Silver Wind, the second of the two identical Silversea ships was constructed in Mariotti Shipyards in Italy. She has introduced in 1995, one year after the cruise line was founded. Silver Wind is one of the higest rated cruise ships in the world. Both the Silver Wind and her twin sister, Silver Cloud have received more accolades and awards for service and quality than any other luxury ship afloat. This includes the Editor's Award for Best Small Ship Cruise Line for 2002 and the 6-Star Award of Excellence. Silversea's reputation is an asset which any cruise lines would love to have. Silversea cruising is sophisticated and stylish. At 16,800 tons, Silver Wind is small in comparison to the mega ships of today. Carrying 296 guests and a crew of 200 she is large enough to offer a good amount of spacious public rooms, and she is small enough to visit ports that large ships can not. The Silver Wind has 7 passenger decks in total. There are four elevators, all located mid ship as well as two winding staircases which run from Deck 4 to Deck 8. The layout of this ship makes it easy for one to navigate. The European staff provides warm and efficient service, which is the primary reason there so many repeat cruisers. Silver Wind offers well traveled guests the luxury they want: beautiful staterooms and suites, most with private verandas, and one of the highest passenger-to-space ratios at sea. There is 1 crew member for every 1.5 guests.

Entertainment:
Entertainment can be found in the two level Parisian Show Lounge, home to the song and dance production shows provided by Jean Ann Ryan Productions. The Silver Wind quartet and small team of entertainers are also part of the entertainment offered on board. A entertainment highlight is the poolside barbecue with locals from the visited ports providing music and dancing. Guests will also find the Panorama Lounge featuring a piano bar, a small casino offering three table games (roulette and two blackjack) and numerous slots. In general most guests turn in after the evening's entertainment.
Silver Wind has a new satellite system. Suites include CNN, BBC News, etc. as well as new DVD players and a large selection of DVD’s are available for in-suite viewing, available at the front desk

Public Areas:
The Panorama Lounge on Deck 8 is a popular meeting spot and also where tea is served daily from 4 to 5 P.M. addition to serving as a piano bar at night, guest performers also hold pre-dinner concerts, lectures and high tea is held here. Adjacent to this room is the small but well-stocked library and complimentary video area. There are three bars on Silver Wind. The Bar is clubby, with a combo and dance floor, long bar and comfy chairs. The ships' show lounge is elegant and large for a ship of this size, with Las Vegas-style floor shows, comedians and guest lecturers. The casino was active most nights, especially the blackjack tables.

Silversea is the only cruise line with Bulgari jewelry boutiques aboard its ships. If you're in the market for a classic gold necklace in the $65,000 range, Bulgari will give you a 20% price reduction (plus, it's duty free). The ship's other boutique is a disappointment, stocking the standard cruise ship merchandise sold aboard all cruise ships.
Silver Wind and Silver Cloud has undergone a major refit in late 2003. This includes the addition of elegant new furniture, linens and attractive artwork in all of the suites, the creation of an intimate new Wine Bar, similar to those aboard the newer Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, addition of a new Computer Center, expansion of Spa facilities to include a Tranquility Room and the relocation of the Fitness Center to the Observation Deck, providing a magnificent, panoramic view of the ocean. The Parisian Lounge on Deck 6, which is the site of classical music concerts, production numbers, magic acts and lectures held. A self-service laundry room located on Deck 4 features supplies on a gratis basis and is open daily from 8 am to 10 pm.

Cuisine:
The Saletta is an attractive dining room with an arched gazebo. Offering open seating and seating approximately 40 guests it offers excellent food and service. This restaurant features the creations of Joachim Koerper, Chef & Owner of the Girasol Restaurant in Spain. Reservations are required to dine at Saletta. Alternative dining is also available in the busy Terrace Café by day and Cucina Italiana by night. Meals are served buffet style in The Terrace,however there are plenty of busboys and wait staff to escort you to tables & serve beverages. Breakfast specials can also be cooked to order in The Terrace. Weather permiting, a barbecue is set up at the pool with hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks and chicken. Silversea offers a daily Light and Healthy Cuisine with appetizer, entree and dessert for calorie counters as well as salads. Guests can also find items that are low in fat, salt and cholesterol. Elegant In-suite dining is an option that offers guests the chance to order from the restaurant menu during the hours that the restaurant is open. A 24-hour room service menu is also available. The quality of the food and the ingredients used in preparation throughout the ship is generally very high.

