drron29

I doubt it is all Silversea's fault. Airline schedules are all over the place ATM. Qantas is overwhelmed and many reports of disasters with bookings. Last week one fellow had his booking cancelled the day before departure with his family. Now that would really suck. We always have the air removed and get the credit because we usually stay a few days before the cruise and again after. As well we use points often. But talk about routing via Amsterdam. If an Australian wants to get an award on Air France from Paris back to Australia often you have to start the journey in Amsterdam or Rome to get the Paris to Australia segments. I really would hate to be a TA in these times.

We certainly got acknowledgement of our donation to the crew fund 7 weeks ago on the Dawn signed by the Captain and Human Resources Manager. as well as verbal recognition from several crew. On the other hand Silversea know me too well. signed up for an excursion in the Middle East to go dune bashing. It was listed as suitable for those UP to the age of 4. Fits my mental age perfectly.

Times are a changing with Covid. Mask mandates are going everywhere. Even South Korea has dropped the mask mandate as well as testing to enter. https://www.lifestyleasia.com/sg/travel/destinations/south-korea-lifts-covid-19-test-requirement-from-1-october-2022/ Japan actually hasn't had a mask mandate as the Japanese do it anyway. Will be interesting to see if that changes after the 11th of this month when Independent travellers again can enter. https://www.lifestyleasia.com/sg/travel/destinations/japan-to-allow-visa-free-independent-travel-from-11-october/ Even Hong Kong is starting to loosen up and has dropped quarantine though still quite restrictive. https://www.lifestyleasia.com/sg/travel/destinations/hong-kong-ends-mandatory-hotel-quarantine-from-26-september/ So Asia cruising should be fine soon. As to masks the evidence is not clear apart from the fact that wearing a mask when infected will reduce transmission. Evidence from previous respiratory pandemics shows a properly fitted N95 mask can reduce your chances of picking up a respiratory virus. But it must be a properly fit tested mask. Having had to do this when my ward became an overflow covid ward I had to shave off my beard and still only 1 type out of 6 N95 masks the hospital had would fit properly. Naturally it was the most uncomfortable to wear.

We are going to test out whether we find the menus boring in March 23 when we are on the Moon for 54 days. i expect we won't have a problem as both SALT and Atlantide had a daily menu as well as the everyday menu. As well on the second segment of our recent cruise the everyday menu in Atlantide had a few changes. On top of that there are dishes I eat more than once even on a short cruise. on the first segment of 9 days I had the prime rib twice as it was fantastic. was told they had changed the source of their beef to Texas. Was fine by me.

Our TA has always put a suite on hold so this is a bonus for us. last night booked a lot of excursions especially on our April 24 voyage around Japan. basically booked all those that included gardens as it is cherry blossom time. Because I could I booked excursions for our April to June 25 voyage Singapore tp Athens on the Muse. But I am really upset with Silversea as I couldn't book the Egyptian ports in June.😁

Well we are getting on the Moon in Lisbon..................at the end of March 23 😁 But we do stsy on her for 54 days. We know that Raphael is scheduled to be the CD then but I do hope Grant is back on board then. We do like him.

Captain George Vancouver. He stands on some Canadian West Coast stone

This one needs to be read with a Canadian accent.

I certainly needed them in Antarctica. Though we were said to be the first tourist group to do a hike on the Antarctic Continent From Commonwealth Bay in west Antarctica in 2010. No tourists there since due to the increase in sea ice since then.

We really enjoyed the smaller ships but did find the Shadow and Whisper very enjoyable. We felt the Muse would be too big for us but our last precovid cruise was on the Muse and we absolutely loved it. So we have just finished a cruise on the Dawn and again loved it. So this is a list of our bookings. March 23 - 54 days around the Med. Moon. October 23- 46 days Japan to Cairns. Muse March 24- 36 days Bali to Japan plus around Japan. Muse. Almost certainly will be back on the Muse in 2025 through the Suez Canal. So people whose first few cruises were on the Explorer now love the bigger ships. Definitely what we have chosen for Japan.

I found a few formal jackets that I think would go well on SS formal nights. Plus a couple of hats which seem to have gone out of favour. I would like a little help from the CC community to help me with the correct choice.

Though every night the Chronicles are delivered to your suite and go through the next day's activities. At the top of the first page is the dress code for that day set out. So no one should arrive at a restaurant they booked without knowing the dress code.

