One of the world's leading ultra-luxury cruise lines, Silversea is taking guests further and deeper into the Mediterranean on 2023 voyages on its new ships Silver Moon and Silver Dawn.
Already known for high standards of service, onboard and onshore experiences on its small ships, Silversea pushes the boat out with its S.A.L.T. programme. Standing for Sea And Land Taste, it aims to connect travellers to the places they're visiting through the lens of food and drink culture.
Ashore, that means customised shore excursions; aboard, lectures and hands-on cooking experiences, local specialties, wines and cocktails to join the dots and allow the guests to come away with a better, deeper understanding and appreciation for the taste, cultures and food of their destinations.
S.A.L.T. is the brainchild of Adam Sachs, the award-winning food, lifestyle and travel writer, previously Editor in Chief of Saveur magazine. In an article first published on Silversea's website, he says that shore excursions in the Mediterranean, for example, could travel into the hinterland of Heraklion to experience the heart and soul of Greek organic cooking, or lunch with a vineyard owner in Sicily, enjoying the home-grown wines during a lavish meal with a view of Mt Etna.
Onboard, local recipes made with local products are given a stylish twist in the S.A.L.T. Kitchen dedicated dining venue. At the S.A.L.T. Bar, mixologists use local spirits to make regionally inspired cocktails.
The ships' S.A.L.T. Lab is an interactive cooking laboratory where guests get hands-on experience of local dishes in a professional kitchen. Small groups take part in shared cooking sessions where they learn the recipe and the food heritage of each ingredient.
Lectures and live cooking demonstrations take place regularly in the Venetian Lounge, allowing larger groups to see the connection between food and destination.
"Wherever we go, we're looking for amazing experiences, ingredients and traditions and, most of all, great stories that really help us unlock the history and tastes of the places we visit," Sachs says in the article. "Happily there's no end to the dishes, ingredients and tastes to explore.
"What sets S.A.L.T. apart is the narrative approach we take to creating a holistic, immersive culinary experience. What that means is identifying the compelling food stories of a region and then seeking out the chefs, authors, experts, winemakers and producers who best represent that culture and cuisine.
"With this approach through our different venues, we're able to tell a really cohesive and engaging story of the food and tastes of the region. As well, the local drink specialties in S.A.L.T. Bar and regionally focused menus in S.A.L.T. Kitchen extend the programme.
"S.A.L.T. Lab is meant to be a kind of hub for all forms of culinary discovery, from hands-on cooking instruction from visiting chefs and experts as well as our own S.A.L.T. hosts."
Sachs says S.A.L.T. Lab isn't designed as a cooking school in the traditional sense. It's really a welcoming space, a hangout for guests to explore the culinary offerings and history of the places they visit.
"It's also the venue for intimate talks and discussions, a place for like-minded food-focused travellers to meet and discuss their next adventures, borrow a cookbook or just stop by for a taste of local ingredients."
Similarly, "S.A.L.T. Bar is an intimate, inviting space to explore and celebrate the tastes and terroir of a region through its specialised spirits, wines and local beers. In addition to signature cocktails designed for each leg of the journey to reflect local flavours of the ports we visit, we'll have drinks that are exclusive to S.A.L.T. Bar as well as guided wine tastings and mixology classes."
He emphasises that, to enjoy the programme, a guest doesn't need to be a hardcore food-lover. "Some people might love to bake but not have an interest in adventurous culinary travel. Others might love to tour restaurant kitchens and vineyards but have no interest in cooking themselves."
In parallel with the immersive culinary programme, Silversea offers OTIVM, a wellbeing experience that starts at the ships' spas and trickles out to permeate every aspect of the cruise. It's based on an Ancient Roman concept where everything from sumptuous food to spa experiences to socialising became a part of daily life for the elite.
The spas offer favourite traditional treatments, customised therapies and personal training sessions, yoga and Pilates. Taking its cue from that centuries-past belief that wellness and relaxation do not end in the spa, it is extended into tailor-made, deep-immersion experiences in guests' suites – focusing on bathing, the balcony, in-room dining, movies and sleeping.
Aboard new, luxury small ships – Silver Moon and Silver Dawn host no more than 596 passengers – Silversea adds unparalleled knowledge of the Mediterranean. Founded in Europe in 1994 Silversea can claim the coast as its heritage.
Able to access both tiny ports and big-hitters, the line's itineraries are aimed at travellers who want an authentic experience with high-end personal service – and the S.A.L.T. culinary programme and the highest staff-to-guest ratio at sea are designed to help guests to "live like a local in the Mediterranean".
Visit the Discover Silversea Blog to read more about S.A.L.T and find out more about Silversea's ultra-luxury cruises and visit Silversea.com.