A trip aboard the Silver Nova

A Journey on Silversea’s Silver Nova

Piraeus (Athens) to Istanbul | 26–31 October

At the end of October, I was hosted by Silversea on board their newest ultra‑luxury ship, Silver Nova, for a six‑day voyage from Piraeus (Athens) to Istanbul. The itinerary combined some of the Eastern Mediterranean’s most recognisable names with a very contemporary onboard experience: strong design, excellent dining and a consistently high standard of service.

What follows is a detailed day‑by‑day account of the voyage.

Day 1: Embarkation in Piraeus & First Impressions

Monday 26 October – Piraeus (Athens)

Embarkation took place at Terminal C, Alkimos Terminal on Akti Miaouli in Piraeus, Athens’ busy deep‑water port. From the quay, Silver Nova immediately stands out.

Check‑in and security were handled smoothly, and once on the ship I was greeted with a warm welcome and directed towards my suite.

There was ample time before departure to unpack, get organised and begin to explore. A relaxed lunch around 14:00 provided an early opportunity to try the food on board and to get a feel for the overall culinary standard, which from the outset was very strong: fresh ingredients, well‑judged portions and well‑trained staff.

As is standard practice, a mandatory safety drill followed soon after embarkation. On Silver Nova this process involves viewing a safety video in the suite, then reporting in person to the designated muster station to have attendance recorded and any questions answered. It is efficient and unobtrusive, but also a clear reminder that, however relaxed the experience, safety procedures are taken seriously.

At 16:00 we joined a guided tour of Silver Nova, which was extremely useful. The tour covered the main guest areas, including:

• The pool deck, with its large central pool and the Cliff Whirlpool that projects towards the sea.
• Key lounges such as the Panorama Lounge, Dolce Vita and The Shelter, all of which would feature repeatedly in the days to come.
• A cross‑section of dining venues, notably Atlantide (the main restaurant) and S.A.L.T. Kitchen, the heart of Silversea’s destination‑led culinary programme.

This orientation was particularly helpful given Silver Nova’s asymmetrical layout, which uses offset decks and terraces to maximise outward views.

At 19:00, with guests settled and the last checks completed, Silver Nova set sail for Santorini. The departure from Piraeus is always atmospheric, with ferries and smaller vessels criss‑crossing the harbour and the city lights gradually receding in the distance.

Pre‑dinner drinks were taken in the Panorama Lounge at the stern. Here, floor‑to‑ceiling glass and an elegant but unfussy design create a very pleasant environment for socialising. Watching the coastline slip away while the ship eased into open water was a very fitting way to mark the start of the voyage.

Dinner at 20:00 was served in Atlantide (Deck 3). This is Silver Nova’s principal restaurant and sets the culinary benchmark. The menu is à la carte, with a focus on seafood, quality cuts of meat and refined starters and desserts. Service was prompt and polished, with staff quickly learning preferences and offering informed guidance on both food and wine.

The evening concluded in the Venetian Lounge (Deck 4) with the 21:30 Motown‑themed production show. The cast delivered a high‑energy performance of familiar songs from that era, and the technical side – lighting, sound and staging – was confidently handled. It provided a lively but not overbearing end to the first day.

Day 2: Santorini, Time on Deck & Formal Night

Tuesday 27 October – Santorini

By early morning, Silver Nova was approaching Santorini, and at 08:00 the ship arrived in the caldera. The scenery is exactly what many guests come to the Greek islands to see: steep volcanic cliffs, whitewashed settlements perched along the rim and deep blue water below. Silver Nova’s design, with extensive outdoor space and abundant glazing, means there are multiple vantage points for enjoying this arrival.

At 10:00, we met at The Shelter Bar. From there we proceeded to the tender platform and headed across the caldera to the base of Fira’s cliffs. The cable car carried us up to the town (10 Euros each way), avoiding the long walk and providing excellent views en-route.

Time in Fira was deliberately flexible. The town offers a mix of viewpoints, small shops and cafés, and it is easy to tailor the experience: some guests chose to photograph the classic white‑and‑blue vistas, others browsed local crafts or simply enjoyed coffee overlooking the caldera. The fact that Silver Nova was anchored directly below added to the sense of place.

On returning to the ship, the weather remained particularly favourable, so the pool deck became the natural focus for the afternoon. This space has clearly been designed with resort standards in mind: good spacing between loungers, varied seating, attentive but unobtrusive bar service and a pool that is genuinely large enough for more than a quick dip. It was an ideal opportunity to experience the ship’s outdoor facilities at their best.

