Elginjock

Great blog and photographs made me relive our 2014 trip to Antarctica on the Explorer. It really was a fantastic trip and the staff were superb.

We were on the same cruise as Brimary and unlike the wonderful Colin Brown I never saw the HD smile or speak to any passenger he looked totally uninterested in everything.

Totally agree New London Colin is the ultimate professional CD.

I sincerely hope Silversea value him.

Cruise Director the wonderful Colin Brown.

Maitre D’s Ricardo,Rommel, MaryAnn, Yarislav and Raisa.

Hotel Director was new and I think his last name was Arn or Arro?

Oliver who is normally behind the bar on the Whisper was rather surprisingly on the pool bar but I think he will be going back to the Whisper.

Hope this helps

Donna

Can I echo what Brimary has said.We had a wonderful cruise on the Wind all staff were superb and food was excellent. The voices of Silversea were extremely talented and we had the best cruise director of the fleet Colin Brown. Weather was outstanding no jacket at the North Cape!

Thanks for a great report and photographs. We did our first Silversea cruise six years ago and loved it,needless to say we have cruised with Silversea ever since. If you can, do go to Antarctica best holiday ever. Once again thank you for your reporting Mrs B.

Napria totally agree with you. It is lovely to get all dressed up and enjoy the ambiance that is Silversea.

My husband normally takes his kilt and yes it adds to the luggage but the dress code is formal and here in Scotland that means either Kilt, Dinner Suit or a dark suit.

We are in the age range 60-65 so not old and stuffy!

As previously mentioned there are choices for selecting Cruise Lines that suit the individual.

Totally agree with Rojaan we had Lunch, Dinner, Coffee and drinks with the superb Expedition Staff all of whom were extremely approachable.

The only time I saw a table of staff together was early in the morning when they were discussing the daily programming.

Our Antarctic cruise was fabulous thanks to Kara,Claudia,Brad,Neal,Toby and Ray.

Hi Mel,

We took the blue line ferry to the airport with two large suitcases and hand luggage and it was hassle free. Tickets can be purchased in advance from any ferry terminal and staff helped us on with our luggage.

The trip took approx an hour and twenty minutes and it was scenic and we got to see other parts of Venice. The ferry stops a short walk from the airport and there are porters if required,it was extremely busy.

Any queries happy to answer. We cruised Rome to Venice late August last year.

Donna

If you get an invitation from CD Colin Brown accept it as Colin is fantastic company and in my humble opinion the best CD. We dined with the guest relations manager on the Cloud in February at La Terazza and there were five of us and we had a lovely evening with good conversation and no politics.

Thank you Duct tape apologies for not replying but I could not get logged in!

Now in Venice after a superb cruise loved our first time on the Wind.

Loved Colin and being a fellow Scot my Husband and I had the pleasure of dining with him and I agree he is one of the best C D.

Gianni the HD was charming and all the staff were excellent .

The ship is a little tired but we found that added to her charm.

Next cruise South Africa on the Cloud in Feb.

Looking forward to boarding the Wind on 22nd Rome to Venice. This will be our first time on the Wind can anyone advise who is currently CD,HD and MD.

Thought we had better sail on the smaller ships for a change,booked Cloud for South Africa next Feb.

Previous cruises have been on Shadow,Spirit and Explorer and all have been superb with excellent crew.

Jeff, agree with you advising Terry to stop reading the Daily Mail. I was in lounge at Heathrow on Wednesday and newspaper choice was dreadful Mirror, Mail etc

Husband had a moan at security chief as we waited 40 minutes to clear security for ongoing flight up the road to Scotland. He informed us that the infrastructure at T5 was built to cope with 25000 passengers per day but on Wednesday 50000 were going through security for ongoing flights.

Unfortunately choice for International flights from Aberdeen is limited.

Curry time now after two large G & T'S Husband and I both love street food in Singapore, last time we were there most impressed as girl who served us was wearing a Scotland football top which made us laugh.

Apologies for earlier but I get so annoyed that many English people think we are all Scot Nats.

