Unibok

On 3/27/2022 at 1:47 PM, jollyjones said:

It’s either 32 or 36 staying on (can’t remember which) and there’ll be about 400 pax. 

Update: 35 are staying on -- 1 tested positive for Covid so unfortunately can't continue. My heart goes out to that person.

The projected pax count for the next leg is 480!!! That sure seems like a lot of people 😳

Other tidbits: the Silver Dawn is docked next to us, and she is gorgeous. Official naming ceremony is tomorrow, just about the time we sail away (6-7 in the early evening).

During the next leg, we will have daily temp checks from our butlers, per EU requirements. 

See some of you onboard very soon! And I hope to see the rest of you onboard before long.

@FauxNom I wish all of this for you, and more 💙

As we near Lisbon, I thought I'd sum up a few personal thoughts on the crossing. 

Crossings are probably not for everyone, but I appreciate the patient pace, the lack of rush, the ability to spend loads of time doing something (actually many things!) I would never do otherwise. It allowed me to try on new parts of myself to see how they fit. Normally an early-to-bed/early-to-rise person, I became just the opposite. Normally self-disciplined in my daily rituals and routines, those little normalities fell away and I (as they say) went with the flow. 

The crossing at times disoriented in space and time and body, and I believe shook something loose in me that needed to go. It was a time of convalescence, of rejuvenation, of exploration, of introspection, of liminality. I'm often happiest in those "in between" spaces, and that was certainly true throughout this voyage.

For me, it has been a crossing from "life under Covid" to something approaching a post-Covid state. My dreams have been vivid and emotionally purging, crossing beyond past experiences and feelings that will no longer serve me henceforth. That -- I truly believe -- is exactly what I needed this experience to be.

Next time, I'll likely take the opportunity to learn something new. We had quite a menu to choose from: a different dance style every day, 3 different languages, bridge. I spent much of my time reflecting and writing and reading in solitude, but I suspect a year from now I'll be ready to venture forth and take advantage of the chance to immerse in something new.

Everything I experienced -- and hope to experience again -- was made possible by this incredible crew. There were unexpected moments of Silversea magic, such as the daily Sudoko showing up outside my suite even though I hadn't mentioned I wanted it (and I did want it!), or every butler and attendant on my deck saying hello to me by name every day. It's a quiet sense of belonging, of being recognized and seen and felt and heard. 

It has been a beautiful experience, and I am so very glad I did it.

10 hours ago, mancunian said:

Are you still on the ship Lisbon to Barcelona.   If so say Hi when you see me.   Unmissable as I walk with a bright red rollator

 

Hi mancunian -- yes, I am staying on for the Lisbon-to-Barcelona leg, and I will look for you and introduce myself. 

In the meantime, safe travels, and may all your tests be negative. (That's a new Covid-era blessing.)

Land Ho!

We docked in Fuerteventura (Canary Islands, Spain) today for our first taste of land in a week. 

Me (yesterday): "I could happily stay at sea for another week! Who needs land?"

Me (this morning): "OOOOH, lookie! LAND! How exciting! When can I go ashore?"

We are approximately 60 miles west of mainland Africa, straight across from the Sahara Desert. Fuerteventura is barren landscape of scrub and succulents -- rather beautiful in a subtle way. Their Carnivale began today, so around the island people were preparing for it. By the end of the day, we were seeing wild costumes and hearing dance music. It was quite an introduction back to the land of ... well, land.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day: a bit of time ashore, a bit of time on my veranda, a fascinating talk on the history of PBS by Ted Libbey, and dinner outside La Terrazza while the festivities heated up across the harbor. 

Early bed for me tonight -- we lose YET ANOTHER HOUR, with an 8:00 am arrival at Gran Canaria.

Buona serra, tutti, (or buenos noches, whichever you prefer),

Thank you, Chris! Great pics, and so very specific! 

14 hours ago, mancunian said:

We are joining the ship in Lisbon.

