Boomer-friendly Silversea's new luxury cruise ship was designed to attract younger guests like me. I'm sold. (2024)

Advertisem*nt

The Royal Caribbean-owned brand's target demographic isn't exclusive to baby boomers anymore.

Instead, its newest Nova Class ships, Silver Nova and Ray, have been catching the eyes and wallets of a younger generation.

Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told analysts in late July that the two ships have seen an influx of younger cruisers compared to Silversea's 10 other vessels.

Advertisem*nt

'Younger' means guests in their 40s and mid-50s, a Silversea executive said.

Some loyal Silversea cruisers may be unhappy with the company's move towards more contemporary ships — "and that's perfectly fine with us," Andrea Tonet, Silversea's vice president of product strategy, told reporters during a June media panel.

Silver Ray and Nova were designed to look more like modern resorts than traditional cruise ships, which he said is "discontinuous and disruptive compared with previous ships" as an appeal to new, younger customers.

Advertisem*nt

That's me. I'm new to the brand and younger than its average demographic.

In mid-June, I, 27, attended a complimentary five-night sailing for reporters and travel agents on Silver Ray, the latest of the two Nova-class vessels.

It was my first time on a Silversea ship, and I think the company did a great job of curating an environment that could attract passengers my age.

To capture the next generation of wealthy cruisers, Tonet said Silver Ray's design moves away from "stereotypical" luxury ship elements —which he said includes being "very closed and, to some extent, also boring" — in favor of a chic yet understated flare.

The window-lined vessel is bright, and its decor is contemporary and classy without being garish. Think of it as akin to a Loews hotel instead of a dated, distasteful luxury resort that had its glory days in the 1980s.

There are still venues and amenities that could appease Silversea traditionalists.

Every cabin has a butler, a typical feature of the cruise line. The red-hued Atlantide restaurant specializes in traditional cruise fare, while the Panorama Lounge has a standard cruise observation lounge feel with fun add-ons like an outdoor firepit and live band.

Advertisem*nt

But if you prefer fresher takes on cruising staples, Silver Ray's restaurants will be perfect for you.

It's hard to immerse yourself in a destination's local culture when you're only at port for 12 hours. It's one of my biggest gripes with cruises, a sentiment I've heard echoed by other travelers my age.

Silversea has a middle-ground offering: SALT, an acronym for "sea and land taste."

The company's culinary program brings cuisines local to the itinerary's region aboard the ship. On Silver Ray, this comes in the form of themed excursions and a bar, cooking class, restaurant, and tasting menu.

Advertisem*nt

You could try the foods of every destination without having to disembark the ship.

Half the menu at the complimentary SALT Kitchen rotates almost daily to showcase dishes from the day's port.

SALT Bar's menu doesn't change, but it does put a boozy spin on local flavors, leading to co*cktails like dry sherry with mint and sparkling lemonade, as an example from the Portugal and Spain cruise I was on.

It's not the same as dining or drinking at a local bar. But at least it's relatively exciting and more culturally "immersive" than eating a hamburger and fries while you're docked off the coast of Spain.

Advertisem*nt

Italian restaurant La Terraza could attract young travelers seeking a more adventurous meal.

The menu has two sections, one "classic" and another "adventure."

The latter, designed to showcase contemporary Italian fare, has less-than-traditional options like whipped mortadella with pecorino chips and grilled seabass with stuffed cabbage and an anchovy-prosecco sauce.

(In case you're wondering, the whipped mortadella was as pink and meaty as you probably envisioned.)

Advertisem*nt

If a photogenic ship is more important to you than food, Silver Ray could also tick your boxes.

Notable design details make Silver Ray feel like an upscale, bright, and open floating resort. It could make even the biggest cruise naysayer excited to flex their vacation-at-sea on their Instagram story.

For example, the guest elevators — located by the edge of the ship, half port side, and half starboard side — are lined with glass walls, giving guests a full scene of the ship's surroundings.

The ocean views easily top that of any elevator I've had at a hotel.

Advertisem*nt

Instead of a traditional pool deck with lounge chairs flanking all sides of the pool, Silver Ray's is on the edge of the ship.

Swimmers get a photogenic view of the vessel's surroundings, similar to a rooftop infinity pool at an upscale resort.

The music at the pool deck isn't a grating mix of top-100 pop and country, as I've heard on other cruise ships.

Instead, the speakers blasted what I like to call "tunes you'd hear at a hotel bar that was trendy in the mid-2010s," or repetitive, non-offensive, digestible, and occasionally synth-heavy music.

You might not find yourself singing along to the playlist, but it does help curate a trendy and upscale vibe.

Advertisem*nt

Speaking of music, Silver Ray has a two-floor theater that hosts entertainment, such as a comedic musician and a 1980s cover band.

I find most traditional song-and-dance cruise shows boring and tacky. I much prefer the exciting nighttime entertainment of mass-market cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian, which have lineups like Broadway musicals and game shows.

Silversea's latest ship doesn't have its sister brand, Royal Caribbean's ice skating shows or dramatic swim, dive, and dance showcase. However, along with shows in the theater, the new ship does have violinists, pianists, and singers at the Silver Note restaurant and various bars and lounges, which Tonet said creates a "more vibrant type of experience."

Advertisem*nt

The concept is nothing new. Almost every cruise I've been on has had performers — but these had different vibes.

But instead of pop-y cover bands performing renditions of "Redbone" by Childish Gambino without the "stay woke" lyric (I'm looking at you, Royal Caribbean), Silver Ray's musicians primarily focus on genres like classic hits, oldies, and jazz.

I don't know if I would recommend Silver Ray's theater shows to other travelers of my age. I would, however, suggest they head to one of its bars, grab a co*cktail, and enjoy the live music.

Advertisem*nt

Ultimately, Silver Ray shouldn't be your top pick if you're a younger traveler who wants a loud, attraction-filled ship.

I typically love the exciting amenities of mass-market cruise ships. Unfortunately, Silversea's latest vessel lacks them.

And yet, I didn't miss them.

Instead, Silver Ray is a great option for relaxing and unplugging. And if you, like me, hate the tacky and windowless spaces of some of its larger counterparts, the new vessel could be a good option for you, too.

Who needs water slides and rock climbing walls when you have a complimentary sauna and cooking class — all in a quiet, contemporary, and polished space that could temper the concerns of any gaudy-ship-hating millennial?