SOME QUICK COMPARISONS
Tough Choice - Regent or Silversea. Both are excellent cruise lines things are just a little different between the "American" concept and the "European" concept. .
Dinner - Silversea has 2 pay restaurants at night. La Dame $160pp and Kaiseki $80 pp. More international dishes in the main restaurant.
Regent has a different menu each night and also at dinner they have the "Always Available" menu which offers something for everyone.Both great with a nod to Regent.
Breakfast and lunch about the same on both ships. Buffet bigger on Silversea but not necessarily better. If you like pizza there are tons of options on Silversea.
Cabins - both great! Silversea great design, Regent 100 sq ft bigger.
Staff outstanding on both lines. Silversea has more staff from all over the world. Regent has more Filopino's.
Guests - Silversea has a lot of Europeans and Regent has mostly English speaking guests, changes the atmosphere a little.
Silversea Arts Cafe - fancier than the coffee corner with lots of cakes and cookies. Seating on lush couches and chairs with tiny tables. Very European. Regent Coffee Corner different concept. Looks like a coffee shop. Chairs and tables which to me is more comfortable when eating and drinking. Very American. Some will like the Art Cafe some will like the Coffee Corner.
Tours - Silversea has at least one tour in each port included in your fare. Least expensive tour was around $60 pp. But many were very expensive. I was told that Silversea has guests meet in different shipboard locations for tours so not the "big" Regent crowd in the theatre. I thought that was a good idea. HOWEVER on this cruise all tours met on the dock. First day light rain and heavy wind. Today a really heavy wind and everyone was blown to pieces. They stood out there for a long time. Seems to me meeting on the ship is better even if it is a big crowd.
Laundry - Silversea for a charge. After 100 nights on Silversea you get free laundry. Regent laundry is free for everyone.
Butlers - Silversea has a butler for all cabins and only one room steward. Regent has two room stewards and only has butlers for large suites only. Personally I do not need and do not like having a butler. On rare occassions it has been helpful to have a butler IT ALL DEPENDS on the Butler.
WHAT IS BETTER - SILVERSEA OR REGENT?
SILVERSEA: Not all inclusive - costs for tours, restaurants, no laundry. Wines are mostly European. Ship is nice with an understated decor I am sure less expensive to build than the Regent ships. Diverse passengers create a different atmosphere. I have been on other Silversea ships but the RAY and NOVA are quite different. Both identical except interior finish out.
REGENT: True All Inclusive. Built with focus on first class with "everything" the new ships have the "wow" factor. I am sure they are more expensive ships. Free tours, free laundry, all restaurants included. Primarily Amercian, Canadian & Australian and English speaking guests.
Any questions? Post on LCT or email me at keene@keenetravel.com
I am not doing anymore Silversea Expedition Cruises. Been almost everywhere Expedition ships go. So I am looking at Silversea classic cruises now with a few options with a lower price point for any one who wants to try out Silversea. Under consideration now is the following. I will decide for sure and send out a flyer when I get back.
SILVER RAY - 4/16/2026 to 4/27/2026 - 11 days - Spain and a day in Morroco
Barcelona - Ibiza - Plama de Mallorca (2 days) day at sea - Cadiz - Tangier, Morroco, Malaga - Carttagena, Valencia, Barcelona
Port to Port starts at $5,950 per person - that puts the fare at $540 per person per day.
Remember the four regular cabins are identical, location dictates the price.
MISSED ONE DETAIL THAT IS GREAT
EMBARKATION ON THE SHIP IS ON DECK 2 OR DECK 3 - NO BIG LONG GANGWAY TO WALK UP TO GET ON THE SHIP.
JUST BOARD FROM THE DOCK OR A SLIGHT RAMP TO GET INTO THE SHIP NOT STEPS. SO SENSIBLE!!!!!