Service:
The friendly European service crew is highly personalized, attentive, and eager to accommodate virtually any personal request. Service in the restaurants, lounges, suites and throughout the ship is superb - welcoming and highly competent. The staff anticipates your needs and there is extraordinary attention to detail.

Accomodations:
The 34 Vista suites on the Silver Cloud and Silver Wind measure at 240 square feet. There are no verandahs and are less costly. They do have a separate sitting area and a good sized window. All of the suites on the Silver Cloud and Silver Wind have 2 twin beds that convert to queen size, walk-in closet, sitting area with writing desk, dressing table with hair dryer, Italian marble bathroom with Bvlgari bath amenities, refrigerator and cocktail bar, entertainment center with remote-controlled satellite television and videocassette player, direct dial telephone, individual climate control, in-suite safe, fresh fruit and flowers, and 110/220 electric current. The larger Silver Suites measure at 541 square feet and the Owner's Suite measures at 827 square feet. The Royal Suite is 1,030 square feet and the two bedrooms Grand Suite measures at 1,314 square feet including the verandah.
Grand Suites feature two teak verandas with patio furniture, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, entertainment center with compact disc player, two remote-controlled televisions with satellite reception and VCR, refrigerators, continuously stocked cocktail cabinet, dining area with ocean view, living room, separate bedroom with queen-sized bed, writing desk, sitting area, closet, private marbled bathroom with full-sized Jacuzzi bathtub, and Bvlgari bath amenities.

Spa/Fitness:
The small Fitness Center on Deck 9 forward now occupies the space previously used as the Observation Lounge. The Fitness Center has three stationary bicycles, three

treadmills, a universal weight machine, free weights, mats and exercise balls. Usual hours are 7am to noon and 2-7pm. There is a basket of complimentary bottled water and fresh towels. There is a nice outdoor walking/jogging track area on Deck 9. One pool and two whirlpools are also available on pool deck.
The hottest spa innovation afloat is the Tranquility Room, a serene area for relaxation before or between treatments in Silver Wind's top-rated spa offers a variety of treatments reflecting its Balinese origins including Bali-atsu, a finger-pressure shiatsu technique or a Javanese honey steam wrap. Some cruises can be combined with African safaris. A golf series offers golf packages that allow guests to visit golf courses at the ports of call. Some cruises have fishing experiences on shore excursions, including heli-fishing at Great Barrier Island and fly fishing in New Zealand. Other activities include deck games,dancing, bridge instruction and tournaments.

Gratuities:
Silversea covers virtually every little detail, such as your gratuities and port charges. Beverages including wines, champagnes and spirits are served complimentary. The Silversea even treat you to a complimentary shoreside event on many sailings.

Children's Program:
There are no special arrangements for children although they are welcome. aboard baby sitting help can be provided and if requested in advance, diapers, formula, etc. Silversea is unable to accommodate children under one year of age.

The Silver Wind is small enough to get around in easily. There is only one bank of elevators and the ship doesn't need more. Furnishings, rugs, curtains and so forth were not replaced during the dry dock period that ended earlier this year, but they are all well-maintained. There are signs at the free self-service laundry asking passengers not to loiter there or be noisy out of respect to fellow passengers in neighboring cabins. The gym has been relocated to deluxe accommodations on the 8th deck facing a bank of floor to ceiling windows. There are three treadmills, three traditional stationary bicycles, two reclining bicycles, and a full range of free weights, but only one fixed-weight machine for upper and lower body workouts.the Vista cabins are spacious, with a walk-in closet, a bathroom with full bath, a sitting area with a desk, sofa, table and chairs, and a sleeping area with a vanity, end tables, and beds. There is fresh fruit in the room every day, and the mini-bar is stocked any way you want it. The corridors in the cabin areas have been planned to avoid the perspective-monotony of large ships, where the view is of converging corridor angles and rows of diminishing doors. Putting the doors at an angle to the corridor helps avoid the institutional view. The public rooms are tastefully done. The Restaurant is pleasant and welcoming, the Terrace is well laid-out, and the 5th deck bar has the right atmosphere and music for the pre-dinner drinks.

Casual during the day. Dressy at night, with one to three formal nights in which most men wear tuxedos and women wear gowns or cocktail dresses.

Silversea ships appeal to self-contained, International, upscale and well-traveled. The average age depends on the cruising region but usually ranges from 50's through 80's in age. Plus age bracket though it is actively reaching out to younger travelers, too. Silverseaea passengers can be intensely loyal - it's not unusual for well over half the guests to be repeaters, some having accumulated hundreds of days on board during prior cruises.