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Category Archives: High Seas

Seaweed smothering beaches along the coast of Western Region – Myjoyonline

Posted: October 19, 2021 at 10:02 pm

Residents along the Western Region coast might not have any scientific proof or evidence to back their claims, but they believe that these weeds on the seashores along the coast can be linked to the oil industry.

According to them, since Ghana discovered oil in commercial quantities some 14 years ago, the emergence of these weeds is becoming an annual ritual that they need to battle with.

However, no thorough investigations have been undertaken to either confirm or deny their assertions with their perennial ordeal.

When I was young, say at the age of 10 upwards, we were not seeing this at the beach, but when the oil companies started their activities somewhere around 2010 that was when we started seeing such weeds at the coast assembly member for Princess town Joseph Bordoh told JoyNews.

From Cape Three Point to Essiama, Princess Town to Aketakyi, Akwadi to Miami, amongst other communities along the coast of the Western Region, the brown seaweed has invaded the coastline basin.

The communities along the coast would usually experience a few small mats of sargassum washing ashore in a given year, but this year, the seaweed began arriving in unexpectedly large waves, Mr Bordoh told Joy News.

He explained some communities over the years have set up nets to block the incoming algae or hired people to clear affected beaches with rakes and backhoes, but this year, they have given up on all attempts to get rid of of of the weed proved futile.

This one is beyond communal labour; we cant get the communities to get this out of the beaches.

We are in a dilemma; we dont know what to do; we are pleading that the government should come to our aid so that we evacuate this one from our beaches because tourism is being affected, he added.

Mr Bordoh lamented the seaweed is taking parts of the communities, and the impacts on livelihood are worsening by the day.

It`s very itchy; when you take a bath in the sea, you will see that your skin will be itching you; before this, they were having some Cath from the sea, but now their livelihood has been affected all those on the fishing chain.

Vast floating mats have washed up and buried the beaches. The piles of seaweed grew more than four feet high in Aketakyi, Essiama, and Akwadi, forcing some people to abandon their homes.

Once you arrive at any of these communities as a visitor, you are greeted with the decomposing stench of seaweed, dead fishes, which will cause you to throw up.

Fishing, the main occupation of the residents along the coast, is being seriously affected by the seaweed on the beach and floating seaweed.

According to the residents, the seaweed, which is suspected of having come from the oil companies operating in the sea, is creating problems for fishers and has affected their livelihood over the past three weeks this year.

The Fishermen say the floating seaweed gets entangled in their nets and causes it to roll up any time they try going to the high seas.

This weed is not helping us at all; you cant even pass through it with an outboard motor, we cant let our nets out when we see fish because you throw your net, and its all about the weed.

We are starving, no money and no food, yes we see it every year, but this year its overwhelming Amadu, a fisherman at Akatekyi, pours out his frustration.

Fisherman Isaac Egan, who owns a canoe, had just returned from the high sea looking very disappointed; he said that despite the problems with the seaweed, he decided to try his luck on the high seas to get fish so that he can get an income.

However, the determined fisherman and his crew returned to the shore with neither their canoe nor fishing nets.

In a feeble attempt, he points at his canoe look there, that`s my canoe, I have been here for 35 years, and I didnt see this till the oil companies started working; my capital is gone.

From the foul odour caused by toxic gases emanating from rotting seaweeds, the impact on tourism, fisheries, several shoreline activities, and biodiversity has been widely felt in all the communities along the coast.

The fishermen are calling on the Fisheries and Aquaculture ministry, government and the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the problem and give them some relief as they claim the oil companies have denied their activities are contributing to the annual invading of the beaches the seaweeds.

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Rum brand The Kraken offers sleepless nights at Halloween hotel – CampaignLive

Posted: at 10:02 pm

Rum brand The Kraken is taking over an abandoned London hotel where it will be hosting an immersive horror experience that guarantees a terrible night's sleep for every guest.

At the "Kraken dread & breakfast", guests will be kept awake by the antics of a team of actors, light and sound technicians, special effects artists and theatre professionals. The night will be filled with prank phone calls, suspicious banging, screams in the hallways and figures from beyond the grave entering rooms unannounced just as guests are falling asleep.

