Dawn to the West

[Port Power]

22 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

You were having such a good time that you didn't notice how the time flew.

You had two starters and a main course but two of your party didn't eat?

Why did you not speak up and get the pace of the meal back on track to suit everyone.

Did alcohol rear its ugly head? 😀

We did notice there had been a long wait but we kept thinking the main would appear.  Or the waiter!  The second starter was the vegetable course.  It was definitely the conversation that kept us from noticing the time even though we were sipping 🍷.  We did speak up, needing to go to the front desk to do so.  Nevertheless there was still further delay.

 

The person who left did have the very light quinoa salad and another starter, but not the main course.  Naturally that appeared one minute after he left!

 

 

I’m wondering if the kitchen ran out of 24-hour marinated prime rib?  That could explain the different butterflied steak and the time delay while it was marinated for an hour.

Edited December 6, 2023 by Port Power

[canderson]

Yikes.  Mrs. C Anderson talked me out of Atlantide last night in favor of S.A.L.T. so I missed the prime rib.  Sounds as though it would have been hit/miss anyway!  Sorry it went poorly for your party of 5.  What time did you arrive?

[drron29]

I think the problem with your long wait was in fact your waiter.

You know the Trainee Maitre'D Pablo and when he was our waiter our starters would appear within minutes. After those dishes disappeared it was less than 5 minutes until mains unless we asked for a little delay.

We had a few talks with the restaurant manager and he said in passing on one occasion that Pablo would go and select our dishes and made sure no one else who ordered later got their dishes before us.

[canderson]

Miguel in Atlantide has been right on top of things for us when we've dined there.  Efficient and timely service each evening.

 

He has a table for 2 that he saves for us each evening that's off to the side and allows for an elevated leg on an extra chair.  We sit next to Larry and Marilyn many nights since Miguel saves the adjacent table for them as a convenience to Larry.

[Port Power]

1 hour ago, canderson said:

Yikes.  Mrs. C Anderson talked me out of Atlantide last night in favor of S.A.L.T. so I missed the prime rib.  Sounds as though it would have been hit/miss anyway!  Sorry it went poorly for your party of 5.  What time did you arrive?

 

1 hour ago, drron29 said:

I think the problem with your long wait was in fact your waiter.

You know the Trainee Maitre'D Pablo and when he was our waiter our starters would appear within minutes. After those dishes disappeared it was less than 5 minutes until mains unless we asked for a little delay.

We had a few talks with the restaurant manager and he said in passing on one occasion that Pablo would go and select our dishes and made sure no one else who ordered later got their dishes before us.

We were seated just before 7:45pm.  It was after 10:00pm when are mains were served.  Every table around us were either gone or eating dessert.  I totally agree with @drron29 about a good waiter keeping an eye on the order that mains leave the kitchen.  Our waiter was most definitely missing!  Other waiters were serving water and topping up our wine.  

 

Anyway, I spoke to the overall Restaurant Manager this morning at breakfast, so he will review last night’s service (and possibly staff).  And speaking to Grant also provided valuable answers.  I always find it better to speak directly to management about an issue rather than moan and do nothing, or write about it in the feedback after disembarking.

[Port Power]

This morning’s SALT cooking demonstration was about the “Grains of the gods”.  The item made was a version of the corn cake we made in SALT Lab recently.  This version swapped cornmeal with wheat flour and mashed potato, and used pulled pork in the middle.  The mashed potato made the cake more moist, and I will add that to the cornmeal cake when I make it at home.

 

Quinoa (a seed)

 

 

The final dish, dotted with satay sauce.

 

 

 

[Port Power]

This morning’s cooking demonstration from SALT Lab and Kitchen.  It was the corn cake we made in SALT Lab the other day, substituting cornmeal with all purpose flour and mashed potato, and using pulled pork.  The mash did make the cake more moist, so when I make it at home, I will change out half of the cornmeal with mashed potato.  (Chef Drake’s instructions.)

 

Quinoa (a seed)

 

 

The final dish, dotted with satay sauce.

 

 

 

[Port Power]

8 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

Or post your troubles on CC 😀

I am simply demonstrating that not everything on Silver Dawn is perfect.  There are flaws.  Also that there are avenues for managing and resolving any problems or concerns.  Some people reading this travel blog may be new to Silversea and might find this informative.

[Port Power]

The themed lunch in Dolce Vita today is “American Diner”.  Lots of burgers and fried food!  I saw one of the dancers departing with a cream-topped drink, but he easily works off any excess calories!

 

 

 

 

Can some only kindly explain how I rotate the images, please?  “Format” 

[Port Power]

I forgot to add the delicious cocktail prepared by SALT Bar to complement today’s food.  No name yet.

 

[mchell810]

9 hours ago, Port Power said:

The themed lunch in Dolce Vita today is “American Diner”.  Lots of burgers and fried food!  I saw one of the dancers departing with a cream-topped drink, but he easily works off any excess calories!

 

 

 

 

Can some only kindly explain how I rotate the images, please?  “Format” 

 

There is something with CC where photos show upside down -- I think it has something to do with the direction the camera is held when taking horizontal photos with iPhones.  (I'm sure someone else can give a more technical explanation.)  I have had this happen to me as well. 

 

The other day when I "rotated" your photo, I downloaded it, rotated it -- saving the new file, and then posted the new version to CC.  I am not sure how you would do this posting directly. 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2023 by mchell810

[drron29]

The only photos that I have that are rotated are ones from my iPhone. I go back and rotate the photo on my iPhone and re post but that doesn't always work.

However it doesn't happen to my iPhone photos on other sites i post photos.

