On a ship that carries less than 400 passengers, a full-blown atrium with glass elevators would look a little out of place. Instead, Silver Whisper's Norwegian design team has come up with an central stair tower arrangement on both port and starboard sides that creates an "open atrium" feel and connects most public areas. Done in soothing earth tones, with wooden handrails, wood veneer paneling and beautiful brushed steel artwork spanning the full height of the stair tower, this is about as elegant as it gets. Exuding a warm, natural yet lively atmosphere, this area sets the tone for the rest of the ship.

On deck 5, an oval lobby houses the Purser's Office, Hotel Manager's office and Shore Excursion Desk, with doors leading out to a small Promenade Deck. We were taken by the gold framed Renaissance-inspired artwork in the Lobby, making the area look very classy. From the Lobby, an arcade leads forward to the suite accommodation on this deck by way of a small shopping area and Casino. As can be expected on a six-star ship, merchandise in the Boutique is quite up market, with good-quality souvenir items available. On port side, the casino is nicely sized, with all the major games of chance available, as well as a separate bar area. During my visit the Casino was closed (the ship was in port after all), and consequently we were not able to take any photos of it. But then, if you have seen one Black Jack table, you have seen them all!

The standard "Vista Suites" are located on decks 4 and 5 and feature picture windows, a spacious sitting area with all audio-visual aids, twin or queen sized beds, and a fantastic marble bathroom with bath and separate shower. Colors are pastel and pleasing, with suite entrances set at an angle from the cabin corridor. As can be expected on a ship of this caliber, closet space is almost extravagant, with walk-in closets available in all suites. There is personalized stationary, toiletries galore, bathrobes, slippers and a bar that is restocked daily according to your preferences. Now, that's what we call all-inclusive! If you think 287 square feet is not enough, there are six more categories to choose from - all of them come with a private teak verandah. Top of the line are four Grand Suites, located all the way forward on decks 6, 7 and 8 and providing stunning views forward from the Master Bedroom. Sporting two teak verandahs, two bathrooms (one with Jacuzzi), two wardrobes and ... a guest shower, these must be the ultimate seagoing apartments!

Located very traditionally on the lowest passenger deck, this beautiful room boasts views of the sea through large windows, with a wonderful wooden floor stretching from fore to aft. Colors are -again- very neutral, giving The Restaurant an almost old-world ocean liner look, although the artwork provides a more modern touch. As Silversea operates all meals on an open seating basis, there are many smaller tables, all set with the finest silver and crystal and with lots of room to enjoy an excellent meal. Finally, a (complimentary) choice of constantly changing white and red wines crowns every lunch or dinner that is served in The Restaurant.

Directly adjacent to the Terrace Café are two rooms that are quite unique to Silversea. First up is Le Champagne, basically the ship's fine wine cellar. Walls are lined with the most exquisite of wines and champagnes, the floor is deck in parquet wood, and the large table in the middle of the room can be used for private dinner parties. Guests on board are able to invite friends and family for dinner here, albeit at a hefty fee. As mentioned before, most drinks are included in the cruise price, as the complimentary selection includes many wines, unlimited supplies of champagne and most spirits. For some vintage wines and spirits one is presented with a bill though... Next door is the wonderful Le Humidor, sponsored by Davidoff. Modeled after an old-fashioned men's club with Chesterfield couches and lots of wood paneling, this is the place to light up a cigar or two from the humidor next to the entrance.