Visitors will learn that thethe Averard Hotel in Londonis infested with the restless souls of mariners who survived an ocean encounter with the "Kraken". Having lived through a meeting with the beast was a curse for these sailors, turning them into evil incarnate once they reached dry land. One by one the sailors were captured and sent to the building to be locked up forever. Today the fearless Kraken hunter, whose mission is to track down the beast, has heard the tale of this location and its damned residents. The hunter believes these spectres can help track down the beast on the high seas.

Hotel guests will take on the role of the Kraken hunter's assistant and make it their aim to discover the beast's last known whereabouts.

The "dread & breakfast" will be open for three sleepless nights from 28 October. Each evening, 140 people who have expressed interest in a room will be invited to visit the hotel, where they can expect Kraken cocktails and live music from the house band Thankful We Are Dead at the hotel bar. From 7pm until 11pm visitors will get to explore the hotel under the guidance of the Kraken hunter's crew, navigating accursed corridors and revenant-filled rooms.

Rooms will be allocated to those visitors deemed to have what it takes to brave prolonged encounters with poltergeists so all are advised to bring along an overnight bag as preparation for being selected.

Each ticket to visit the hotel includes one free Kraken cocktail. Chosen residents will go to their rooms at 11pm and will check out at 9am the following morning.

Cow PR is delivering the project.

The rum brand's annual "Screamfest" extravaganza is now in its fifth year. In 2019, The Kraken worked with horror film director Neil Marshall to create a cinematic Halloween experience that saw guests live through the death and destruction caused by the sea monster.

In 2020 it hosted an online gaming experience "Screamfest 4: The Kraken's Revenge", where consumers took control of a live actor as they tried to uncover the secrets of the beast.

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SeaWorld Entertainment (NYSE:SEAS) Will Be Looking To Turn Around Its Returns – Simply Wall St

Posted: at 10:02 pm

When we're researching a company, it's sometimes hard to find the warning signs, but there are some financial metrics that can help spot trouble early. Businesses in decline often have two underlying trends, firstly, a declining return on capital employed (ROCE) and a declining base of capital employed. This reveals that the company isn't compounding shareholder wealth because returns are falling and its net asset base is shrinking. Having said that, after a brief look, SeaWorld Entertainment (NYSE:SEAS) we aren't filled with optimism, but let's investigate further.

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for SeaWorld Entertainment:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.033 = US$75m (US$2.8b - US$508m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2021).

Therefore, SeaWorld Entertainment has an ROCE of 3.3%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Hospitality industry average of 7.7%.

Check out our latest analysis for SeaWorld Entertainment

In the above chart we have measured SeaWorld Entertainment's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

There is reason to be cautious about SeaWorld Entertainment, given the returns are trending downwards. Unfortunately the returns on capital have diminished from the 6.4% that they were earning five years ago. Meanwhile, capital employed in the business has stayed roughly the flat over the period. This combination can be indicative of a mature business that still has areas to deploy capital, but the returns received aren't as high due potentially to new competition or smaller margins. So because these trends aren't typically conducive to creating a multi-bagger, we wouldn't hold our breath on SeaWorld Entertainment becoming one if things continue as they have.

In the end, the trend of lower returns on the same amount of capital isn't typically an indication that we're looking at a growth stock. Since the stock has skyrocketed 324% over the last five years, it looks like investors have high expectations of the stock. In any case, the current underlying trends don't bode well for long term performance so unless they reverse, we'd start looking elsewhere.

One more thing to note, we've identified 2 warning signs with SeaWorld Entertainment and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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Loved and Lost: Allen Alejandro worked on the high seas, found love in a bowling alley – NorthJersey.com

Posted: October 11, 2021 at 10:06 am

Loved and Lost: Memorializing victims of COVID-19 in NJ

Loved and Lost is a project about memorializing those lost to COVID-19 in NJ.

NorthJersey.com

This story is part of Loved and Lost, a statewide media collaboration working to celebrate the life of every New Jersey resident who died of COVID-19. To learn more and submit a loved one's name to be profiled, visit lovedandlostnj.com.

Allen Alejandro found true love at a bowling alley in Jersey City.

He showed up there one Sunday in 1985 planning to quit its league, recalled his wife, Yvette. He had committed to a different group.

"He said he liked me then, when he saw me, so he quit the other one," she said. "We developed a great love."