Although I hail from the colonies- yes I am still told that in some places here in the Old Dart by Pommies- I grew up in a family and country that in those days was British to their boot heels. When I first went to school we always began with God Save the King -yes my birth pre dated the Queens ascension. We then sang one or two songs such as Rule Britannia, There'll Always be an England or Britannia Rules the Waves. Even more British than the British. So the Royal Family was important to us. Some of my family made the 6 week journey by ship to be there for the Coronation. So it is fitting that I and one of my sisters will be in England for the funeral. The Queen was much loved and respected by us. Long Live the King.

I am guessing the Ukrainian singer was Dmitry. On our first leg of our cruise he had a 30 minute pre dinner show. He can dance as well! Got to know him as he was often put on the afternoon putting session. His show wasn't repeated on the second leg.

To each his own but I wouldn't cruise on a line that did not have at least the option of a bath. Having some mobility and balance problems standing in a shower especially at sea is just too dangerous.

We recently completed an 18 day cruise around the Med on the Dawn. I think we signed up for this in 2020 and it was sold as an 18 day cruise, last year they began to sell it as 2 9 day cruises. I found that this did change the entertainment on board. Any cruise 14 days or longer can have guest entertainers on board so our 18 day cruise could have 2 guest entertainers to give a bit of variety. So neither of the 9 day cruises could have a guest entertainer. This meant that on the second 9 days the entertainment was identical to the first 9 days. I do hope RCC do take over the entertainment. A grand daughter of ours went through their training and had just over a year on board one of their big ships before covid hit. I am biased but she is very good.

Well I am definitely not a coffee fancier and most cheap options to me are a sufficient way to get my caffeine shots. But when it comes to my G&Ts the quality of the 2 ingredients is very definitely important. As well as my secret ingredient - some finger lime pearls. Fortunately we have 3 trees at home.

Of course the 1918 influenza variant hasn't gone away and still causes cases. When it does they often are severe. But we have been living with it for over 100 years. To me my greatest fear with covid is that a positive test may ruin my travelling so I am very grateful for the removal of the pre boarding test. And yes I have had 2 boosters plus covid.

Indeed it will be spring. Embarking on the moon late March in Lisbon for a short 54 day cruise.

The other positive change for me were the new faces in the crew. Our Room attendant Rashid from Kenya was very good. Waiter Cassain in Atlantide from Zimbabwe was excellent and I think he has what it takes to go far. A great attitude. When asked where he sees himself in 20 years he ended with -maybe own a cruise line! Then Fossal in La Terraza is from Uzbekastan and again an excellent waiter. I will add some more later.

You do pick up your luggage in the cruise terminal. Once docked the luggage was loaded into large trucks. Process was fast as they used the loading system at most airports with moving belts. So if enough buses for the shuttle to the terminal independent travellers should be able to go at any time.

Covid update for Segment 2 of our Med Voyage. Officially 1 positive case in a woman on Day 2 after boarding in Rome with a negative test 24 hours before boarding. She however did develop symptons on day 2 and tested positive. Quarantine for 5 days. Her partner remained negative. But I suspect there were other cases. A week ago I sat behind a Gentleman who had a suspicious cough. He would remove his mask to cough!. Today sitting in Dolce Vita his partner had the same sort of cough. Despite being surrounded by guesta awaiting departure she was not wearing a mask. We moved away.

We have just disembarked in Venice and frankly my advice to people wishing to disembark in Venice is DON'T. Started to deck 3 ~ 0900. We were told 45 minutes after this move we would be right to get a private transfer at the Venice Cruise Port. You definitely can't get one at the dock in Fusina.. First problem a long slow moving line to be checked off the ship. Problem 2. The shuttle bus was full at 0930 but didn't leave immediately and then stopped at the dock gate for inspection. Problem3. The shuttle bus is slow so we didn't arrive at the Venice cruise terminal until 1015 for our 0945 transfer. I avoided problem 4 by a bit of aggressive queue jumping so only another 3 minutes to get to the exit and fortunately our guy was first sign we saw at the front of the scrum. I can strongly reccomend Pantarei Chauffeur service who saved our bacon when a previously organised transfer was cancelled 36 hours out by another operator.

The jacket enforcement in Atlantide is still going. I do note that most given a jacket immediately take it off when at the table and put it over their chair. And surprisingly it is the older males playing up. One young couple on the previous segment who always wore jeans and t shirts are now abiding by the dress code and do look spiffy. And sadly mostly Aussies being childish with a few Americans.

And I suggest you put Kotor and Montenegro on your bucket list.