Silversea Silver Spirit - Some Discussion of Design

On The Gold Standard Forum there is a bit of discussion about the conclusion by one member of the "press" (Anita Durham-Potter - expertcruiser.com) "From what I've seen -- when finished -- Spirit is a lot prettier and better planned than Seabourn Odyssey."

I have taken issue with that opinion because it is simply a bald statement unsupported by facts or examples. I am not saying it isn't true, but that I think the public is entitled to something more than hype or conclusions. This lead me to the following forum post which I want to share, with slight modification:

Noting that it is extraordinary for a cruise line to give the "press" access to sea trials and to allow them to photograph the various public spaces, a "red flag" most certainly has been hoisted. My question is "Why?" It is, alas, a question based upon a long history and many experiences where unfinished work (Anita Durham-Potter says 65%) does not accurately reflect the finished product (good or bad). Soft goods are very important.


Also, my concerns over everything being brown apparently are well-placed. Unless there are extraordinary soft goods, fabrics, and furniture this could be a real issue. Again the question is "Why?" A lack of contrasts and compliments tends to reflect immature (simplistic) interior design or a "offend no one" approach. Maybe some people will like it. But a monolithic approach to color usually is a warning that things are lacking in spatial design as well.

Most importantly, I don't need anyone "telling" me there is good design. I need someone to "show" me or "explain" it to me. Anita Durham-Potter has discussed suite amenities, but nothing of substance. (And, BTW, a butler cleaning my glasses? "Pretentious" is not a strong enough word to describe it. I do not think, even in the superyacht industry, asking a person to wipe anything personal to me is appropriate...for the person or myself.)

Now, as to substance, I can talk a bit about BAD design as I see it. I have taken one of Anita's photos to explain.

- The shower is small and I have concern for any larger and less mobile guests. Shaving legs??? And with the showerhead on the back wall, it means you are blessed with staring at the wall rather than having any feeling of openness. (Seabourn Odyssey, just as an example, has the showerhead on a side wall, so you can look out of the shower and feel a bit more open. Note: I have commented on its showers being a bit tight, too.)

- The storage shelves are too far from the vanity and look sufficiently close to the shower door to create a possible problem with being hit upon entry/exit and/or a drying towel knocking things off of them.

- The oversized vessel sinks are nice, but there is no real estate for toiletries.

- The faucets are quite utilitarian.

In another photo it looks like the access to the bathroom will be quite narrow as it conflicts with the bed. (As there are only two cots present and the one closest to the bathroom is sans mattress I must withhold judgment, but express my concern.)

I don't want to be seen as bashing the Silver Spirit, which is not yet complete, but I have an excellent source who is very critical of the furniture, fabrics and fittings, and the photos tell me a lot. Maybe that is why I am called "Iamboatman"...because it is more than being about "the cruise" and "selling it" to me.

Seabourn paid my way to go on the Inaugural of the Seabourn Odyssey, but I called it as I saw it...and Seabourn knew I would and I did. The fact that I was very impressed is not hype, I gave very detailed reasons why. I did the same as to the Celebrity Solstice/Celebrity Equinox. All I ask is that those that have access to the Silversea Silver Spirit give facts not hype.

Now, the reality of it is that "brown" is not going to horrifically offend and may well not be boring in the end and the bathroom is not going to make or break a ship or a cruise. Further, until the ship is further along, the ultimate overall design cannot be fully evaluated. My comments are not intended to "bash" the ship or Silversea, but rather to show how unsubstantiated comments are so easily dismissed or discounted.

Also, please keep in mind that I firmly believe the real "software" - the staff and crew - make the most difference and are the most critical factor when evaluating a ship. Cuisine is important too. That is why I am very much looking forward to my cruise on the Seabourn Spirit. If not for those things, it probably would be seen as nothing more than an older ship that is past its design prime.

So I will continue to provide facts, information and opinion on the Silver Spirit and I will not allow my ultimate desire for a having more luxury products to sell cause me to encourage you to book a particular ship because of some short term benefit to me...or even just wishful thinking.

In the meantime, best of luck bringing the Silversea Silver Spirit to market as a first class luxury cruise ship!

Celebrity Equinox - The Prologue to the Travelogue

On Sunday my family embarks on a 13 night cruise on the brand new Celebrity Equinox. Our cruise is roundtrip Rome with port calls in Naples, Italy; Athens and Rhodes, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; Haifa and Ashdod, Israel and Alexandria, Egypt (overnight)...with four sea days.  We will be overnighting off the ship in Israel and in Egypt.

