Enjoy Wine, Art Deco Architecture and Coastal Beauty: The Wonder of Slow Travel

By Sue Wallace

White Bay in Sydney is a picturesque stop.
White Bay in Sydney is a picturesque stop.
Sample wine country, Art Deco capitals, pretty harbour towns, live shows, exquisite facilities and the finest onboard cuisine at your luxurious leisure on a voyage from New Zealand to Australia.

What’s it to be, tiramisu or panna cotta? It’s a toss-up as we enjoy an Italian feast under a blanket of twinkling stars outdoors at La Terrazza restaurant on Silver Muse. Should we share one – we should  – but willpower fails miserably, and we order one of each, agreeing to take a brisk stroll around the deck before bed or hit the gym in the morning. There’s a gentle breeze blowing and lamps are flickering as we indulge in all things Italian including delicious antipasto, tender pasta, veal cooked to perfection and those indulgent desserts, accompanied by some good Italian drops.

Lights on the distant shore flicker as tiny white-capped waves surround us on the elegant Silversea ship that caters for 596 passengers, eager to enjoy a leisurely cruise between New Zealand and Australia. Although it’s a pretty full ship, it always feels spacious with plenty of room for all, a trademark of the Silversea fleet. Jan Tyers from the Napa Valley, California says she chose the cruise because it features the two countries she was keen to visit.

“This gives us a taste of New Zealand and Australia – it’s slow travel at its best,” she says. Australian Brian Murphy from Brisbane says he and his wife flew over to New Zealand, did some touring and that this is a great way to return home.

The cruise leaves Auckland in New Zealand’s North Island, with stops at pretty seaside towns including Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty region, known as the country’s ‘sunny capital’ as well as for its sweeping beaches. We stop at Gisborne with its spectacular clifftop vistas and visit some world-renowned wineries, where we taste acclaimed wines. Gisborne is famous for producing top chardonnay, gewürztraminer, viognier, pinot gris, merlot and malbec.

At Napier, one of the world’s Art Deco capitals, we take a leisurely walk to admire the ornate 1930s architecture. The town was rebuilt after a 1931 earthquake and now hosts a popular annual Art Deco festival and many other events, attracting Art Deco lovers from around the world. We also head to Cape Kidnappers, which is famous for its birdlife, where we spy on the crowded gannet colonies and enjoy spectacular views over Hawke’s Bay.

There’s a stop at Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, where we take a city tour, and soon discover why it’s called ‘Windy Wellington’. We then venture along the craggy coast to the picturesque harbour town of Picton, which is the gateway to the islands and inlets of the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. On a short boat trip in the Sounds, we are accompanied by a pod of dolphins out for a fun day. Nelson, which is known for its national parks and arts and crafts, is our last New Zealand stop. After busy touring days, it’s great to have three relaxing days at sea with plenty of time to enjoy the luxurious Silver Muse and all it offers, before we disembark at Sydney’s White Bay.

Enjoy panoramic views, your own veranda plus a marbled bathroom in a stylish Silver Suite on the Silver Muse.

There’s plenty of choice for dining with eight restaurant options onboard and some that change styles in the evening. Casual or more formal, Silver Muse has it all: some restaurants require bookings, so plan ahead, and several have a surcharge. For a touch of chic, we dine at the elegant La Dame. Its escargots, lamb and Grand Marnier Soufflé are “magnifique”. Kaiseki is great for lunch with superb sashimi and sushi – a teppanyaki menu stars at night. At the elegant Atlantide dining room, the Blue Lobster is excellent and the Red Snapper delicious. The casual outdoor Grill becomes the fun Hot Rocks Café in the evening where steaks are cooked on hot rocks. Indochine takes diners on a mouth-watering Asian discovery, while Silver Note has an intimate club atmosphere serving small tapas-style dishes and toe-tapping jazz.

Fancy pizza? Try the pool-deck Spaccanapoli. It’s a favourite with many after a dip and a sunbake, plus the gelato is excellent. There’s also 24-hour room service, if you get peckish. For the best coffee and deli-bar snacks, head to the Arts Café. While you are there, take a look at the amazing art.

Our classic Veranda Suite, located on the lower bow, is spacious and comfortable with an elegant décor, stunning marble bathroom and ample seating area. We love opening the floor-to-ceiling glass doors to the private veranda, where we watch the sunset most evenings, accompanied by Silversea’s signature caviar blinis and bubbles. Our wonderful butler, Vikram, pops the cork on the welcome champagne and we know we are in for a special cruise. He returns soon after with a choice of bathroom amenities displayed on a silver tray – Bulgari or Ortigia?

The Daily Chronicles lists activities with everything happening from table tennis, cards, trivia, golf, bridge and dance classes. One of my favourite haunts is the Observation Library, with its array of books and maps on the top level of the ship. It’s perfect for reading or just watching the ever-changing seascapes, which I never tire of. Gym lovers are well catered for with speciality classes, including Pilates and yoga.

For a little pampering, why not head to the Zagara Beauty Spa for indulgent treatments. There are nine treatment rooms, with an acupuncture suite, relaxation areas, an outdoor whirlpool and saunas.

The Panorama lounge is a peaceful retreat by day and perfect for an evening cocktail while listening to a pianist or in-house DJ. The Dolce Vita lounge area is another great place to enjoy the ‘sweet life’ with an evening cocktail and entertainment.

Love a show? The elegant Belle Époque-style Venetian Lounge is great for entertainment ranging from solo performances to full-scale productions and feature films. As for our dessert pact – somehow, we forgot that brisk walk around the deck and gym visit. Maybe next time.

silversea.com

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