Live from Silver Nova - Lisbon to Barcelona Sept. 29 - October 7, 2023

[Dolcevita Diva]

2 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Hi, so there are no paper Chronicle's on the Nova? It is all electronic??? Call me old or maybe just old school but I love reading the paper in a hard copy.

Nope. Standard procedure is electronic only. 

Someone mentioned elsewhere that they requested a paper copy and were able to get a black and white version.  The Chronicles on the tablet/tv are 79-80 pages long...a lot to flip through.  Your messages and the survey will also come on the tv/tablet, but invitations such as Venetian Society reception are still delivered in paper.  On the positive side, the digital displays near each elevator list do list upcoming activities for the next few hours.

 

 

 

[Lois R]

Maybe this is a silly question but why are they 80 pages? That is A LOT of pages.

[zqtchas]

I don’t think we’ll be doing a Nova cruise.

[Lois R]

1 minute ago, zqtchas said:

I don’t think we’ll be doing a Nova cruise.

Oh I am still looking forward to sailing her and I leave 3 weeks from Sunday😃. Was just surprised about all the electronic stuff.

[Dolcevita Diva]

3 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Maybe this is a silly question but why are they 80 pages? That is A LOT of pages.

Not a silly question at all. Seems that since it was digital, they threw everything in there - lots of photos, tour descriptions, promotional fluff - when you really only needed the handful of activities for the day.

[Dolcevita Diva]

3 minutes ago, zqtchas said:

I don’t think we’ll be doing a Nova cruise.

I loved the ship and absolutely will sail on her again!

Don't want my comments to come across as negative or complaining at all - just want to point out some differences from the other ships, a few things to get used to and a few areas that hopefully will be tweaked based on guest feedback. 

 

[zqtchas]

8 minutes ago, Dolcevita Diva said:

I loved the ship and absolutely will sail on her again!

Don't want my comments to come across as negative or complaining at all - just want to point out some differences from the other ships, a few things to get used to and a few areas that hopefully will be tweaked based on guest feedback. 

 

Didn’t take it that way. Just like to read it on paper and carry it with me off the ship if I want. I think they will have less surveys to go through also. I think this system downgrades the personal touch.

You did a fabulous write up, thank you.😊

Edited October 14, 2023 by zqtchas

[Lois R]

Chas, love your avator😃.....is it new? And so I am not the only one who likes to read the paper version.

[mchell810]

48 minutes ago, Dolcevita Diva said:

I loved the ship and absolutely will sail on her again!

Don't want my comments to come across as negative or complaining at all - just want to point out some differences from the other ships, a few things to get used to and a few areas that hopefully will be tweaked based on guest feedback.

 

Your comments were not negative or complaining.  You have provided information which will be helpful to many people.  The changes to the Chronicles will bother me -- especially as it turns it into a 80 page digital file!  With your comments I will have time to prepare for that.   Thanks for sharing.

[zqtchas]

9 hours ago, Lois R said:

Chas, love your avator😃.....is it new? And so I am not the only one who likes to read the paper version.

Yes, it’s new.Thanks. We also like to save the Chronicle’s.

[jpalbny]

1 hour ago, zqtchas said:

We also like to save the Chronicle’s.

 

Me too. Maybe if I can get them on my phone I can figure out a way to save them digitally. 🤔 

[zqtchas]

9 minutes ago, jpalbny said:

 

Me too. Maybe if I can get them on my phone I can figure out a way to save them digitally. 🤔 

It’s just isn’t the same for us old timers who are digitally handicapped.

[TLCOhio]

On 10/13/2023 at 9:16 PM, Lois R said:

Oh I am still looking forward to sailing her and I leave 3 weeks from Sunday😃. Was just surprised about all the electronic stuff.

 

Great, interesting thread with these details about no print version of the Chronicle.  As done by zqtchas, I like to save the paper version of those daily details, etc.  Is this only happening on the Silver Nova?  How about for other SS ships now?  Or, in the coming future?

 

While I can navigate fairly well in the digital world, if it is the "new" Chronicle at 80 pages long and has bunches of advertising and promo pitches, then . . . .  No!  No!  Hate that "crap".  Just want substance and helpful details!!  Don't need sales pitches for future cruises and/or jewelry merchandise being peddled on the ship, etc.  

 

For Lois, will you be on the Lisbon to NYC trans-Atlantic sailing?  If so, would be interested in any and all details and impressions from what Silversea offers with the S.A.L.T. Kitchen.  From you or any others, would like to see a samples of the menu's for the S.A.L.T. Kitchen.  Also for Lois, how much time will you able to spend in Lisbon?  Love that historic and charming city with some much character and fun excitement.  

 

Now at 119 days till we board the Silver Moon in Mumbai for an 18-day sailing to Singapore.  Interested in learning how many of these changes on Silver Nova are going to be used on the Silver Moon and other Silversea ships in early 2024.  In making dining reservations yesterday, the cost on the Silver Moon for La Dame is @ $60 pp; for Kaiseki @ $40.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast on the Silver Spirit.  Now at 33,963 views.  Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

[Lois R]

Hi Terry, yes I am on the crossing and am arriving in Lisbon 1 day early. I have sailed out of there multiple times. 

And yes, I plan to eat in Salt on the cruise🙂

[TLCOhio]

51 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Hi Terry, yes I am on the crossing and am arriving in Lisbon 1 day early. I have sailed out of there multiple times. And yes, I plan to eat in Salt on the cruise🙂

 

Great, Lois, that you have plans for sampling the S.A.L.T. experience.  While we have been on the Silver Muse and in doing five other Silversea sailings, this February 2024 Silver Moon adventure will be our first on a newer ship with the S.A.L.T. Kitchen, etc.   

