Your August 2026 Update from Michael Wilson

This month’s update comes to you from Silver Ray, Silversea’s newest ship, which entered service in June 2024. She is the second ship in the innovative Nova Class, following the highly acclaimed Silver Nova, and promises a fresh take on luxury cruising with an emphasis on spacious, light-filled public areas and a closer connection with the sea.

I am here with my family, cruising around the French Riviera and Italian coast on our annual summer holiday, and I am delighted to be joined once again by both Katie and Oliver. This time they are enjoying some well-earned rest and recuperation, rather than gathering social media content for the business, although I have no doubt they will still return with plenty of ideas after experiencing one of the industry’s most talked-about luxury cruise brands.

I had been particularly looking forward to sailing on Silver Ray. Over the past year I had heard so many complimentary reports from colleagues, suppliers and clients, but perhaps the strongest endorsement had come from my father, Derek, who, as many of you will remember, still takes a keen interest in the business. Derek has travelled with Silversea on several occasions in recent years with my brother and sisters, and without hesitation describes it as his favourite ocean cruise line.

Our first impressions on embarkation day were of an extraordinary sense of space, set within a beautifully modern and sophisticated environment. Rather than the hustle and bustle you often associate with the first afternoon of a cruise, there was an almost serene atmosphere throughout the ship. We relaxed by the main pool, enjoying glorious sunshine and superb views across Monaco, and it was remarkably calm and uncrowded, exactly as Derek had described from his own experiences.

Unpacking was completed surprisingly quickly, helped by accommodation that was both spacious and exceptionally well designed. The suite had a contemporary, understated elegance with plenty of wardrobe and storage space, making it easy to settle in from the outset. It already felt like somewhere we would be very comfortable calling home for the next week and, if those first few hours were anything to go by, Silver Ray was certainly living up to the very high expectations I had before stepping on board.

Fast forward to day four and we had completely settled into the wonderfully relaxed pace of life on board. This beautiful ship had exceeded my expectations in every way. One of the first things I noticed was the incredible sense of space – there never seemed to be a crowded area, whether strolling the decks, enjoying a drink or simply finding a quiet corner to unwind.

For me, the best time on board was during a port day. While many guests headed ashore to explore, I often made the most of the peace and tranquillity on the ship. The pool deck became a true oasis, with plenty of comfortable loungers, attentive service and a wonderfully calm atmosphere. It was the perfect place to switch off with a good book, enjoy the sunshine and appreciate just how relaxing a smaller luxury ship can be.

As always, dining was one of the highlights of the voyage. Our first meal was in The Marquee, the delightful restaurant on the pool deck. This open-air, semi-shaded venue was ideal for both lunch and dinner, offering a relaxed atmosphere without compromising on quality. It quickly became one of my favourite spots on the ship.

We also enjoyed dinner at La Terrazza, the Italian speciality restaurant. Thankfully, lasagne was on the menu – my wife’s all-time favourite – and I’m pleased to report it was every bit as good as she’d hoped. Rich, authentic and full of flavour, it was a standout evening that we’ll be talking about long after the cruise has ended.

Another memorable evening was spent at La Dame, the ship’s elegant French restaurant. Beautifully presented dishes, impeccable service and a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere made it a real culinary experience. Every course was expertly prepared, reminding us why dining on Silversea is consistently regarded as being among the very best at sea.

I also experienced service beyond expectations from our butler. On returning to our suite, I noticed that the standard Chardonnay had been replaced with a Mâcon we’d been enjoying around the ship. Intrigued, I asked our butler why it had been changed. He proudly explained that he’d spoken to the restaurants to find out if we had a favourite wine and had then ordered some especially for our suite. That’s not something I’ve experienced before!

As the cruise drew to a close, some fellow passengers from North Carolina mentioned that, with notice, the Atlantide restaurant would serve an Indian meal on request. Being avid fans of Indian cuisine, we decided to give it a try. From past experience, we knew that special requests like this can produce some memorable meals at sea, and we certainly weren’t disappointed. It was a fitting end to the superb food we had enjoyed along the way.

The voyage continued to impress throughout our journey, combining exceptional cuisine, genuine luxury and the wonderfully relaxed ambience that makes cruising with Silversea such a pleasure. For me, though, perhaps the greatest highlight was the design of Silver Ray herself. There is an exceptionally clever use of space throughout the ship, with so much of the design focused outwards towards the sea. Even features as simple as the glass-fronted, outward-looking lifts reinforce that feeling of connection with your surroundings.

So, would I sail with Silversea again? Absolutely. Silver Ray delivered everything I hoped it would: exceptional food and service, beautiful surroundings and, above all, a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. For anyone who enjoys smaller-ship cruising but doesn’t want to compromise on choice, space or quality, I think she offers a very compelling combination. My father may have been telling me for some time just how good Silversea is, but having now experienced it for myself, I can certainly see why it has become his favourite.

You may recall that last month I mentioned my trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Paris to Venice, a journey that I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.

Whilst I suggested a number of possible cruise combinations, there is one particularly neat option in 2027 where the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express arrives in Venice with just one night before joining Silver Ray for a seven-night cruise. I cannot think of a better way to combine two such memorable travel experiences. If this is of interest, you can see the full details here. Please speak to our Cruise & Stay team, who would be delighted to help you put the whole journey together.

Another piece of exciting news is that Celebrity Beyond will be sailing from Southampton in 2028, giving UK guests the opportunity to experience one of Celebrity Cruises’ celebrated Edge Series ships without the need to fly. Her programme includes sailings to Norway, Iceland and Scandinavia, which I’m sure will prove extremely popular.

Bookings open on 25 August, but pre-booking is already available, so if Celebrity Beyond is on your wish list, I’d encourage you to register your interest with our Cruise Experts. I’ve always enjoyed sailing with Celebrity Cruises and, whilst I haven’t yet had the opportunity to sail on Celebrity Beyond, everything I’ve seen and heard has been extremely positive. I have no doubt she’ll be very popular with our customers.

There are also just a few days remaining of our Cruise & Stay Sale, which ends on 21 August, with additional savings available across a wide range of Cruise & Stay holidays. Spend £3,000 per person or more and you’ll save £60 per person, increasing to £120 per person when you spend £6,000 per person or more.

With the sale ending this Friday, there isn’t long left to take advantage. Our Cruise & Stay team would be delighted to discuss any holidays you may be considering and help you find something that suits you.

Finally, a reminder that voting for the 2026 British Travel Awards closes soon. We’re incredibly proud to be shortlisted for ‘Best Travel Agency for Cruise Holidays’, and I’d be hugely grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to vote for us. Thank you to everyone who has already shown their support – it really does mean a great deal to us. If you haven’t yet voted, you can do so here, and please feel free to share the link with family, friends and fellow cruise enthusiasts. I’ll be sure to let you know the outcome once the winners are announced.

To all of you setting sail in the coming weeks, I wish you a wonderful holiday and bon voyage.