REVIEW of Silver Nova, 11/7/23-11/18/23, Lisbon to New York

[Catlover54]

Just now, lincslady said:

Hi Lois - it didn't seem to be like yours, which did look a good size.  I don't know anything about the suites, though, maybe this one had a tub too?

 

Yes, as I said in my tome, I wanted my very important tub, so the shower I pictured was that of the shower in a suite with the bath and shower.  My understanding is  showers are larger in at least some (all??) of the shower-only suites on Nova. 

But I did test out this shower a couple times when I was in a hurry and skipped the tub, and did my best to assess if DH would be happy in it.  We would both have been ok in it -- even together in a pinch -- but neither of us has broad shoulders 🙂

 

 

 

[Gourmet Gal]

8 hours ago, Catlover54 said:

I may be imagining it, but in the same areas I went to, music seemed a bit quieter after my ( and apparently other people's ) comments.   
I would not just expect staff just to accomodate *me*, as there are other guests.  I gave feedback when asked after a few days to comment on what we like or do not like, but what if, say, Lois or FDNY or others like the outdoor music to be everywhere, in that style,  and at the louder volume? They might be upset if it isn't there!  Who gets the veto?  Perhaps if enough complain about too much of it they can compile all data and then fairly decide, or then try it quieter and see if someone gets upset it's too quiet.  My suspicion is most don't care one way or the other, and some just don't hear well anyway.

The cruise price is expensive and so I would certainly feel entitled to politely request the volume be turned down.  Should not be a big deal.  It must have been louder than what you’ve experienced on other cruises and perhaps the staff just didn’t realize how loud and annoying it was.  Leave it to other passengers to request the volume be turned back up and then the staff to find a happy medium.  Far better than being annoyed and having it become a negative in your review.

[Gourmet Gal]

8 hours ago, Catlover54 said:

 DH also loved the lone quiet hot tub in the bow on SB ships, SS does not have that ( just one big one way on top) but it isn't  deal breaker.

I may be mistaken but did you mention there is a hot tub aft outside the spa or is that only available if one books a treatment?

[Catlover54]

Just now, Gourmet Gal said:

I may be mistaken but did you mention there is a hot tub aft outside the spa or is that only available if one books a treatment?

 

When I was given a spa tour the first day, I asked about a thermal pool and a staff lady showed me a rectangular pool, maybe 4x3 meters or so (sorry I have no picture and I may be off on the size), with an ocean view, in a little room. It looked very appealing, but would be less so to me if there were overly chatty people in it with me.  I asked about hours of accessibility and she gave me spa hours (until 8PM) .  She did not say if one had to book a treatment and I didn't pursue it because unfortunately I wasn't fit enough this trip to go in, due to a medical issue.   I should have nailed her down on it for future reference.

 

Maybe someone who has used that pool and/or is on board now could comment on whether you have to book a treatment to use the little thermal pool in the spa?

[spinnaker2]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Your review was comprehensive, with much “food for thought”.  

 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by spinnaker2

[Catlover54]

Gourmet Gal and others interested in hot tubs, be sure and check out the one on the Nova, Cliff Whirlpool, deck 11, open to all (typically 8-8PM, minus times it is sealed off due to weather or staff forgetting to open it up).

 

It is a level or two above the pool action area, and has a stunning view.  It is not very private, more like semi-private, as there is a little bar area next to it so at popular times people will walk by in both directions, though most of the action (or what there is of it) is a deck lower.  On this 2/3 full TA with ok but not the greatest weather, I walked by it several times as part of my exploration  (and scouting for hot tub loving DH for next time), and only once did I see two couples sitting in it and talking.   I imagine on stunning weather days (say in the Med) even though it is a level up from the main pool sitting area it would be popular, since it is the only one. 

 It was beautiful after it got dark, and a shame it closes off a 8PM, as it will be closed by the time most people come back from dinner and thus moonlight soaks before bed will be limited absent special arrangements.  It also felt appropriately hot to the touch (not luke warm like on the Hapag Lloyd ships).   The view can't be beat, but it doesn't have the privacy of the "secret" tubs on Seabourn, or Moon ships.

 

[dawntrdr]

I venture that Nova was primarily designed for warm weather cruising.  Not just lots of lounges but many nooks with comfortable private conversation areas on the pool deck.  Many 2 person sunbeds too.

