which features the incredible views you’d expect. A contemporary aesthetic is paired with additional open-air spaces, creating Silversea’s strong connection between the ship and guests’ surroundings.

Below deck, revolutionary design also applies to technology and engineering; both Silver Nova and Silver Ray are designed to achieve low-emission operation.

Let’s take a closer look at the new elements that make Nova class ships unique.

Two new buzzwords in design for Silversea

As the first of its Nova-class ships, Silver Nova, now joined by Silver Ray, is unique for Silversea in that its design is horizontal rather than vertical (in which all suites are located forward while public rooms are toward the aft). The benefit with a horizontal layout is that the designers ensure that public room decks feature higher ceilings for a more spacious ambience and a better guest flow.

And, conversely, on Nova and Ray, all suites are grouped together on four different decks. The advantage here is that, with suites stretch from forward to aft Silversea is offering more variety in layouts. For instance, an entirely new category of suites is built around the ship’s aft section, and feature great wake views.

Enhanced technology means noise and vibrations from the engine room on this first Nova-class vessel are no longer an issue, allowing latitude in the placement of suites and public spaces.

New and redesigned public spaces

Their 1,400-square-foot pool area makes it clear that this is a different concept for a ship. The horseshoe-shaped area features the largest pool in the fleet. Also on the outer decks: an infinity-style Cliff Whirlpool on Deck 11 and the all-new Dusk Bar, one deck below.

New to Silversea on both Silver Nova and Silver Ray: The Shelter, an intimate, evening-only bar with a maximum capacity of 32. This Deck 3 venue is ideal for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap, opening to the Atrium with Atlantide and S.A.L.T. Kitchen on either side.

The Venetian Lounge has a capacity of 370 guests, who can listen to lectures or attend performances in this two-story space. The S.A.L.T. Lab and S.A.L.T. Bar have been relocated from their midship position on other Silversea ships to Deck 10 for views that integrate the outside into the spaces. Both have been expanded.

The Otium Spa aboard the two ships feature the brand’s largest thermal suite, inspired by the ancient baths of Rome. Guests will find a steam room, sauna, decorative water fountain and floor-to-ceiling windows. It will be the first Otium Spa to have a spa-centric indoor pool.

Inventive suites

Silver Nova and Silver Ray have 13 suite categories that contain a choice of 364 suites. Silversea’s interior designers strove for premium, residential touches, including decorative lighting, fluted mirrors and plush furniture. The concept is described as “whispered luxury.”

The crown jewel of any Silversea suite at sea is the Otium Suites, a new category that has eye-catching “walls of windows” offering a 270-degree view. Again, the ship’s design allows this unique space at the aft starboard corner at the back of the ship. Guests in Otium Suites, at 1,324 square feet, will be treated to premium amenities as well as a large living room.

Master Suites, also a new concept, offer accommodations of 721 to 826 square feet and have balconies that wrap around the back of the ship and bathrooms that offer views to the outside. Medallion Suites are 50 percent wider than a standard veranda suite and also have a larger balcony.

Re-imagined dining concepts

Five decks’ worth of restaurants, bars and entertainment spaces create a lively hub on Silver Nova. Ten bars and lounges and eight distinct dining venues create a bounty of choices. These venues are spread across the ship, allowing easier social connections in a more open-concept floor plan.

Returning restaurant concepts include Atlantide and S.A.L.T. Kitchen, along with new design concepts, including the Marquee. This light-filled space on Deck 10 incorporates the existing Grill and Spaccanapoli authentic pizzeria into one casual but elegant dining venue.

Specialty dining venues Kaiseki and La Dame are more luxe than ever. Wine plays an important role at La Dame. where exclusive pairings will be offered.

And one of our favorite new-to-Silversea venues is the transformation of S.A.L.T. Lab into S.A.L.T. Chef’s Table in the evening, offering a multi-course wine-paired dining extravaganza.

On Silver Nova and Silver Ray, art is at the heart

Guests will find more than 1,700 pieces of artwork onboard Nova class ships, making it a veritable floating gallery of sculpture, collages, photographs, tapestries (and pieces that look like tapestry). Guests will find antique maps and even a muraled ceiling in the library that beckons passengers to look up and revel in the piece painted specifically for this spot.

Silver Nova and Silver Ray feature new on-board dress code

During the day, guests can don casual wear similar to five-star resort sportswear. The revision to the dress code also notes that guests should wear flats or low heels on desk.

After 6 p.m. , the ask is for elegant casual for casual evenings. Women may wear slacks and blouses or skirts or a causal frock. Men may wear a collared shirt and slacks, but a jacket is optional. If you would like to wear dressier garb, you are welcome to do that too. Note that on formal optional nights, men must wear a jacket indoors.

Based on the length of the cruise, you may not need formal attire. A seven-day cruise is elegant casual every evening, unless you wish to go dressier; an eight- to 14-day cruise has one or two formal optional nights, and a cruise of 15 days or more will have at least two formal optional nights.