Born in August 1951, Alejandro grew up in Manila in the Philippines. He worked in a hardware store to pay his way through college, where he earned a degree as a marine engineer.

His specialty led him to the seas. For five years, he worked onboard ocean-spanning vessels, while pondering a move to the United States. Then in 1978, he got off a boat in New Jersey and never got back on board.

"He jumped ship," his wife said. "It sounds like a negative [but] it was good. He did it to better his life."

Alejandro lived with his brother in Cliffside Park before moving to apartments in Weehawken and Jersey City.

Yvette and Allen may have met bowling, but soon they were golfing, too. Alejandro taught her so they could play together in his weekend leagues, such as the Kabayan Golf Club. The metro area club held a memorial tournament at Meadows Golf Club in Lincoln Park in his honor in September 2021.

"I'd just follow his lead all the time, so we could do things together," Yvette said.

Alejandro had four children, two with Yvette, and six grandchildren. He joined Masonic lodges in New York and New Jersey, and financed his grammar school and high school reunions back in the Philippines. At home, he could often be found watching a Manny Pacquiao fight or an action movie. For balance, he would sit with a crossword puzzle or sudoku table.

"Every person that he met, he instilled something positive in them," Yvette said. "I'm happy to be his wife because of the mark he left on so many people."

When the family bought a house in Orlando in 2004, he started riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle with friends along Florida's famously flat and straight roads.

"He had been wanting a motorcycle, and I finally agreed," his wife said.

The family then moved to a Cliffside Park apartment complex in 2006, where he worked as the building superintendent. In 2015, he and Yvette also invested in a condo in the Philippines.

In 2018, they moved to Lodi. Alejandro, who retired the next year, planned to spend most of his time there following the pandemic. He never had the opportunity.

Alejandro died on Nov. 26, 2020. He was 69.

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High Seas season 4: What to be Expected? – Nilsen Report

Posted: at 10:06 am

Its heartbreaking to learn that one of the most popular shows on Netflix was cancelled after its initial renewal. Fans who have been eagerly waiting for the fourth season of their favourite show were outraged by the news of the cancellation and yet some fans are still pleading to the showrunners to bring back the series but the future seems uncertain. Heres what we know about the cancellation of High Seas season 4.

High Seas or Alta Mar in Spanish is a Spanish mystery crime drama series created by Ramn Campos and Gema R. Neira. The series premiered on Netflix in May 2019 and stars Ivana Baquero (as Eva Villanueva), Alejandra Onieva (as Carolina Villanueva), Jon Kortajarena (as Nicols Vzquez), Eloy Azorn (as Fernando Fbregas), Chiqui Fernndez (as Francisca de Garca), Tamar Novas (as Sebastin de la Cuesta), Daniel Lundh (as Pierre), Natalia Rodrguez (as Natalia Fbregas), Laura Prats (as Clara Romero), Begoa Vargas (as Vernica de Garca), Ignacio Montes (as Dimas Gmez), and Manuela Vells (as Luisa Castro Bermdez / Sofa Plazaola).

The story follows Ava and Carolina who moved to another country i.e. from Spain to Brazil on a voyage ship after the death of their father during World War II. The series has three seasons so far with a total of 22 episodes. The first season was released on May 24, 2019, with 8 episodes. The second season was released on November 22, 2019, with 8 episodes and the third season which was released on August 7, 2020, with just 6 episodes. The series is mainly produced by Bamb Producciones.

Unfortunately, there is no release date for the fourth season of High season as it was officially cancelled by Netflix back in mid-2020. The third season was the final season of the series and therefore, there wont be a season 4 of High Seas.

The Spanish series was initially envisioned for just two seasons but was lengthened way past its original plotline due to the immense popularity of the show so its no surprise that Netflix decided to cancel the show for a fourth instalment.

According to reports, High Seas was originally renewed for a third and fourth instalment with sixteen episodes in development. The news was reported in October 2019. However, in mid-2020, the fourth season was confirmed to be cancelled.

Also, the reason why Netflix axed the series after its renewal is still unknown. As per speculations, it has to do with the lack of marketing while others speculated that the covid-19 got in the way of filming schedules for the fourth season which also caused further delays for the release of the sixth season. But the main reason is that the streamer was no longer interested to invest in the High Seas franchise anymore.