At 17:30, Silver Nova set sail for Kusadasi, with a final sweep of the caldera as the ship turned and headed out to sea. The combination of departing light, volcanic scenery and the comfort on deck made this a memorable transition between ports.

Pre‑dinner drinks at 19:15 were held in Dolce Vita (Deck 5). The room works especially well in the evening, with live music, a central bar and a layout that supports both quiet conversation and a more social feel. Service was attentive, and the drinks list is broad enough to accommodate classic and more contemporary tastes.

Dinner at 20:00 was in S.A.L.T. Kitchen (Deck 3). This venue is central to Silversea’s culinary positioning: menus draw on the regions being visited, with “Terrain” options dedicated to a specific port or area and “Voyage” options reflecting the wider route. The result is a dining experience that feels anchored in the destination rather than generic. Dishes were thoughtfully presented and well explained, and this was one of the most interesting dinners of the voyage.

At 21:30 the day’s entertainment in the Venetian Lounge was the “Limelite” production show. The theme combines elements of West End musical theatre and Hollywood film music, delivered with strong vocals, choreography and a clear narrative arc. It is an ambitious show by small‑ship standards and was very well received.

Day 3: Kusadasi, Ephesus & the Archaeological Museum

Wednesday 28 October – Kusadasi

On day three, Silver Nova arrived into Kusadasi at 08:00, berthing close to the waterfront promenade. From the sundecks and lounges, guests had good views of both the town and the small island linked to the shore by a causeway.

The focus of the day was a comprehensive visit to Ephesus and the local archaeological museum. The group assembled at 08:30 in Arts Café (Deck 4), which served as a convenient meeting point before disembarkation. From there we joined our coach and guide for the short transfer inland.

The tour began at the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, which houses many of the original sculptures, inscriptions and artefacts excavated from the site. Seeing key pieces – including statues, reliefs and everyday objects – in a museum setting before walking through the ruins themselves provided valuable context and helped bring the ancient city to life.

We then continued to the site of Ephesus. As we walked along the marble‑paved Curetes Street, past temples, fountains and public buildings, the guide explained the city’s role as a major centre of trade and culture in both the Greek and Roman periods. Highlights included:

• The Library of Celsus, whose façade is instantly recognisable and remains remarkably intact.
• The Great Theatre, capable of seating tens of thousands, which gives a real sense of the city’s former scale and importance.
• Various residential and commercial remains that illustrate daily life in antiquity.

Partway through the visit, the weather changed dramatically. A torrential downpour swept across the site, and within minutes water was streaming down the marble streets like small rivers. Guests and guides alike huddled under umbrellas and sheltered where they could, which made for a very memorable, if slightly chaotic, interlude. The conditions underlined both the exposed nature of the site and the resilience of the ancient structures, which continue to withstand everything from summer heat to sudden storms.

By early afternoon we were back on board, returning somewhat damp but with a strong impression of the morning’s excursion. The first priority was to dry out and change, making good use of the space and amenities in the suites.

With the weather still unsettled outside, the afternoon on Silver Nova became an excellent opportunity to enjoy the indoor facilities. Guests dispersed between lounges, the spa, the Observation Lounge and the quieter corners of the ship, appreciating the fact that even in poor weather the onboard environment remains comfortable, calm and well‑serviced.

As evening approached, pre‑dinner drinks at 19:15 were hosted in the S.A.L.T. Bar (Deck 10). This bar specialises in destination‑inspired cocktails that link back to the S.A.L.T. programme, and the team here take clear pride in explaining the stories behind each creation. It is an excellent place to continue the day’s culinary narrative after such a regionally focused shore excursion.

Dinner at 20:00 took place in La Terrazza (Deck 4), the ship’s Italian restaurant. La Terrazza offers a comprehensive Italian menu that balances familiar favourites with more regional specialities. Service was smooth and personable, and the atmosphere felt more intimate than the main dining room, which suited the mood after a busy and weather‑affected morning ashore.

Post‑dinner options again included the main show in the Venetian Lounge or a quieter drink in one of the lounges. The ship offers enough variety in the evening that guests can choose between a more social or more private ending to the day.

Day 4: At Sea – Onboard Experience & S.A.L.T. Lab

Thursday 29 October – Day at Sea

A full day at sea is often where a ship’s design and service are most thoroughly tested, as guests remain on board throughout. On Silver Nova, this day demonstrated how well the ship absorbs people and how much there is to do without feeling over‑programmed.