 

Could someone please tell me if the musicians in the Silver Note happen to be Esther and Chantel.  I do hope so.

 

Many thanks

Hi mancunian,

I dined at Silver Note last night. The jazz duo is Esther on vocals and Roelof on piano. Esther's voice seems effortless -- smooth and silky and clear and wonderfully expressive. They were taking requests, and her rendition of "My Funny Valentine" captured the complicated emotions of the song so beautifully that it gave me goosebumps. And the lamb was sublime as well 🙂

Enjoy!

Hi Chris -- looks beautiful so far!!!

I am very curious to learn more about Otium -- is it something special requiring an upcharge? Is it confined to a particular place on the ship, or is it an enhancement that appears throughout? What, really, is it?

Thank you in advance! And enjoy the shakedown!

The Food Issue

Well, we have been onboard for a week, and in that time I've eaten a few things. Here is a special issue of the Unibok/jollyjones transAtlantic trip report.

Apparently 6 containers of provisions were not in Bridgetown as planned, so that has probably affected menu planning and availability of particular items. For the most part, I've not noticed any scarcity or lack of quality, so I commend the culinary staff for their creativity and professionalism.

Arts Cafe

Or as I like to think of it, Mason Jar Cuisine. Casual bites, perfect for Instagram. Breakfast offerings are the usual pastries, but also croissant breakfast sandwiches, fruit/yogurt parfaits, fruity oatmeal cups (take 2 -- they are really small lol), all kinds of smoothies, and many flavors of detox waters.  Later in the day you'll find wraps and more sandwiches, many types of salads in jars, and my favorite: noodle soup in a jar. I could eat that every day for the rest of my life and be happy. It reminds me of a Vietnamese bùn soup. Delicious! I'm not sure what they offer later in the day, until we get to the after dinner chocolates. As mentioned before, there is ample seating both inside and outside, and it is generally a popular hangout, perhaps second only to the pool. By today the staff were seeming a little frayed around the edges, so I hope they get to make up those lost hours of sleep soon.

Atlantide

One of my two favorite lunch spots, Atlantide serves salads and pastas that are always perfectly balanced and beautifully plated. The shaved fennel salad came with the most delicate dressing, and the beetroot/bleu cheese salad was gorgeous. My red snapper was cooked perfectly: tender fish, crispy skin, and a chili oil drizzle. The handmade pasta makes me sigh audibly; I love it so. Wine service is excellent and attentive.

The Grill/Hot Rocks

Dinner at the Grill is exactly like I've experienced on other ships, right down to the hot lava stones and choice of sides and sauces. My filet was tender and cooked perfectly (compliments to the chef! oh, right, that's me!), and the marinated veg kabobs were fine as always. However, the guacamole tasted like the avocado had turned, and should not have been used. Perhaps avocados were a victim of those missing containers. In any case, my record for good avocados at any meal in The Grill is now 0-for-4. The salad was disappointing as well; either the lettuce was not dried before adding the dressing, or the dressing itself was far too runny. I do love their meats, and I look forward to the experience, but basic items at the Grill often disappoint, so I do not eat there for lunch.

Indochine

Oh, I do love the bold flavors at Indochine. I could have eaten four servings of the beef tataki -- it was so tender and rare, with a gorgeous sauce. The beef and lemongrass was as delicious as I had remembered, with excellent contrasting textures and complimentary spices. I could happily eat that every day, as well. The menu changes every 4 days, so I've also been able to sample the lobster pad thai (deservedly a crowd favorite) and beef shar chiu (please forgive my spelling on that one). As much as I look forward to trying SALT on the newer ships, I will miss Indochine's pan-Asian flavors and preparations.

Seishin

Lunchtime sushi and sashimi is a bit of heaven for me, and I enjoy lunch at Seishin more often than anywhere else on the ship. I love the intimate space, the impeccable service, and the excellent quality of their fatty fish (salmon, eel, and mackerel). It would even more lovely if they offered miso soup along with lunch, but the lack hasn't discouraged me from returning. It did seem they were conserving the sake by not serving it with lunch -- perhaps sake was also in the missing containers? 

