Live - Silver Spirit Rome to Ft. Lauderdale

I hope that others on board this cruise will add to this thread.

We boarded the Spirit in Civitavecchia on Saturday and were happy to see so many familiar faces among the crew. Ana, Clive, Saskia and Paolo are all old friends who have made many of our voyages so very pleasant. We have only recognized one passenger from previous voyages so far. We are extremely pleased with our Butler Albert Magsino and our Suite Attendant Olivia Gamboa – possibly the best duo we've ever had on Silversea. They anticipate our needs and accommodate our requests very quickly.

The ship appears to be in great shape and the renovations to the boutiques have had minimal impact on us. Since this cruise is port intensive, the temporary boutique set up in the card room will be closed most of the time.

Yesterday was, for many, the highlight of the cruise – the Andrea Bocelli concert. Silversea's owner, Mr. Lefebvre is on board and was out and about yesterday on deck speaking to passengers. The legendary CD Fernando is also on board for a few days. We were concerned how they would handle seating for the concert since the show lounge does not hold all 540 passengers. Invitations were for Venetian Society members only which I hope did not upset anyone new to Silversea who had thought they would be able to go to the concert. Seating was handled very well with passengers asked to line up and then escorted into the theater. Seating was tight and some temporary chairs were brought in. It appeared that everyone who wanted to attend was accommodated.

Andrea Bocelli performed for about 45 minutes – primarily opera. We had wondered whether he would sing the Silversea theme song “Con te partiro”, and he did not. He was accompanied by a pianist and was joined on several songs by a soprano. At the end of his concert, he was presented witha donation to his foundation from a couple who were supposed to be on board but had had to cancel at the last minute. There was also a donation made to the Maruzza Lefebvre d'Ovidio Onlus foundation which Mr. Lefebvre accepted.

Almost all the passengers complied with the request not to take pictures or recordings during the show, but not everyone!

After the concert, there was a special caviar buffet followed by the Cena di Gala – a truly wonderful dinner created by Emanuelle Vallino from the La Carabaccia restaurant in Bibbona. The fixed menu started with a filet of John Dory with leek puree and caviar. This was followed by a cold antipasto of oysters in a champagne telline sauce then a hot antipasto of braised prawns in thyme (with a hint of orange zest) on a bed of chopped artichoke hearts. The prawns were possibly the best I have ever tasted. Then we were treated to a primo piatto of lobster ravioli in a bisque sauce – excellent. There was a choice between Tuscan grey pork filet with an herb and walnut crust and a pan-fried filet of turbot in a spicy lentil sauce. We both had the pork and agreed it was excellent.

Oh – I should mention the wines – The white was a Castello Della Sala Cervaro della Sala 2012 from Umbria and the red was Antinori Tignanello 2011. There was no skimping on the wines, and I may have consumed many many more glasses than usual!

The best way to describe dessert, which was called a chocolate fondant rocher with piemontese hazelnuts and a bitter orange compote, was to say it was a chocolate baseball rolled in nuts. Attacking it wasn't easy, and I feared that I would launch it across the dining room. Fortunately, I was finally able to stab it and get to the two kinds of wonderful mousse inside.

We had been told that security would be very tight on board and that Andrea Bocelli would get on and get off the ship quickly. Imagine our surprise when he walked into the restaurant with his wife and daughter, Mr. Lefevbre and entourage and ate at the table usually reserved for the Captain. I guess I can say that we had dinner with Andrea Bocelli!

All in all, it was a special evening, and Silversea outdid itself. This was billed as the 20th Anniversary cruise (well after we booked it) and has started off in grand style.

Thanks so much for such a wonderfully detailed on board post Victoria (and Bob). Pls, enjoy the rest of the Med and y'alls crossing.

The dinner sounds wonderful. I am not an opera expert, though I am sure the concert was wonderful, but the dinner would have been the highlight for me.

Forgive me for being dumb, but didn't many non-Venetian ie first-time SS cruisers book this cruise specifically seeing the Bocelli concert as the highlight of the cruise?

:confused:

Thanks Victoria for the very detailed description and narrative. All I can say is WOW, what an evening. For those who have not heard Andrea Bocelli, go on utube and listen to him sing, he is amazing. If only all lawyers had such mellifluous tones.

Looking forward to seeing you and Bob in Barcelona.

