by Guest Author
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Wed September 23, 2026
By Stacey Zable. This article originally
appeared in the September issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.
My husband and I have always believed that travel offers
children the greatest education. When our daughters were young, we took them on
land trips, cruises and to resorts around the globe.
So, it came as no surprise that my 24-year-old requested a
Europe trip as her commencement gift for finishing graduate school. Honestly,
it made us happy to know that as she transitioned from a student to an adult
entering the workforce, that love of family vacations we had hoped to instill
remained.
We settled on a 10-night Mediterranean cruise with Silversea
from Lisbon, Portugal, to Rome, because we liked the idea of traveling onboard
a somewhat smaller ship that covered many destinations and combined both major
cities and smaller ports.
And the 728-guest Silver Nova proved to be the perfect home
base. Featuring sophisticated dining, entertainment and activities in between
our port-heavy itinerary, the ship had none of the bells and whistles of larger
vessels that might appeal to families with younger children — and we didn’t
need them for this voyage, since the destinations and high-touch service and
dining were our priorities. And we weren’t alone in our pursuit; we met
numerous other guests traveling with young-adult children or multigenerational
families with or without younger children.
Dining
With 10 dining venues featuring a range of international
cuisine, plus 24-hour room service, Silver Nova offered plenty of variety to
keep us happily satiated during the voyage. Silversea’s all-inclusive fare
includes all food and beverages, including alcohol such as wine, beer, spirits
and cocktails. Clients will pay extra for premium and connoisseur-level
selections and the three specialty dining venues: La Dame, Kaiseki (for dinner
only) and S.A.L.T. Chef ‘s Table. Reservations are required for dinner, except
at S.A.L.T. Kitchen, Spaccanapoli and main dining room Atlantide.
We quickly established a dining routine that worked well
with our touring schedule. We took early alfresco breakfasts at La Terrazza
buffet and late lunches after mornings of exploring once again at La Terrazza
or The Marquee — which offers options such as personal pizzas, burgers and fish
of the day — always followed by gelato. Every restaurant was excellent for
dinner, from the fresh-made pastas of La Terrazza (which becomes an a la carte
Italian eatery in the evening) to the filet mignon at Atlantide.
We also loved Silver Note, an intimate supper club where we
could dine while listening to a piano player and cabaret singer — a music style
our whole family enjoys. The Grill, meanwhile, offered the chance to cook our
own meat, shrimp or chicken tableside on hot stones. Specialty venue La Dame
upped the service and presentation with French gastronomy, tasting menus and
seasonal ingredients.
Public Spaces
While accommodating a smaller guest count than mainstream
mega-ships, the 801-foot Silver Nova still has a big-ship feel. (It and Silver
Ray are the largest in Silversea’s fleet.) Our family never once felt crowded
in any of the vessel’s venues or even on deck during our itinerary’s one sea
day. There are plenty of intimate spaces within the Observation Lounge, Atrium
and even the library to relax with a good book, play a board game or chat with
new friends.
We often found ourselves on the top deck after dinner,
taking in the magnificent sunsets, recapping the day’s fun and planning the
next day’s adventures. The ship’s layout features 43,000 square feet of glass,
including floor-to-ceiling windows and glass-enclosed elevators, offering
uninterrupted views of the beauty of the Mediterranean.
The Venetian Lounge served as the theater for wonderful
nightly shows, while Panorama Lounge was the spot for trivia, karaoke and more
intimate performances.
Accommodations
Silver Nova boasts 13 suite categories; all feature sizable
living spaces and private balconies, and some offer bathrooms with separate
showers and bathtubs. All suites come with butler service, which includes
packing and unpacking, ironing, stocking the minibar according to guest
preferences and even drawing baths.
Excursions and Destinations
We chose Silversea’s Lisbon to Rome itinerary because it
included all new destinations for my daughter. During the cruise, we made three
port stops in Spain, including an overnight in Cadiz, plus Malaga and
Barcelona. We also visited Marseilles, France; Monte Carlo, Monaco; and
Portofino and Livorno in Italy. We combined time on our own with choosing from
Silversea’s long list of excursions in each port.
A highlight was the Santa Margherita & Portofino
excursion, which included a private boat tour along the breathtaking coast and
an additional stop in the lovely town of Santa Margherita before exploring
Portofino.
Silver Nova will continue to sail the Mediterranean on
varied itineraries through early December. The ship will then reposition to the
Caribbean, followed by a winter in South America and a return to the
Mediterranean in April 2027.
My daughter is already eyeing her PTO and these itineraries
for our next family cruise.
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