La Terrazza

Given my appetite for fresh pasta, you can imagine that La Terrazza remains a dinnertime favorite of mine. The quality of dinner service here is equal to what I've enjoyed on the Shadow and Wind, and better than I experienced on the Muse.

Dinner reports from Seishin and Silver Note will have to wait a few more days ... so stay tuned. For now, I'm off to dinner.

Buon appetito tutti, wherever you may be.

5 hours ago, zqtchas said:

Are they still supplying face masks in the cabin?

Is the Chronicles still in paper form?

And now we are getting our Travel Journal in PDF instead of

the nice little booklet.

Cheap, Cheap.
Where will it end!! 

Ah! I meant to mention the Bulgari case with face masks, personal bottles of hani-sani, and other Covid-related treats. It was on the bed as a welcome package on embarkation day. Instead of the usual flashlight/keychain, we received SS logo hani-sani carrier keychains. 

Chronicles are in paper form, but they are only 4 pages instead of the usual 6. 

I'm on the fence about whether these are cost-cutting measures that annoy me, or if they are environment-saving measures that please me!

mancunian, I will be at Silver Note tonight and will report back.

Also, as a follow-up to the rumor of the injured flamenco player: He is not! Indeed, he is playing a full concert tonight. 

@jollyjones I love your posts! And I do love seeing how different our experiences are on the same ship over the same course of days.

We absolutely share the same annoyance over the TV messages that must be deleted each day, most of which are advertisements for something or other.

Did you attend the Venetian reception last night? The Ukrainian singer, Yuri, has a gorgeous voice and sang to kick off the festivities. Anetta played piano beautifully as we settled in our seats.

If I'm remembering correctly, there are 175 VS members on board, which I think means more first-timers than returnees. They celebrated pax with thousands of days and said that other milestones were being marked through "independent arrangements." As one who reached a milestone, I'm curious to know what those independent arrangements will be. The highlight of the event, for me, were the staff awards: one to an engine room mechanic, one to a housekeeping custodian, and one to a butler who alerted the captain to a safety issue he noticed. It felt like a celebration of all the unsung heroes.

Jolly, I do hope we meet. I would even leave my self-imposed isolation chamber for that! You will quickly see that I'm not usually the spa and shopportunity type 🙂 Much to the nail technician's dismay, my fingers and toes remain unadorned and I have exactly 1 dress elegant enough for formal night. I assure you, we are not so different.

Cheers to all,

The Moon is the newest ship out there, so you never know ....

Hey Cruzing,

I just checked my TV on the Spirit, and the answer is no for this ship.

If it matters, the provided movie selection isn't bad. And your butler will bring you popcorn if you request it.

Hoping this helps,

@jollyjones: thank you for the Covid information! I'd not heard that ... which I guess means my "stay away from humans" strategy is working 😷

Actually, I did find people yesterday afternoon: asleep on sofas in Dolce Vita, and asleep on sofas in the Panorama outside area. I suspect they were trying to make up for those hours lost each day. I honestly don't know how the crew stay so cheerful!

For those who want to know: my new sandals are adorable. If I understood Gennaro correctly, he'll be on board through the end of May, so more folks will have a chance to work with him. They feel like butter, in a good way.

We have Formal/Venetian night tonight in the Venetian Lounge, but I hear there will be no reception line and probably no hand-shake/picture for those with milestones. I guess I'll have to wait for my next milestone for that.

If you've been following this, you can probably tell that I'm not the type to get bored on board; I'm perfectly happy to read, knit, and pour salt all over my sweaty body. But I promised you a report, so you shall have one.

