ONBOARD SILVER NOVA — Travel advisors handling luxury-oriented clients will have plenty of accolades when asked to express the sumptuous merits of Silversea’s Silver Nova.

Having just embarked last week on its maiden voyage from Fusina – Italy’s port for Venice – the 728-passenger, 54,700-ton vessel is a visual marvel, but most importantly an engineering feat with an off-centre smokestack that balances the asymmetrical design.

Architecturally configured with an interior horizontal layout that enables lofty interior spaces rare on other luxury vessels, Silver Nova’s vast swaths of glass give passengers on outer decks and in most interior public areas unobstructed windows on the world for an intimate, immersive sense of place, whether at sea or in port.

Facing starboard on Deck 10, Nova’s lengthy main pool is the largest in Silversea’s fleet. One deck up, the glassed-in Cliff Whirlpool serenely faces portside with an infinity illusion. Beyond the pool deck, toward aft, passengers are sure to be delighted by dining at The Marquee, in sun or shade. Located portside, Silversea’s newest al fresco conception offers a combo of menus seen in other vessels’ Spaccanapoli pizzeria and The Grill. By night, The Marquee offers the Hot Rocks grill-it-yourself menu. Beyond the Marquee at aft, the Dusk Bar is lovely during day, glorious for pre-dinner cocktails at evening, particularly in glowing sunset as the ship sails from port.

The expansive pool deck on Silver Nova (credit Silversea)

Thanks to its horizontal design, natural daylight pours into hallways surrounding the ocean-facing elevators, as well as Nova’s abundance of lounges and bars, creating a feeling of openness throughout the ship.

On Deck 3, The Shelter Champagne Bar occupies the base of a three-deck atrium illuminated by soaring windows. Above it, the Arts Cafe coffee-bar and lounge is sidelined by desks for reception and excursions.

A deck higher, Silversea’s signature Dolce Vita bar and lounge is the spacious hub for pre- and post-dinner cocktails.

Among gathering venues, Nova’s pièce de résistance – particularly crucial for advisors who plan corporate retreat and incentive group cruises – the two-deck high-tech Venetian Lounge is illuminated with a double bank of windows that can be drawn or left open for lectures, special events and entertainment programs. Furbished with cushy chairs in subdued hues of silvery taupe, and sensibly graduated for easy viewing, the Venetian Lounge is arguably the most elegant show lounge at sea.

The two-deck Venetian Lounge, with double banks of windows – rare for any ship at sea – is a high tech venue that promises to be a boon for specialized or corporate groups (credit Toby Saltzman)

As anticipated and experienced on my four-day cruise, Silversea’s culinary finesse extends to Nova’s exceptional variety of dining options, including La Terrazza buffet and Silver Note jazz club.

Typically celebrated for La Dame’s French cuisine and connoisseur wine-pairing menus (superb in my experience on Nova), and the Japanese delicacies at Kaiseki, Nova garnered exceptional praise from me and fellow epicurean aficionados for Silversea’s signature S.A.L.T. program, whose acronym stands for Sea And Land Taste.

Those who immersed themselves in the trio of options participated in a hands-on cooking session at S.A.L.T. Lab; indulged in a multi-course wine-pairing feast prepared in view by chefs in the same space renamed for evenings as S.A.L.T. Chef’s Table; and on another evening dined in S.A.L.T. Kitchen on regional and local choices from the daily changing menu.

Some opted for total immersion by joining a signature S.A.L.T. excursion, which on this short itinerary included visits to renowned local restaurants for a wine-pairing lunch (for a past article on the S.A.L.T. program, click here).

Dolce Vita bar and lounge (credit Silversea)

Designed to “whisper luxury” – as Silversea President and CEO Barbara Muckermann describes the nuance of decidedly residential styling that allows passengers themselves to shine above decor – Nova exudes elegance throughout.

At the end of the day, the all-balcony-suite Nova offers Silversea’s greatest variety of suite categories – starting with 357-square-feet entry level suites – where passengers can expect to be coddled in luxurious comfort and catered to by a butler.

Benefitting from the horizontal design, Nova’s most luxurious suites are located aft, with panoramic views over the ship’s wake. These include two spacious Otium Spa suites at1,324 square feet designed for wellness buffs, each with a private whirlpool. Two Grand Suites at 915 square feet occupy Nova’s front for beautiful forward-facing views.

Bespoke elements in all suites run from walls clad in creamed walnut, to custom-designed mattresses dressed in linens by Italy’s Rivolta Carmignani for sublime sleeping, to ample storage space, to marble-clad bathrooms fitted with deep drawers for storage of toiletries.

When banking on confidence that promoting a luxurious cruising lifestyle is key to attracting and retaining luxury-oriented clients, travel advisors can rest assured Silver Nova is destined to meet their desires.