This was our second Silversea cruise and our second time on the Silver Dawn. We liked departing from Barbados to avoid the sea days from Florida but the actual port facility in Bridgetown is more industrial and less convenient for cruising with two shuttle bus rides – one to a warehouse building for check in and another to the actual ship. Other than that, the embarkation (and disembarkation) process was smooth and easy. The ship itself is just as we remembered - - still modern, clean and welcoming. Our cabin was ready mid-afternoon and we quickly settled in. Our butler was more friendly and personable than on our prior trip but we did not really use her services as we already had dinner reservations and shore excursion plans. Our cabin attendant kept our cabin clean and we rarely saw him. We did need to make a couple of requests to have our service preferences recognized but this was nothing other than a minor inconvenience.

Our veranda cabin on deck seven was more than adequate for my wife and I with seating both inside and on the balcony. With lots of islands to visit, we were tired each evening and slept well without hearing noise in the hallways or from our neighbors. The bathroom is well appointed and while at first the shower seems small, it is really quite adequate and has a rain shower plus a hand held showerhead. The closet and drawers were more than adequate for the clothes needed on our 11 day cruise.

The food on the cruise was very good to excellent with dinner being the highlight of each day. Our favorite was SALT as both my wife and I enjoyed the Caribbean flavors. The menu changes and there were three SALT menus during the cruise so by spacing out our visits, we were able to try dishes from different islands. We found the flavors to be excellent and the preparation/presentation to be first class. We also enjoyed two SALT Lab classes and thought the 45 minute classes were both fun and informative (your cooking is limited to stirring and seasoning as the prep work is all done for you !!). The SALT chef also did a couple of presentations in the theatre and we would recommend those as well. The SALT bar rounds out the SALT experience and the bartender is a master at crafting cocktails reflecting, on our cruise, the Caribbean vibe. If you do try the SALT bar, please experiment with the craft cocktails or tell the bartender what your flavor profile is. He made a non-rum drinker like me appreciate the flavors one can get from different types of rum. I think the whole concept of SALT really sets Silversea apart from others - - my wife and I are believers !!! Read more