This day had a strong culinary focus. At 12:45, participants met at the S.A.L.T. Bar (Deck 10) before proceeding to the S.A.L.T. Lab at 13:00 for a hands‑on cooking class. The S.A.L.T. Lab is a purpose‑built space with individual workstations, designed specifically for these sessions. Closed‑toe shoes are required for safety.

During the class, the onboard culinary team guided us through the preparation of dishes linked to the regions visited on this itinerary. It was interactive and informative, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions about techniques, ingredients and sourcing. For guests who enjoy food and wine, this is a genuine value‑add rather than a token activity.

The remainder of the day was free. Silver Nova offers a good balance of active and relaxing options:

• The fitness centre provided modern equipment and space for those who prefer to maintain a routine while travelling.
• The Otium spa offered a range of treatments aligned with Silversea’s Roman‑inspired wellness concept, focusing on indulgence as much as traditional “spa” messaging.
• Indoors, venues such as the Observation Lounge and Arts Café gave quieter spaces for reading, working or simply watching the sea.

In the early evening, pre‑dinner drinks at 19:15 were taken again in the Panorama Lounge, which by this point in the voyage had become a popular meeting point for our group. Its combination of wide views, comfortable seating and a calm atmosphere made it an excellent setting to reconvene before dinner.

Dinner followed at 20:00 in Silver Note (Deck 5), the ship’s supper‑club‑style venue. Silver Note combines a live band and singer with a menu of smaller plates, encouraging a more leisurely, grazing style of dining. The ambience is sophisticated but relaxed, and it works particularly well later in the voyage when guests are more familiar with one another.

Overall, the sea day underscored Silver Nova’s strengths: plenty of variety, high service standards and enough space that the ship never felt crowded, even with everyone on board.

Day 5: Istanbul Overnight – Iconic Skyline & Independent Exploration

Friday 30 October – Istanbul

The final full day brought one of the itinerary’s headline moments: arrival into Istanbul at 08:00. Watching the ship sail into this harbour is a reminder of the city’s long maritime history. From the decks and lounges of Silver Nova, guests enjoyed excellent views of mosques, palaces and historic buildings along both the European and Asian shores.

From 11:00 onwards, the day ashore was unstructured, with shuttle services operating roughly every 30 minutes into central Istanbul. This flexibility allowed guests to design their own programme, albeit within the time constraints of an overnight call. Popular choices included:

• The Hagia Sophia, whose interior and dome leave a strong impression even on repeat visitors.
• The Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets, where it is easy to spend several hours navigating the lanes of stalls.

For those who preferred a lighter day, it was equally possible to focus on a single area, enjoy a Turkish lunch in the city and then return to the ship to take advantage of the quieter onboard atmosphere.

At 17:00, our hosted group was invited for a private tour of the bridge, providing a behind‑the‑scenes look at Silver Nova’s navigational heart. This was an excellent opportunity to see the ship’s systems in operation, meet members of the bridge team and gain further insight into how such a complex vessel is managed, particularly in busy waters like the Bosphorus.

Back on Silver Nova, pre‑dinner drinks at 19:15 were held in the Panorama Lounge, maintaining the pattern that had emerged during the voyage of using this space as a central meeting point. The combination of elevated views over the water and a calm, polished atmosphere made it an ideal setting for a final evening aperitif.

The farewell dinner at 20:00 was held at The Grill in The Marquee on Deck 10, an outdoor venue that makes full use of Silver Nova’s generous open deck space. Dining al fresco, with views of Istanbul illuminated at night, made for a particularly memorable final dinner. The combination of setting, service and cuisine was a strong endorsement of the ship’s outdoor dining concept.

Day 6: Disembarkation & Summary

Saturday 31 October – Istanbul (Disembarkation)

We enjoyed a final breakfast on the morning of disembarkation before leaving the ship to catch our transfers to Istanbul Airport. The voyage itself continued on later that day: the full itinerary is an 11‑day sailing which returns to Piraeus, taking in additional Greek islands on the way back.

In summary, this voyage offered:

• A compact but well‑constructed sector of a longer itinerary linking Greece and Turkey.
• A consistently high standard of service and hospitality from Silversea’s crew.
• A very contemporary small‑ship environment, where design and space are clearly a priority.
• A particularly strong culinary programme, anchored by the S.A.L.T. concept and a good variety of dining venues.

For clients seeking ultra‑luxury cruising with refined service, excellent cuisine and thoughtfully designed itineraries, this journey was an excellent illustration of what the Silversea brand does so well.