For the foodie, luxurious Silver Spirit is a dream

There’s something about the sea that’s simply magical.

There’s something about the sea that’s simply magical.

The $30 billion cruise industry is one of the fastest-growing segments in travel. More than 13 million passengers are expected to sail this year. The largest lines are still Carnival, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, but size doesn’t always matter. TravelsinTaste.com recently uncovered a hidden gem in cruising: the Silversea Silver Spirit.

Silversea Cruises is synonymous with luxury. The United States Silversea has been voted “World’s Best” by Conde Nast Traveler nine times and Travel + Leisure seven times.

The Silver Spirit is now in the midst of its inaugural season, completing a 91-day voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to New York with stops in Buenos Aires; Acapulco, Mexico; and Los Angeles. Upcoming voyages include an around-the-world cruise in 2011 that explores 50 destinations in 25 countries, covering both hemispheres with stops in French Polynesia, Australia, Egypt and the Mediterranean.

The intimate ship accommodates 540 guests, with the largest suites in the Silversea fleet and one of the highest space-to-guest ratios at sea today. Among the rooms, 95% have a private veranda. The ship’s spa is the largest in the fleet at 8,300 square feet and offers acupuncture, botox treatments and bamboo massages.

For the foodie, the Silver Spirit is a dream. Silversea has an exclusive partnership with Relais & Chateaux and recently introduced its L’Ecole des Chefs cooking school. Hosted by David Bilsland, the executive chef and former instructor at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, the school offers everything from cooking classes to wine tastings to escorted tours of local markets. The Silver Spirit will host two of these voyages during the coming year.

There are six also dining restaurants, including Le Champagne, a wine restaurant by Relais & Chateaux, and Seishin, which features innovative Asian cuisine. Both restaurants hold only 24 guests. There’s also the Connoisseur’s Corner, a respite for cigar and cognac fans.

Before you relax for the night, you’ll have one last culinary delight. Pierre Marcolini, the 1995 World Champion of Pastry, delivers handmade creations, such as dark chocolate flavored with orange blossoms from Algeria, to your pillow. As if this isn’t enough, there are culinary arts voyages in which the talents of renowned international chefs are showcased, such as an upcoming cruise from Barcelona to Monte Carlo with guest chef Andy Trousdale, who has graced kitchens of three Michelin star restaurants in Europe, the Caribbean and Florida.

The ship features the customary pools, casino, golf and boutiques. Your butler can unpack your luggage and prepare a scented bath. We think you’ll agree that the art of good living is alive and well aboard the Silver Spirit.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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