Hello from Italy’s Trieste, where I boarded Silver Nova last week. During a four day pre-debut architectural voyage, Silver Nova traveled from here to Italy’s Venice (Fusina), Croatia’s Zadar and back to Trieste before winding up in Venice. Now, Silver Nova’s maiden season has officially begun.

Although these are incredible ports, as a ship enthusiast and cruise industry journalist, I was most excited to get acquainted with Silver Nova, and I hope you are too.  

What was immediately striking to me and is a departure for Silversea in terms of the ship’s layout and design, is its asymmetry. With this design approach, two sides don’t mirror each other in an effort to create, particularly when it comes to a cruise ship, balance, harmony and an openness that brings the ocean – and views in port – into Silver Nova’s outdoor and indoor decks.  

Day 1: Trieste and Silver Nova’s outdoor decks

It’s a lovely day in Trieste, Italy, so I headed first to Silver Nova’s pool deck. One striking difference: It feels a lot like a luxury resort on land. That’s because it is open and spacious and incorporates the sea into its ambience.

Here’s the pool deck from another angle, where you can see, in the port of Trieste, how much the area incorporates its surroundings.

The outdoor Dusk Bar, aft (the back of the ship) on Deck 10, is a new venue for Silversea. Its location means you can watch the wake as Silver Nova is traveling, one of my favorite views on a ship. Beyond the bar are comfortable wide-lapped chairs, some in semi-shade, others in sun, where I hope I can spend at least a few minutes of relaxation. It’s the best place onboard for sailaway (see our video, below).

An incredibly popular pre- and post-dinner bar on Silver Moon and Silver Dawn that’s adjacent to S.A.L.T. Kitchen (and Atlantide), S.A.L.T. Bar on Deck 10 gets a new design and location onboard Silver Nova. It has a gorgeous alfresco space in addition to the main part of this lounge, which is focused on offering cocktails, wines, beers and non-alcoholic drinks that reflect the itineraries on which the ship is sailing. S.A.L.T. Lab is next door; you’ll find S.A.L.T. Kitchen on Deck 3.

Day 2: Venice and Silver Nova’s bars and lounges

Last night, for the sail-away from the golden city of Trieste — gorgeous, by the way — I split my time between watching the city fade away from the aft railing in the Dusk Bar and the Panorama Lounge. Did you know the Panorama Lounge is a Silversea signature venue? It debuted on the Silver Cloud, Silversea’s first ship, in 1994 and is on every classic vessel since, always at the aft.

The lounge, by the way, has outdoor service, a great bar staff and a dance floor (I read somewhere on Facebook that this new Panorama Lounge doesn’t have a dance floor and that’s not true). Silversea regulars will be interested to know that trivia will be held here on Silver Nova, not in Dolce Vita.

Today, I roamed around Silver Nova capturing images and impressions of its bars and lounges. If you have traveled on, particularly, Silver Moon, Silver Dawn and Silver Muse, many of these will be familiar to you. Some are new.

The ship’s redesigned Observation Lounge and Library is an introvert’s dream. The lounge has a ton of comfortable seating and an Illy coffee machine – but no actual bar. (It’s next door to S.A.L.T. Bar, though, so you’re never too far away.)  There is also access to the outdoor deck.

Speaking of the library, it’s within the lounge — one of the few public spaces onboard that does not have windows, and that makes it feel like a cozy hideaway. It’s a huge wow with the most magnificent planetarium-like ceiling. It’s a marvelous retreat if you’re craving some quiet time.

An incredibly popular pre- and post-dinner bar on Silver Moon and Silver Dawn that’s adjacent to S.A.L.T. Kitchen (and Atlantide), S.A.L.T. Bar on Deck 10 gets a new design and location onboard Silver Nova. It has a gorgeous alfresco space in addition to the main part of this lounge, which is focused on offering cocktails, wines, beers and non-alcoholic drinks that reflect the itineraries on which the ship is sailing. S.A.L.T. Lab is next door; you’ll find S.A.L.T. Kitchen on Deck 3.

