After flying from Brisbane to Perth, we stayed overnight at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle. Established as a hotel in 1895, the building has been renovated and extended over the years, including significant work ahead of the 1987 America’s Cup. It is located opposite historic Esplanade Park, close to the water’s edge and convenient for the city centre, restaurants, beach, markets and historic sites. It also seemed to be a popular pre-embarkation choice for other guests joining Silver Moon.
Silver Moon can accommodate up to 596 guests in 298 suites, served by a crew of 411. Even with a strong number of guests on board, the ship never felt crowded. Instead, she felt quiet, tranquil and serene, except perhaps when everyone exited the Venetian Lounge after a performance.
Our accommodation was a Deluxe Veranda Suite on Deck 6. Each group of suites is served by a dedicated butler, and ours was Cerron from Kenya, assisted by Adri from Indonesia, who looked after maintenance and servicing. Both were attentive and accommodating throughout the voyage.
The suite included a private sea-view veranda with a table and chairs, a large lounge area with a sofa, vanity seat, club chair and coffee table, plus plenty of power and device ports. The sleeping area, curtained from the lounge, featured a king-sized bed, with twin bedding also available. There was also a walk-in wardrobe with generous drawer and hanging space, and a spacious bathroom with a bath, separate shower, toilet and large vanity area.
This sector of the ship’s voyage was a nine-day cruise from Fremantle to Singapore, including a day and a half in Benoa, Bali. With five sea days, it was a relaxing and gastronomically exciting journey.
Dining was a major part of the experience. Silver Moon offers many varied venues, including Kaiseki for Japanese cuisine, La Dame for French dining, Atlantide for American and continental flavours, La Terrazza for Italian, The Grill for casual poolside dining with meat and seafood cooked on lava stone at the table, Spaccanapoli for Neapolitan pizza, S.A.L.T. Kitchen for destination-inspired menus, Silver Note for fine dining with live jazz and blues and the Arts Café for light snacks.
Guests can also book S.A.L.T. Lab, a small-group interactive culinary studio at sea with professional-grade teaching kitchen facilities. It offers demonstrations, teaching and hands-on cooking classes, and also transforms into the Chef’s Table for intimate small-group dining. It was very popular, and we missed out on our preferred S.A.L.T. Lab choices, largely because we did not keep up with the notices on our suite television. Book early if this is high on your list.
There are also several venues for drinks and relaxation, including the Arts Café, Pool Bar, Panorama Lounge, La Dolce Vita, S.A.L.T. Bar, Silver Note and the Observation Library. The Panorama Lounge served afternoon tea each day with tea, coffee, sandwiches, crepes, cakes, scones with cream and jam and champagne to top it off. The Observation Library was a peaceful spot for all-day tea and coffee, jigsaw puzzles, books and quiet views of the ship’s progress.
The Zagara Beauty Spa on Deck 6 was another highlight. This luxury wellness area includes a well-equipped fitness centre with state-of-the-art equipment, personal trainers and group classes including circuit training, aerobics and Pilates. The spa area offers treatment rooms, massage, facials, body treatments, acupuncture, saunas, thermal facilities, a jacuzzi and sunbeds.
We booked spa membership for the cruise and used it every day. It was serene and tranquil, and although the open space and jacuzzi were next to the fitness centre, it often felt like our own private retreat. There were never more than two other couples there, and usually only one. It was peaceful and idyllic.
The cruise itself was lovely, with calm, flat seas and professional, well-attended entertainment. The dress code on board was elegant casual, with a couple of formal evenings. Elegant casual for women included trousers, a top, skirt or dress, while for men it meant an open-collar shirt and dress trousers, with a jacket optional in some venues. Formal nights gave guests the opportunity to dress up, and some of the dinner jackets were truly outstanding, with patterns, sparkle and colours of many hues.
Regardless of the daily dress code, after 6pm indoors the rule was no jeans, shorts, hats, caps, gym shoes, sneakers or thongs.
Transfers to and from the ship at embarkation and disembarkation were seamless, efficient and stress-free. Our Bali call included an overnight stay. One of us had visited Bali years ago, while for the other it was a first. We hired a driver for the day and toured to Ubud and the Monkey Forest, with stops at a coffee house and batik workshop along the way. The drive involved heavy traffic and congestion, and we finished with a beachside meal on Jimbaran Bay. It was a first for one of us and a more reflective return for the other.
The entire voyage was a delight. The food was superb, the entertainment excellent and the service warm and attentive. From our butler and suite team to the restaurant staff and afternoon pastries delivered to our suite, Silver Moon created a journey that felt relaxing, indulgent and quietly invigorating.