I will be providing you with some of my insights and observations as we travel on a very interesting itinerary; though we have been to many of the ports before.  I will, however, spend less time discussing the hardware as I recently did so in my review of her sister, the Celebrity Solstice. 

As I have stated for years, I believe Celebrity not only gives the "best bang for the buck in the business" it also provides...if you want it...a near luxury experience.  Starting off with the "best bang for the buck" this cruise retails for $2,164.46 per person including all fees and taxes, or only $166.50 per day...and that is for Concierge Class balcony cabins (we have two). 

Celebrity has elevated and differentiated the cabins on the Solstice-class ships.  There are the oceanview and balcony cabins and then there are the Concierge Class and Aqua Class cabins, followed by the suites.  As I stayed in an Aqua Class cabin (which provides certain healthy amenities including spa access and dining in Blu, the spa restaurant), this time my experience will be different.  Concierge Class cabins provide the following amenities which are additional to the standard cabins (skipping the less relevant ones):

• Welcome champagne
• Daily fruit selection
• Fresh-cut flowers
• Daily hors d'oeuvres
• Menu of pillows-Conformance, Body, Goose, and Isotonic®
• Duvets and pillow-top mattresses
• Hansgrohe® showerhead
• Early embarkation and debarkation
• Shoeshine service

Added to these amenities are the Captain's Club (past passenger program) amenities.  We are "Select" members which afford us (again only relevant onboard items):
 
• Invitation to the exclusive Senior Officer's Cocktail Party
• Exclusive Captain's Club Celebration event
• 25% off any single internet package
• Complimentary pressing of 2 garment items
• One standard bag of laundry (wash, dry, fold) at discounted price of $20 during cruises of 12 nights or longer

I also have a $200 onboard credit for being a shareholder of Royal Caribbean.

So with my priority early embarkation, chilled champagne waiting for me in my balcony cabin, daily hors d'oeuvres, fresh flowers and the like  all set to go, I am not yet ready to go.  I need to organize some "luxury". 

The main dining room is beautiful and my sampling of the service in November on the Solstice was, honestly, excellent my wife and I tend to enjoy more intimate dinners (and our children tend to enjoy the buffet, room service and the children's activities).  So I have pre-booked 3 dinners in Murano, the most upscale restaurant (and if it is anything like the specialty restaurants on the Millennium Class ships we will be very happy), 1 dinner at Silk Harvest (the Asian fusion restaurant) and 1 dinner at Tuscan Grille (the steakhouse).  When you consider we will be off the ship two evenings, we have already managed to avoid (bad choice of words?) the main dining room for 7 of the 13 nights.

The Celebrity just announced it is introducing on the Equinox "Celebrity Life, a new series of palate-pleasing, intellectually-enriching and life-enhancing programs designed to deliver the most unique and sophisticated onboard experience in premium cruising."  What is entails...to the extent the information is available...is a group of enrichment programs broken down into three categories:

"Savor" takes an already stellar culinary experience to new heights, with eight new wine enrichment events, six spirits and mixology tastings, and more than seven different interactive programs for guests, hosted by the ship's Executive Chef and team.


"Discover" presents an opportunity for guests to do or learn what they have always wanted to try, but never had time to accomplish. Whether it's ordering a bottle of Chianti in Italian, or exploring the universe in 40 minutes, guests can delve into a wide variety of interests.

"Renew" offers an improved, more goal-oriented approach to classes, seminars, and treatments designed to help guests on their journey to looking younger, feeling better and living longer.

These three programs are then broken down further.  Without getting into all the specifics, which you can find here, one drew my attention: 

The "Celebrity Vineyards" wine enrichment program, developed in partnership with the United States Sommelier Association, will feature a host of immersive wine events providing guests the opportunity to expand their understanding and appreciation of the fascinating world of wine. Among the varied activities are the comparative wine workshops Celebrity introduced in 2007, sanctioned by the renowned Riedel Crystal.


I have been advised that this is "sign up on the ship" program and pricing was not available yet.  OK, not a luxury start, but it has given me something to look forward to and investigate; an a clearly interesting enrichment opportunity. 

