Tomorrow, Silver Muse leaves Malta on a seven-night run to Lisbon. By the time the ship swings east for the Asia stretch, it will have gone down West Africa, round the Cape, across the Indian Ocean and into Singapore. It’s a ship with places to be.
If you’re eyeing the Asia part of this autumn-into-winter run, the real question is whether a small, butler-staffed, all-inclusive luxury ship is the right way to see Vietnam, Hong Kong, Borneo and the Philippines. This guide helps you decide. For dates and fares, the full Silver Muse schedule has you covered.
Silver Muse in Asia: Quick Reference
| Detail | Silver Muse, autumn season |
|---|---|
| Ship | Silver Muse (Silversea), built 2017, refurbished 2025; 40,700 GT, 11 decks, 612 guests, 408 crew (our data) |
| Season covered | Autumn, running from tomorrow’s Valletta departure to the 31 January Hong Kong sailing, which reaches Singapore on 14 February 2027 |
| Region | Asia (Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, with a Mediterranean and Africa lead-in) |
| Typical lengths | 7, 11, 14, 16, 20, 22 and 28 nights |
| Home ports | Singapore, Hong Kong, Valletta, Lisbon (Cape Town and Mumbai also appear as departure ports this season) |
| CDC score | 98 out of 100, inspected 25 July 2024 |
| Sailings in our data | 10 in this period |
The Ship: Small, Spoiled and Not for Everyone
Silver Muse is the cruise equivalent of a boutique hotel with a very good concierge. Silversea’s fare includes butler service in every suite, drinks including wines and spirits, Wi-Fi, port fees, taxes and gratuities. Silversea’s ship page lists eight dining venues, including the S.A.L.T. Kitchen, with the S.A.L.T. Bar among the public areas. S.A.L.T. is a destination-led food concept that replaced the old Indochine restaurant in the refit.
That refit is worth knowing about. The ship spent time in Fincantieri’s Palermo yard and returned to service on 14 December 2025. Larger suites on Decks 9 to 11 were converted into smaller staterooms, and the main dining room, La Dolce Vita, was shrunk to make space for technical areas. Cruise Industry News reports that double-occupancy capacity rose from 596 to 632 guests. Our own data lists 612, so published headcounts vary with who is counting and how. Either way, you’re looking at roughly 600 passengers, not 6,000. If you’re weighing suite sizes, our cabin size guide will help.
It suits you if you want long, port-heavy itineraries with no daily bill-shock, you like being addressed by name, and you’d happily trade a drinks-package spreadsheet for a fare that already includes the wine. It also suits anyone who wants a smaller ship in ports where the big ones can’t dock.
It doesn’t suit you if you want waterslides, a casino that never sleeps, or a cruise under a week that is mostly sea days. It also isn’t ideal if you want big-ship buzz, with crowds and constant stage shows. Reviewers have long described the décor as restrained, in a “tasteful beige” sort of way. The ship is more suave than showy.
Cleanliness is a fair thing to check. Silver Muse scored 98 out of 100 at its most recent CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspection in our records, on 25 July 2024. A score of 85 or below counts as unsatisfactory. That inspection predates the refit, so look up the current picture in our CDC inspection lookup before you pay your deposit.
The Itineraries: What’s on Offer and Which to Pick
Here’s the honest geography. Only the back half of this season is in Asia proper. The first three sailings are a Mediterranean hop and a long African run, which doubles as a repositioning towards Asia. Here is the lot, in order. Sailing dates are from our schedule and Silversea’s voyage pages; port lists are from Silversea’s pages or reseller listings where noted.
- 14 Oct, 7 nights, Valletta to Lisbon: Trapani, Cagliari, Cartagena and Málaga, with two sea days. The sailing departs tomorrow, so consider it a spectator sport.
- 21 Oct, 20 nights, Lisbon to Cape Town: Funchal (two days), Dakar, Takoradi, Walvis Bay (an overnight) and Lüderitz. Twelve of the 21 days are at sea, so it’s one for people who like a long, quiet crossing. The 42-night version in our listings strings this together with the next voyage.
- 10 Nov, 22 nights, Cape Town to Mumbai: Silversea lists 10 ports and 11 sea days. The ports are Cape Town, Gqeberha, East London, Durban, Réunion, Port Louis, Mahé, Cochin, New Mangalore and Mumbai. It ends on 2 December.
- Early Dec, Mumbai to Singapore: Our schedule shows a 3 December departure and 16 nights. Silversea’s voyage page runs 2 to 20 December, 18 nights: you embark in Mumbai on 2 December, the ship sails at 17:00 on 3 December, and the voyage ends in Singapore on 20 December, the day the next sailing departs. Confirm the date and length with Silversea before booking. Silversea lists Cochin, Colombo (two days), Hambantota, Trincomalee, Phuket (two days), Penang, Port Klang and Malacca, with five sea days.