[Lois R]

Hey Dawn, I definitely would have been outside at the Pool Bar if it was warm weather.

[TLCOhio]

54 minutes ago, Catlover54 said:

be sure and check out the one on the Nova, Cliff Whirlpool, deck 11, open to all (typically 8-8PM, minus times it is sealed off due to weather or staff forgetting to open it up

 

 

Appreciate these great details, visuals, background and follow-ups.  And, that outdoor "cliff whirlpool" looks totally amazing and awesome.  Excellent sharing and honest reviewing of the many aspects for this new ship.  

 

Keep it coming!!  Fun and exciting.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[Catlover54]

35 minutes ago, dawntrdr said:

I venture that Nova was primarily designed for warm weather cruising.  Not just lots of lounges but many nooks with comfortable private conversation areas on the pool deck.  Many 2 person sunbeds too.

 

I agree it would be terrific for warm weather cruising (other than the intrusive music issue I didn't like and commented on, which could be fixed, as noted by Gourmet Gal) .

 

I liked that chairs and loungers faced not just the pool, but also out to sea, with a lot of sun and shade options (depending on wind, music intensity, etc.).  People had many choices.  There was so much space that at least on this 2/3 full cooler cruise, there was no chair hogging.  It was also nice that deckhands came around quite quickly to ask if I wanted drinks, and offered towels, when I sat down. 

It will be interesting to see how Nova's ambience changes on a warm weather cruise at 100% capacity (especially if it is in summer, when the children of well-off Europeans might also be on board). 

 

Below are some photos of a few areas:

 

 

 

 

 

This was a corner fairly shielded from both wind and music

 

 

 

 

Below is the Marquis, for outdoor dining open to the air on the sides, with coverage above

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Catlover54]

For smokers, the Nova also has an elegant, old-fashioned Connoisseur's Lounge area indoors after near the Panorama Lounge (deck 5), plus a smoking area outside in a nook that is mostly shielded from the non-smoking areas.  There are cigar and fine whiskey displays.  I don't smoke, but sometimes liked to sit in  the covered outside smoking area when no one was there because it was shielded from wind, covered, and quiet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Catlover54]

 

Here is the tiny foldable map of the ship we got when we boarded (touch-enlarge it and zoom in, and/pr  supplement with online deck maps), showing the positions of the lounges and restaurants, and a list of the hours that applied *most* of the time to the venues. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Catlover54]

Some of the modernistic indoor artwork:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Catlover54]

Some indoor lounging and/or eating venues, starting with the main bar, Dolce Vite (opens with service at 6PM but you can sit there anytime you want).  Music was usually mellower here in the mornings when it was empty:

 

 

A nook fit for a king and queen, looking inwards towards their subjects walking by on their way to other venues:

 

 

Entrance to the Panorama Lounge (deck 5, aft, indoor outdoor), typically music-free and quiet in the mornings (though the indoor chairs/sofas are not my favorites in style,  very quiet outside when there are no events).  Activities like language lessons start up later on, as does bar service at 2. 

 

The smoking outdoor area is around the coroner as you go straight out, port side, but well-shielded .

 

 

 

Looking down at the Shelter bar, deck 3, close to Atlantide and Salt Kitchen dining venues.  You can order end high end champagne here for extra fee, and/or included champagne cocktails (comfortable seats, friendly bartender).  It was usually empty. There were more seats off to the right as you look down (a very quiet venue during the day before the bar opens).

 

 

 

 

 

La Terrazza outside (which looks more or less like LT on other SS ships), deck 4 aft, a very nice "elegant casual" dining venue (open buffet at lunch with usually good selections as protein sources,  e.g., I really liked the sashimi, the meatballs, and the tempura prawns were in a tasty delicate batter).  Well-staffed, waiters help carry plates and will bring you things from the buffet if you request. 

Italian restaurant with reservations in the evening with mostly the same menus they go off of (not everything available every night though it looks like it on the TV).

 

The stairway off to the back goes up to the Panorama lounge area.

 

 

 

Aerial view

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by Catlover54
Typo

[spinnaker2]

Great photos, thanks much. 

Austere interiors

[Observer]

Comments about the music are very sobering. I have noticed the presence of loud recorded music on the pool deck and on the area outside Panorama Lounge on Muse class ships.  I complained once to the HD and was informed that the A/V guy controlled the music and decided what would be played and when and how loud.  I was dismayed. I would have thought there was a corporate policy on this matter and that control was not simply in the gift of the A/V guy.  Is this the Carnivalization of Silversea?   