Am I done yet?  Nope.  I know the "smuggling booze" issue comes up.  I am not really overwhelmed with this issue.  Celebrity allows you to bring two bottles of wine per person onboard at embarkation ostensibly to be drank with a corkage fee in the restaurants.  However there is no requirement to drink them there, so our pre-dinner drinks in our cabin are taken care of.  We, therefore, will have our cabin stocked...with very little effort...purchasing some wine the day before while in Civitavecchia.  Also, the kids will get soda cards, so for $5 a day ($65 per child) the soft drink issue is resolved.  Now, purchasing a bottle of wine with dinner is not a big deal and how much more am I going to drink?  Note:  Once this is organized it does nothing to interfere with my 13 night cruise, so let's put substance over form on this one. OK?

Yet another luxury touch are private tours.  We are only taking two tours; both private.  A 2 day in Israel and a 2 day in Egypt.  I will discuss them in more detail as they happen, but I do wish to make two points now.  First, a high quality private tour for 4 people is less expensive than a "similar" cruise tour....and you can have your tour highlight what you want.  (We are Jewish so our focus is somewhat different than what the ship's tours offer to the mostly Christian passengers.)  Second, our overnights provide us with (hopefully) some better experiences.  We are staying at Jerusalem Hotel (Palestinian owned and operated) in Jerusalem rather than the ship's tour chain hotel with a fixed menu restaurant and in Giza we opted for Pyramid View rooms at Le Meridian Hotel rather than the ship's lesser rooms with a private felluca ride rather than a belly dancing dinner cruise.  (I am sure it won't be like falling asleep to a view of the Acropolis in Athens, but it should be pretty cool.)  Obviously the other benefits of private tours will certainly increase the "luxury" aspect of our cruise.

So with only a little pre-cruise effort I think we are looking at a pretty upscale experience.

Now, do I expect it to be as luxurious as when I step onto the Seabourn Spirit or, should I even mention it in the same breath, the Seabourn Odyssey?  No.  But do I think I will be in a great compromise because there will be thousands of other people on the same ship?  No.  My cabin is an upscale sanctuary with nice amenities.  My dining will, for the majority of the time, be in smaller venues.  My tours will be private.  And, I would suggest, take a look at the hardware and tell me you can't find beautiful, uncrowded spaces.  Oh, did I mention the kids will be happy and entertained when on the ship...which will also upscale my, personal, experience?

If there are things you want to know, post your questions on The Gold Standard Forum and I will try to respond.

Which is the Best Luxury Cruise Line - Another View

I guess I asked for this.

I pointed a number of my readers to Ralph Grizzle's Avid Cruiser website as I posted his short video on Seabourn Odyssey's cuisine. So today I read Ralph's post about which is the best luxury cruise line. He mentions Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal and SeaDream Yacht Club. His choice: SeaDream, but not because of the totality of the product, but some very specific personal likes (sleeping under the stars, small demand at the marina, etc.)

This is where the difference between analysis, providing info and personal preferences can really create issues for those relying on what one writes or says. (I actually had one client contact Ralph about the marina on Odyssey and then seek advice from me...which is great by the way...as a result of his personal bias - said in a nice way.)

As most of you know, I believe SeaDream is a very good product...in fact, one of the best. However, you really have to want to be on SeaDream or you will be sorely disappointed. It has cabins; not suites and their are no balconies of any sort. It is a fairly casual affair. It is small, so if you do not like your shipmates you can be in for a long cruise. (But also is why the ships are great for large families and charters). They are not fun in even slightly rough seas and rainy days are not filled with activities and venues for private escapes. Also, itineraries need to be considered. These ships are, by nature, limited in ports and duration. However, the cuisine is very good and the service is strong.

But you need to ask yourself a single question before you get into your analysis: Do I need a suite? With so many luxury cruisers answering that questions in the affirmative it is no wonder that such a strong product has so many sailing with availability. That is not a criticism, but a reality check. Balinese beds and a marina are great, but defining the best luxury cruise line by them is - for a competent travel agent - a worry.

I have heard such divergent views on Regent Seven Seas (It was fantastic vs. It was terrible. The service was outstanding vs. The service was horrific., The food was marginal vs. The food is was great., etc. many times from the same cruise) that my approach has to be one of caution. Regent has taken the approach of keeping its prices higher, but adding what it has determined is value (ex. inclusive tours). If those tours are not attracting the true luxury guest, then it is a negative in two respects: Lack of justification for the higher prices (since the other luxury lines have slashed prices) and attraction of one-off non-luxury passengers who are attracted to the perceived added value. With excellent suites, newly renovated public areas and 700+ guests when sailing full, it is in a way the antithesis of SeaDream which has consistent raves from its small ship guests.