Good evening Jeff,

As a proud Scot I just want to say that we do not agree with SNP MPS voting on English issues some of us Scots are all for the UK and do not like the way the political landscape is going in Scotland.

Loved your encounter with the American in the humidor I have had some interesting political discussions with Americans over dinner and always found them to be enjoyable.

Excuse the typing as sitting with pre dinner G & T !

Thanks for the advice just booked 738 for Rome to Venice on the 22nd August.

First time on the Wind and the Cloud in Feb 2016 looking forward to cruising on the smaller ships.

Last cruise was in Dec on the Explorer and got to meet many interesting people on a smaller ship.

You will love the Explorer we were in Antartica last month and it was the best holiday we have ever had.

Hotel Director Sujith and Restaurant Manager Anna did a great job and all staff were superb.

The expedition team were fantastic and made our trip so memorable.

Hi Terry, we are on 22nd Feb sailing as we have a few days pre cruise and Shamwari Game Reserve post cruise.

It would indeed be lovely to meet you and your better half.

Donna

Thank you Terry for your fantastic photographs and informative narrative.

Just booked Cloud for South Africa Feb 2016 and Wind for Med Aug 2015 first time on them both.

Cold wet and windy here in the north of Scotland I can feel the warmth from your photographs!!

Donna

Jeff love your food photographs .

We were in Singapore four years ago and loved the street food, Husband had the best Satay ever and we will go back for more!!

Glad we booked two weeks ago. Cruise fare now £500 per person more for excursions we don't want.

Please SS stop this stupidity.

Apologies for no paragraphs in earlier post!!

Hi Otis,

We were obviously on the same cruise. Like you we were on deck 3 in an expedition suite 308 with two view windows and appreciated all the extra space for our winter gear. We were about to board zodiac and husband forgot camera but he could run back to suite. Great cruise wonderful staff we were lucky to be invited to dine with Hotel Director Sujith Mohan and what a charming young man who is doing a wonderful job as all staff seemed happy. The expedition team were great and a fellow Scot was on board doing zodiac training with the staff Sujith drove us ashore one morning so multi tasking.Our second invitation to dine was from Kara the expedition leader who reckoned on a scale from 1 to 10 our Drake Passage crossing was a 3 so we were lucky and a number of passengers were ill we made lunch and dinner but missed breakfast on day 1 as both felt slightly queasy but the pills kicked in. An advantage going early in the season is that the snow cover is good rather than too muddy around the penguin rookeries and the odour from the penguins was not too bad. I was worked about getting in and out of the Zodiacs as I am not tall and have a stiff knee but staff did a great job and I felt safe and managed it no bother. Food was very good and Chef Pia and Resaurant Manager Anna did a great job and we had excellent dining companions.Looking forward to reading your report Otis.Happy to answer any queries.

Donna

With regard to retirement plans enjoy life. Not jumping into anything as yet various friends keep saying are you getting a dog or will you join husband on the golf course. I may do some consultancy work with a medical practice three or four days a month (management accounts etc). Booked a couple of trips at the weekend late April Philadelphia,Washington and Boston had BA companion voucher to use. Feb 2016 South Africa few days in Capetown then 10 day cruise followed by four days Shamwari Game Reserve. Looking forward to the Explorer in Antartica beautiful scenery,penguins etc etc decided to do this trip before we get too old!! Retiring slightly earlier than planned as husband retired seven months ago and I thought why not join him. Looking forward to cooking,gardening long lunches with friends and feet up with a good book when the weather is bad.All I wish for is good health for us both.

Excuse typing on IPad.

Donna

Jeff I don't often post but I posted on another thread to say I enjoy Terry's photographs and travel observations. Enjoy this thread and will have more time to post as retirement fast approaching March 2015. Hope you are well on the road to recovery from your virus. Sophia sorry you had to cancel your cruise and I am sure your next trip will be worth the wait. Husband currently has a head cold and I told him better now than early Dec when we join the Explorer for our Antartic adventure.

Donna

Terry keep posting your wonderful photographs and travel observations. You definitely are not boring. Why do some people need to make snide remarks.

Donna