Sailing on the all-inclusive, luxury, passenger Silver Ray from Silversea Cruises , on a four-night preview cruise from Lisbon to Cadiz, Spain and back, I experienced what opulence at sea really means, thanks in part to my dedicated butler, Rose. After learning some of my personal preferences, she pampered me with a caviar spread and poured iced champagne every evening at 5 p.
One night, she even added a surprise lemongrass balm, turning the large glass shower in my suite into an aromatherapy retreat. Later that night, I ended up dancing around the spacious pool deck and partying like it was , just like the Prince song that was played by a live band skilled in Eighties hits.
It was the ultimate combination of intense relaxation followed by a healthy dose of letting loose. Even when inside, the focus is on bringing the outside in. All onboard stay in roomy suites each with their own balcony, marbled bathroom, and butler service.
The most over-the-top are the 1,square-foot Otium Suites complete with a wraparound balcony featuring a private whirlpool. Beyond the beautiful design, high-touch service, and luxurious accommodations, the star of the show on the Silver Ray is S. Maria in Sintra, the westernmost vineyard in Europe. Later, I learned to make Portuguese cream tarts in the S. Lab, a space set up with cooking stations. I sipped Spanish gin at the S. Bar before dinner in the S. Kitchen, one of two main restaurants, where a special menu was focused on the culinary traditions of Cadiz, which was right outside the window.
His enthusiasm for local product was endearing, and he shared a tasting of alheira explaining that the bready poultry sausage dates to 15th-century Portuguese Jews fleeing the Inquisition. Lab pictured. Like its sister ship, Silver Ray is built for the future, with a hull designed to reduce friction with water to save fuel and a large-scale hybrid power source, involving a combination of liquified natural gas LNG , marine oil, and batteries.
