ronrick1943

Just a short note, again service is better than expected and the food also. Today we arrived in Salaverry, Peru at an industrial port, the city being about hour away. We decided to stay on the ship and be lazy. For lunch we stopped in at The Marquee, we decided to have hot dog and Ron had a hamburger. Again service outstanding, but next time we’ll stick with the fish of the day, both hot dog and hamburger disappointing. Just a tip the 11th floor has a nice deck and jacuzzi that doesn’t seem to get used—like a very private area. Just a reminder you’re going to get mixed up trying to get someplace on the ship, I’m educated but still having problems going in the right direction. If you are worried about the dress code, and they have one but it’s very relaxed- people look nice no matter what they are wearing. Tonight we’ll be heading to Lima, they say the dock is really far from the city and they will have shuttle buses going too two different areas, one about 25 minutes to the dock and one a little over an hour away. Looks like another industrial docking.

That is not good, I’m sure since it’s a non-stop you’re missing luggage will be waiting for you. Enjoy your trip to Macau Pichu.

We’re in the front of the ship now. The size of the suite is pretty big so I don’t think you’ll miss must. We’ll move to the rear of the ship on the 19th.

Just a quick up date on our Silver Suite. Really if you like a little more room you can’t go wrong with the Silver Suite. You enter and first have a small dining area and the living room area is just in front. Large wall TV just above the desk area. If someone is using the desk they will interfere with you watch TV. You have a tablet on the desk to book whatever you need. Just to the right is the bedroom, nice size. To the right of the bedroom is the wardrobe, beyond that is the bathroom, and beyond that is the toilet area. You have two doors for the toilet area, one from the entrance to your suite and one from your bath area. It’s really a nice suite with the exception of (1) too hard to get to the toilet (2) if you like a dark bedroom to sleep—morning light goes in from the top of the drapes, (3) the floor light comes on in the wardrobe area every-time you out of bed, (4) the doors are heavy and can’t be kept open unless you ask for a door wedge. Back to the good, forgot to say your deck is large with a glass wall, no blocking the view. You have a table with 2 chairs and a lounge with a side table. So if you are a lounge hoag, no problem because this one is yours. People have said they aren’t comfortable, I fell asleep the other day for a few hours on the lounger and I’m going out in a few minutes to rest. If you have a direct questions about the suite fill free to ask.

Forgot to add these photo’s should someone later want a hat. The photo of the lady is a statue of a lady hat maker as you enter the city.

Today we when to the port of Manta Ecuador. We got off the ship and hired a car to take us around, we wanted to go to Monte Christi since that is where they make the Panama hat. We found the shop we wanted (check it out before we left home). Modesto is the shop and he is the owner, they ship all over the world. Hats go for $50 up to $2500 each, depending on the quantity of the hat. Well at the beginning I said we don’t shop that much—at are age we have to much stuff, but we don’t have any nice hat’s and these really look nice. No we didn’t spend $2500, we when for the $300 ones. These hats take about 3 months each to make, so why not. Well we hit the point in the cruise, we don’t need dinner today. We had a very large salad today after we got back at La Terrazza, and a little dessert. They really do a great job, everything looks good and is fresh with flavor. One think, when you come on the Nova—-remember you do get turned around, I think it’s the elevators and pool being on the side of the ship-we’re used to them being in the center of the ship. It seems like we’re walking around a lot on the ship, and that is a good thing. Tomorrow will be a sea day, so we’ll have a little time to look around more and report back.

Photo’s of dinner at Atlantide, That is sauce on the plate with Prime Rib, not blood, but I like my Prime Rib rare. It was perfect for me.

Just a quick note regarding last night, we had dinner at Atlantide. We really didn’t care for that restaurant on the Silver Sprite, however are first impressions on the Nova it was really good and we’ll be going back during the cruise. Last night they featured Prime Rib, both tender and flavorful. For starters we had the shrimp and the terrine foie gras, both excellent. Dessert was also very good, the plating outstanding. The design on the plate was part sauce on the tart and power sugar on the berry dessert. I’ll include photo’s on this. I also had a non-alcoholic beverage, which they made-it was really good but the bar tender said the recipe was a secret. But he’d make more……..

Sorry I missed this, no it’s not. Just about 540 guest someone told me. You should be on your way my now I think. Travel safe………..

They are part of the design of the plate or bowl. In the photo not so great, but on the table looks good. All the dinnerware really looks great around the ship, they did a really great job on this.

Yes you do have it, page 3 of the menu is Spaccanapoli. Truly the space itself is really laced out nicely and has a great fill to it. I’ll get a photo to post soon.

