See the secret lounges where the crew on a new ultra-luxury cruise ship spend their free time — from a spa to a hidden bar

This one-to-1.3 staff-to-guest ratio is hard to miss, from the suite’s affable butlers to the workers who remember your name after meeting you once in passing.

This kind of high-touch service is, in part, what distinguishes mass-market cruise lines from their luxury counterparts.

For example, some bakers work overnight to prepare the bread for breakfast service, while others — like some of the bar stsff — don’t start work until the afternoon, although their shift could go into the early morning hours as well.

Alessandro Zanello, Silver Ray’s captain, told reporters during a media panel in June that he thinks the crew gym on Silver Ray “is better than most of the guest gyms on previous ships.”

It looks less than half the size of the guest one on Silver Ray — but at it’s furnished with staples like treadmills, free weights, and resistance equipment.

That’s right. Silver Ray also has a staff-only spa.

The compact space has a steam room and two plush massage chairs separated by a curtain. They’re first come, first serve — and, of course, in high demand, Zanello said.

The crew has a bar, too.

Most of the ship’s guest-facing bars are posh and elegant. This one feels more contemporary, with modern light fixtures and trendy art pieces that brighten the pockets of seating.

Here, folks can chit-chat at a large window-lined booth or charge their phones while perusing the internet (using Starlink, of course).

The dayroom is also equipped with the same coffee machines as the one available in the guest observation lounge. So, instead of sharing an old pot of black coffee, the team can instantly brew themselves a latte or cappuccino.

Unfortunately, Silver Ray doesn’t have a staff-only game room. But at least the lounge has a foosball table!

Workers are also welcome to sunbathe in a small sliver of the guest area on the top deck. But with that comes rules, like no music, food, drinks, or nudity, according to a sign posted on a crew bulletin board.

They have their own small buffet, stocked four times daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.

The crew represents 45 nationalities worldwide. To accommodate all these backgrounds, Rohit Dimir, Silver Ray’s executive chef, told reporters during a ship tour in June that their meals are generally a mix of global cuisines, from “oriental soup” to salads and grilled foods.

Andrea Tonet, Silversea’s vice president of product strategy, told reporters that about 98% of Silver Ray’s private and public spaces have ocean views and floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

While the crew mess doesn’t have these expansive windows, it does have small portholes that brighten the dense space.

More contemporary art — like a print of “Girl with a Pearl Earring” with a face tattoo — brings personality to the large dining room, as do the television screens streaming programs like Fox News.

For some workers, “alone” isn’t part of the equation.

Silver Ray has 364 guest suites (the smallest of which is pictured above), all with sumptuous amenities like walk-in closets, balconies, and butlers.

In comparison, the ship’s 333 crew cabins have 540 beds, which means some have roommates.

On the bright side, Zanello said some accommodations have more than one TV. So, if Fox News in the dining room isn’t cutting it, and you don’t want to watch your roommate’s movie, at least you’ll have your own TV.

After all, happy crew, happy cruise.