So there you have it, the series wont be coming back with the fourth season. Meanwhile, you can watch the previous seasons of High Seas which are available on Netflix.

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Sailing the High Seas with Dejeros Cloud-Based Production Tools – TV Technology

Posted: at 10:06 am

RENNES, FranceLivestreaming from coastlines at multiple points across 1,830 miles of Europes roughest waters for La Solitaire du Figaro, (aka the unofficial world championships of solo offshore racing), is challenging on a number of levels. The multiple locations, harsh physical environment and inconsistent network connectivity all stack up.

In this event, solo skippers race across four stages between France, Ireland and Spainand its our job to capture the dramatic departures and landings at each of these legs for the events 30 000-strong Facebook audience live. The very best way to capture the race, and be as close to the action as possible, is from a boat in the water and a drone in the skies above.

NAVIGATING COMPLEXITY

We need the most reliable equipment to ensure an uninterrupted live broadcast at each stage in what is a complex network environment from the coastlines of each location.

Sea Events, a French-based media production company that covers offshore sailing races, decided to use a combination of Dejeros high-quality video contribution technology and Dazzls cloud-native live video production tools. Onboard, we used a SONY PMW 400 with a stabilized lens connected to a Dejero EnGo mobile transmitter to capture the skippers racing to the finish line.

Onshore, we used the Dazzl app on an iPhone to interview the skippers, and a drone provided a birds eye view of everything that was going on across the water. We also had two remote commentators for additional audience engagement, with the production director located in the arrival harbor.

As you can imagine, network coverage was a major concern as we had to ensure reliable connectivity with each countries telecom providers as we advanced in each stage of the race.

CONNECTED WITH ENGO

This is why we used Dejero EnGo. It has six integrated global modems, global roaming connectivity services and interchangeable SIM modules, which meant we didnt have to think about switching to different network carriers or constantly finding the most reliable network when we crossed borders or were confronted with patchy coverage. The EnGos Smart Blending Technology automatically finds and combines the strongest network paths to form a high bandwidth pipe. This technology also meant that we didnt have to worry about the movement and positioning of the boat in order to gain the best vantage points, no matter how far away we were from the coast.

The EnGo was able to preserve and deliver the best picture quality possible from the roughest of seas, where available bandwidth was limited. This transmitter is built to withstand harsh conditions and we've heard from other users that it can take a few knocks and work perfectlywhich weve also experienced.

Live footage of the race was delivered to Facebook via two smartphones running the Dazzl application and a drone and these sources were streamed over RTMP to the Dazzl cloud server for our producers use. By integrating Dazzls cloud video platform with Dejeros mobile transmitters, Sea Events gained access to live broadcast production, live clipping, fast editing and video distribution tools on location, ensuring Facebook audiences had the best viewing experience.

Dejero and Dazzl have made cloud-based live production simple for us. As a sea-based events company, it has opened up new opportunities for livestreaming because of the reliability and low latency it provides and because it allows us to deliver a quality livestream to any platformwhether digital or linear, from anywhere in the world.

More information on the integration of Dejero and Dazzl technologies at http://www.dejero.com.

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I survived 29 days on the high seas with coconut, orange and prayer – The Weston Forum

Posted: at 10:06 am

With the help of oranges, coconuts and prayer, two Solomon Islands men survived 29 days in the South Pacific before being rescued 400 kilometers from their home off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Livae Nanjikana and Junior Qoloni were out in the Solomon Sea, notoriously unpredictable, when they encountered severe weather just three hours after starting their voyage on September 3.

They told the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation on Friday that they were battling rain, strong winds and poor visibility with their seven-meter boat, and the GPS battery had failed. They turned off the engine to save fuel, but in the meantime, their boat drifted more and more into the sea.

During the first nine days at sea, the two men ate the oranges they had packed for their voyage. Then they dumped rainwater and coconuts floating in the water and our belief in God as Nanjikana mentioned. They prayed day and night and finally heard: God gave us the idea to build a device for sailing. They would do this with the help of oars and cloth.

In this way, the two unlucky men approached the island of New Britain belonging to Papua New Guinea. From afar they saw a hunter. They restarted the engine, but the fuel ran out on the way to it. They called and waved, Nanjikana said, and at last the man saw them and blasphemed at them. You should have asked him where they are now.

