It was a warm January afternoon when I stepped aboard Silversea’s Silver Dawn for the first segment of the brand’s 2026 World Cruise. This year’s cruise theme was “The Curious and the Sea.” The cruise started in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and ended for me two weeks later in Lima, Peru. It was the trip of a lifetime. While I expected exceptional service and top-notch dining, two things that Silversea is renowned for, there was also a host of surprises throughout the two-week journey that often left me wondering how I could extend my trip to enjoy the full 140-day voyage that would eventually end in Lisbon, Portugal, in early May.
The excitement starts before you even step onto a ship
The first big surprise was a pre-night stay at the Boca Raton, one of South Florida’s most storied properties. But my fellow cruise guests and I weren’t just lounging at the pool. No, we experienced the first of many surprises. Tonight it was the Bon Voyage dinner. The evening was to begin with a cocktail hour at one of the resort’s incredibly manicured gardens. Though Florida’s unpredictable weather had other plans.
Like any good luxury cruise line, Silversea had a plan B, moving our cocktail hour inside to the Cloister, a beautiful interior space at the resort. Champagne was served by white-glove-laden waiters. A jazz band played in the background. Couples danced on the central dance floor. Then, as cocktail hour dwindled, dinner began. The meal was luxurious indulgence on a plate, with dishes like Florida stone crab with a spicy mustard sauce, beef Wellington, and a chocolate melting sphere topped with gold leaf.
Onboard Silver Dawn
After a glittering assemblage the night prior, I awoke with excitement to finally embark on my first world cruise. A breezy check-in gave way to the buzzing excitement onboard, with warm welcomes from staff who would become friends and family over the next few weeks.
Staterooms were ready upon arrival. Almost immediately after I settled in, a knock on the door introduced me to my attentive butler. Throughout the two week segment, my butler did everything from bring my favorite latte from the nearby cafe to my room in the morning, lay out caviar service to enjoy in the afternoon, set up post-excursion spa amenities in my ensuite bathroom (there’s truly nothing like getting back from a hike in the Costa Rican jungle to find macarons and bath salts ready to enjoy, and all I had to do was fill the tub with water), and make evening dining reservations. All of this often before I could even ask.
And speaking of staterooms, Silver Dawn’s cozy cabins are perfect for longer sailings, like a world cruise. Upon entering, there’s a bathroom with a stand-up rainfall shower and a separate full-sized bathtub. There are plenty of shelves around a large basin-style sink. The walk-in closet was also a welcome amenity, featuring a set of drawers, a shoe shelf, and an abundance of hangers. The bed was comfortable, and the separate living space was ideal for in-suite dining and afternoon movies.
As the ship drifted away from Florida’s coast later in the evening, I knew from the first few interactions with a handful of crew members that I was in for a treat the following two weeks.
Exploring the world around us
The first segment of Silversea’s 2026 World Cruise took excited passengers to familiar ports like Cozumel (where I stayed on the ship to enjoy the amenities like the pool, spa, and lounges since I’ve been to Cozumel multiple times). Then we ventured on to Puerto Limón, Costa Rica; Colón, Panama; Manta, Ecuador; and Lima, Peru. And right in the middle of it all, we sailed through the impressive waterways and locks of the Panama Canal. The engineering marvel is a true bucket list adventure for many avid cruisers.
In Costa Rica, I navigated the rainforest with an expert guide who pointed out animals like sloths, poisonous frogs, birds, and bullet ants. And while I’m usually not an outdoor adventure traveler, the afternoon spent in the rainforest was one of my favorite excursions of the cruise. Then in Panama, I opted to see the Panama Canal from land at the engineering marvel’s visitors center. It was a great introduction to the following day when Silver Dawn traversed the locks to the Pacific Ocean. Ecuador was another “sea day” for me as I enjoyed the onboard spa, then we made our way to Lima, where I departed.
Guests and crew turned friends
What surprised me most on the World Cruise was the diverse range of guests. Oftentimes when people think of Silversea, the luxury cruise line from Royal Caribbean, images of retirees come to mind. But that was far from the case on the 2026 World Cruise. While the ship did have plenty of older guests, there was also a smattering of multi-generational families, younger couples, and even a few digital nomads who, like me, worked most mornings from the cafe before settling into afternoon trivia and rounds of mahjong.
In the evenings, I always opted to enjoy the S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) Bar, a unique lounge on Silversea’s ships, where bartenders can create custom cocktails to your liking. The menu also offers a rotating list of drinks themed to where the ship is currently sailing. The first menu featured classics like margaritas and Pisco sours, as well as more eclectic options using spices and spirits from Latin America.
But after hanging out at the S.A.L.T. Bar for a few days, I was treated to yet another surprise: an invitation to a private cocktail series run by the fabulous bartender. Only a handful of guests were given this invitation. It felt special to be one of the lucky ones (it always pays off to sit at the bar for drinks and get to know the bartender). Each class featured a different base spirit or cocktail method, culminating in the final class where the students were given a handful of basics and had to create a balanced cocktail of our own. Let’s just say my cocktail was pretty, but I won’t be behind the bar slinging drinks anytime soon.
Between all the cocktails, excursions, coffee runs, and spa treatments, the one thing that stood out most on Silversea’s 2026 World Cruise was that strangers became family. The crew immediately knew my orders in the coffee bar. My new bartender friend knew exactly how I liked my espresso martini in the evenings. My favorite waiter always knew I wanted the New York strip cooked medium when I sat down in Atlantide. And my suite butler knew the exact times I would be returning to my suite for afternoon caviar.
Beyond the spectacular crew onboard Silver Dawn, making friends with other guests was easier than I ever expected, even though I was often half their age. I was welcomed with open arms to join couples at dinner in the onboard jazz club, Silver Note. We planned excursion meet-ups, guaranteeing our new friend group traveled together outside our floating home. And casual cocktail conversations spilled over to late-night talking about favorite travel memories and sports teams.
The real joy of a world cruise
At the end of the two weeks, I still had to depart in Lima. I gave hugs and exchanged social media handles with new friends from a cruise filled with curious travelers who wanted to see the world open up before their eyes. And that’s exactly what a World Cruise gives to people. The chance to see the world, but unpack once. The opportunity to make new friends, even if just for two weeks. The excitement of encountering new cultures and cuisine through specialized programming. The open door to relax and let someone else do the driving (or in this case, the sailing), and all you have to do is show up ready to engage with the world around you.
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