vandrefalk

No, he lives in Italy but is in Porto a couple of weeks a month — that’s where his boss is. Check out Mystic Cruises.

“Taking care” of HH and Blondie is a big job, but I’ll try my best!

Suddesh took Tom Carlson’s job (who did retire) but will be working from India and not moving to Oslo. Remi left to work on a private yacht :-((

No idea who will be captain on the TA. Also, Terje has a new baby with wife/girlfriend #3!

I have a little birdie as well! :-)

Vandrefalk

Well, he’s not on board yet! Wed is the big day and we look forward to seeing them!

Vandrefalk

Jim , the Col appreciates your good wishes! Also, had dinner with the Commodore last week in Porto — he sends his regards!

Vandrefalk

2800 pax? No thanks! Have been fortunate not to have major issues with kids on SD, but know others have.

Vandrefalk

Know there a few other CCers on board. Looks like the ship is fairly full so guess this getting more and more popular. We saw SD in drydock last week as we are already in Portugal and at the tail end of a Douro River cruise. Take the train back to Lisbon and board SD on Wed! Since this is our first TA, have no idea what internet will be like. However, will report as I can! Wish for calm seas!

Vandrefalk

We are also on the SD2 crossing and got the same email. And Marigot is the stop before San Juan! I’m more concerned about the 4 day follow on (we’re staying aboard) which has St John, St Barths and Jost on the itinerary — just don’t see that happening! Also, American Airlines travel advisory for SJU, STT, and St Croix says if you are booked from Sep 5 to April 2nd (:o) 2018 and can travel Sep 23 2017 through Sep 30 2018 (:o) you may be able to change without penalty. That does not sound encouraging...... We leave for Portugal on 27 Oct so certainly hope to have more details soon!

Vandrefalk

Tiki Man - be careful on Shirley Heights! I happened to skid on a pebble up there and break my leg — the day before an SD cruise! But SD took great care of me.

Consider the Copper and Lumber hotel in Nelson’s Dockyard. Very charming.

BeignetBoy — eastbound crossing?

Vandrefalk

We are doing a 3 day pre-cruise in Lisbon with Lisbon/Sintra tour, then TVG to Porto. Board there for 7 night cruise, seeing vineyards (including Mateus gardens) and a trip to Salimanca (sp?). Back to Porto and then back to Lisbon to board SD! AMA is not all inclusive (as is Uniworld), but wine at dinner and lunch. Looked at Uniworld (did them on the Rhine) but dates worked better on AMA! Were in Porto on the Dover-Lisbon SD cruise in 2015 and were intriqued so looking forward to this! Have friends who did AMA and liked it, so we will see! Thanks for the input! What are you doing in 2018? We are doing Silverseas around UK in Aug but haven't figured out how to work in SD yet!

Vandrefalk

We hope it works! Please tell us about your Douro cruise! We are on AMA.

Vandrefalk

We will be on this crossing! We were supposed to be on last fall, but Hurricane Matthew messed that one up! We will be doing a Douro cruise just prior and are hoping the weather gods cooperate this year! Look forward to meeting you.

Vandrefalk

Well, sorry not to report sooner -- relaxing is hard work! Cruise has been delightful -- weather has been great, except for the sudden and quite strong storm we had the other night while we were dining topside! The crew, as always, made immediate adjustments to protect us, although some folks did have to go change! Dessert extravaganza was moved inside in record time and was lovely -- the current pastry chef is very, very good.

Did the tour in Bequia -- lovely views and a great treat to see the turtle sanctuary. Lunch (lobster pizza) at Mac's was as good as its reputation. Yesterday was Canouan and Union Islands -- went ashore briefly on Union -- wet landing and like walking on quicksand.

Today we are at Tobago Cays but am staying on board. Tomorrow is the splash at Mayreaux and then they will make us get off in Barbados on Saturday.

Marko is leaving next week and several others will be going on vacation soon. Will post a longer review - and maybe others will join in -- upon our return!

Vandrefalk

On board with WhatNot and FPebbles and our DHs. We have Capt Lund (who apparently switched with Capt Remi), Christophe (lucky us!), Gareth, Brenda, Christian (sommelier); Tomaslav (MD); Brian, Leslie, Eugene are some of the waiters; Danny, Marko, and Francisco (Head Barman). Lots of familiar faces!

Boarded yesterday in Barbados -- bit of motion in the ocean last night! Today in Martinque is lovely -- did a tour that saw the home or at least the location of Empress Josephine's youth and a rum distillery. The island is lovely -- very lush and very clean. When we were here a couple of years ago, the swells were too bad in La Marin so we went to a tiny town where there wasn't much to see. Today was much better! And for those who keep track of such things -- mussels for lunch!