We shared an alfresco view of the S.A.L.T. Bar yesterday – and here’s a look at its interior. Fun fact: I learned today that the new S.A.L.T. Chef’s Table will be in the S.A.L.T. Lab, which is next door to the bar.

Having cruised on Silver Muse, Silver Moon and Silver Dawn, I appreciate Dolce Vita on Silver Nova. What’s different here is that the service areas (such as shore excursions and guest relations) have been moved away (to the Arts Café), so it’s a more intimate, calming space. There’s piano music in the evenings.

At the same time, the always-vibrant Arts Café has a new, more central location and really is the heart of the ship. It’s open all day, from breakfast through afternoon tea, and is a great place to pick up an infused water, cappuccino, glass of wine or a cocktail.

Totally new is The Shelter, a Champagne bar, tucked away on Deck 3 in the atrium. Silversea has a partnership with Moet Hennessy, and many different and wonderful bubbles are available by the glass. (and note that Bollinger La Grande Année and Laurent-Perrier Rosé will be available by the bottle throughout the ship on the Connoisseur’s List).

Last but by no means least, the Venetian Lounge, which is Silversea’s first two-deck theater since Silver Cloud and Silver Wind, is a magnificent space. If there’s a theme to this ship – and this is on display in the Venetian Lounge – it’s how airy and open the interiors feel. There’s a wall of windows on the starboard side, great when, for example, sailing in Alaska during daytime lectures. I snapped this shot from the lounge’s upper level, looking front to back. There’s no bar, but there is, of course, drink service at your seat.

One note: You may notice that many of these venues are empty of folks – most passengers boarded in Venice, so we’ll definitely capture the lively vibe of guests and crew moving forward.

Day 3: Croatia’s Zadar and Silver Nova’s Restaurants

Today we’re in Croatia’s Zadar, dubbed the “capital of cool,” and on tap are tours that are available whenever a Silversea ship visits here, including Trekking in Krka National Park or, for fans of S.A.L.T. onboard this ship (and Silver Moon and Silver Dawn), a trip to check out the S.A.L.T. hand-curated experience at the Bibich Winery, the family business with a legacy dating back 500 years.

At this point, anyone who’s seriously interested in the restaurants on Silver Nova has seen the photos posted here and everywhere. What I will share is insight on the places that really struck me, both familiar, unfamiliar and somewhere in between.

Atlantide doesn’t get the sexy coverage of other restaurants, but it’s my favorite eatery onboard. It’s gorgeous, colorful, offers the ultra-luxe menu you expect on a Silversea cruise (caviar, lobster) and careful, comfortable service. I’m a big fan at breakfast of the honey-grilled peaches, and it’s a marvelous spot for a low-key, relaxing lunch. And it’s also an excellent example of how Atlantide does the small and big things in a homey way.

La Terrazza remains a favorite and is here onboard Silver Nova, of course. It’s buffet-centric in the morning and at lunch (and I love that you can also order off the menu). It’s menu-only at dinner. There’s a lovely alfresco dining area as we posted the other day.

If you haven’t tried S.A.L.T. Kitchen yet, you’re in for such a treat. On other cruises, aboard Silver Moon and Silver Dawn, I was so enchanted by the experience of dining centered on the food and wine of the places we visited. Here’s the kicker: There are two menus on S.A.L.T. One is a regional menu that stays the same in every port on your itinerary. The other is a daily-changing menu that offers you deeply local dishes in, say Dubrovnik over Venice, and you can pick and choose from both. Don’t forget as well that the wines are paired to match the local ports, so it’s a great way to discover new tastes.

What am I missing? Arts Café is a great spot for casual, to-go pick-ups (and I love the fresh, infused waters, including cucumber, so much that my butler brought me a bottle every day for the in-suite fridge). I didn’t make it to Kaiseki and La Dame on this trip (though have experienced both on other voyages). Spaccanapoli and the Hot Rocks are now in the Marquee at dinner and are just as you may remember.

And Silver Note, another perennial favorite, returns on Silver Nova.

