Live Silver Spirit Maiden TA Crossing

[CASHIPman]

We are 8 couples who have been traveling on several different cruiselines over the years. Silversea,Oceania, Crystal and Regent. Finding nooks and crannies away from the main pool or using verandas is not an option we want for our cruise in the Med. We will wait to hear from future cruisers aboard the Spirit when it begins its Carribean itineraries. Sitting on the upper deck overlooking the pool is also not an option. We never had a problem with space on any luxury cruiseline before but I have a feeling that there is a potential problem with this ship. I really hope I'm wrong.

 

I'd say you would be wrong.

[Rally]

I'd say you would be wrong.

 

Well . . .One vote YES from someone who has actually BEEN ON the ship . . .

 

And one vote NO from someone who has NOT been on the ship.

 

Hmmmmm.

[WesW]

Yesterday was another "Glorious day at sea--as every day at sea should be" said Spirit Captain Corsaro during the noon daily announcement. Beatiful sunny weather, high about 75, water temp about 75 and projected similar weather for the rest of our crossing. Gorgeous sunrise this morning (it is now 7:45 am) , pool temp was refreshing at 7:15..life is good, exceptionally good on the Spirit. Last night was our second formal night, many of our Lisbon CC group (Dieter, Debbie, Maria, Nick, Jim, Valerie, Malcomb, Jean, Doug, Lynn, Ida and I) had pre dinner drinks at the Panorama (Shirley Temples for Dieter, Dr. Burns and Malcomb--our Navy contingent on board)...then Doug and Lynn left for the Restaurant and dinner with the Hotel Director (Paolo Percivale). Debbie, Ida, Dieter and I had our second delicious dinner al fresco, at the Grill under the Stars on the pool deck 10. Dieter and I had the surf & turf the ladies had steak and veal. After dinner Ida and I joined the Burns, another couple and Paolo at their table in the Restaurant for a nice glass of Chianti as they finished their meal. We adjourned to the Panorama lounge (outside deck--beautiful lounge chairs) for a nightcap or two. Dieter lit & enjoyed his favorite cigar (politely asking permission before lighting up). As I called it a night, for the second night in a row, Craig and Wil were just arriving at the Panorama lounge.

 

PS spent a good portion of the day yesterday on the pool deck (10) (I actuall prefer to

look out at the ocean vs pool) pool service is great (drinks, water regularly offered).

 

Concur with Craig (along with Wil; CC's most senior Spirit sailors) pool decks 9 or 10

work well.

[dougburns]

Concur with Wes re the weather. We'll make another first for Silver Spirit this evening. At sunset on the bridge Wes, Ida, Lynn and I will renew our wedding vows with Captain Angelo Corsaro presiding. Dr. Dieter and Deborah Bloser and Gary and Carol Noyes will witness the event and Emmy Webb will act as maid of honor. Paolo Percivale(Hotel Director) will also be present. After the ceremony and a champagne toast on the bridge we will retire to the wonderful, large outdoor area aft of the Panorama Lounge for champagne and canapes with friends and cruise mates. You're all invited! Later, the wedding party will dine with the Captain in the Restaurant. We have the perfect day for this and we're all looking forward to it. Have a great day! By the way, Silver Spirit does have 4 handicap suites on deck 5 just forward of the forward elevators.

[MuseCruiser]

As a witness, I can tell you first hand, that these guys--Wes and Dr. Doug and their spouses, and all the CC gang on the ship, know how to live. I see Wes at the pool and he's having so much fun; I see Dr. Doug in the lounge, and he's having such a good time, Ida is dancing in the evening, just the whole gang really knows how to live and its great to watch.

 

And to top it off, I actually WON in the casino last night!

[DebbieH103]

Congrats on the win, Wil!!

[duct tape]

I am jealous...it is 21 here this AM!!

[WesW]

Doug, Lynn, Ida and I along with Dieter/Debbie, Nick/Maria, Gary Carol, Emmy, Capt Corsaro (presiding), Fernando (CD), Paolo (HD) enjoyed a spectacular sunset setting on the Spirit bridge as Captain Corsaro and Fernando had us recite our vows. Absolutely,

the most romantic evening we have enjoyed on any cruise ship. SS then delivered engraved renewal certificates along with very special vow words to our suites (we will definitely frame w/pics of ceremony). Know Doug will post many pictures on a yahoo site after the cruise. SS then hosted a warm, renewal reception at the Ponderosa (panorama lounge outside deck) with 30-40 of our very special cruise critic and cruise friends (we have met on this wonderful crossing). Soon it was 8 pm and time for dinner with the Captain in the Restaurant...engaging conversation. Am now a newly wed must head off to the Panorama lounge to retrieve a cappuccino for my bride. (esp if I want to get lucky again today :)

 

ps..Edina passed your warm regards along to Emmy

pss. Larry, Mark smiled when I told him Karen and you asked for him and also sends

his best to you both on your WC adventure.