Vandrefalk

Thinking about it!!

Looking forward to seeing you and Mr. SS :-)

Vandrefalk

In Monserrat, do take the tour -- you will see the volcano center and, most importantly, the area devastated by the volcano. They are trying to restart their tourism business, and it is a fascinating excursion. No beaches at Saba, but it's fun to take the tour and see the towns. St Kitts/Nevis have some nice spots -- botanical gardens on Nevis and a few upscale hotels which are nice for lunch.

Otherwise, just enjoy the ship!

Vandrefalk

Yup -- that's Sean on the left -- former cruise director (although I never sailed with him) and Johannes Tysse on the right -- former captain, now captain on Azamara Journey. He lives just up the road! Super guy!

Vandrefalk

Hum, I could have helped on about half of them and had a couple of lucky guesses on one or two others. Just for grins :D, here are the answers I found:

1. Bulova

2. Friday

3. ear

4. sheep

5. pen name

6. tarantula

7. Pele

8. mushrooms

9. yolk

10. Majorca

Not totally sure about 6 and 7. . . . .

Would have been a fun evening! Who won?

Vandrefalk

Encore for Remi!! We were on board when the engine went (actually having dinner with Capt Bjarne when we heard the noise!). It was Remi's very first cruise with SD and Bjarne was really happy to get off in Curacao and leave it to him :D Capt Remi handled every thing beautifully and as others say is very personable and friendly with the guests. And I'm with Lois -- he wears a uniform quite nicely :)

When we were with him in Santorini last fall, he said it was the first time in something like 10 years he'd gotten to go ashore, but since we were the only vessel there that day, we got an anchorage (seems the water is too deep to anchor, so must keep engines running, meaning captain and first officer must stay aboard). He's also been known to fish off the stern!

OK -- speaking of Madiera, how many of you remember this (delightful) song from the Limelighters?

Hope the link works!

Vandrefalk

.....if someone else can find Hum's reply to a Commander Courageous request for a list of crew then kindly do so but for Hum it would take hours and he is on his hols. So not that un-reasonable to pass on, just this once. Hum would do most things for Lady V, hope she understands. Of course she will, she is so lovely).

My dear Hum, I completely understand ;)

I did find Commander Courageous's request for crew info (it was on the crossing thread), and your response, but no mention of June. It's so sad -- he was such a delight.

Hope the internet continues to operate fairly well, as we are travelling vicariously with you. I have to say I was really looking forward to seeing Gibralter as we sailed past, so am somewhat perversely pleased that there was nothing to see!

Will have to look at another crossing, but not sure I want to tempt fate again by scheduling one during hurricane season!

Vandrefalk

Don't know how I missed it -- do you remember where it was?

Vandrefalk

Be careful what you wish for, ohmiss:D

Vandrefalk

Are you saying that Jun passed away??? What happened??

So sad not to be with you all -- but hope you will post as often as you can. Will be following your progress.via Marine Traffic!

Who is Captain, Hotman, chef, md,etc?

Vandrefalk

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Hum is really looking forward meeting up with chums for the xing: they are truly a great crowd.

Chums assemble for this "migration" from around the civilised world (and

to go !!!

You have no idea how sad we are to miss the crossing :( We were supposed to take the train from France to Barcelona yesterday. Was truly looking forward to seeing friends and enjoying the days at sea.

Instead, Hurricane Matthew hammered us. No damage to the house, but the garage flooded and my car is a total loss. Yard and garden may never recover and our community looks like a bomb went off. Still, our town is HHI Strong!

Anyway, y'all enjoy the cruise -- raise a glass (or several) for us at the TOY and say hi to all the crew!

At least we have SD I to look forward to in February (I hope!)

Vandrefalk

Well, sadly, it seems likely we will miss the crossing :-(

Hurricane Matthew has caused us to cancel our France river cruise. We are still homeless (in ATL currently) and will likely relocate to JAX the remainder of the week. House appears to be ok but yard is a disaster. So crossing appears not doable. So disappointed -- looking forward to good company -- good trivia -- and good costumes ( we were coming as ourselves --figure it out :-)

Also have a present for Blondie but will have to get it to her later!

So, life now and then sucks, but it does go on!

Vandrefalk

Will do our best -- right now under mandatory evacuation from Hurricane Matthew!

Vandrefalk/Lady V/ Mrs Col Clint