With the departure of the Silver Ray from Lisbon on April 15, Silversea Cruises kicked off its most ambitious season ever in the Mediterranean. The company, specializing in luxury and expedition cruises, will deploy five ships in the region, sailing 71 itineraries and visiting 95 different destinations before the end of 2025. For the first time, the cruise line will maintain year-round operations in the region, extending its presence until November 2026.
With its sapphire waters, medieval cities, irresistible gastronomy and a history that stretches back centuries, the Mediterranean, with its small ports and large metropolises, world-renowned cuisine and World Heritage sites, will be a sure bet for Silversea, a great connoisseur of this region, during 2025 and 2026.
This season marks an important step for the company in terms of capacity and permanence in the Mediterranean, one of the regions with the highest demand among travelers seeking cultural and gastronomic experiences in the same trip.
Five ships – the Silver Ray, Silver Dawn, Silver Muse, Silver Spirit , and Silver Whisper– will take passengers to iconic cities in the region, such as Rome, Athens, Barcelona, and Lisbon, as well as to less frequented ports like Saint-Tropez, Sète, Monopoli, Menton, and Seville. With this combination of ports, the company aims to offer a more immersive experience, exploring the local traditions, history, and architecture of each destination, far from the typical tourist routes.
Among the featured itineraries, we can highlight the Silver Muse's voyage , which will depart from Athens on October 17 for an eight-day cruise that includes stops in Monemvasia, Crete, Santorini, Patmos, and Marmaris, Turkey. Another example is the Silver Ray , the newest ship in the fleet, which will depart from Monte Carlo on October 31 bound for Civitavecchia, with stops in Toulon, Genoa, Tuscany, Porto Santo Stefano, and Naples.
The Silver Dawn, meanwhile, will sail a circular route from Lisbon between November 26 and December 8. On this voyage, passengers will visit Madeira, several Canary Islands, Cádiz, Gibraltar, and other ports on the Iberian Peninsula. This route aims to expand the ship's geographic reach and maintain operations outside the traditional peak season. This will bring the total number of itineraries to 71 by the end of 2025, sailing to offer the best experience in more than 95 destinations across the Mediterranean.
Gastronomy as a cultural vehicle
One of the aspects that has gained the most prominence in Silversea's offerings is its SALT (Sea and Land Taste) gastronomic program, which provides culinary experiences linked to each destination visited. The aim is to facilitate a more authentic approach to the local culture through regional cuisine and produce.
Among the activities planned for their various cruises this season are gourmet lunches and tastings at family-run wineries such as Bodega Hidalgo, with over 200 years of history in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz; a seasonal lunch featuring organic produce from the family garden, extra virgin olive oil, and local honey with chef Paul Griffon at his family's Provençal bistro in Provence, France; or a private lunch at a 14th-century estate visiting vineyards in Tuscany, paired with food writer Emiko Davies and sommelier Marco Lami. These activities, while designed for discerning guests, are focused on learning and exploration, creating unforgettable experiences.
With this initiative, Silversea seeks to strengthen its presence in a key region through trips such as the following:
- From Fusina (Venice) to Piraeus (Athens) aboard the Silver Spirit departing on October 17th and lasting 12 days visiting Fusina (Venice), Trieste, Dubrovnik, Bari, Corfu, Katakolon (Olympia), Monemvasia (Laconia), Souda Bay (Crete), Santorini, Rhodes and Piraeus (Athens).
- From Monte Carlo to Civitavecchia aboard the Silver Ray departing on October 31st and lasting 8 days visiting Monte Carlo, Toulon, Genoa, Livorno (Tuscany), Porto Santo Stefano, Naples and Civitavecchia (Rome).
- From Barcelona to Lisbon aboard the Silver Muse, departing on January 4, 2026 and lasting 14 days, visiting Barcelona, Valencia, Cartagena, Malaga, Tangier, Casablanca, Porto Santo, Madeira, Funchal, Madeira, Cadiz and Lisbon.
The deployment in the Mediterranean for 2025-2026 represents a strategic step for Silversea in an increasingly competitive market, with the maintenance of its ships active in the region during the winter in response to the preferences of the luxury traveler, but also with the idea of decentralizing the seasonal tourist experience.
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