[lord of the seas]

Wes,we've got our hankerchiefs out and are waving them in the air.

 

Have you had any Flambe dishes served at your table yet.Steak Diane and Crepe Suzette are always my favourite.

 

I think the "Cook your own on a stone" restaurant will be short lived.We shall see.

[MuseCruiser]

Lord, would you mind sharing you reasoning as to why the stone grill will be short lived? People are knocking down the door for a reservation.

[lord of the seas]

Lord, would you mind sharing you reasoning as to why the stone grill will be short lived? People are knocking down the door for a reservation.

 

It's all very new and once people have tried it I think that the novelty will wear off.But as I say,We shall see.

I prefer to have my food cooked and served to me,but others might like the thought of going on holiday and cooking for themselves.

It reminds me of the Fondue which was very trendy in the 1970's

I don't think that fondue restaurants are abundant nor wanted.

"Cook your own on a stone" might pull the wool over some guests eyes but we shall see what this space becomes in a years time.

I think that a good outside grill restaurant with quality meats and seafood will be the thing.cooked by chefs and not fiddled with by guests burning themselves on hot stones and dropping food on the floor.

[DebbieH103]

Well, the weather is improving, and people are talking about this restaurant. When we went (2nd night it was open), there were 3 of us, and we had to sit in blankets. They could not beg people to sit up there.

 

We tried two different kinds of steak and a shrimp (too much food, but we wanted to taste several things). Only the shrimp was raw and cooked quickly. The steaks are served rare. One thing I told Helmut is the meat is way overcooked by the time the meal is done if you don't put it on a side dish because the stone supposedly stays hot for 45 minutes. We took ours off the plate and put it on our bread plates, and we just put back on a little at a time. The result is things were still overdone and cold. I know they were already using feedback from guests to tweak it. Probably a lot of this is already taken care of.

 

This is not some big cooking situation. It is a multi-course meal where you get salad and dessert and nice table service and are dining outside in an intimate atmosphere. It is very nice cuts of meat (wish I had tried the veal chop). Food is piping fresh and delicious and high quality. It is a very nice option. I'd like to see a little more variety in the sides and salads and to see lobster and scallops offered, but it was a very, very good meal. If a chop house salad was served, I'd want to eat there half the time.

[Wellseasoned]

With regard to the hot stone grill, I think it would be wise to try it oneself, or listen to those who have, before dismissing it as a short-lived novelty. Having eaten there twice so far, and in good weather which DebbieH103 did not have, I can say that it is excellent and a big hit. The quality of the filet, the veal chop, and the lamb chops have been superb and have received rave reviews. In the better weather the cooking process has been easy, and we've had no problems with cold or overdone food. And despite being dressed formally on one visit, I did not burn my fingers, drop my food, or soil my apparel. No experience with the fish, so I can't comment. I had the same initial reservations as other long-time SS cruisers, but of the many people with hundreds of SS days present on this cruise, I have heard nothing but praise for this concept and its execution. So, try it. Then you will have a basis for an informed opinion.

 

Dieter

[oregon50]

A question to those CURRENTLY onboard. Have you found a house wine worthy of repeat ordering? Thanks!

[cruzemaven]

Is the ship sailing with a full passenger load?

[DebbieH103]

Wellseasoned, what has caused the food not to get overdone? For someone like me that eats very slowly, I found this to be an issue, and my husband eats fast, and he found it, too. The portions were huge, so we had plenty that we got done to medium, but everything turned into roast beef before we were done. Todd's baked potato also was too cold to eat. What has been done to change the process? Any piece of meat that continues to cook for 45 minutes will be overdone. It is just a fact. We loved the meal, but it was not perfected, and I would just like to know how it has been improved.

[MuseCruiser]

Oregon, Conundrum white is a fun and stellar wine for a complimentary selection (my local restaurant in Chicago has it for $15/glass) and I enjoy La Flor from Argentina for the red selection of choice. Just my $.02.

 

Lord, yes, time will tell, but I predict just like the internet(s), the stone grill isn't going away. Try it sometime; you might actually like it and understand what the fuss is about.