Wonderful Gala Evening! It was all orchestrated beautifully. If anyone was disappointed they weren't able to attend I didn't hear about it....usually people do tend to complain when they get disappointed.

Lots of old crew friends are here..when they say "Welcome Home!" It really feels that way.

As for Alfred and Olivia, I agree that they are a great team.

Now in Monte Carlo overnight. Loved the tour to Eze, which is inland farther up the coast. Definitely worth a visit, but very strenuous uphill walk. It was listed as "moderate". HA!

Hope to meet the Emtbsams. Missed the Meet and Mingle. We're in 1106. Buy you folks a drink??

Lovely review Emtbsan, not a great opera buff, but the dinner sounds wonderful.

Great to see that some have finally acknowledged their limitations.

Forgive me for being dumb, but didn't many non-Venetian ie first-time SS cruisers book this cruise specifically seeing the Bocelli concert as the highlight of the cruise?

 

:confused:

It would be a great disappointment and insult as a new Silversea guest to not have been invited to the concert. I do hope there were no new to Silversea passengers that were left out. Would they have known if hey had not received the invitation notice in their suite? Or was this kept as a mystery to new guests?

Reading about the dinner was making my mouth water! Enjoy your crossing Victoria and Bob:)

Cheers

Jennifer

It would be a great disappointment and insult as a new Silversea guest to not have been invited to the concert. I do hope there were no new to Silversea passengers that were left out. Would they have known if hey had not received the invitation notice in their suite? Or was this kept as a mystery to new guests?

Sadly, the OP was very clear.

Yesterday was, for many, the highlight of the cruise – the Andrea Bocelli concert. We were concerned how they would handle seating for the concert since the show lounge does not hold all 540 passengers. Invitations were for Venetian Society members only which I hope did not upset anyone new to Silversea who had thought they would be able to go to the concert.

Jeff

For those that have followed the postings speculating who was and was not going to be invited to the Bocelli concert while onboard the Silver Spirit – I would like to set the record straight ---- EVERYBODY onboard was invited to both the special dinner and the live concert. In fact the effort by Silversea to bring in extra seating into the show lounge began well before the November 1 event.

So if anyone thinks that this was a last minute change of plans – it certainly was not!

Fernando himself (who also was our MC for the evening) was measuring extra chairs and seat dimensions in Venice well before the event. It was a beautiful event, well-planned including the flawless organization of both seating and exiting the show lounge.

The special menu designed for the event was one of the best we have ever had with impeccable and timely service.

Kudos to all the management and staff who worked so hard to make this 20th anniversary experience one to long remember.

:confused:

It is odd that the OP states clearly that only Venetian Society members were invited.

The show lounge is (from recall) licensed and cleared to accomodate a maximum of 320 people which is around 60% of the ships full occupancy which presumably includes any extra seating added to achieve it's maximum licensed number. SS takes compliance and safety seriously.

You seem to be stating (authoritively) that SS could have packed 540 people into the show lounge which accomoadates 320 flat out - which I find puzzling.

Wonderful Gala Evening! It was all orchestrated beautifully. If anyone was disappointed they weren't able to attend I didn't hear about it....usually people do tend to complain when they get disappointed.

Lots of old crew friends are here..when they say "Welcome Home!" It really feels that way.

As for Alfred and Olivia, I agree that they are a great team.

Now in Monte Carlo overnight. Loved the tour to Eze, which is inland farther up the coast. Definitely worth a visit, but very strenuous uphill walk. It was listed as "moderate". HA!

Hope to meet the Emtbsams. Missed the Meet and Mingle. We're in 1106. Buy you folks a drink??

We're in 1108!

OP was under the impression that only Venetian Society members had received invitations, but CaptainF seems to have better information.

I do know that there have been no complaints heard from anyone.

Last evening was the special 20th Anniversary celebration with special hors d'oeuvres in the main bar and a special meal again. Since we had invited guests on board, we dined in La Terrazza which was also fantastic.

So far the food is excellent and there is an abundance of fresh berries and fresh fish.

The forum software clearly did it's stuff and loved my post so much it posted it twice!

OP was under the impression that only Venetian Society members had received invitations, but CaptainF seems to have better information.

 

I do know that there have been no complaints heard from anyone.

