Tothesunset

Those silly things also included severe disappointment with the food, a vibrating ship and other factors that can be accessed by reading all of F's posts above. It's so hard, sometimes, to understand why some feel the need to challenge another's experience. Unless, of course, they shared that experience.

Perhaps his gift of foresight had temporarily abandoned him?

Fletcher, did you board the wrong ship back in Athens? P and O, maybe? A badly navigated Isle of Man Steam Packet? Anyone else remember when you could call SS a six star line? Without irony? Reading stories like this from someone clearly dissatisfied for good reason, and reading other less than stellar postings from many members over the past year or so, has me fearful for our Wind cruise next May. I don't recognise the Silversea we have 201 nights on before the plague hit. Sounds like SS is overreaching and underperforming. So sad. So very sad.

You may well be correct. But the deposits are mainly carbon so, at the very least, they'll have the effect of an internal deodorant if you break wind! 😎

I've always thought that the prices charged for the deluxe and higher suites are a touch ambitious.

That would be my hope. I wouldn't bet my house on it, though.

Before SS sold itself to the devil it had a loyal band of repeat cruisers who clearly enjoyed the product. Since the passenger capacity has doubled in the blink of an eye the line needs to appeal to a wider audience. Part of that, along with the brashness of the new ships, seems to be a gentle diminution of dress requirements. Clearly, there are plenty of cruisers who don't want to dress according to the cruise line's code, clearly, too, the line will have to accede to that desire or lose customers. Those of us who know the line from its previous ownership were attracted by the understated elegance of the ships, the personal attention and the common good manners (mostly) of fellow guests - including the observation of dress codes. It was a particular vibe and suited the line at the time. Seems that those days are passing. Everything, in time, regresses to the mean.

When Manfredi sold SS to RCL he not only sold its ships but its soul too. SS worked because it was small and intimate with high standards and many repeat customers. Now it's bigger, clearly more corporate and sliding into average. It's such a shame.

It's also the postcode for Birmingham, England. Considering that Birmingham's only purpose is to make everywhere else, even Detroit, look good I'll take Bermuda. Thank you.

For all our American cousins: This is my granddaughter on holiday yesterday in Dallas at the George W Bush Presidential Centre. She's getting ready to be your next President:

It took a moment, but once I realised they were ear plugs...

They say in Scotland you can experience all 4 seasons in one day. In the Falklands it's half an hour.

This is a true story: On the West Coast of West Falkland my Cpl and I decided we'd had enough of being cooped up in our temporary lodgings (essentially a muddy hole covered with canvas) and would have a stroll to the nearby beach. There was plenty of Air cover and naval patrolling going on and no known mines so I thought, "Sod it, let's go find some penguins". The CO said OK as long as we were armed and in radio contact and confirmed the location of other "blue" forces. Not being short of ammunition, but being bereft of common sense, we thought it a great idea to lay down a good few rounds in the direction of the sea - just because. Well, my Browning 9mm jammed on the first round so we blatted away with the SMG for a while. Took my weapon back to the armoury and gingerly handed it to the armourer explaining that there was a live round jammed and 12 rounds in the mag (which was also jammed). He took it from me, looked me up and down as if I was something unpleasant he'd just stepped in and said "Mmm, been playing have we, Sir?" I felt about 2 ft tall! Never did see the penguins.

That's actually quite frightening.

Oooh. Not good.

We make the donation by getting them to debit our onboard account. No temptation for sticky fingers.

They saw you coming. So will everyone else when you're wearing that jacket!

What an excellent account of your voyage. Keep the instalments coming!

It's the free of charge Silversea inoculation program. All part of the service.

Rather less than joint relief cream and denture fixative, I expect.

My wife just informed me that she thinks vacation sex is the best. Not the sort of postcard I'd hoped to receive.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html#:~:text=Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-,severe RSV and need hospitalization.

If you're paying I'll take any of them.

Just one?

We know exactly how much - 20%.