After wandering for weeks, preparations are underway for the two men to return to their homeland. (AFP)

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Young Gaels enjoy taster sessions on the high seas – The Oban Times

Posted: at 10:06 am

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Primary seven Gaelic medium pupils on Skye have been enjoying sailing taster sessions organised by Isle of Skye Sailing Club in partnership with Highland Council.

Twelve pupils from Bun-sgoil Ghidhlig Phort Rgh, Dunvegan and Kilmuir primaries took part in the sessions over three weeks.

The sessions took place in Portree after school and offered youngsters who have never had the opportunity to sail the experience of working with qualified instructors to gain a basic introduction to the water.

Elaine Ferguson, a trustee of Skye Sailing Club said: Skye Sailing Club has been delighted to offer afternoon taster sessions to the P7 GM pupils.

This was the first time some of them have been on the sea and to watch them grow in confidence over the weeks has been incredibly rewarding.

Sailing is a great sport which encourages teamwork and communication and it has given the children the chance to meet other Gaelic medium pupils and forge new relationships before they head up to the high school next year.

After the past 18 months of lockdown and cancelled events, its a privilege to be able to provide a venue and opportunity for them to learn something new, laugh with their friends and to get wet!

Lorna MacKinnon, a Gaelic medium parent at Bun-sgoil Ghidhlig Phort Rgh, said: My daughter thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the Gaelic sailing taster sessions as it increased her confidence, especially following on from lockdown as it created a great opportunity for her and her peers to get together.

Calum Munro, chairman of The Highland Council Gaelic Committee, acknowledged the support provided by Brd na Gaidhlig.

The sailing activities organised by The Highland Council Gaelic Team in association with Skye Sailing Club is an excellent example of a successful partnership which supported Gaelic medium pupils in a community setting, he added.

Highland Council Gaelic team plans to continue to work with Skye Sailing Club on more events.

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Input wanted on changes to high seas fishing rules – The Bay’s News First – SunLive

Posted: at 10:06 am

The Ministry for Primary Industries is seeking feedback on proposals to improve New Zealand's rules for fishing in international waters outside of New Zealand's exclusive economic zone.

"New Zealand has a strong interest in maintaining high standards for sustainable fishing in international waters and works together with a range of other countries through international conventions to achieve this," says MPI director of international policy, Phil Houlding.

"We enjoy a good reputation as responsible citizens in international fisheries, and make valued contributions to science and compliance in the Pacific and Southern Oceans.

"We need to ensure that our legislation is up to date with evolving international standards, and the international fisheries agreements and management organisations that we are part of.

"These proposals would update our existing international fishing rules to make high seas decision-making processes more transparent and set tougher penalties for illegal fishing. This will benefit industry by providing more certainty and ensuring legal operators are not disadvantaged.

"Many fish, mammals and birds which live in New Zealand's waters spend part of their lives in the high seas, and we want to ensure they are being sustainably managed and protected."

MPI is looking for feedback on a range of proposals, including:

"These rule changes will help us contribute to the long term sustainability of international fisheries.

"In addition, consumers and our trading partners increasingly want to verify the environmental credentials of the people they are doing business with. Our ability to continue to demonstrate that underpins jobs and opportunities in New Zealand."

The consultation runs from today until November 21.

It responds to recommendations of an independent expert review of the Fisheries Act in relation to New Zealand's international fisheries compliance obligations and related market access requirements.

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Ovation of the Seas Live Blog – Day 1 – Embarkation – Royal Caribbean Blog

Posted: at 10:06 am

The time has come to board Ovation of the Seas and begin an adventure from Seattle to Alaska! Over the next seven days, Ill be blogging from the Pacific Ocean on Royal Caribbeans final Alaska sailing of the 2021 season.

Luckily I had no time difference to adjust to, so I spent the morning exploring downtown Seattle with my dad. He will be joining me on this sailing for his first cruise ever! We enjoyed walking around the famous Pike Place Market before heading back to the hotel.

Our hotel arranged a shuttle service to the pier at noon, so we arrived at Pier 91 about forty five minutes prior to our scheduled check-in time. As expected, we were unable to board early, but the weather was perfect and it was nice to look up at the ship before boarding.

