Our verdict: Inside one of the world's most luxurious ships

Don't worry if you don't know what to do with your personal butler on a luxury cruise. If your butler on Silversea's Silver Nova - which has just arrived in Australia - is Deependra, he'll give you a crash course in no time. He'll ask you if he can bring the afternoon canapes to your suite. And if your answer is yes, the next question is: "Would you like some caviar, too?"

He may also ask you if he can draw you a bath. And if you say yes expect him to rock up at your suite with three big jars of bath salts - ombre, orange blossom and fig - for you to peruse and pick, of course.

The b-word has started popping up in the world of high-end hospitality with alarming regularity, but this is the first time I'm in complete awe of one.

This world-class butler service is just one of the extraordinary experiences you can enjoy on Silver Nova. One of Silversea's most premium offerings, the gleaming ship was launched last year and will be spending two summers in Australia, with a range of itineraries on offer.

I was on the ship's first Australian leg - a five-night jaunt from Darwin to Cairns. With three days at sea, I had plenty of time to check out the coolest spots on the vessel. If you decide to sign up for one of its cruises in our neck of the woods, here are the key experiences you don't want to miss.

I have zero barbecue skills, so when my waiter brings a slab of fillet mignon and a hot stone to my table at the rooftop Grill restaurant, and says I can sear it myself, I'm reluctant. With some encouragement, though, I slice it into slither portions, searing them on all sides. I'm convinced I have ruined this prized piece of meat, but one bite of it and my eyes widen.

Liberally seasoned and butter-soft in texture, it's one of the most impressive steaks I have had in a long time. I'm determined to return at least a couple more times to the Grill, but that never happens, because there are just so many excellent eateries to explore on Silver Nova.

These include Silver Note, which has 15 dishes on its menu, but because they're all small, you're encouraged to order three or four per person, allowing you to have a lot of variety. The creamy crab bites and the perfectly cooked citrus-marinated lobster tail are the standout stars. Silver Note is a small restaurant, though, and is almost always booked out, so secure a table as soon as you can.

A few restaurants on the cruise aren't included in the package, such as the Japanese omakase spot Kaiseki ($US80 or AUD$123 per person) and the fine-dining experience at La Dame ($US160 per person). While the food at the Grill and Silver Note is hard to beat, the service at these premium venues adds an extra level of sophistication. If you decide to splurge on La Dame, the warm foie gras is a must-have. With its caramelised crust and rich, buttery centre, it's a dish I'm not going to forget any time soon.

There are no cabins or staterooms on Silver Nova - just suites, and even the smallest ones offer 36 square metres of real estate, with marble ensuites, separate sitting areas and private balconies. I'm staying in a Medallion Suite, where a long hallway, with a stunning console table and a blooming orchid, makes me feel like I am home as soon as I open the door.

The well-appointed bedroom and a separate living room - each with its own oversized smart TV - tick all the boxes: from coffee machines, mini-bars and shiny fruit bowls to charging ports (including USB-C) right next to the bed. Further along is the gleaming ensuite with a separate bath, a lavish walk-in wardrobe with an unending array of storage spaces and the lovely long balcony, too, with a daybed and a dining table for two. I find myself blissing out here on multiple occasions during my cruise.

There are spas and then there's Otivm (pronounced Otium) - a hedonistic den of indulgence where I notice the champagne station before the massage menu. The philosophy here is simple: there's no need to deprive yourself to feel good about yourself. So guests are encouraged to grab a glass of bubbles and wind down with a pedicure with sea views.

Or chill out in the steam and sauna rooms, take a dip in the indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling windows, and then choose a treatment. My 90-minute session - customised to my needs - is a combination of a relaxing massage and sleep-inducing head and foot rubs.

A mini facial is part of the package, too, and because my therapist is Gabriella - who specialises in skincare and has worked for a plastic surgeon - I know I'm in the right hands. Afterwards I feel a good 10 years younger - a combination of Gabriella and the bubbles, no doubt.

Unlike traditional cruise ships, Silver Nova features an asymmetrical design to give the vessel more of a luxury resort feel. And the best place to take it in is on the ship's 10th deck where you'll find its main pool placed on the right-hand side of the vessel rather than in the centre, bringing you closer to the ocean.

Go another level up and you'll find the ship's hot bubble pool, strategically located on the left-hand side and featuring a glass wall for that coveted infinity-edge feel.

THE SHIP: Silversea's Silver Nova

THE SIZE: 244 metres, 363 suites, 728 guests

GOOD TO KNOW: Silver Nova is cruising in Australia and New Zealand this summer and next. Many of the itineraries have already sold out, so if you want to get on board, book something soon.

GET ONBOARD: Itineraries range from 12-day Melbourne to Auckland (from $8500 per person) to 18-day Sydney to Singapore (from $15,100 per person).

EXPLORE MORE: silversea.com

The writer was a guest of Silversea.