ronrick1943

Today we leave Guayaquil, Ecuador for the return Canal trip. Not being funny but the Chronicles show this picture of the city—I shoot one that’s reality. Looks a little different or we just when to the wrong place. But since it was a Silversea Bus, it must have been the right place, can you pick the ones I shoot.

Costco has it during the Holidays and most of the time via on-line sales. So you can have it more offend.

When we cruised Oceania awhile back, they had a special dinner (usually 3 different nights, each had a special name, plus an up charge) with a limited number of 16 guest. The up charge if I remember right was @125.00pp but include really high end Champagne and Wine.

You know I forgot about the better caviar, but the Fori Gras was very good.

Quick note: We decided to stay in and forget dinner and watch a movie. About 8:30PM we got a little hungry so we called our Butler. Super fast service, I ordered a Club Sandwich and Ron had the Tuna Wrap and a salad. Table set nicely even though we said not necessary. Honestly The Wrap and Club tasted freshly made, toast was warm and the French Fries hot and crisp. Best of all both sandwiches tasted very good. Once done after 10:00PM (room service takes over) we called, and they wanted to know how everything was, and everything was taken away promptly. Service service get’s an Excellent rating. Should have taken pictures because it looked as good as it tasted, sorry no photos. But I’m going to have a Club again.

Not a problem, if you need any other information let me know—We’re on the ship until January 4th……..

1. House wine is including in the price. 2. a special wine pairing is $90.00. 3. champagne pairing is $140.00. All per person. We don’t drink so I can’t tell what the service. They say the wine they service at La Dame isn’t available at any other restaurant on the ship. Hope this helps.

You sign for it just as if your are paying, then a credit is applied to your account taking it off.

Sorry, forgot to add the Onion Soup was the best I even had on a ship or off a ship.

Last night we ate at La Dame, beautiful setting much much larger on the Nova. Seating for two is nicely separated from each table. I didn’t like the seating itself, you faced the windows looking at a pitch black nothing (with your reflection). If the sun was setting or the city landscape it would have been great, but just black, They should really reverse the chairs to the other side of the table. The dinnerware and glassware nicely done, silverware the same and always change with each course. Another nice touch, leaving your table your napkin was take off the table and on your return, you received a new one. Of course we had jackets on and were greeting and escorted to our table. Greeted again and introduced to are wait team. Dinner over all was very good, some portions small (like the lobster). The pan seared for Foie Gras for me was outstanding, Ron on the other hand thought the pear sauce was a little heavy. The Dover Soul was the standout for the night. The not so good dish was the pumpkin dumpling, looked more like a hash without any pumpkin taste. Oh, the soufflé was really and I mean really good, but a bit small. The service staff excellent, however I believe they had a problem in the kitchen because you waited pretty long between some of the courses. At the end of the meal you were thanked for coming to La Dame. Dress Code: For La Dame you must wear a jacket, however I’d estimate 70% of the men took their jacket off and placed it on the back of the chair. I’m always warm, would prefer not to wear a jacket, I did keep it on the full dinner, and the room itself was a good cool temperature. The BIG QUESTION, was it worth $160.00. I’m not myself sure the dinner would be worth that price (and remember it’s really more has you’ve already paid for dinner elsewhere on the ship). It was good and but if I’m spending that kind if money (and I wasn’t-one dinner came with the suite we have), I think it could have done better since your are paying extra. My opinion would have been a $100.00 up charge would have been better. Photo’s in a minute.

Today was interesting as we were told they run out of non-alcoholic white wine. I asked the Director of Hotels what would happen if you run out of white wine, vodka, gin or whiskey? This just isn’t acceptable as we have 13 more days to go on this cruise. Well within 2 and half hours later they found a few bottles. Now they could have told our Butler to let us know they had found some. No, they had two manager come to our suite and made a big production holding a chilled bottle like it was a priceless bottle and really embarrassed our Butler and us. To me it was classless the way they handled it.