[lord of the seas]

Deiter,

I would not try this type of restaurant on land even if I knew where hot stone cooking was available.Any cooking that I do is done at home,and any restaurant that I go to the chef cooks the food.So I would not try this restaurant at sea either.Now if they would like to cook the steak,veal chop or seafood for me them I think that on a fine evening this could be a very enjoyable venue.My reservations are from my reading the posts that Debbie has written about from her experience previously.

[wripro]

I think you are taking the cooking part of the meal a bit too seriously, Lord Of the Seas. It sounds like a fun experience and I'm sure you don't have to put on an apron to prepare your meat. I'd love to try it.

[dougburns]

Lord, I couldn't disagree with you more! Don't know about Debbie's experience, but I totally agree with Wellseasoned. The stone grill is a big hit and it's not just a passing fad. The food is fantastic. Don't be so quick to throw cold water on everything until you've been there and done that. The ship did an absolutely fabulous job with the vows renewal for Wes/Ida and Lynn/me last evening. The ceremony on the bridge, which is traditional, was very nice and Ida teared up, as did Lynn. Dinner with the Captain was a very fun event. The next thing we knew the restaurant was empty except for our table and it was 2230. No one was ready to leave, including the Captain. The reception aft on the Panorama Lounge aft deck was very well done. That area is going to be extremely popular on warm weather cruises. When Lynn and I returned to our suite our butler and a couple of others had really done a number on it. There were candles, flowers, champagne and a chocolate cake arranged on the dining room table and the bathroom had candles with a hot scented bath already drawn. Nice touch-very romantic. Today Ida, Lynn and Emmy were invited to the bridge for the noon blowing of the ship's horn and the ringing of the ship's bell to mark high noon. Lynn activated the horn, Emmy rang the bell and Ida took some great pics. Afterward, Wes/Ida and Lynn/I had lunch with the Captain with lots of good conversation. Emmy begged off, because she doesn't do lunch. Wes and I will post all of our pics after we get home. Whereas the Seven Seas Voyager used to be Lynn's favorite ship, it is now Silver Spirit. Of our many cruises on both Silversea and Regent this has been our favorite. The pax, the ship and the crew are a happy mix and the weather/sea has been wonderful for a T/A. Don't know of anyone aboard who isn't having a great time and everyone is constantly smiling. Each day more things are being unpacked and put out, such as soap dishes for the bathrooms. The crew has caught up and most everything is SS quality. I'm afraid I'll have to pry Lynn off the ship when it's time to go.

[lord of the seas]

I think you are taking the cooking part of the meal a bit too seriously, Lord Of the Seas. It sounds like a fun experience and I'm sure you don't have to put on an apron to prepare your meat. I'd love to try it.

 

I am sure that you will enjoy it.But when I am paying for a relaxing luxury holiday then that is what I will be expecting.I can see the fun in this but I can also see the pit falls.what is the next thing that these marketing guys will come up with,self service bars and God forbid Buffet style dining,Oh no,that's already with us.:eek:

Just off to dinner,the Butler is banging the gong.;)

[duct tape]

Has anything changed about fetching your own drink on the way into the theater? Thanx.

[lord of the seas]

Has anything changed about fetching your own drink on the way into the theater? Thanx.

 

When I am on the Silver Spirit,you have given me an idea what to use the Butler for besides drawing my bath.He can ofcourse serve me drinks in the theatre.:)

[MuseCruiser]

Lord, that's the great thing about the ship. You don't have to go to the stone grill restaurant. You can enjoy the traditional restaurant setting, leaving openings for others who would obviously enjoy it more than you.

 

I'm glad we're dining at the stone grill tonight. Enjoy your dinner as well.

[NJBelle]

I am so jealous of all the current cruisers who can go to the Stone Grill/Black Rock restaurant. It is such a nice addition to the dining options and the food is fabulous. I ate everything on my plate/rock (and I like my meat rare; the trick is to move it to the side of the rock where it still gets warmth to keep the heat in, but there is no further cooking that way). I wish I could have gone there more - it was definitely a hit in my family. Have some apple pie for me, Wil - and don't forget to ask them to bring it with the ice cream :-)

 

And I have to say I am laughing out loud here at home as I read Lord's comments. Two points - 1) it helps if one has actually experienced something before making pronouncements and 2) if this doesn't sound like something you want to go to, then don't go when you are on board - but don't be constantly negative about it.

 

I love that the current CC passengers are having such a great time - again, just makes me wish I were there!