Featured Cabins
Itinerary
Fusina, Italy
Piran, Slovenia
Zadar, Croatia
Dalmatia’s capital for more than 1,000 years, Zadar is all too often passed over by travelers on their way to Split or Dubrovnik. What they miss out on is a city of more than 73,000 that is remarkably lovely and lively despite—and, in some measure, because of—its tumultuous history. The Old Town, separated from the rest of the city on a peninsula some 4 km (2½ miles) long and just 1,640 feet wide, is bustling and beautiful: the marble pedestrian streets are replete with Roman ruins, medieval churches, palaces, museums, archives, and libraries. Parts of the new town are comparatively dreary, a testament to what a world war followed by decades of communism, not to mention a civil war, can do to the architecture of a city that is 3,000 years old. A settlement had already existed on the site of the present-day city for some 2,000 years when Rome finally conquered Zadar in the 1st century BC; the foundations of the forum can be seen today. Before the Romans came the Liburnians had made it a key center for trade with the Greeks and Romans for 800 years. In the 3rd century BC the Romans began to seriously pester the Liburnians, but required two centuries to bring the area under their control. During the Byzantine era, Zadar became the capital of Dalmatia, and this period saw the construction of its most famous church, the 9th-century St. Donat’s Basilica. It remained the region’s foremost city through the ensuing centuries. The city then experienced successive onslaughts and occupations—both long and short—by the Osogoths, the Croatian-Hungarian kings, the Venetians, the Turks, the Habsburgs, the French, the Habsburgs again, and finally the Italians before becoming part of Yugoslavia and, in 1991, the independent republic of Croatia. Zadar was for centuries an Italian-speaking city, and Italian is still spoken widely, especially by older people. Indeed, it was ceded to Italy in 1921 under the Treaty of Rapallo (and reverted to its Italian name of Zara). Its occupation by the Germans from 1943 led to intense bombing by the Allies during World War II, which left most of the city in ruins. Zadar became part of Tito’s Yugoslavia in 1947, prompting many Italian residents to leave. Zadar’s most recent ravages occurred during a three-month siege by Serb forces and months more of bombardment during the Croatian-Serbian war between 1991 and 1995. But you’d be hard-pressed to find outward signs of this today in what is a city to behold. There are helpful interpretive signs in English all around the Old Town, so you certainly won’t feel lost when trying to make sense of the wide variety of architectural sites you might otherwise pass by with only a cursory look.
Hvar Island, Croatia
The Croatian island of Hvar bills itself as the “sunniest island in the Adriatic.” Not only does it have the figures to back up this claim—an annual average of 2,724 hours of sunshine—but it also makes visitors a sporting proposition, offering them a money-back guarantee if there are seven consecutive days of snow (snow has been known to fall here; the last time being February 2012).
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Lying 216 km (135 miles) southeast of Split and commanding a jaw-dropping coastal location, it is one of the world’s most beautiful fortified cities. Its massive stone ramparts and fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. Your imagination will run wild picturing what it looked like seven centuries ago when the walls were built, without any suburbs or highways around it, just this magnificent stone city rising out of the sea.In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa. On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up. In the 12th century the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in (now the main street through the Old Town, called Stradun), and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one. The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century.From 1358 to 1808 the city thrived as a powerful and remarkably sophisticated independent republic, reaching its golden age during the 16th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style.Dubrovnik lost its independence to Napoléon in 1808, and in 1815 passed to Austria-Hungary. During the 20th century, as part of Yugoslavia, the city became a popular tourist destination, and in 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege. Thanks to careful restoration, few traces of damage remain; however, there are maps inside the Pile and Ploče Gates illustrating the points around the city where damage was done. It’s only when you experience Dubrovnik yourself that you can understand what a treasure the world nearly lost
At Sea
Taormina, Italy
The medieval cliff-hanging town of Taormina is overrun with tourists, yet its natural beauty is still hard to dispute. The view of the sea and Mt. Etna from its jagged cactus-covered cliffs is as close to perfection as a panorama can get—especially on clear days, when the snowcapped volcano’s white puffs of smoke rise against the blue sky. Writers have extolled Taormina’s beauty almost since it was founded in the 6th century BC by Greeks from nearby Naxos; Goethe and D. H. Lawrence were among its well-known enthusiasts. The town’s boutique-lined main streets get old pretty quickly, but the many hiking paths that wind through the beautiful hills surrounding Taormina promise a timeless alternative. A trip up to stunning Castelmola (whether on foot or by car) should also be on your itinerary.
