Ah, Spa!
Debbi had the pleasure of enjoying a fantastic massage in the Elemis Spa located on the top deck of the ship. Here's where you can enjoy a wealth of posh pamperings that will indulge and invigorate you. The spa features four treatment rooms, and discounts of about 20% off are regularly offered on port days. The hot stone massages are the most popular treatment of all. Debbi had the Swedish massage ($110 for 50 minutes) and she sopped up every stroke like a sponge.

You name it, there's a treatment for it - from the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial, to Exotic Frangipani Body Nourish Wrap, and even a GoSMILE tooth whitening treatment ($199 for 30 minutes). Debbi's masseuse, Lourika from South Africa, started her massage with a dry brushing, followed by massage with rosemary and lavender oils, plus an application of milk bath used on the décolletage. Said Lourika: "I love giving massages - I'm happiest when I'm in the treatment room." And you know what? We totally believe her!

Extraordinary Entertainment
Who doesn't love great entertainment, enroute to your destination? We are huge fans of Silversea's entertainment options, and we've seen some marvelous production shows featuring talented performers. One show, for example, had a Latin theme, featuring South-of-the-border music and costumes, and the exceptional talents of the singers and dancers on board (including Natallia Korsak and Dmitry Sviridov, the exceptional, and stunning, world-class ballroom-dancing couple from Belarus, who wowed us with their fancy footwork. They belong on Broadway and we would have happily paid admission to watch them).



Our cruise also featured a talented singer, Donny Ray, who specialized in singing the music of Nat King Cole, and a pianist who had actually worked with Liberace, Craig Dahn, who captivated us with his creative performances. We're always happy to see a show after dinner, and it's just another of the many added pleasures that Silversea provides for its guests (We've been on other ships that don't have entertainment, and trust us - without it, something is definitely missing on your voyage).

And throughout each day, before the sun sets, there are more than enough activities to engage in - everything from table tennis tournaments; to foreign-language lessons; to bridge classes; to arts and crafts.

Work It Out In The Fitness Center
In the spa area, the Silver Shadow also boasts a fitness center outfitted with everything you need to negate calories: treadmills, elliptical machines, Nautilus machines, workout balls, free weights, and more than enough Pilates and yoga classes - which are all complimentary, by the way (On other ships we've been on, there's an added fee for such classes).

It makes a cruise on Silversea Cruises all the better, when you know that you can get in some exercise, to compensate for all of the delicious food that the ship serves. Each treadmill and elliptical machine also has a television, so you can tune in (and tune out) from all the hard work you're doing. Personal training is even available, for $83 for 60 minutes. If you want even more exercise, follow our example and take a ballroom-dancing class, which was typically offered on days at sea- taught by Natallia and Dmitry, who taught us how to do the jive. It definitely came in handy to know this routine, when we danced at night in the ship's disco - another great escape!



How Suite It Is
Our suite, #652, measured 405 square feet, including our verandah. Spacious, beautifully and luxuriously appointed, it featured Philips plasma HD TV, DVD player, binoculars, refrigerator, marble bathroom with double sinks and a bathtub (the ultimate luxury on a cruise ship), shower, and Bulgari amenities. Our fridge was re-stocked every day with all of our favorite drinks, and there was always a supply of fresh fruit.

One feature Debbi loved, given her preference for anything wrapped in hazelnuts and chocolate, were the foil-wrapped European Cafarelle chocolates that were placed on her pillow every night. Our suite also featured a Sealy Posturepedic bed outfitted in high-thread-count sheets and duvet, making our sleep all the more sybaritic. Believe us when we say it was hard to get out of such a comfortable bed.

And here's a tip - the Silver Shadow has a great selection of DVD movies, but if you really want to guarantee viewing of special flicks, you should simply bring your Netflix choices aboard and return them from an American port. One thing you should know - starting in the Fall of this year, every guest on a Silversea voyage will enjoy the luxurious services of a personal butler - he can perform a wealth of services -- unpack clothing, facilitate a dry-cleaning request, prepare a scented Jacuzzi - heck, he can even hang your "Do Not Disturb" sign if you want.