We’re on the Nova now with the new dress code. However eating at La Dame last night, all gentleman had jackets on, once in the restaurant about 70% took them off—so why have a dress code if not enforced. Can’t blame the temperature in the room, I’m always warm and really don’t enjoy dining in a jacket-but I left it on though out dinner.

That is the one, now I don’t have to photo it, just eat it. Thanks for showing it.

No photo’s on this one. Last night we ate at The Grill, it was fully booked and they had to turn people away without reservation. Few people didn’t like it obviously, but the staff was courteous and professional. Then walked in a party of 8 with reservations, dressed so-so at best-but that was their decision, and was none of our business anyway. We were sitting near them, and boy was that quite a show. They were demanding, obnoxious, maybe the word should be ridiculously demanding and loud. First the table they received wasn’t what they really wanted., second they felt the service was slow and not getting enough attention. Next they wanted more breadsticks immediately, and they wanted their order taken immediately. Anything the staff did wasn’t good enough. Really surprised me was every time a waiter and assistant walked away from the table 3 of them were vaping. Two of them constantly vaping and didn’t care about other guests around. Imagine if they vape in an open dining area, they most likely vape in their suite. I realize this is against the rules of Silversea, but they didn’t seem to care. Enough about that, but I hope something is done to stop that kind of behavior. For us, dinner was so-so. The service couldn’t have been better, even being so busy last night. However the food its self was not up to par, I had the prawns that maybe over cooked, or not thawed out properly. Ron’s lamb chops also didn’t hit the mark. The baked potatoes were perfectly done. We didn’t go to the show (but we had one at the next table), so we stopped at one of the lounges before returning to our suite. It was nice to have calm again. All laundry that was sent out in the morning was hanging in the closet. They really do a great job, both the laundry people and the butler getting it back to you. We are now having all shirts folded for easy packing when it’s time. I know the butler will pack for you, but that’s not us. So far Silversea on the Nova is hitting the “excellent” marks. Tonight we go to La Dame, looking forward to it and will report back if it’s worth the extra $$$—for us it will be worth it as it’s include for our suite price category (but if we had to paid extra, I’ll let you know).

I’m not sure but doesn’t the suite you have play a part in this?

Does this line have non-alcoholic drinks and wine? If so do they use good decent brand? On Silversea they use a cheap FRE brand and was wondering if Explora does better. Same with cocktails, can the bartender make something that as the taste of being real-no a fruit punch taste.

Great report, thank you for taking the time. We are considering this line.

Sounds good to me—-dress neat, but not over dress unless you want that.

Sounds good, we are looking at this. Right we are on Silversea, the new ship Nova.

Thank you, nice to know someone is enjoying this. I’ll be back later today to give some information about yesterday. Had dinner at the Grill and some interesting happenings.

Found the photo of the soup, it was really good……….

You need to book a reservation, it has limited seating and it opens an hour later than the other restaurant on the ship. They have a chocolate.desert that looks fantastic, didn’t try it the other night but will next time in the restaurant (I’ll get a photo).

OK another quick one, we when to SALT last night. It’s a pretty big restaurant, looks small as you enter. The restaurant is nicely done with booths and tables. When you review the menu you may not know what to order—you can mix from the suggested menu and the à la cart part. All in all the food here is outstanding. The bread is cute the way they service it. Don’t miss the soup, it is a star on the menu (no photo-but really good. I also had the scallops ceviche and the fish of the day (red snapper), Ron had the duck - all excellent. For desert we had the picarones which was very good (but since we made them ourself at a cooking school in Lima) they are now the traditional picarones serviced Lima. It was more of a donut stuffed with custard, but still very good. Thins is a restaurant I wouldn’t pass up on the ship. Well I’m going out on the deck for and use the jacuzzi tub and a nap……….Need a little rest before dinner.

The Silver Note is more bit size, but you really didn’t leave hungry and you had a great time. I guess you could say it’s a different place-but nice to have a venue like this on a ship.