Silversea New Zealand - Collette

A first-hand look at ultra-luxury cruising around New Zealand with Silversea

There’s something rather special about seeing New Zealand from the sea.

We know our country’s spectacular coastline, but experiencing it from the deck of a luxury small ship gives you an entirely different perspective — waking each morning somewhere new, watching the landscape unfold from the water and returning to the comfort of your own suite at the end of the day.

Recently, Collette from Shore Travel and her husband Rob had the opportunity to experience exactly that aboard Silver Muse, one of Silversea’s Classic All-Suite luxury ships.

With a capacity of just 632 guests and an all-inclusive approach, Silver Muse offers a very different experience from the larger cruise ships many travellers may be familiar with.

For Collette, it was the combination of small-ship access, personalised service, exceptional food and a relaxed luxury atmosphere that really stood out.

Small ship, big New Zealand experience
One of the key advantages of Silver Muse is its size.

Rather than focusing solely on the major ports, smaller luxury ships can access regional and less-visited destinations, giving travellers the opportunity to experience a different side of New Zealand.

For travellers who have already explored the country by road, rail or air, cruising offers another way to see familiar landscapes — and discover places that may be new to you.

There is also something wonderfully relaxing about unpacking once and letting the ship take you from destination to destination.

“The ship is very well suited to our luxury clients who value destination access, service and inclusions rather than big shows and high-energy entertainment.”
An intimate atmosphere
Stepping aboard Silver Muse, the feeling is one of understated elegance.

The ship feels spacious without feeling crowded, with a relaxed, club-like atmosphere. Collette particularly noticed how easy the ship was to navigate — something that can be important for mature travellers.

There are plenty of places to settle in with a book, enjoy a drink, listen to music or simply watch the scenery go by.

The Observation Lounge and Library provide a wonderful vantage point during scenic cruising, while the Panorama Lounge at the front of the ship offers expansive views accompanied by piano and live music.

The pool deck is also surprisingly generous for a ship of this size, with a good-sized pool and running track.

And for those who enjoy a little friendly competition, trivia sessions proved popular with guests.

Your suite comes with a butler
One of Silversea's standout features is that butler service is included across all suite categories — even in the entry-level suites.

That makes the experience feel particularly special from the moment you arrive.

Butlers can assist with restaurant reservations, spa appointments, shore excursions and special requests, while the minibar can be personalised according to your preferences.

For Collette, that meant having her preferred drinks kept stocked and enjoying a daily delivery of canapés and champagne.

The suites themselves are spacious, with generous storage, a walk-in wardrobe, comfortable bathrooms and a separate toilet.

The Veranda Classic Suites offer an excellent entry point into the Silversea experience, while centrally located suites can be a good choice for travellers who are sensitive to movement.

Collette also recommends discussing cabin location with guests who may be affected by motion, although Silver Muse's stabilisers performed particularly well during rougher conditions.

Come hungry!
Food and wine are a major part of the Silversea experience — and this was certainly an area where Collette and Rob enjoyed themselves.

La Terrazza
Located on Deck 7, La Terrazza offers Italian cuisine without a surcharge. Breakfast and lunch combine buffet choices with table service, while an à la carte option is also available.

Collette particularly enjoyed the personalised wine service, with a sommelier visiting tables to help guests choose a wine to complement their meal.

Silver Note
One of Collette's favourite venues was Silver Note, the intimate jazz and blues dining venue.

The combination of live music and excellent food makes it a popular choice, so advance reservations are recommended.

“Silver Note was my favourite free venue. The food was amazing and the entertainment was good too.”
For anyone planning a future Silversea cruise, Collette recommends booking early — and joining the waitlist if your preferred time isn't initially available.

La Dame
For a special evening, La Dame, Silversea's French specialty restaurant, was Collette's personal favourite.

This is one of the dining experiences that carries an additional surcharge, but for a special occasion or simply because you love fine French cuisine, it can be well worth considering.

Atlantide
Atlantide became another favourite for its flexibility.