[saatuk]

11 hours ago, Port Power said:

 

We were seated just before 7:45pm.  It was after 10:00pm when are mains were served.  Every table around us were either gone or eating dessert.  I totally agree with @drron29 about a good waiter keeping an eye on the order that mains leave the kitchen.  Our waiter was most definitely missing!  Other waiters were serving water and topping up our wine.  

 

Anyway, I spoke to the overall Restaurant Manager this morning at breakfast, so he will review last night’s service (and possibly staff).  And speaking to Grant also provided valuable answers.  I always find it better to speak directly to management about an issue rather than moan and do nothing, or write about it in the feedback after disembarking.

As the lout who left before the mains came I'm pleased with what you did.

 

Was so good our meal progressed as normal tonight.  Happy to sit with you anytime.

 

 

 

 

An

[ak1004]

23 hours ago, Port Power said:

I am simply demonstrating that not everything on Silver Dawn is perfect.  There are flaws.  Also that there are avenues for managing and resolving any problems or concerns.  Some people reading this travel blog may be new to Silversea and might find this informative.

 

We will be on a cruise after yours (Dec.11) and find those posts extremely helpful.

 

This will be our second SS cruise, the first one was on the Spirit last December.

 

While we did have a great cruise, some of the issues you describe definitely sound familiar. We were a group of 10 people, so this might explain some of the service flaws. This time it's only us, so no excuses. I hope they do better this time, otherwise I'm not convinced that I can justify the premium price compared to Oceania.

 

As for people finding SS boring compared to HAL - I can definitely understand it, and I think this would be the case with most premium/luxury lines (maybe except for Crystal). Personally I don't come to SS or O for entertainment or activities, but mostly for service, food and the small ship experience. It's important to have realistic expectations.

[canderson]

The joint (Antigua) was hoppin' today.  Even Beyond appeared sometime while we were out and about.  Oops.. count didn't zero out.  We seem to be missing 1 pax and they're busy trying to locate aboard.

 

 

 

 

[Port Power]

Thursday, 7 December, 2023. St John’s, Antigua.

 

 

I did the catamaran tour to Bird Island with snorkelling and light lunch.  See @canderson photo above of the yellow catamaran. There were about 26 of us including guest lecturer Mark as escort.  It took one and a half hours to get out there, but the scenting the way was worth it.

 

 

 

[Port Power]

There was a fishing line set up at the rear of the boat.  There was much joy on catching a decent sized Spanish mackerel.

 

 

 

[mancunian]

4 hours ago, ak1004 said:

 

We will be on a cruise after yours (Dec.11) and find those posts extremely helpful.

 

This will be our second SS cruise, the first one was on the Spirit last December.

 

While we did have a great cruise, some of the issues you describe definitely sound familiar. We were a group of 10 people, so this might

 

 

We were on Dawn late August/early september and thought the ship and service were both excellent.   We are not foodies but to us with one or two exceptions we thought the food good.  We do prefer Oceania in that we. like the evening buffet.  After a long day ashore we do miss the informal approach there.  Although good in a limited way Scapanapelli and the Grill nowhere near as good as the buffet.

 

Enjoy your cruise.  We go on Moon on Sunday.    Apart from the above buffet question although we like Oceania very much we do prefer Silversea

[Port Power]

Bird Island and another beach.  All very pretty.  The islands are all served by ferries, but I did notice there were very few small boats about.

 

 

 

 

[Port Power]

It was an early departure today at 2:00pm, although the ship pulled out I bit earlier than that as everyone was aboard.  We waved goodbye to the neighbours. 
 

Edited December 7, 2023 by Port Power

[canderson]

20 minutes ago, Port Power said:

It was an early departure today at 2:00pm, although the ship pulled out I bit earlier than that as everyone was aboard.

Yes, count finally zeroed.  Seems a lady somehow crossed up 2:00pm departure as 'all aboard for pax' time, which was actually 1:30.  Her husband was up in the Arts Cafe, hoping she would make it in time!  We were surprised to be, apart from her, the last 2 aboard at 1:22.

[Port Power]

Friday, 8 December, 2023.  San Juan, Puerto Rico.

 

This morning, all passengers and crew had to present face to face with USA immigration.  Also, all passengers had to leave the ship and there be a “zero” count before any passengers could reboard.  As I was on the first excursion of they day, our tour was called at 8:00ish.  We collected our passports at one station (manned by two of the musicians), and presented ourselves at passport control. On the other side, we waited for everyone before proceeding to our bus.

 

This continued through all excursions, finalising with those passengers wishing to return to the ship after immigration.  From all reports, everything went smoothly for the rest of the passengers.

 

I looked out from my starboard balcony early in the morning to see kitchen staff, housekeeping staff and assorted other personnel doing the immigration circuit.  The rest of the ship’s staff and crew went through after total passenger clearance.

[Port Power]

Today’s excursion was to the El Yunque National Park for a rainforest walk.  Original rainforest had been removed long, long ago for coffee plantations.  The area for some time now has been declared a National Park and has been undergoing reforestation to bring back the rainforest.  

 

 

Red ginger flowers

 

 

White ginger flowers

 

 

Yagrumo. Leaves sometimes used as umbrellas. Dark green on the top by white underneath.

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by Port Power
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[Port Power]

Native species include the coqui frog, hummingbird, tiny Tody bird and the Puerto Rican parrot.  The parrots are so endangered that there is a breeding program in the park’s bird centre.  During Hurricane Maria in 2017 the cages were destroyed and the birds flew away. There is hope that they are surviving and breeding.

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by Port Power
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[Port Power]

This is the bread fruit tree. There is a ripe breadfruit peeping out from under the leaves.