Every day has an alcohol tasting of some kind, usually before noon (!): all-inclusive wines, reserve wines (for an upcharge), martinis, bar cocktails, etc. Every day has a dance lesson of some kind, offered by the Gentleman Hosts: waltz, foxtrot, salsa, and some others I can't think of right now. Every day has an array of language instruction, some of which relate to our destinations: Spanish (si), Portuguese (si), and German (mais non).  Every other day has a cooking demo, usually something delicious-sounding and Italiano. Every day offers many opportunities to work out with the Personal Trainer, from sunrise walks to beginning yoga to stretching to ab burning to pilates and more. Most days have a lunchtime concert by the pool, and we've had one themed lunch so far (American burgers and fries ... mais non, s'il vous plait). Then of course there is bridge several times a day, table tennis (some folks are really into it!), plus the usual shuffleboard, mini-golf, team trivia, and bingo. 

There are also the enrichment talks, usually two per day. I have greatly enjoyed Ted Libbey's lectures, both in person (one) and on the in-suite replay (also one). Libbey was a music critic for the New York Times and has also worked with PBS. As his credentials suggest, he knows his stuff. He seems to have a deep knowledge of and appreciation for classical music wherever it may show up (including film soundtracks), and he also knows how to organize and pace lectures for this audience: just the right bit of prefacing, just enough contextual information, just enough time with the audio/video examples, and a light touch of humor. I'm a fan. If I can snag a meal with him and his wife, I will.

The other American is a geologist from San Francisco, who also chose his topics well. The in-suite replays aren't great, as they seem to start the recording well after he has begun speaking. As a result, I feel a little lost during his slide show. I must also confess I'm simply more interested in cultural histories than in political and scientific histories, but I am very glad they are offering relevant science lectures.

The third and final enrichment lecturer is one I've encountered before -- on my most recent pre-Covid Silversea cruise, as a matter of fact. His topics are a much better fit for this crossing (history of the great ocean liners, WWII and such) and also for this moment in time (Russian history, especially Rasputin). They were not a good fit for our Caribbean island-hopping in 2019, so I'm glad to see he has recycled those talks for a more appropriate time and place. I'll be curious to hear from others what they think. @jollyjones? Back in 2019 I found his sense of humor off-putting and too old fashioned in a misogynistic kind of way, but perhaps that has improved over the intervening years.

It appears we have a bonus fourth speaker: the flamenco player, who I hear may have an injured hand and cannot play. We'll see if that rumor turns out to be true. In any case, he gave what was billed as an "intimate" talk about his life this morning. I'd love to hear more about that, if anyone wants to chime in.

That's it for now. I'm off to dress in my finery. As I was waiting to have my hair styled, the nail technician noticed how clean (= unpolished!) my nails were. Ah, I can't be too beautiful now, can I? What with my new shoes and all. 

Wherever you may be, enjoy your evenings.

On 3/21/2022 at 3:02 PM, scseas said:

1) How do waitlists work for excursions? In one port, the time we want to go on the tour is waitlisted. We signed up for the waitlist as well as the same tour at a less desirable time to make sure we would be able to do the tour if we didn't clear the waitlist. We were informed of a charge for the second tour time slot since we are limited to one tour per day. However, there is a 48 hour cancellation policy for the tour and the website indicates the waitlist won't clear until the night before the tour. Is it possible the waitlist clears earlier and, if not, should we just go with the less desirable time available?

 

Waitlists do sometimes clear before the voyage, as with my upcoming Greece/Turkey itinerary. My mother and I put ourselves on the waitlist for everything we truly wanted, and all but one have cleared -- for a voyage that is still more than 6 weeks away. For the one that has not cleared, Silversea added 2 or 3 additional "included" options, and I actually prefer one of the new options over what I had waitlisted.

If I were in your position, I would stay on the waitlist for the time you really want, but then sign up for the other one. Eventually, you won't be charged for it unless you actually do them both. If all else fails, ask at the Shore Concierge desk once you embark.

On 3/22/2022 at 9:54 AM, Josette03 said:

I usually watch "A View From The Bridge"

That sounds a bit more interesting than what I've been watching: "Silver Spirit's Current Position."