- 20 Dec, 14 nights, Singapore to Hong Kong: Silversea’s page lists Ho Chi Minh City (three days), Chan May for Hue and Da Nang, Ha Long Bay (two days), then Hong Kong from 30 December, where the cruise ends on 3 January. That’s five ports and four sea days.
- 20 Dec to 17 Jan, 28 nights, Singapore round trip: Silversea’s page shows the 14-night run above, then a second 14-night loop: Hong Kong, Keelung (for Taipei), Manila, Coron, Puerto Princesa, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu, ending in Singapore. It lists 11 ports in total.
- 3 Jan, 14 nights, Hong Kong to Singapore: The same Taiwan, Philippines and Borneo loop as the second half of the 28-night voyage.
- 17 Jan, 14 nights, Singapore to Hong Kong: Silversea’s page lists Laem Chabang (for Bangkok), Ho Chi Minh City, Chan May (for Hue and Da Nang) and Ha Long Bay before Hong Kong, ending on 31 January.
- 31 Jan, 14 nights, Hong Kong to Singapore: Silversea shows eight ports and seven sea days. Calls are Keelung, Manila, Coron, Puerto Princesa, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu, arriving in Singapore on 14 February.
Our database also carries an 11-night Singapore listing for 20 December. Silversea’s voyage pages show the 20 December departure as 14 nights to Hong Kong or 28 nights round trip, so treat the 11-night listing as unconfirmed and check with Silversea.
Which to pick: First-timers who want the headline hits should take the 20 December Singapore to Hong Kong run, with Vietnam’s three big stops and four full days in Hong Kong. Borneo and Palawan people should take the 3 or 31 January Hong Kong sailing: fewer household names, more wildlife and fewer crowds. Spice-and-temples people should look at the Mumbai departure. If you have a month free and an expense account that never asks questions, the 28-night route covers the lot.
The Ports: What’s Genuinely Worth Your Time
Ho Chi Minh City gets three calendar days on the 20 December sailing, which is generous. Use them for the city itself, then the Cu Chi tunnels or a Mekong Delta day, which are the classic excursions.
Chan May is the port for Hue’s Imperial City and the Da Nang and Hoi An area. Silversea lists 18 excursions here, so book early. Note that the sailing hits it on Christmas Day.
Ha Long Bay is the limestone-karst postcard everyone wants. The ship stays two days, so you can do a boat trip and still enjoy the ship. Fog is the lurking risk, especially in January.
Hong Kong is the star on the 20 December sailing. The ship arrives on 30 December, with New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and 2 January all in port, and the cruise ends on 3 January. Pace yourself: Victoria Harbour on the Star Ferry, the Peak, dim sum, repeat.
The Philippine and Borneo stretch is the sleeper hit. Puerto Princesa is the gateway to the Underground River. Sandakan means Sepilok’s orangutan rehabilitation centre, and Kota Kinabalu offers island hopping and Mount Kinabalu views. Coron is mostly lagoons and wrecks. Call it a nature documentary with a shuttle bus.
Sri Lanka and India bring Kochi’s old quarter, Trincomalee’s beaches, and Yala National Park from Hambantota. Penang’s George Town is a street-food crawl in a UNESCO-listed old town.
The 28-night page lists 167 shore excursions in total and the Cape Town to Mumbai page lists 98. Those are samples, and shore excursions aren’t part of the included list. Budget accordingly.
Conditions and Packing for This Season
Singapore in December: Meteorological Service Singapore names December the wettest month of the year, averaging 331.9 mm of rain over 19 rain days (1991–2020). That’s the northeast monsoon doing its thing, and monsoon surges can bring widespread, heavy rain. Pack a light rain jacket and a quick-dry everything.
Hong Kong in January: The Hong Kong Observatory’s 1991–2020 normals give January a mean daily high of 18.7°C and a mean daily low of 14.6°C, with about 33 mm of rain. For the record, December is the driest month at 28.8 mm, so January is dry but not the driest. Cold snaps from the north can push temperatures below 10°C, and the damp air makes it feel colder. Bring a fleece, a windproof layer and, for the grumpy mornings, a thermal top.
Ha Long Bay: January is generally named the coldest month, averaging roughly 14 to 17°C, while December runs a touch milder at roughly 15 to 20°C, according to Paradise Vietnam. Thick fog is common on January mornings, usually lifting by mid-morning. The late-December call falls before all that, which is one point in its favour.
Everywhere else: You’ll want light, breathable clothes, sun protection and shoes you can walk in for hours. Pack covered shoulders and knees for temples and the Imperial City in Hue. The mix of tropical heat and a cool evening on the pool deck means layers are your friend. If you’re packing a bottle or two of your own, check our alcohol policy guide first, though with drinks included you may not need it.