It has been mentioned that Silversea pours three different complimentary champagne while Regent pours none and Seabourn pours one. Seabourn continues to serve complimentary caviar. Would either cause me to declare Seabourn or Silversea the luxury champion? Me thinks not.

What I have heard from quite a number of guests returning from the Seabourn Odyssey is that she is the best of both worlds: highly personalized cruising with plenty of private space coupled with extraordinary service and cuisine. There have been grumblings of some minor misses on the triplets from a few people (but they were minor grumblings), but then I received an email from someone just back from the Seabourn Pride stating, "Trip was sooooooooooo over the top........I cannot begin to describe right now. We put the deposit down on a trip for next year." So the question becomes: Does size make a difference? Is the luxury experience on the Seabourn Odyssey better than the one on the Seabourn Pride? Are these two different luxury cruise lines or one luxury cruise line with different offerings?

SeaDream vs. Seabourn Pride vs. Seabourn Odyssey vs. Regent Voyager = 100 vs. 208 vs. 450 vs. 700+ (I use the "+" because Regent actively markets itself for children and, as such, the capacity - at least in the summer and holidays - can well exceed the published lower berth capacities).

So what is the best luxury cruise line? Tell me what your desires are. Tell me what your likes and dislikes are? Let me know what makes you happy. Only after I have that information can I tell you what the best luxury cruise line is...for you.

Are you looking for my opinion for me personally? It depends. You say, "What?". Yes, it depends.

If traveling with only my wife I would choose Seabourn without hesitation. Seabourn has greatly improved and unique itineraries and consistently high service and cuisine. Don't get me wrong, I do love the Seabourn Odyssey, but I would not exclude the triplets as the ship itself is not as important to me (for they all have more than acceptable faciliites for me.)

If I am traveling with my wife and children (ages 10 and 13) I would have said Regent Seven Seas...right up until I cruised on the Celebrity Solstice. (I don't think Seabourn is great for MY kids...though others disagree.) In two weeks I am cruising on the brand new Celebrity Equinox for 13 nights in two Concierge Class cabins. I have five evenings reserved in the specialty restaurants to start with. At less than $165.00 a day, adding a few dollars for specialty dining and having to sign for drinks and water doesn't really degrade the possibility of a luxury experience (as I sign at land-based restaurants and private clubs all the time.) I mean, Regent is marketing value to support its higher prices, right? And higher prices do not mean higher quality to an educated consumer, right? So right now I would say, "I don't know, but there are some good options." In the meantime I would say Regent may be the best of the "marketed as luxury lines" if they get their capacity in line with their ability, but I would look very hard at Celebrity.

So which is the best luxury cruise line...for you?

Celebrity Solstice - An Absolutely Amazing and Impressive Ship - Part II

Having reviewed some of Celebrity Solstice's overall design, the pool/outside public spaces and the restaurants,I did want to add some additional photos.

Below is one of the bars aft of The Lawn Club.  As you can see there is interesting lighting, the expected bar stools and tables with chairs...and in the rear (closeup shown further below), comfortable all-weather wicker seating.  This sort of furniture, in various permutations, is found throughout the outdoor areas of the ship.

The Library is also of note.  It is a truly inviting space with the addition of wonderful natural light.  The proof of its good design was in the number of people I saw enjoying this space on a short cruise.

My thoughts now turn to the lounges.

One of my favorite spaces on Celebrity's Millennium-class ships is Michael's Club; a wonderful warm wooded, formal yet comfortable space originally designed as a cigar lounge, but transformed into a piano bar.  On the Celebrity Solstice the space has been refined and made more cozy.  Rather than being oriented for larger groups to have a performance, it has been broken down into three smaller areas:  piano/bar, lounge by the fireplace and the living room.

What this does is allow those who want to interact with the pianist to do so, those that want to be with the music, but not interact to do so, and those that like the ambiance to do so music in the background.  Quite ingenious. [Note as to service:  I am a regular drinker of Glenfiddich whisky.  During my pre-inaugural cruise there was an open bar policy, but with only certain brands available.  Somehow, without any real magic, I always had a Glenfiddich available.  I certainly received, yet again, "Star Treatment".  Outstanding!]