Valletta, Malta
Malta’s capital, the minicity of Valletta, has ornate palaces and museums protected by massive fortifications of honey-color limestone. Houses along the narrow streets have overhanging wooden balconies for people-watching from indoors. Generations ago they gave housebound women a window on the world of the street. The main entrance to town is through the City Gate (where all bus routes end), which leads onto Triq Repubblika (Republic Street), the spine of the grid-pattern city and the main shopping street. Triq Mercante (Merchant Street) parallels Repubblika to the east and is also good for strolling. From these two streets, cross streets descend toward the water; some are stepped. Valletta’s compactness makes it ideal to explore on foot. City Gate and the upper part of Valletta are experiencing vast redevelopment that includes a new Parliament Building and open-air performance venue. The complex, completed mid-2013, has numerous pedestrian detours in place along with building noise and dust. Before setting out along Republic Street, stop at the tourist information office on Merchant Street for maps and brochures.
Cabin Options
Vista Suite
Panorama Suite
Classic Veranda Suite
Superior Veranda Suite
Deluxe Veranda Suite
Medallion Suite
Silver Suite
Royal Suite
Grand Suite
Owner's Suite
Ship Facilities
Please note: Although Silversea accepts guests over the age of six months, there are no special programmes for children on board, and Silversea does not provide for the care, entertainment and supervision of children.
Please note: Although Silversea accepts guests over the age of six months, there are no special programmes for children on board, and Silversea does not provide for the care, entertainment and supervision of children.
About the Ship
Deck Plans
- Atlantide
- S.A.L.T. Kitchen
- S.A.L.T. Bar
- Kaiseki
- La Dame
- Launderette
- Vista Suites
- Reception/Guest Relations
- Shore Concierge
- Dolce Vita
- Launderette
- Venetian Lounge
- Future Cruise Manager
- Classic Veranda Suites
- Zagara Beauty Spa
- Steam Rooms and Saunas
- Fitness Centre
- Aerobic Studios
- Thermal Suite
- Whirlpool
- Launderette
- Classic Veranda Suites
- Deluxe Veranda Suites
- La Terrazza
- Silver Note
- Casino
- Launderette
- Royal Suites
- Deluxe Verandah Suites
- Superior Verandah Suites
- Elevator
- Connoisseur’s Corner
- Boutique
- Arts Café
- Conference/Card Room
- Launderette
- Grand Suites
- Superior Veranda Suites
- Deluxe Veranda Suites
- Elevator
- Panorama Lounge
- Activities Room & Outdoor Area
- Superior Veranda Suites
- Silver Suites (x1 Accessible Suite)
- Grand Suites
- Owner’s Suites
- Panorama Suites
- Deluxe Veranda Suites
- Launderette
- Pool Deck
- Pool Bar
- The Grill
- Whirlpool Area
- Silver Suites
- Medallion Suite
- Deluxe Veranda Suites
- Launderette
- Observation Library
- Silver Suites
- Medallion Suite
- Deluxe Veranda Suites
- Spaccanapoli
- Jogging Track
- Launderette
- Golf Putting Green
- Golf Hitting Bay(access via Observation Library)
- Atlantide
- S.A.L.T. Kitchen
- S.A.L.T. Bar
- Kaiseki
- La Dame
- Launderette
- Vista Suites
- Reception/Guest Relations
- Shore Concierge
- Dolce Vita
- Launderette
- Venetian Lounge
- Future Cruise Manager
- Classic Veranda Suites
- Zagara Beauty Spa
- Steam Rooms and Saunas
- Fitness Centre
- Aerobic Studios
- Thermal Suite
- Whirlpool
- Launderette
- Classic Veranda Suites
- Deluxe Veranda Suites
- La Terrazza
- Silver Note
- Casino
- Launderette
- Royal Suites
- Deluxe Verandah Suites
- Superior Verandah Suites
- Elevator
- Connoisseur’s Corner
- Boutique
- Arts Café
- Conference/Card Room
- Launderette
- Grand Suites
- Superior Veranda Suites
- Deluxe Veranda Suites
- Elevator
- Panorama Lounge
- Activities Room & Outdoor Area
- Superior Veranda Suites
- Silver Suites (x1 Accessible Suite)
- Grand Suites
- Owner’s Suites
- Panorama Suites
- Deluxe Veranda Suites
- Launderette
- Pool Deck
- Pool Bar
- The Grill
- Whirlpool Area
- Silver Suites
- Medallion Suite
- Deluxe Veranda Suites
- Launderette
- Observation Library
- Silver Suites
- Medallion Suite
- Deluxe Veranda Suites
- Spaccanapoli
- Jogging Track
- Launderette
- Golf Putting Green
- Golf Hitting Bay(access via Observation Library)