Collette loved being able to turn up for breakfast and have the team accommodate them, while dinner offered a strong selection of steaks and wine pairings.

Dining in your suite
Sometimes luxury means doing absolutely nothing.

In-suite dining is included, and Collette and Rob enjoyed breakfast in their suite on several mornings — a particularly lovely way to start the day without rushing anywhere.

The luxury of knowing what's included
Another major attraction of Silversea is its extensive all-inclusive approach.

Depending on the itinerary and current inclusions, guests can enjoy beverages, Wi-Fi, gratuities and selected shore excursions as part of the cruise fare.

For travellers who don't enjoy constantly thinking about additional costs, this can make budgeting and relaxing much easier.

And while there is always the opportunity to splurge on something extra — such as a special bottle of wine — Collette found the included drinks selection more than sufficient.

A glass of champagne? Included.

A cocktail before dinner? Included.

A bottle of wine with dinner? Plenty of choice.

It's a style of cruising designed to let you simply enjoy the experience.

Service that remembers the details
For Collette, one of the strongest impressions from Silver Muse was the personalised service.

Dietary requirements were discussed individually upon boarding, and the team paid close attention to individual preferences throughout the cruise.

One small example made a particularly big impression.

“I ordered a gluten-free club sandwich one day on a whim, and they then made sure they had it for me afterwards. I couldn't believe they remembered!”
It's these seemingly small details that can make an ultra-luxury experience feel genuinely personal.

Entertainment — elegant rather than extravagant
If you're used to the enormous theatres, Broadway-style productions and high-energy entertainment found on some of the world's largest cruise ships, Silver Muse offers something different.

The Venetian Lounge hosts singers, dancers, guest speakers and destination presentations.

Collette found the singing particularly impressive, while the overall entertainment style was refined rather than spectacular.

For her, this was actually part of the appeal.

Silver Muse is not trying to compete with a floating resort. The focus is on the destination, dining, conversation, service and the pleasure of travelling well.

Wellness at sea
For travellers who like to maintain their wellness routine while travelling, Silver Muse has a good-sized gym and wellness studio.

Stretching, yoga and fitness classes are available, providing an opportunity to move your body after a day of sightseeing or simply start the morning feeling energised.

Of course, there is also the option of doing absolutely nothing — which is sometimes the ultimate luxury!

Who is Silver Muse best suited to?

Based on her experience, Collette sees Silver Muse as an excellent choice for:

Mature and well-travelled couples
Luxury-focused retirees
Food and wine enthusiasts
Travellers who prefer smaller ships
Guests looking for access to regional and less-visited ports
Repeat cruisers ready to move into the ultra-luxury category
Solo travellers who enjoy a sociable atmosphere without the crowds
It is less suited to families looking for lots of children's activities or travellers who want a high-energy nightlife and entertainment programme.

There is also a more traditional approach to dress on some evenings, including jackets for certain restaurants, so this is something to be aware of when planning your cruise wardrobe.

Collette's verdict
For Collette and Rob, Silver Muse demonstrated why Silversea has such a strong following among luxury cruise travellers.

It's not simply about having a beautiful ship.

It's about how you feel while you're travelling — having your preferences remembered, enjoying excellent food and wine, knowing that so much is included, being able to explore destinations that larger ships can't reach and returning to an elegant suite at the end of the day.

And with Silver Muse having undergone a refurbishment since Collette's sailing, the ship is now looking refreshed and ready for its next adventures.

“Silver Muse is ideally positioned for discerning luxury travellers who want a destination-focused, all-inclusive cruise with outstanding service and small-ship access.”
Thinking about your next luxury cruise?
New Zealand is an extraordinary place to cruise — and there are many ways to experience it.

Whether you're considering Silversea, another luxury cruise line or a completely different style of journey, the team at Shore Travel can help you compare the options and find an itinerary that matches the way you like to travel.

Like you, we love travel. Shore Travel is here to help you explore the world, your way.

Talk to our experienced travel advisors about your next cruise.