Another wonderful space is the Ensemble Lounge.  It is the perfect name for this space, as it works as a sort of upscale jazz club and hub for the specialty restaurants (Murano, Tuscan Grille, Silk Harvest and Blu).  It is a larger space with comfortable sofas, chairs and a bar with nicely designed pathways to the various restaurants and Michael's Club, so it seem intimate enough, rather than merely a passageway.

The Martini Bar on Deck Four (sorry, no photo) is definitely a hub for more high energy activity.  It is not my favorite space, but that is a personal preference.  By the crowds and noise (yes it is one of the only loud spaces on the ship) it is definitely a place to have fun.  One fellow passenger noted she enjoyed playing with the ice permanently located in the middle of one of the tables.

Across from the Martini Bar is the Passport Lounge, which is supposed to be a yacht-like locale.  Having been on many yachts, I am not sure where that description came from..  It is not a great space; giving me a feeling that it probably is meant to handle overflow from the Martini Bar or for those who want to watch the action from afar.

I did not have a change to really enjoy the Sky Lounge Observation area, high overlooking the bow.  It is a large space with great views and a very clean, white, appearance.  It is pretty, but definitely reminds you that you are on a very large ship.

There is also a nice bar by the Casino which has an interesting row of LCD TVs showing "art-like" images either across the screens or simultaneously on all of them at the same time. 

Finally, as to the lounges I am mentioning (and, yes, there are more), is Quasar, the disco.  It has a definite Jetson's feel to it.  I had wondered if the hanging chairs (see below) would be a hindrance or cool and, seeing the club packed, they are very cool.  The space definitely has the feel of a good dance club, rather than a ship's disco.  Also, being located just outside the Solstice Theater (as is the Stage Door Comedy Club), it draws people in to it rather than being a hidden place you need to seek out.  Well done!

My last post will be discussing the Accommodations, focusing mostly on the AquaClass Cabins.

Regent's New Prime 7 - A New Luxury Restaurant or Just an Extra Ordinary Eatery?

So the news announced today by Regent Seven Seas is that it is about to install its new Prime 7 Steakhouse on its Voyager and Mariner ships. My question, to be honest, is "What, in real terms,is new and luxury?"

This replacement for the lackluster and curious Asian-esque Lattitudes sounds physically appealing:  a "rich pallete of greens and golden hues", "supple leather furniture" and "polished granite and burnished woods".  I am most interested to see the design, especially after seeing just last week what Celebrity accomplished with its Celebrity Solstice's steakhouse.

That said, the menu sounds like a very common steakhouse menu and nothing more. It starts out with an interesting "trio of steak tartares and foie gras sliders with rhubarb chutney", but then hypes them as being avant-garde.  They aren't.  Did Regent find the recipe on The Food Network website?  See http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/rhubarb-and-foie-gras-recipe/index.html .)  After those highlights it was old fashioned oysters Rockefeller and jumbo lump crabmeat cakes.  To be fair, they can be extraordinary or just the same old, same old.  Time will tell.

So I look further into the menu and am really disappointed.  Once I get past the 32 ounce Porterhouse and the 18 ounce Cote de Boeuf (ribeye steak), the remainder is nothing extraordinary, but rather exactly what you would expect...nothing more: surf and turf, lambchops, frozen crab legs, frozen lobster tails and roasted chicken.

OK, you probably think I am being harsh...even anti-Regent.  No, I am wondering where the gourmet "6 star" luxury experience is.  (Regent is the one that started the 6 star hype.)  I would expect that coming out with a new restaurant on these ships would bring something special.  (It is not hard.  For example, Celebrity Solstice has Kobe beef as an offering in addition to homemade gnocchi and ravioli.)

If I am going on what is clearly one of the most, if not the most, expensive major cruise line in the world I expect better than expected, more than ordinary and, most certainly, something better than hype.  While it is only one element of a cruise, I find it worrisome that Celebrity seems to have executed the steakhouse concept better on on a cruise that will cost you literally a fraction of what a Regent cruise will.

I hope I am wrong, but having just come off a ship which wow'd me and which provided me with more than solid service and which proudly calls itself "premium" not "luxury" I just expect more.  We shall see.

Celebrity Solstice - An Absolutely Amazing and Impressive Ship - Part I

Being as skeptical and critical as I am, I did not board the brand new Celebrity Solstice for my Pre-Inaugural Cruise with any expectation other than it would be a solid, but similar, Celebrity product but in a megasize. I was very wrong!