Lunch at The Marquee, simply stated “Very Good”. Planned to have a hot dog, but ordered the fish of the day. From the start of the meal to the end, nothing to complain about. I’ve included some photo’s, the first course was a Poké bowl made of tuna, the next was tilapia with mixed vegetables and a side of fries, followed by dessert-RON had a berry float and I had a mint chocolate ice cream sandwich. I think on this ship idea is to limit the menu compared to other ships we’ve been on, including the Silver Spirit. This is just my opinion, but by have a limited menu they do a much better job of taste and presentation. When I say limited, you have many choices in each category- other ship’s have like 20 items, just two much to do it right. The weather has improved and the sea has been really smooth so far. This cruise has lot’s to do if you are looking for things like Silver Quiz, the Salt Lab, Shutteboard, Art Class, Lectures,Trivia, Bingo and the list goes on. For it’s just relaxation. More later……..

Today is December 14th a few days into the cruise. Last night we ate again at La Terrazza, (Elegant Casual night), the jeans are growing in and around the ship-both restaurants and lounges(not that I care, just reporting). Dinner was good but we skipped the Cruté board and had a small dinner salad, a bowl of bean soup, for the main delicious pasta. To be honest, it was as good as the one I had in Rome (at a good restaurant). Service again was good. The restaurant itself was only about 75% full. Afterwards we stop by the Dolce Vita Lounge for a beverage, they had a violinist for entertainment, and she was very good. All in all a enjoyable night. This morning was the revenge of the lounge hogs, it was kind of fun to see people running to get their personal items they left on their lounges as we had a sudden downpour of rain. I’m not being mean, but it was pretty funny. One thing I believe you’ll really enjoy is the balcony, with glass floor to railing you really have a full view when sitting on your deck. And they keep it clean. Tonight we’ll have dinner at Atlantide for the first time, not sure about lunch as it’s a sea day today. Looking forward to getting off the ship tomorrow for a few hours as we’ll be in Manta, Ecuador.

We had so much fun, and the restaurants are pretty spectacular. People super nice and helpful. But yes it’s. HOT! Finally half way through the Canal it started cooling down—

Thanks, that is what we did and got as table at the restaurant and time we wanted.

Week here is a problem: Book as many restaurants before getting on the ship. We booked a few and when you try to book something via the tablet Silversea provides- guess what you can only book one day ahead. Does that make any sense—that is why you book a reservation. If you can book ay home days before the cruise, once on the cruise you should be able to book any day ahead if it’s open.

A little more:Can’t believe but we when to the buffet for lunch at The La Terrazza and we came pretty late about 30 minutes before closing for the day. One would think the buffet would look a little shabby, but it looked liken it just opened. Salad area was as fresh and crisp with everything you needed. The other areas of the buffet the same, no complaints here. All staff was very good, but a lady named Mira in La Terrazza that took care of us was a stand out in service (and remember this is a buffet). The wi-fi on the ship. For us it’s working good, sometimes really fast even down loading has been fast. We’re on the premium package that comes with the suite. We get to two connections per person-which is more than we need. A few times it was slow (sea day), but workable. The room stewart assigned to us is very good and hard working. Suite is always clean and he already knows are schedule. Everyone is good, but he really wants to make sure it’s right. My personal opinion, he is a stand out in his job(yes, before we move to are next suite on this cruise he’ll get an extra gratuity (for you that don’t believe in extra gratuities, that’s OK but remember I said we won’t always agree). We did see few people in jeans last night at dinner and around the ship, really wasn’t a problem for us-it didn’t affect our dinner at all, we still enjoyed the evening. Dinner tonight will be at La Terrazza, tonight the menu looks really good with a few of our favorites on it. I hope you’re enjoy this.

Last night we had dinner at The Grill (The Marquee during the day), at night it really is a beautiful sitting. We didn’t do the Hot Rocks, we just ordered are meal of the menu and let them cook it. The service spotless, and to my surprise the food was really good. We started with a blooming onion, (small which was a good thing, not like the Outback Restaurant at home) cooked and service crispy with sauce. The salad was the right size and dressed perfect, the filet was really cooked for me perfectly rare and the baked potato was again perfectly baked. This dinner was a 100%. So far the dinnerware use around the ship is nicely done, Whoever the buyer was they did a very good job. Other details the restrooms around the ship are nicely thought out, you don’t have to touch the doors to open or close (going in or out), just wave your have over the light and it opens. The only thing bad, they need a few restrooms near the restaurants -they are a little far away, so plan. Had a visit to the Medical center, nothing major. Very nice like a pretty big clinic at home and fully staffed. The real surprise was the bill, about half what we expected. They gave us all the paper work for our insurance. Breakfast, we had it at La Terrazza this morning (I don’t care much for buffets)—bit this was really nice. I think 75% better than the Silver Spirit. The food was nicely displayed and easy to get too, the service again very good. They have the juice bar in the back so you don’t hear the blenders. Again the food looked and tasted fresh and was always kept up, and the food area was clean. One last thing, they are still decorating for the holidays, seems like everyday something new is added.