It has a tediously slow and rather predictable plot-line with no discernible dialogue , and yet I keep tuning in.

1 hour ago, TheRampantSnail said:

I don't think booking a Vista guarantee is too much of a gamble. The worst situation is that you get a Vista suite. In my experience, two cruises on the Muse and one on the Moon for later this year have all resulted in Vista guarantee being upgraded to balcony.

For the Muse, Moon, and Dawn, I agree.

The Shadow, Whisper, and Spirit have many more Vistas available, and therefore you stand less of a chance for an upgrade.

Gennaro, an Italian cobbler, is custom fitting lovely Preludio Capri sandals on Deck 9. I chose my heel and straps yesterday, and just had a fitting this morning. The finished product will be ready in 30 minutes or so -- just in time for Venetian night! 

To Mask or Not To Mask. The crew must remain masked, but pax are free to choose their adventure. From what I see, perhaps 20% or fewer are choosing to continue wearing masks most of the time. 

To Paper or Not to Paper. Perhaps as a Covid protocol, perhaps as an environmental sustainability move, perhaps as a bit of both, more of our communications are paperless. It is taking me a bit of time to get used to! Our electronic agenda list our dining reservations and excursions (not too many of those in the middle of the Atlantic), but not spa reservations or other invitations. So it's a bit of both worlds, and unfortunately I had not realized I had a Silver Note reservation one night until the next morning 😞

Good company has come easily on this crossing. Some of you might remember my stories of less-than-savory dining companions, and I'm happy to say that good company has been both plentiful and delightful. I met a lovely -- and quite hilarious -- couple at muster, and a charming Scotsman at the Captain's welcome. We've dined many times and shared many hearty laughs. Solos, fear not: it really is quite easy to make friends if you wish to, so please don't be scared off by my sordid tales.

Every day is Daylight Savings. For Realz. My most dreaded day of the year is Spring Forward Daylight Savings in the U.S. My body struggles with that arbitrary time change and the lost hour. As in, I struggle for about 2 weeks afterwards until I get used to it. So why-oh-why-oh-why-oh did I sign on for a voyage that loses an hour nearly every day???? It simply never occurred to me, that's why. On the plus side, if I have to live through daylight savings every day for a week, at least I am doing so on a gorgeous Silversea vessel. Next time, though, I might consider sailing in the other direction.

Aft-for-all. Inspired by @jpalbny and Chris's breakfasts in the Arts Cafe, I've been doing the same. Well, actually, I've also been "inspired" by the fact that I can't seem to get out of bed for normal breakfast (see paragraph above on 23-hour days). Arts Cafe on the Spirit is larger than that on the Muse, with a much larger aft deck area. I park there most mornings, with a cappuccino or two, some little overnight oat cups, a book, and some knitting. 

Other aft spaces have my attention as well: the Panorama Lounge's aft deck seems enormous after being on the Wind. It is the perfect location for sunset with a Silver Spirit -- my favorite drink on any ship, but especially this one. It's also my favorite spot for a nightcap. I'm not sure where everyone else is, as that space is nearly always empty.

Thermal Suite, also aft. @Observer had very helpfully described what one could expect in the Thermal Suite, so I decided on a weekly pass for the entire crossing based on his description. It has been a great choice! Befitting my inner introvert, almost nobody is there 🙂 The deck has 8 or so loungers, a whirlpool, some comfy sofas tucked into the shade, and an unlimited view of the horizon in our wake. Inside, there are 4 of those heated stone mosaic beds, a sauna, a steamroom, and a shower. These are separate from the facilities that are open to everyone. What I did not expect -- and what I LOVE -- is a private room (first come first served) that contains a steamroom and shower you can use in total privacy. Desk attendants have lavender- or mint-infused salts for a DIY detoxing steamroom scrub. I've done 3 of them now, which might account for why I've not been writing very much 🙂  Seriously, though, my skin feels amazing.

