Emtbsams

Dora and Duma are gorgeous.  Jade says welcome home!

Here is our tender for the behemoth!  We refer to it as the cat carrier!

14 hours ago, DavyWavey70 said:

Cell block Chic?

I called it "early convention hotel modern".  Spacious and charmless.

10 minutes ago, Tothesunset said:

I'm beginning to sense that, for various reasons, the intimacy and personal service that we always found on SS ships is now slipping away? 

 

I know all companies evolve their product ultimately, they hope, to the benefit of the bottom line. That's just good business. SS seems to be evolving into a more mass market product at the expense of service to the passenger - not just the direct personal service from individual crew members but also in terms of food, ambience and SS's uniquely customer-centered ethos. 

 

SS is morphing into just another cruise line. That makes me sad. Am I wrong? 

No, you are certainly not wrong given our recent 33 days' experience on the Nova.  A friend who was on the Nova TA is also doing the Dawn TA, and I am hoping she will have better news to report about the Dawn.  The Nova was quite frankly disappointing in almost all respects.

1 hour ago, Out2See said:

I just finished the crossing on the new Nova. Every time we went to a restaurant, including the buffet, we were asked for our suite number. Anyone know why they ask every time?

That is so they know who you are and can scan for any food allergies.  It used to be that they would recognize you and call you by name, but sadly, the ship is larger, the crew is lacking training, and times have changed.  It is unfortunate that they don't track what your standard order is.  It was frustrating to have to teach new staff exactly how we wanted our eggs prepared for breakfast each and every day.

So sorry to hear that the news for Marino was not good. Our Jade is 16 years old ( we just adopted her last Christmas) and we are thankful for every day with her. 

JP. Beautiful photos. Thanks internet on Nova is very good. 

1115 - no noise from the laundry room.  We were also across the hall next to the elevators and had no noise there either.

That was a whole lot more sensible.  We had no reaction from the RSV shot, but the combination of Covid and Flu was really surprising.  Still glad to get them since we leave for Lisbon in a week.

We just had the Covid booster and flu shot on the same day.  We were wiped out the whole next day.  I don't recommend doing them at the same time even though our MD said it was okay to do so.  The pharmacist wasn't going to give us cards until we asked for them.

Ischia is definitely less crowded and has a very different vibe.  When I stayed there circa 2005, the signs were in German and Italian.  There was little to no English spoken.  There are numerous hot springs and more beaches than on Capri.   I never hiked the interior (not a clue why I have italics), but would have loved to do so.  I stayed at a quirky little old fashioned hotel in Sant. Angelo during the festival di San Michele and enjoyed watching the boat procession and then fireworks all over the hillside.

1 hour ago, QueSeraSera said:

Thank you!  Group size is 16 as of recent email. Here is the description from the tour operator:  "Venture out for a spectacular scenic drive to Positano. Travel along the Amalfi Coast, a brilliant tapestry of mountains, tree-covered cliffs and houses painted in pastel hues. Beautiful Positano has been lauded by poets and artists for centuries. See why during a walking tour of this special village. Then board a boat for a ride to Amalfi, viewing the splendid Amalfi coast from the water."

That looks lovely.   I used to spend a lot of time in that area and on Capri  off season.  It is one of my favorite places in the world.  I hope they take you into Le Sireneuse hotel in Positano.  the views from there are amazing.  I am sure you will have a great time.  Wish I were going!

We have book the Master suite on the Nova which is right below the Dusk Bar and the jogging track.  I hope that isn't a huge mistake.

Home ownership of any kind is frustrating.  When I got to my house at Alligator Point after hurricane Idalia, although there was no damage from the storm, my HVAC system had died.  End of August in an unairconditioned house in Florida is no fun.  It was 92F (33C) inside.  Fortunately, I was able to get the whole unit replaced the next day, but that was an unexpected expense.  The old unit was only 6 years old.  Ah, the joys of coastal living!

On another note, a 65+ year old friend of mine fell off a tall ladder yesterday while she was trimming trees.  She was knocked out, but her Apple Watch detected her fall, called her emergency contacts and 911.  She is resting uncomfortably in a local hospital.  I made sure my watch is up to date with my emergency contact information.

I know this issue has been addressed in several threads, but since we are a group of 12 scheduled to cruise to Svalbard next July, I wanted to collect information in one place so we can make an informed decision should we decide to "jump ship".  While I understand the ship is old, so am I!  Certain age-related problems can be tolerated.  But the issue of a sewage smell in suites is a great concern.  I have followed Spinnaker's thread on the issues they have encountered on the Cloud where the problem has yet to be solved in their Silver Suite and most likely cannot be remediated.

We have cruised on almost all of the Silversea ships since 2006 and have been generally quite happy, but since I am the person who has recommended this ship and cruise to the group, I would hate for it to be disappointing.

Please let me have first hand experiences from recent cruises and suite numbers so that we can make our decision.  Thank you in advance.

This is truly disappointing and sad.  I hope that they will find a way to compensate you for the unsafe and unhealthy conditions in your suite.

5 minutes ago, Reef Knot said:

TBH when I saw HMU, IDK and REKT, I thought *****?

I thought something else starting with WT*!

Speaking of animals...I went down to the house in Florida to make sure there was no damage from hurricane Idalia.  Fortunately, there was no damage, just a few items including a black shoe washed up on the shore.  When I was getting ready to leave, I looked down from the deck and saw a large black bear just below me.  I quickly ran into the house to get a camera, but by the time I got back he had moved off a bit.  He was simply gorgeous, especially at a distance!  You can spot him between the sago palm and the palm tree on the left.

I was surprised to read in the Wikipedia biography of Jimmy Buffett that he was a supporter and major donor to the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea, Florida, just a few miles from our house at Alligator Point.  If you are ever in the area, it is a very interesting place to visit.

More visuals - this from a Category 3.  Not my house, but the fire house next to it was almost destroyed. on the Gulf in Alligator Point.

1 hour ago, TLCOhio said:

In the morning network news, the hurricane is getting closer to a part of Florida that does not get normally hit as hard by such storms.  Good luck to those there.  Then there is the challenges with Franklin.  See AccuWeather chart below.  

 

 

Have a good friend on his way to New York City today to board a cruise going up the Atlantic Coast to Nova Scotia and then on to finishing in Quebec City.  Will Franklin stay farther out in the Atlantic and not impact them?  Or, shift its path to threaten them??

 

Lots of weather questions??

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

I have had a house on the coast at Alligator Point for the past 37 years and have been through many hurricanes and hurricane warnings.  We are south of Tallahassee in the "Big Bend".  This is what the road to my house looked like after a Category 1 storm in 2017:  Tensions are understandably high!

It always seems to be a full moon when we have a hurricane at Alligator Point.  My plans are still up in the air (sic!)

14 hours ago, zqtchas said:

Our anniversary crab feast.

A dozen jumbo crabs $165.00.

The most expensive crabs I ever bought.

But were they good and full?

5 minutes ago, AusMum said:

 

Saw this new ad on tv tonight, and now I’m super excited about cruising!

 

https://youtu.be/YGu-LBVTugs

Discovered Bonds and their New Zealand counterpart Holeproof a number of years ago.  David Jones ships to the US!

Let's  say it cost $20,000 in 1949 (just a wild guess).  Compounded at 8% = $5,948,232 today.