And don’t forget about in-suite service. Sometimes, you just want to hang out and chill, and beyond the fact that it’s 24-hours, around the clock (particularly helpful when have jet-lag), you can also order from the Atlantide menu at dinner time.

Day 4: Back to Trieste, we dive into suites

Did you know that of its 13 suite categories, Silver Nova has seven that are new to Silversea? These include the Otium, Master, Signature, Junior Grand, Premium Medallion, Medallion and Premium Veranda.

Because of the horizontal design we talked about on our first day, the ship’s new layout means that, for the first time for Silversea, there are larger suites with an aft view – which is incredibly popular. The pair of Otium suites, the largest onboard, are located on port and starboard corners, which means they have both side and aft views.

Ninety percent of us are living onboard in the “veranda” categories (premium, deluxe, superior and classic — they’re all the same size, but what distinguishes them is their location). I was in Suite 8041, a deluxe veranda. If you have traveled on Silversea, you’ll see that the suites look similar to their brethren on, say, Silver Dawn, Silver Moon and Silver Muse. The primary difference on Silver Nova is in the bathrooms, where 22 percent of these suites have separate tubs and showers. Most have really roomy showers.

Here are some other interesting tidbits:

There’s no plastic anywhere in the suite. All guests are gifted with a water bottle (which you get to take home). I love the fact that it’s the color of the sea!

Even packaging, like, for example, the Otium toiletries, is made of bio-sourced, recyclable and recycled materials. Speaking of toiletries, Silversea’s product team tested many fragrances and textures to custom-craft its new Otium brand, meant to reflect the ship’s spa experience, which is all about indulgence rather than sacrifice.

The efforts to reduce waste extend to the daily Chronicle, which you can now access by your television – or the provided Lenovo pad (like an iPad but not by Apple).

And this last photo today belongs on the “last-but-by-no-means-least” list: As much as we’re focusing on the new design and the look of Silver Nova, no Silversea cruise is complete without a nod to its amazing crew. As Silversea continues to be an all-suite, all-butler-service cruise line, I’d love for you to meet Chester, my butler, who is providing excellent service throughout the architectural preview.

Day 5: Random spaces that feel both familiar and new

One of the challenges of an “architectural preview” sailing, typically hosting journalists and travel advisers, is how busy they can be.

Throughout our time onboard attended workshops, specially geared for this particular sailing, that will help inform journalists and travel advisers so they can better educate travelers. There’s a tour of the ship’s art collection, another that emphasizes ship technology, and a third that showcases the breadth of Silversea’s S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste).

So when there’s a chance to slow down, relax and absorb the ambience, I’ve embraced the opportunity (particularly with the photo above, simply looking out at the sea as there’s a magnificent sunset). This view.

Now that I’ve been onboard a few days, I’m starting to feel as though the ship is coming together for me. As an experienced Silversea guest, I find so much that feels familiar and yet there are a lot of fresh and innovative touches.

Here are a few spots onboard that speak to the blending of familiar and yet new:

The Atrium is captivating, offering great vistas (whether you want to look outside, by way of a three-deck- tall series of windows or just want to people-watch). It spans Decks 3 to 5. On Deck 3 is the new Shelter, a Champagne bar. Deck 4 is the Arts Cafe, and Deck 5 is Dolce Vita.

Speaking of Dolce Vita, I’m betting that these comfortable ringside seats, which overlook the atrium, will be popular.

The Panorama Lounge, by the way, has outdoor service, a great bar staff and a dance floor (I read somewhere on Facebook that this new Panorama Lounge doesn’t have a dance floor and that’s not true). Silversea regulars will be interested to know that trivia will be held here on Silver Nova, not in Dolce Vita.

I want to leave you with a few tantalizing shots of another new venue on Silver Nova: The Marquee. It’s a lofty space two decks high (there’s seating on decks 10 and 11), with shaded and sunny places to sit. Spaccanapoli is here, as well as healthier dining options and the Pool Grill. It’s probably the most beautiful outdoor restaurant I’ve ever seen on a cruise ship.