As a final word about the relentless loveliness of the public aft spaces onboard, I have always admired Silversea for keeping those areas public. With Silver Nova, however, it appears that some of them will be used for aft-facing suites with private balconies. I will admit that was a bit disappointing to read, but I will trust that most decks will still remain open for all to use.

More reports coming soon-ish ... Cheers to all!

14 hours ago, zqtchas said:

Hey Unibok! Nothing happening? See you in Lisbon.

Is mini me with you?

@zqtchas: I'm looking forward to catching up with you in Lisbon! Mini me is on land in the northeastern chill, greatly enjoying her new job as Event Manager for the city and doing freelance audio design for the local college theatre productions. She's making quite a nice life for herself. 

Maxi me (my mother! please don't tell her I called her that!) will be joining me on the Spirit later in May for a tour around Greece and Turkey. Any chance you'll still be on board?

On 3/22/2022 at 5:37 AM, jollyjones said:

Unibok ... ???

Hello! Hello! I am here! We are now past the halfway point to our first port, and I offer a few humble observations.

The Grumpies seem to have disembarked within 24 hours. Either that or (as jollyjones predicted) the grace and graciousness of Silversea has worked its magic and we were all in a much better state of mind by Day 2.

Social Distance is my superpower. After 2 years of relative isolation and purposeful social distancing, I'm finding it very strange to be on a ship with other humans. Jolly reported 70% occupancy, and that squares with what I've heard. True, I'm a natural introvert, so I'm rather good at finding quiet spots and that is even more true with this voyage. When I've walked through Dolce Vita at the right time, Trivia seems to be very well attended. As jolly noted, the expansive space works well these days.

OK -- I'm off for a shoe fitting (more on that in another post).

Fair winds,

jollyjones, thank you for the additional information on embarkation! That explains quite a bit. What a mess for the crew 😞

But today is a new day, and the sun is trying to appear over these choppy waters. The thermal suite is calling my name.

Aside from Jimmy and Captain Arma, much of the crew is new to me. One delightful surprise: Jeffrey (I think of him as Geoffrey, but his nametag had a J) is holding court in the Arts Cafe. I do love sailing with him.

More later, as long as our bandwidth allows ....

Oh, that feeling of the rocking ship, that sound of the waves. I'm in heaven.

Checking in:  Today required a creative-problem-solving all-hands-on-deck process, in which we did COVID paperwork and health forms outside, then the rest of the check-in on board because some machine/system or another wasn't working. It meant that the reception procedure was twice as complicated as usual, but I felt they made us comfortable in Dolce Vita and plied us with welcome drinks. It took about 15 minutes, which is about 10 minutes longer than I've experienced in the past. Seriously: I can handle it. The pax around me were still pretty amped up, and I was hoping that the Silversea hospitality and charm would work its magic and sooth all those frazzled nerves.

Dining options: lunch was immediately available in La Terrazza and at The Grill. I opted for La Terrazza. As you enter the buffet area, there is a hand washing station. Yes, you read that right -- washing, not sanitizing! I'm so used to sanitizing my hands that it took me a while to figure out the 4-item cycle: soapy water, rub hands, clear water to rinse, paper towel to dry. The attendant was very patient with me, and I finally got it right on my 4th try 🙂 She oriented me to the buffet, and placed the food on my plate. Note: we are not allowed to get the food ourselves, only to point and request. That, too, will take some getting used to.

Sanitizing in general: yes! there are machines all over the place, especially in "strategic" locations. It is easier than ever to squirt squeaky stuff on your hands and smell like rubbing alcohol. Again, I'm happy to do it, happy just to be here.

Abbreviated muster: to reduce crowding, we are required to watch the full video and indicate that we did indeed watch it before getting access to anything else on our in-room media system. They split us into 2 time slots, told us not to wear or bring our life preservers, and walked us by the lifeboats rather than the usual arm-to-shoulder conga line. Of all the changes brought about by Covid, the abbreviated muster may be everyone's favorite.