 

Wonderful sharing by Dolcevita Diva!!  Keep it up with these enjoyable sharing posts.  Look forward to any and all tips and insights about the various S.A.L.T. options and potentials.  And, the food??  Yes, I like "food porn" visuals.  Always tasty and low in calories!!

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[Lois R]

Terry, I have sailed both Moon and Dawn so I have eaten in SALT multiple times before but will let you know if I can see any differences on Nova.

[Tudorcruisers]

I was disappointed Vikki couldn’t do her show on Silver Nova as it is very enjoyable.  I also feel that it would be much better if a booking could be made for just one of the S.A.L.T cooking classes so that other passengers could also enjoy the class.  I was quite surprised some people thought it was ok to book every single class as this meant others couldn’t get to enjoy it at all.  As this can only be booked once onboard for those whose flight is delayed they don’t stand a chance at all.

[Dolcevita Diva]

On 10/14/2023 at 7:32 AM, zqtchas said:

 We also like to save the Chronicle’s.

 

On 10/14/2023 at 9:21 AM, jpalbny said:

 

Me too. Maybe if I can get them on my phone I can figure out a way to save them digitally. 🤔 

 

When on vacation I really prefer to unplug to a great extent and would much rather peruse a paper copy of the chronicles while enjoying breakfast on my veranda. Hello Silversea - have you noticed that digital screens are not always readable in the sunlight outdoors...? 

 

There was an option to download, but the file was pretty big and the download on my Ipad apparently was not successful.  I ended up just taking screenshots of the daily activity pages on my phone so they'd be handy without having to fiddle with connecting to the wifi, signing into mycruise.com, etc. 

 

What I did like was having a lovely photo of the port for the day, time, outdoor temperature and key agenda items on the television and also really liked the digital display by each elevator bank that listed upcoming activities, where they would be held, etc.

Edited October 15, 2023 by Dolcevita Diva

[Dolcevita Diva]

5 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

 

Great, interesting thread with these details about no print version of the Chronicle.  As done by zqtchas, I like to save the paper version of those daily details, etc.  Is this only happening on the Silver Nova?  How about for other SS ships now?  Or, in the coming future?

 

While I can navigate fairly well in the digital world, if it is the "new" Chronicle at 80 pages long and has bunches of advertising and promo pitches, then . . . .  

 

Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast on the Silver Spirit.  Now at 33,963 views.  Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

 

Terry, so far only on the Nova and will be on the Ray as well. This is party of the overall sustainability/environmentally friendly positioning of these ships.

 

I never flipped through all the pages of the digital Chronicles. To their credit, it's pretty easy to navigate to the key pages you want and ignore the rest.  

[zqtchas]

43 minutes ago, Dolcevita Diva said:

 

This is party of the overall sustainability/environmentally friendly

An excuse to save more money! And cut more corners.

[Dolcevita Diva]

I mentioned earlier that there is a saxophone player onboard who plays at the Dusk Bar and the S.A.L.T. Bar.    It’s hard to convey just how magical this, but most especially during sailaway. Hopefully this video clip as we departed Cádiz will give you a sense.   

 

 

[Dolcevita Diva]

Our next port was Gibraltar.  I had not signed up for any excursions and had a leisurely morning and lunch onboard.  @TLCOhio - I didn’t take many menu or food photos, but here are photos of the lunch menu at The Marquee and some “food porn” for you! 

This is the Roast Pumpkin and Chickpea salad with some chicken added and although I normally don’t have dessert with lunch, couldn’t resist trying the Mint Chocolate Frozen Sandwich, which was delicious.  After lunch, I walked into town and did some browsing/shopping on Main Street.  

 

My friends went on the Cork & Cattle excursion and really enjoyed it. They learned about cork production, harvesting, aging, exports, etc.  They did say there were 40 people on their bus, though. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 15, 2023 by Dolcevita Diva
Photo edit

[A Tucson Guy]

5 hours ago, Lois R said:

Terry, I have sailed both Moon and Dawn so I have eaten in SALT multiple times before but will let you know if I can see any differences on Nova.

We ate twice in the Salt Restaurant on the Nova in August and we noticed no differences from on the Dawn and Moon last year. We get on the Nova when Lois gets off.

[jpalbny]

31 minutes ago, Dolcevita Diva said:

Our next port was Gibraltar.  I had not signed up for any excursions and had a leisurely morning and lunch onboard.  @TLCOhio - I didn’t take many menu or food photos, but here are photos of the lunch menu at The Marquee and some “food porn” for you! 

This is the Roast Pumpkin and Chickpea salad with some chicken added and although I normally don’t have dessert with lunch, couldn’t resist trying the Mint Chocolate Frozen Sandwich, which was delicious.  After lunch, I walked into town and did some browsing/shopping on Main Street.  

 

My friends went on the Cork & Cattle excursion and really enjoyed it. They learned about cork production, harvesting, aging, exports, etc.  They did say there were 40 people on their bus, though. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK. I'm having Surf&Turf please. One filet, and one fish and chips!

[Stumblefoot]

4 hours ago, A Tucson Guy said:

We ate twice in the Salt Restaurant on the Nova in August and we noticed no differences from on the Dawn and Moon last year.

For what they are charging, that’s awful.