Yes they do, in our suite when you get out of bed the light in the closet turns on to find your way to the bathroom. For some reason design reason you have to go though the closet to get to the bathroom. However the bathroom low light is always on.

No, they say only 545 guest.

The ship at sea really hasn’t been that bad, but when you are near the front of the ship it’s a little rolling side to side. Entertainment around the ship is pretty good, we enjoy the back ground music at the SALT bar. Tonight is formal/optional night, I’ll let you known what the dress around the ship is, last night was elegant casual. From last night you saw most people more on the casual dress. However it didn’t seem like a problem, people dressed how they wanted and mingle together has it should be. We had lunch today at Atlantide, again service was good. Food tasted good, however depending on what you ordered the portion size was small to very small. I really don’t get it, Ron ordered a luncheon Cobb Salad. It came in a dinner size starter bowl (small) and didn’t look anything like a Cobb salad. Sorry didn’t get a picture. Being so small Ron ordered an Egg Salad sandwich, well you got 90% bread, 6% lettuce and 4% egg salad. They really do need to work on portion size. Picture included on this. I had the swordfish and it was pretty good and the right portion size and plated proper. We stopped at the Art’s Cafe for a coffee and a dessert, service again excellent and the carrot pound cake and the orange pound cake was very good. They also had chocolate cover grapes and strawberry’s - you really have to try the grapes. It’s true, they close at 6 PM, why I don’t know-it truly is a nice place to go late in the evening. Silversea needs to change this. Tonight we eat at the Grill, looking forward to eating outside, we are having nice weather. If you have any questions please ask, or if you want me to stop say so………Talk to you tomorrow.

Hate to say this, but Cartagena was so so easy. Pulled up to a door, they took the luggage, escorted us inside the building, waited about 15 minutes inside an air-condition waiting area with chairs, taken to check-in, put on a small bus to the ship, boarded ship in minutes, suite ready, dropped of hand bags, lunch on ship, all luggage inside suite, butler asking if we needed anything. I really don’t hate saying it😂…..See you on the ship.

Just found the web page——www.alondraexpress.com I booked direct , however if you’re spending a night at a hotel, they can book them for you. Hope this helps.

I’m a day late, we left the hotel Bastion in the Walled City-it’s about a 45 minute ride with traffic. You drive through the major market so it’s stop and go. Got to the port and Silversea had people with signs to guide you. Luggage was taken, we arrived about two hours before boarding time. The port area for check-in was air-condition (and much nicer than the airport). Check-in was fast as only 3 other people checking in. Turns out only 40 people boarded in Cartagena. Boarded the ship really early and in our Suite shortly after that. Went to lunch at Kaiseki, the service was outstanding-but the food just so-so at best. Later that evening we had dinner La Terrazza. Service again was outstanding and the food not just good but was presented very nicely. After that off to the Salt Bar, again outstanding service (we don’t drink alcohol and the bartender made super nice non alcohol drinks that tasted like a cocktail and not fruit punch. The only problems we had were miner ones. The first we asked for the non-alcohol white wine, was told they are only serving Rose or Champagne. I asked why, was told it’s on the ship put they can’t service it until tomorrow. What do you think would happen if they told someone that drinks regular white wine that????. We also were asked if we want fruit in the room early in the day, we said yes (all other cruise’s fruit is in the room). After dinner we came back and no fruit, no big deal. Next morning was told that fruit will be available later in the day because they didn’t have any fruit (odd because the next day is a sea day). All in all a great cruise so far, for the first day. Oh, we started this morning with breakfast at the Marquee, yes small portions and very healthy. But very good, service also very good. Not busy at all so you’ll get a table easy. Someone wrote the Nova doesn’t have Christmas decorations, wrong they do and are still decorating the ship which looks really nice. But we did bring with us a Christmas tree for our suite. We are in a Silver Suite at this time, in Lima we’ll be moving to a different suite. The Silver suite is nice, don’t worry about storage - you’ve got lots of room for what ever you bring. Don’t care for the control of the air-conditioner, you can’t tell what temperature you’re at—you just hit up or down until you figure out what you like-after a few try’s (maybe more) you finely get it right. Until later—I’m going out to enjoy the ship (I guess you like the design or you don’t, we really do like the design of the Nova). One thing, it seems like everything is far-you walk a lot-but that is a good thing.

We used Alondra Express. They were very good, friendly, and waiting for us when we came out of baggage.