If ever there was a ship that personifies the term "understated elegance", it must be Silver Whisper. Christened on June 18th, 2001 in Genoa, Italy, Silversea Cruises' latest vessel exudes a feeling of class; five star class to be precise. Measuring a comfortable 28,258 gross register tons, the 597-ft (182 m) long ship has a capacity for only 388 passengers, giving Silver Whisper and her sister Silver Shadow one of the highest passenger space ratios in the cruise industry.

Repeatedly proclaimed as the most luxurious cruise line afloat, Silversea offers a totally decadent travel experience on their fleet of 4 small to smaller sized ships. Most suites come equipped with roomy teak balconies; there is no tipping and no paying for drinks either! When visiting the ship in port of Amsterdam on August 28th, 2001, I was surprised at Silver Whisper's friendly atmosphere. While definitely catering to a relatively small slice of the world's cruising potential pie (a "Fun Ship" it ain't!), the service and atmosphere is such that most people will feel comfortable on board. This is done by making the ship look "natural" on the inside, without any vaguely reminding of brass, glitz or glamour. Indeed, it could best be described as "understated elegance"!

Unfortunately my time on board Silver Whisper was very limited. While we were expertly guided around the ship and were treated to a refreshing glass of champagne in the Panorama Lounge, there was not much time for photo stops. We did manage to capture most public rooms though, so we'd better start our ShipTour of this very exclusive ship without delay!