The Solstice impresses from the moment you board and Wow's you at literally every turn. Simply put: The Celebrity Solstice is, overall, the most elegant and beautifully designed cruise ship I have ever been on.


First, some perspective, as we take a short tour of the ship. The ship is very large. While you can have some absolutely wonderful, and true luxury experiences, all over the ship...you do have to walk, well, all over the ship. While it is a bit smaller than the QM2, it probably is the best ship to compare it to in the premium market (about 122,000 gross tons vs. 150,000 gross tons...which is actually a complicated measure of volume). However, the Solstice simply blows away the QM2 when it comes to design, style, fit, finish, amenities, elegance...well you get the picture. Even if you are traveling in Grill Class on the QM2, you need to stay in your "protected space" to have an upscale to luxury experience. On the Solstice, you can have it all over the ship.

Specifically about the ship, I want to first mention The Lawn Club. I thought this was just hype and silly...that was before I boarded. It is actually a really beautiful space where you get a wonderful feeling of peace and color (as it is is a painting). Little touches like beautifully shaped teak benches, huge flower pots that light up from within, arching canopies and the like make it a sensory feast. There is golf putting, bocce and other lawn activities. Yes, it sounds hokey, but it isn't.

The Pool Area is also, while too large for me (personally) is absolutely beautiful and provides many nooks, types of shade, open spaces and things to see and do. If you look closely at the two photos you will see large beige beds tucked in between white sailcloth, the dancing waters fountain, lots of architecturally interesting details and style. What you can't see are the many different seating options, ranging from all-weather wicker chairs and lounges to hanging tented hammocks for two.

What you also cannot see are the areas forward and aft off the Pool area. There are so many different places to sit, lounge or gather in groups. It really impressed me with not only the amount of open deck areas not involving the Pool area, but how many different types of seating, awnings, shapes, etc. Celebrity used.

The Solarium is a beautiful space and also has many nice and creative touches, from dancing streams of lit water, to unique tented beds and a solar grid on its glass roof. It is also home to the AquaSpa Cafe for lighter lunches in smaller portions such as blackened tuna or chicken breast and an awesomely chosen salad bar.

The Speciality Restaurants are each a work of art and Celebrity has emphasized that not only are the menus unique to Solstice, but the food quality is much improved, more creative and it at a standard much higher than on its other ships. (The improvements in quality and creativity will be migrating to the other ships by the summer.)

The main restaurant, The Grand Epernay, really didn't do much for me during the day. In the evening "the look" was there. Elegance in a huge space with incredibly comfortable chairs, wonderful lighting and no sense of crowding at all. The chandeliers are unique and the wine cellar is awesome. In the photo below it is the long tower at the far end of the restaurant and runs floor to ceiling. As for the food, whether it was a goat cheese and beet salad, roasted quail or a chocolate tower filled with a light chocolate cream creation, it complimented the room.



Now, each speciality restaurant has its own personality and I am confident in saying is as beautiful as some of the finest restaurants on land. There is a reason for this: The restaurants were created by the top restaurant designers in the industry. I will talk about them more in another post, but in order of appearance below there are Murano (most formal); Tuscan Grille (steakhouse); Silk Harvest (Asian); and, Blu (AquaClass - more on this below).






Although I do not have photos to share at the moment, the Oceanview Cafe and Grill (aka buffet) is also a winner. It is bright, clean, plays off of the colors of white and blue and uses - with great success - a number of islands in addition to more traditional buffet setups. This pretty much eliminates long lines (other than for fresh pasta) and with the lighting and presentation make the food very attractive. The food varies from Asian to BBQ to Mexican to Continental and are all clearly marked overhead (so you don't have to crowd areas to see what is there). And get this: There are actual bowls for salads! Missing: Trays! You actually bring a plate of food to your table and dine. Very nice touches.

There are also other venues, such as Bistro on Five for crepes, the Mast Grill and Bar (pool food and drinks) and Cafe al Bacio for coffees and gelato.

I also do not have, at the moment, photos of the Shopping Areas, but they are worthy of note. There are true shops, not ones filled with cruise line "stuff" and they are designed to look and feel like true boutiques and you may not only stroll through them, you can have private cocktail parties or intimate gatherings with an appointments. You have the sense of height, openness and style rather than low ceilings and tables filled with not so special "specials". I hope this concept works out.

In my next post I will discuss the lounges and cabins.