spinnaker2

Home sweet home. Decompressing from the cruise and the return travel. We booked nothing onboard for the future. There was a time when we would always have a future cruise booked onboard. Processing final thoughts. Some trivial information: We had been told while we were aboard that decks 5 and 6 would have no passengers on the charter following our cruise and all the silver suites and big suites were booked. Less than 400 pax for the charter. As we left the quay we looked back and saw several pax on their verandahs of deck 5, including a couple who had occupied a silver suite near ours on the crossing. We recognize the couple because they make themselves known at every venue, she frequently wears curlers in her hair to lunch in la T. I guess some pax who were not in the charter group were able to book the cruise. Not sure how one accomplishes that.

We have arrived in Lisbon. The Grimaldi's are here too.

The quality has been reduced. The food quality is mediocre to poor. We never had any fruit bowl in our Silver Suite. We had but one soap when we arrived. So many cut backs, too numerous to list. Running out of fresh food mid cruise. Running out of many wines mid cruise. There were ports we stopped at but no effort to restock anything. And the attitude of yes has been replaced by nope.

Sunday afternoon became rough and squally, blowing wind and rain. In the midst of the rain there was a rainbow( apologies for taking the photo through the glass door, but the force of the wind and rain would not allow us to open the doors). Many pax were seasick, according to our butler. As the decks were moving a lot, we chose to have room service for dinner, instead of trying to maneuver to la T. We missed the crew parade and the Motown show as well. The en-suite food was actually quite good. Thanks JP for the input. Invited We may have been snookered for the last time by Royal Caribbean. Fool me once…

Easter Sunday The Dawn slipped out of the harbor at Tenerife long before we rolled ourselves out of our warm cocoon of soft, fluffy quilts and sumptuous sheets. The linens are still lovely. We lost another hour last night. Really tough on the crew who remain outstanding, smiling and attentive. Breakfast was waiting at the table in our suite. As we enjoyed the meal, we looked out to the grey blue sea with rolling waves from the SSE; we meandered forward at 14 knots. I will miss the sound of the ocean, the gentle rocking, the vistas where water and sky have endless edges. Lisbon is but a few days away, and the end of the cruise. The pool deck is rapidly filling with the worshippers of el sol. Tonight is formal night # 3. The Venchi bunny is a nice touch. Restore faith? Not even close.

Wish we had more time here to explore the national park and other places. If we had known we were coming here ( we are here due to Funchal bad weather), I might have rented a car to see some of what you described. I thought the sail in was quite lovely with the dramatic craggy cliffs and the houses hugging the mountains. I cannot in good conscience, book a 5 hour bus tour for my 6 foot three husband who uses a cane, and who's knees will suffer after 20 minutes in a tiny bus seat.

Sunset

And today we also got

Drron its the same on the dawn. So many cutbacks

Heavenly bread!

Morning from Tenerife. Thanks all for the thoughtful and insightful comments. Frankly I am at a loss as to the state of Silversea. They can do it because we, who are aboard, are a captive audience. Perhaps most Venetians stay “loyal” because they get free laundry, they like formal nights (soon gone), they want the “ free” cruise at certain night levels, they want the 10% onboard booking, and they know the crew. They remember the old Silversea and hope it will come back. New pax haven’t a clue what is gone. And gone it is. I think that if Crystal would offer a matching program many Venetians would leave Silversea. Manfredi are you listening? I also think many of the old guard crew have gone elsewhere. This cruise is almost at an end. I wonder if Silversea will give us Easter baskets as they have in the past, with a large Venchi chocolate bunny and other goodies. We will see.

Sunset leaving Arrecife. Now to Tenerife. The substitute for Funchal. Tonight asked for shrimp cocktail from room service. Was told that's a special order and must give 24 hours notice. Silver Dawn has run out of many food and beverage items. How is this possible on a luxury cruise for which we pay dearly? The crew still strives to please.

Last night we dined at Kaiseki. It was not Seishin where we enjoyed terrific tempura vegetables! The meal was not exceptional. Not worth the upcharge for this experience. The tempura was weird. Some kind of fried something or other. Ugh. The only thing that was very, very good was the chocolate dessert, and not remotely Japanese.

Most of the water in the Canary Islands is reclaimed or from desalinization plants. The landscape is starkly beautiful.

El molino in Puerto del Rosario. Our tour took us to cheese tasting, grain mill and a salt field. 4.5 hours. The island is very dry, brown and volcanic appearing. Maybe 5 days of rainfall per year. Islanders who farmed agave and other drought resistant crops have moved to the coast. Golf courses and condos are springing up on the coastline for vacationers, many of whom come from the EU. The flight is 4 hours. Tourism is booming.

Not sure about tiki. 13 degrees available. Probably not for long.

Thanks so much. I will pass along your regards. The letter on our bed tonight was to cancel Funchal due to weather. I will let you know if the controversial letter arrives. We are disappointed in the loss of the Silversea lustre.

Earl: The gentleman who is our butler has never been aboard Celebrity. Not the same Anu, sorry. Another sea day today. A bit chilly, but not enough to deter the sun worshippers. Turns out the sun worshippers also revere Bacchus, as the “all-inclusive” ship has run out of many wine offerings. No rose, no Macon, no Italian white, no french white, no Cab, no California chard except Neilson, or Chilean Morande, no Pouilly Fume. And no restock until LIsbon, when we get off. Apparently the wine drinkers were also dipping strawberries in their wine, as those too are all gone. The sommelier we spoke with said this is a challenge. Of the pax aboard, only 100 plus are first timers with Silversea.

The pool deck is empty. All must be polishing up and primping for formal night.

I will ask however I do not think your Anu is the same person.

Sea Day en route to Puerto Rosario, Spain. Sparkling seas and bright sun. The pool is crowded. Formal night tonight. Another hour will evaporate into the ether. I must mention our butler and suite attendant, who are splendid and caring. Anu and Mark are special. Kudos. We have noticed many changes in the Silversea product. But the crew, many of whom are new to the line, are efficient and attentive.

Moon over the Dawn

Mindelo a lovely breezy day, very hazy.

Enjoy!

Sea day 4 and 5. While the sun is out and pax go about their vacation activities, the Captain is rushing to get to Mindelo early, by tonight. We were due to arrive the following day. There is a medical emergency onboard which requires utmost speed to the nearest hospital.