Just finished up a Christmas cruise to the West Indies on the Silver Dawn. Eleven days, Ft. Lauderdale – Ft. Lauderdale. Ship almost full.

Embarkation: No real problem. It did take about 40 minutes, but this was more because of the procedures of the Ft. Lauderdale port rather than Silversea. Passengers were allowed on at 2pm greeted with a warm welcome and a cold towel. Suites were not ready until 4pm. Suites were being “sanitized.”

The Ship: It is beautiful. Why wouldn’t it be? It is brand new, and it is Silversea. There is nothing glitzy about this ship. Colors are all muted earthtones. Everything stays in the background and is barely noticed. There is a spaciousness to the ship so that you never feel crowded. The only exception to that might be the immediate area around the pool, especially on sea days, but there are so many other options for outdoor or indoor lounging and drinking in the sun or the shade. Most public spaces are at the rear of the ship, so if your stateroom is near the bow, it is quite a trek. There were a couple of areas of the ship that were a little puzzling. For example, the shops and Art Café were on deck 8, away from all traffic. You would look down a dark corridor and never know they were there. Reception and tour services were located at the rear of La Dolce Vita, which was the main bar on the ship. For public spaces like that, Seabourn has it nailed with Seabourn Square. The casino was tiny and felt closed in. Entrance was just the width of a doorway. It was not an inviting place to be. That saved some money. Read more