The terminal was certainly much busier than my previous sailings this year. There are around 3,000 guests onboard Ovation of the Seas this week, making it the ships highest capacity this whole season. With a capacity of 4,180 guests, the ship is around 75% capacity.

Check-in went smoothly and we were onboard by 1:15. After completing the eMuster drill, we headed to our staterooms. I was excited to see red velvet cupcakes and room decor waiting for us, courtesy of our travel agents at MEI Travel! It was a fantastic welcome gift to kick off a grand adventure. And yes, the cupcakes were delicious.

After a quick lunch at the Windjammer, I took advantage of todays sunny and warm afternoon in Seattle and explored the pool deck. I love the blue colors incorporated throughout the pool deck, which help to bring a sea-themed design onboard the ship. Ovation of the Seas also has a large indoor pool area which will be really nice in the chilly weather we are sure to encounter this week.

We ended up not exploring a ton of the ship this afternoon because we couldnt stop looking out at the beautiful views around us. Seattle has a gorgeous skyline and it was peaceful to watch sailboats and ships make their way to the city.

The best view, though, was when Mt. Rainer poked out of the clouds. At 14,411 feet, the mountain is mesmerizing and it was the best view I have seen from a cruise ship so far! Therefore, we decided to pull up a couple chairs on the running deck and look out at the beautiful landscape of Seattle.

Sailaway was at 6PM. We got ready for sailaway in the best way possible by grabbing a drink, of course! We headed down to the indoor Pool Bar, where I ordered a Mai Tai and my dad ordered a Manhattan.

While waiting for our drinks, an announcement from the bridge came on and we found out that our sailing had an itinerary change. We were originally going to visit Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka, Alaska. Due to high seas and wind, we will now be visiting Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. I dont mind the change, and I am excited to see what Ketchikan has to offer!

Drinks in hand, we headed back up to deck 15 just as the ship began to sail away from Seattle. Sailing out of port at sunset with incredible scenery around us made for my favorite sailaway yet.

As the sun fell behind the mountains, it got pretty cold outside and we decided to head to the Main Dining Room for dinner. I say Main Dining Room because, on Ovation of the Seas, there are four different restaurants that comprise what would usually just be one large Main Dining Room.

When Ovation of the Seas was built in 2016, Royal Caribbean was testing out a concept called Dynamic Dining. Instead of one Main Dining Room, they built four separate restaurants in its place, each with their own menu and atmosphere. This concept was eventually phased out, though, and Royal Caribbean has gone back to building its ships with just one Main Dining Room.

Nowadays, since there is no longer dynamic dining, the four venues have the same standard menu offered in the Main Dining Room on all ships. We ate in the venue called Silk, which was very colorful with Asian-inspired decor.

On my previous two sailings, I primarily ate at specialty restaurants onboard. Therefore, on this sailing, I wanted to get a better idea of what is available in the Main Dining Room.

We started our meal with a butternut squash soup and artisan cheese plate. I found the soup under Vegan options on the digital version of the Main Dining Room menu. So if youre looking for more dinner options, dont forget to check out what vegan options are listed as well (since they dont appear on the regular paper menu).

For the main course, I ordered the herb-crusted salmon and my dad tried the spaghetti bolognese. And for dessert, we shared the creme brule and a tahini banana soft serve.

We lucked out with a table right near a window, so we enjoyed our meal with a wonderful view sailing through the Puget Sound.

After dinner, I was pretty exhausted from a long day of exploring Seattle and taking videos around the ship for the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube channel, so I decided to call it a night.

Overall, the trip is off to a great start and I am excited to continue exploring the ship tomorrow during a sea day on the way to Ketchikan.

The Windjammer on Ovation of the Seas features an outdoor seating area, and I love it! While I dont know how much I will be eating outside on this particular sailing, it is a great option when cruising in warmer months.

Speaking of the Windjammer, it appears to be open for dinner on this sailing! The Windjammer has been closed for dinner on my previous sailings this year due to low capacity. It will be nice to have another dinner option.

This cruise definitely feels more crowded than my other sailings, which were around 25% capacity, but it also feels more lively due to the amount of guests onboard.

The line for the Shore Excursions desk today was insane! I was happy that we booked our excursions ahead of time.

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