Money: Where the Value Is
These are one seller’s published “from” fares (CruiseWeb), per person, double occupancy, taxes and fees included. Two people sharing pay double. Other sellers quote very different figures for the same sailing, so treat these as a yardstick rather than a quote. Where a “from” price covers several sailings, it is the lowest across them, not necessarily the departure you want.
- Lisbon to Cape Town, 20 nights: from $8,900, about $445 a night.
- Cape Town to Mumbai, 22 nights: from $12,400, about $564 a night.
- Mumbai to Singapore, 18 nights: from $11,500, about $639 a night.
- Singapore to Hong Kong, 14 nights: from $8,000, about $571 a night.
- Hong Kong to Singapore, 14 nights: from $8,950, about $639 a night.
- Singapore to Hong Kong via Bangkok’s port, 14 nights: from $9,500, about $679 a night.
CruiseWeb doesn’t list the 14 October Valletta to Lisbon sailing, so ask Silversea or an agent for that fare. Length doesn’t settle the per-night cost on its own: the two longest priced sailings work out cheapest per night, but the 18-night Mumbai run costs more per night than the 14-night Singapore to Hong Kong. The 28-night voyage is “contact for pricing”, so ask. Remember that Silversea’s included list covers drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. It doesn’t cover shore excursions or flights, which are optional extras. If you want to know how tipping works elsewhere, our tipping guide compares it. For hotels, Silversea’s Singapore options are The Fullerton Bay Hotel and Pan Pacific Singapore. A Hong Kong city stay is listed from $2,250 per guest, and a two-night Mumbai stay from $1,840 per guest.
Timing: When to Book and What Sells Out
It is 13 October. Valletta leaves tomorrow and Lisbon leaves on the 21st, so those are only for the very spontaneous. For the Asia sailings, the departures with Christmas in Vietnam and New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong are the ones I’d secure first. That’s my read, not published availability data. Silversea lists no sell-out figures, so ask a Silversea agent which suite categories are still open.
Book the airfare and a pre-cruise hotel early too. Flights into Singapore at the end of December are rarely bargains. If you’re tempted by the flight package, compare it against booking independently.
FAQ: Silver Muse Asia Cruises
Is Silver Muse all-inclusive?
Mostly. Silversea’s fare includes butler service, multiple restaurants, drinks including wines and spirits, Wi-Fi, onboard entertainment, port fees, taxes and gratuities. Shore excursions, flights and hotels aren’t in the included list, so they cost extra. Reviewers have also noted that spa and salon treatments are an exception to the gratuity inclusion.
What’s the best Silver Muse cruise for Vietnam and Hong Kong?
The 14-night Singapore to Hong Kong sailing departing 20 December covers it. Silversea lists three days at Ho Chi Minh City, Chan May for Hue and Da Nang, two days at Ha Long Bay, and Hong Kong from 30 December, with the cruise ending there on 3 January. The 17 January departure covers similar ground via Bangkok’s port, per Silversea’s itinerary.
What is the weather like on an Asia cruise in December and January?
Singapore is at its wettest in December, with 19 rain days on average. Hong Kong in January is mild and relatively dry, with a mean daily high of about 19°C and occasional cold snaps. Ha Long Bay is cool, roughly 15 to 20°C in December, with thick fog common on January mornings. Pack layers and a light rain jacket.
Will Silver Muse be in Hong Kong for New Year’s Eve?
On the 20 December sailing, yes. Silversea’s itinerary has the ship in Hong Kong from 30 December and the cruise ends there on 3 January. The 28-night version of the voyage includes the same Hong Kong stop, so you’d be there on New Year’s Eve either way.
What is Silver Muse’s CDC inspection score?
Our records show a score of 98 out of 100 from the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program inspection on 25 July 2024. That’s before the 2025 refit, so check for a newer inspection in our CDC lookup tool before you book.
Is Silver Muse a big ship?
No. It’s 40,700 gross tons with 11 decks and, in our data, 612 guests and 408 crew. Cruise Industry News reports that the refit lifted double-occupancy capacity from 596 to 632. Counting methods differ, but it’s a small ship, which is why it can reach ports bigger ships skip. Read our Silver Muse ship profile for more.
The Bottom Line
Silver Muse is right for travellers who want depth in Asia more than a ship’s worth of entertainment: Vietnam, Hong Kong, Borneo and Palawan in comfortable, inclusive style. It’s wrong if you’re after a party ship or a short, cheap hop. Pick the 20 December Singapore to Hong Kong voyage for the greatest hits, or a January Hong Kong sailing for the wild side. Before you commit, confirm the details we flagged (the Mumbai departure date and length, and the unconfirmed 11-night listing) with Silversea directly.
Ships in This Story
- Silver Muse Silversea · Latest CDC score 98
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