[Catlover54]

8 minutes ago, spinnaker2 said:

Great photos, thanks much. 

Austere interiors

 

If you think those are austere (*not* necessarily bad, just different), check out this hallway:

 

 

Chairs for the orthopedically unchallenged (not far from Arts Cafe):

 

 

Lone bush:

 

 

 

 

Lonely eyes:

 

Observation Lounge in the bow (deck 10), not far from Salt Bar, which was relatively popular at night -- this is where you get machine/button coffee 24/7 (as long as the beans aren't gone). 

 

 

 

Lone ballerina (not sure what she thinks of it all):

 

 

 

[Gourmet Gal]

35 minutes ago, Observer said:

Comments about the music are very sobering. I have noticed the presence of loud recorded music on the pool deck and on the area outside Panorama Lounge on Muse class ships.  I complained once to the HD and was informed that the A/V guy controlled the music and decided what would be played and when and how loud.  I was dismayed. I would have thought there was a corporate policy on this matter and that control was not simply in the gift of the A/V guy.  Is this the Carnivalization of Silversea?   

That’s a really shocking response from an HD.  Not what one would expect of a reasonable request.

[Observer]

8 minutes ago, Catlover54 said:

 

Chairs for the orthopedically unchallenged (not far from Arts Cafe):

 

 

 

Such chairs, without arms, seem to be increasingly prevalent on the recent ships.  They may be fine for the younger demographic Silversea seems to be seeking.  They are very challenging for some of us older folk who rely on the arms when getting into and out of a chair.  

[fdnycruiser]

I thought this was an interesting feature outside the Panorama Lounge. A fire and conversation pit.

[Catlover54]

 

The walk past the library ( the 'thrones' are on the left as you pass):

 

Silver Note supper club, and my favorite small plate there (caviar with potato and sour cream):

 

 

 

 

 

La Dame (upcharge French restaurant, very nice ambience, service and meal):

 

 

La Dame caviar appetizer (12 year):

 

 

La Dame Filet of Sole, expertly deboned tableside, luscious flavor (even the veggies):

 

 

 

Atlantide at lunch (unfortunately the ocean waves going by don't show up right, these are all old iphone shots without benefit of DH corrections):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lois R]

Catlover,, I would say that is a secondary library. The main one is in the Observation Lounge.

 

[Catlover54]

 

The Venetian Lounge (up and down, plus lateral view of some of the sofas there).  The plexiglas on the balcony levels was a bit obstructing, if you were in the front row.

As noted in my review, there was no drink service pre-show, and a strange smell of the synthetic furniture coverings prevailed. 

 

 

 

 

 

The singers and band in action (good voices, it was mostly just not my kind of music other than some of the bluesier Motown at the end ).  I would love to have heard those voices applied to some more melodic and less showy Chicago or Mississippi blues, with a double shot of fine bourbon from the Connoisseur's Lounge cabinet,  and . . . 

 

As noted in my  review, the guest artists were very good  and suited to a small ship venue (old rocker, comedians, and a Broadway diva).  SS can  hold its own compared with what Seabourn offers  (but cannot hold a candle to Hapag Lloyd small luxury ships because HL does classical, and hires well-known tango groups, but I know most people don't want classical music or tango).

 

 

My balcony and my closet

Edited November 19, 2023 by Catlover54
Errors

[Catlover54]

37 minutes ago, fdnycruiser said:

I thought this was an interesting feature outside the Panorama Lounge. A fire and conversation pit.

 

Yes!  Nothing was going on there, even on the earlier evenings when the weather was better (perfect for huddling).  It was all covered up and when I first went there I thought it was a covered hot tub. Maybe on a warm weather cruise it will be fired up.

[Catlover54]

 

10 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Catlover,, I would say that is a secondary library. The main one is in the Observation Lounge.

 

 

Yes, but unfortunately though I got a picture of the front part of the Observation Lounge, I don't have one of the other side.  If you have one of that area, feel free to add on here.

Also, every time I thought of taking an Arts Cafe picture there were too many people there for me to be able to half respect their privacy (without resorting to time-consuming face-hiding editing), so I don't have one from there either to show the layout of the snack bar.  So if you have one, add that too if you have time, thanks!