Taste of Things to Come: Well, I'm eating my hat! Not only did the Voices not sing "Dancing in the Street," they emphasized the SS brand by starting with something operatic and then segueing into "Volare." It was actually adorable. Fun fact: our VoS has 3 men and only 2 women. I'll be interested to see if a 3rd female comes out of quarantine or joins in somewhere along the way.

So, what IS to come? We have 3 lecturers (1 geologist and 2 journalists with very different backgrounds), a bridge instructor, a flamenco player, 2 gentlemen hosts who will also offer dance lessons, language lessons from the International Hosts and Assistant Cruise Director, Bingo, handmade Italian shoes, the usual deck games, etc. I'll try to capture some pictures of the Chronicle, or maybe some of my fellow passengers will do that.

Other deets: Aimee Lake is our CD, and she seems lovely so far. Nice sense of humor, good sense of timing, upbeat, smart, and congenial. I look forward to getting to know her throughout this voyage.

Okay, that's all for tonight. I'm going to let the boat rock me to sleep now. 

Swoon.

Wow, it is soooooooo good to be back onboard a Silversea ship! We are here, we all survived Bridgetown embarkation, and we are (I hope, if I may speak for my fellow pax) settling in for a 7-day crossing. The ship engines are starting as I type this ... and we're off!

I'll have more to say (perhaps too much???), but here are some first impressions:

1, 2, 3, and up to infinity: after a 2-year travel hiatus, nothing feels as good as stepping foot onboard. Nothing. Walking up the gangplank elicited a sense of peace, of adventure, of grief for all who have suffered extraordinary loss during the pandemic, of joy that we can keep going, of nerves, of comfort, of relief. When the first person who greeted me said "welcome back," I nearly cried. It feels like a sort of home, a sort of family.

Bridgetown embarkation: it's always bad, but today seemed especially taxing behind the scenes for the crew. It was fine for me personally, but I've been here before and knew how to navigate the place. I'm also still in grateful shock that we are actually cruising again, so little kerfuffles and delays and mixed signals seem like small annoyances rather than life-threatening altercations. From my perspective, it was actually better than it was 3 years ago when I was here last. There were 4 ships in port (3 of them very large), and zero helpful signage; friendly port folks, however, were good about pointing you toward where you needed to go. Our crew was doing a quick turnover after the previous charter -- wild parties! -- and needed every second up until 2:00 to get ready for us. 

"Everyone is special at Silversea, except me. I'm the most special." Folks who showed up well before 2:00 expecting to waltz on to the ship, get their bubbly, and still make it to Atlantide for the end of lunch service were in for a rude awakening. I'd like to emphasize the "rude" part. Now, I love the Silversea demographic, and I'm part of it, but when 75 people show up early believing they are more special than everyone else, it's going to be uncomfortable for whomever isn't picked first. I've never experienced such a crush to be first in line, all the while ignoring instructions from the crew. Yelling, complaining to anyone who will listen, lots of abomination-this and irate-that. I cut some slack to the woman who cut me off in line -- twice! -- thinking that maybe she had a mobility or language issue. Turns out it was neither. People, we're going to be together in an enclosed space for the next 13 days, so have some dignity and regard for your fellow humans. [Here endeth the rant of Unibok.]

OOOF, we're sailing away. I'm going to head out to my veranda and watch. More later. I promise, it does get better 🙂

9 hours ago, dawntrdr said:

The Spirit is scheduled to depart at 7pm on March 31st - I assume that the Dawn events will occur much too late for Spirit guests to attend, even if permitted.  But possibly there could be an early tour for the through-travellers . . . 

Interesting idea! I'll ask when I get onboard.

Thank you, all, for chiming in.

It appears I'll have a refund coming. My SS rep extraordinaire says it's an IT issue, and that refunds will be processed. Frankly, I'd rather have it as OBC. Or FCC. The refund feels like more effort.