 

Thanks! :)

To be honest, I don't think it is any clearer. You obviously heard from someone originally that this was Venetian Society invititation only and gave the perfectly rational reason why ie that space was highly confined. With the greatest respect to your goodself, you cannot possibly know that no one made a complaint, only that you are unaware of any, which is a perfectly fair observation to make.

From my own view, it reamains puzzling.

This event was the most prestigous event I have ever seen announced for an SS cruise in the cruise lines history. Even the owner scrubbed up and turned out. Just perfect for this Italian line ....:D I am not an opera fan at all, but I do know that if I had booked this cruise it would be inconceivable that I would not wish to see this iconic and most famous performer do his stuff. Not doing so just seems odd. It is an opportunity that I think is unmissable for most - opera loveres or not. And this cruise was marketed to attract opera lovers. I recgonise we are all different. But presuming and planning that 40% of the ship wouldn't be interested just doesn't sound right to me. Some information is clearly still missing.

:)

I understand we you may be puzzled so perhaps this further information will help. The definition of a full ship is really the # of suites occupied and not necessarily the guest count. So when the ship is full it means there are no further suites available. Suites can be occupied as you know by 1-3 persons.

The actual count in the show lounge with the seating augmented and rearranged was closer to 484 and in fact there were 4 empty chairs still available and nobody standing.

All guests were escorted to their seats with no saving of seats. It was efficient and organized in a way that guests entered in groups that were somewhat staggered.

The effort that went into maximizing the seating in a safe way showed careful planning with 4 exits open and accessible at all times during the 45-minute performance.

It all added up to a wonderful evening for everyone and as we've seen there have been no complaints posted.

I understand we you may be puzzled so perhaps this further information will help. The definition of a full ship is really the # of suites occupied and not necessarily the guest count. So when the ship is full it means there are no further suites available. Suites can be occupied as you know by 1-3 persons.

The actual count in the show lounge with the seating augmented and rearranged was closer to 484 and in fact there were 4 empty chairs still available and nobody standing.

All guests were escorted to their seats with no saving of seats. It was efficient and organized in a way that guests entered in groups that were somewhat staggered.

The effort that went into maximizing the seating in a safe way showed careful planning with 4 exits open and accessible at all times during the 45-minute performance.

It all added up to a wonderful evening for everyone and as we've seen there have been no complaints posted.

Thanks.

So the show lounge can accomodate 484 not 320?

:confused:

 

It is odd that the OP states clearly that only Venetian Society members were invited.

 

The show lounge is (from recall) licensed and cleared to accomodate a maximum of 320 people which is around 60% of the ships full occupancy which presumably includes any extra seating added to achieve it's maximum licensed number. SS takes compliance and safety seriously.

 

You seem to be stating (authoritively) that SS could have packed 540 people into the show lounge which accomoadates 320 flat out - which I find puzzling.

One important clarification. The ship was in port and not at sea. This distinction is a critical component.

One important clarification. The ship was in port and not at sea. This distinction is a critical component.

You are right! Thanks for clarifying! That is of course the most important fact! :D

However clear the exits were, obstructing the aisles at sea didn't seem right at all.

Thanks.

:)

Thanks, Victoria, for your detailed and excellent posts! We are salivating at your descriptions of the food and events and wish that we were again there with you and Bob. Ana, Clive, Saskia, Paolo, Fernando, wow! Like spending a cruise with old friends! Please keep the posts coming!

And thank you Capt.F for your explanations and showing that the concert/dinner attendance was a non-issue. Continue to have a wonderful time on a great cruise!

Dieter

 

And thank you Capt.F for your explanations and showing that the concert/dinner attendance was a non-issue. Continue to have a wonderful time on a great cruise!

 

Dieter

Impressed with both your politeness and patience Dieter!

Change of port due to bad weather. We're in Marseille rather than Ajaccio. While we were looking forward to seeing the gorges in Corsica, we were happy that the Captain decided to save us some bad weather and head along the coast. We had a fair amount of pitch, especially on the upper decks, last night accompanied by the familiar banging and clanging.

Today is overcast but there is only a 5% chance of rain.

On the higher decks you feel the pitch more, n'est-ce pas?

Have you been to Corsica before?

Yes, you definitely feel the pitch more on higher decks. We left the dining room able to walk a straight line and found it much harder on Deck 11.

Yes, we have been to Corsica several times and have enjoyed it very much. We were looking forward to seeing the gorges outside Ajaccio but now we have an excuse to come back!