dawntrdr

Interesting - In 96 days onboard, the crew welfare fund has never been mentioned. I only know about it from this SS forum.

We were midship in 8046 on the November TA and it was extremely creaky. My DH said it was probably due to the fact that a new ship has not been shaken around enough so that wear-points have not been rubbed down smooth yet. He determined that we would always carry a pack of wood shims (wedges) when we sail a new ship!

Passing on an item that might be of interest to you... Many of us had the pleasure of sailing with Kirk Detweiler, recently CD on several SS (and RCI) vessels. He is now executive director of the historic Palace Theatre in his home town of Marion Ohio. On March 20, 2024, the Palace is presenting a lecture and presentation by Julia Hansen, a survivor of the Andrea Doria sea disaster of 1956. Here is the link: https://marionpalace.org/event/andrea-doria-a-famous-sea-disaster-and-a-survivors-story/ By the way, it looks like Kirk is still hosting Trivia night!

The steward does the cleaning and works with the Butler in handling your requests. The Butler will also shine your shoes, polish eyeglasses and help with minor repairs to your clothes. If you are going on a long or particularly arduous tour, your can ask your butler to have sandwiches, snacks, etc., set out for when you get back. Also good for helping you figure out that darned "convenient" interactive TV.

Welcome! There is a surcharge for LaDame, which serves dinner only. There is a surcharge at Kaiseki for dinner but not for lunch. There is no surcharge for the regular SALT restaurant (Deck 3), but there is one for the SALT Kitchen Chef's Table dinner, which is performed periodically at the Salt Lab on Deck 10 (sign up while on board). There are no other charges in any other restaurant or bar unless you want to buy a special bottle of wine or spirit off the Wine List (I've always found the included offerings to be fine for me).

Not at all. The elevators are amazingly smooth and quiet. My DH and I always took the stairs on prior cruises but these elevators were hard to resist.

When cruises were cancelled during Covid, the OBC just went away. OBC is usually given to promote a particular cruise during a particular period where added incentive to book is desirable. The only time I've been able to transfer it was on a voyage-to-voyage transfer, and even that doesn't work out all of the time.

I usually just scroll on by the advertisements that appear at the top and bottom of the Silversea forum board, but the following has been at the top of the forum list for several days. I'm aware of the $4,000 reasons to sail promotion, but is there also a $6,000 one?

Medallion suites do get free laundry service.

I have been on the Wind and its twin the Cloud several times and I would not change from Cabin 524 if I were you. There is no appreciable difference in view, and since you will be in areas where there are seals and whales swimming around, closer to the ocean surface is better!

This was news to me - but it does indeed say that in the shareholder materials.

We did Lisbon to London in May 2018 and the only rough seas were exiting the Tagus River estuary at Lisbon, which is not uncommon.

Thanks, Lois. I hope all is well with you. This restaurant (which they have abbreviated to BABs) is "casual" in style; they also have a fancy white-tablecloth location.

I happened to be in New Orleans this week and went to one of Nina Compton's restaurants: Bywater American Bistro. It was excellent. If she can bring that magic to Silver Nova, we are all in for a treat. I took a photo of the menu:

There is an excellent earlier thread on an expedition around England and Scotland (ending in Iceland) that will tell you more day by day about a UK expedition cruise: This is not a clickable link but you can scroll back a few pages to find it.

There were arts and crafts classes on the Nova during the sea days on the Atlantic crossing in November. They were held in the observation lounge.

As the calendar goes, that is correct, but I'll think you find most people equivalent in terms of activity and ability to savor the special benefits of this line. Have a great trip!

Reused mango?

it only applies when you are in Saudi territorial waters. I understand from prior posts that suites will be inspected for alcohol, but they do not open your safe.

We've stayed at the Electra Palace and were very satisfied. A large number of rooms have a balcony and view of the Acropolis. It has a nice clubby bar off of the lobby. The roof-top restaurant has an excellent breakfast and - again - a great view of the Acropolis. We did not eat dinner there but it is quite close to the Plaka where there are many choices.

For a massage therapist, I would recommend a young lady named "Jelly".

And my DH noticed that the men's room outside of the Salt Bar is set up so that when the door opens -slooowly - you get a full view of all gentlemen using the facilities. We called it the P-N-C restroom. At least that's how it was in November.

How did the company of the fellow passengers strike you? Were they more friendly, outgoing, interesting on one line more than another? More/less abled? Did you strike up pleasant conversations or did folks keep to themselves?

I've only waitlisted for a cruise once, and no deposit was required. (This was one of the ones cancelled during Covid so I don't know whether or when I would have become a confirmed reservation).

But as a little plus, you also get to start making dinner reservations 120 days out too.