spinnaker2

Yes really does stink. And we feel taken advantage of by the cruiseline.

We have had suites with open deck above. Never like this one. Ever.

My review of Silver Suite 726. I generally do not comment on such issues. The positives, it’s a silver suite silly! But with a strange configuration, obviously it was two verandahs and has been converted into a single suite. One verandah suite became the living room dining room areas with a sleep couch, large closet, dining room table that seas four, dry bar and a complete bathroom with shower. The second room has a bedroom and large walk in closet with vanity and another complete bathroom. Lots of drawers and closet space, a double verandah in length, narrow but with a table and chairs and a single lounger. One gets “free” laundry with a silver. Its also located midship on the Cloud. And the major negatives. Keep in mind one pays a small fortune for this suite. It should be superlative. For us the Silver experience has been very tarnished for the following reasons. Not in order of priority. 1. Noise. At about 4 am the gentlemen who clean the pool deck begin their job. They wash the deck and move the furniture. And the water from the deck wash and buckets and hoses goes directly onto our verandah from above like a deluge. The noise of the furniture moving is really loud, loud enough to wake me up. We did mention this to our butler and the deck cleaning was started about 6 am instead of the earlier time. For anyone who wants to nap in the afternoon and is a light sleeper, this is not the suite for you. The constant moving of the pool deck furniture will prohibit sleep. The noise also continues with the Grill as it is directly above 726. The staircase to deck 8 is just above our bedroom in the suite, we hear all of the comings and goings! Those pax who are habitués of the bar seem to prefer the tables above our suite. They arrive in early morning to grab their regular table. 2. Grey water. This has been a MAJOR issue since Reykjavik. Our double verandah location has issues with the smell of sewage. Initially I thought this was from the bunkering that was happening. When it did not abate, we reported it and had a succession of people who also confirmed the pungent smell, those being; the guest relations, the head butler, our butler, the suite attendant. The smell was so strong we really couldn’t open our verandah door, as the odor would permeate our suite. After the parade of sniffers, first the plumbers came. They took off the drain covers and cleaned a bit and confirmed that the two drains above our verandah were patent and only draining water from above, not sewage. Then the head engineer came. He tried a number of things. The smell persisted. More inspections and sniffers. Then the head engineer supposedly shut off some drain/vent. The smell went away for some days but then came back periodically. It gets less with wind from a certain direction. We were offered another silver suite, but we were told we would have to move back to 726 at changeover day. This didn't seem like a good choice as we hoped the smell would go away. The smell comes and goes. For the last several days the smell has returned in full force. We cannot open our sliders for fresh air as its not fresh. Finally today I learned the reason from one of the many “engineers”, it has to do with the grey water in a trap above us that can not be emptied. The grey water collects over time and must be dumped, but can only be dumped in a place that permits it. What this means is that we will get the smell If the trap can’t be dumped. We asked why this suite is allowed to be used and we were told that in very cold climates they don't get complaints as no one opens the doors. 3. Air conditioning. Last night our A/C failed for the second time. We couldn’t open the verandah doors due to the sewage smell. The A/C has finally been fixed. It required a team who had to open the ceiling. The dump of the trap also took place this afternoon. At the moment our suite is cool and has no smell.

Good morning from the Cloud. We left rainy NYC about 11ish last evening in the rain. I can say that pax and crew went ashore often and enjoyed the extra day. We were to eat at the Grill last evening, but it was just too rainy and damp, instead we braved the MDR. Much more comfortable! A brief aside about the dress code. Well the non dress code. I know the dress code is casual most of the time, but jeans are not supposed to be worn after 6 pm. No one pays any attention to this “rule”. I suppose casual means many things to many people, but in general the attire favored by most is sloppy and wrinkled. I don't think casual means roll out of bed, pick up the clothes you left on the floor in a ball (like in college),and put them on. At the moment the sun is out and the pool deck has nary a lounger. Hot tub is full. Today is another seafood invictus, supposed to be held in the MDR. Lots of activities in the Chronicles, lectures, jewelry, bridge, dancing, trivia, photo workshops, tea, culinary demos, etc. At some point we will make a turn to starboard to enter the Chesapeake Bay and up to Baltimore. A photo from this morning as the sun was making her appearance.

Before we leave I will raise a glass of bubbly to my great great uncle Alfred Larson, his wife Hanna and daughter Helen. In 1905, they lived right here, in the block between 52nd and 55th street, at the Hudson River Bulkhead. He was a captain who took ferry boats up and down the Hudson River. He lived aboard as many of those families did in that era. He came to the USA from Adolf Fredrik, Stockholm, Sweden. He was a captain for many years, eventually relocating up the Hudson to Kingston until he injured his foot. At that time he relocated to Roebling, New Jersey, where he became a watchman. Roebling was the home of a steel mill that was a leading producer of wire rope. John Roebling, (who designed the Brooklyn Bridge) and his three sons built the company into a huge producer of the wire rope and also built a model town for their workers. Here’s to you Alfred and to your family!

If Daniel Day Lewis plays Hamlet, then who will Ophelia be, or not be, that is the question? And will it involve a willow, or female hysteria or flowers? Meanwhile day 2 in NYC and the rains continue. The Norwegian Escape has come alongside the pier and is loading pax. The Gargiulo Produce truck from Hillside, N.J., is also here, and I might add just in the nick of time, as this morning there were NO BERRIES. AGAIN. Not sure what is in the large drums (wine?, oil?, liquid soap?, Jimmy Hoffa?, someone else?). But we can clearly see the tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, lettuce, etc. There seemed to be an argument with the fork lift driver and someone else who said they needed a spoon, yes, that was clarified by the driver, a SPOON.

The low clouds are preventing any view. And the view from the Top of the Rock is totally obscured but a group of pax are still going! Rock on!!! Many crew also took advantage of the opportunity to get off the Cloud. There is a shuttle bus to and from Macy's every hour for anyone who wishes to use it. At the pier next door is the Costa Venezia. It's gigantic. Watching some pax walk the decks in the pouring rain. And now the mountainous ship departs. Our view instantly improves, well not really, just more driving rain.

And the rains came. Ophelia. The approach to the harbor was rough and tough. Strong winds on the starboard side and high seas. City noise and rain did not dampen the spirits of the pax who went off the vessel to be New Yorkers for the day. 20230923_101608.mov

This is the second storm that has impacted this cruise!!! Talk about odds.

We have been told we are going to be at pier 88. I believe that's near the Intrepid. The pilot is to come aboard about 6 am and we are to pass by the Lady at about 7 am, best seen from the port side. This day has been amazingly beautiful. Barely any humidity, bright sun and warmth. Many pax soaked up rays by the pool. The sea food lunch was a mob scene, partly because the music started at noon and food began at 12:30 and it was a cooked to order buffet. The line for food was long. Moreover, there are too few places to sit at the pool deck. The undercover areas are used as storage for items where tables and chairs are placed on other vessels. Many pax arrived in advance and there simply wasn't any availability to sit. We decided to go to LaT where the buffet has sushi, which DrSpins enjoys. Lovely lunch.

Newsflash. The ship course has been altered on the interactive TV. Tomorrow we arrive at NYC at 8 am and overnight. We will depart Sunday at 11 pm. No Newport.

Cloud caravan in the distance And deckchair awaits. ..

Friday. Where in the world is the Cloud O? Where exactly is the Cloud going? Last night we were told that we were skipping Portland. That was ok with DrSpins who had learned that the schooner we were going to board there had a gangway without any rails and was tide dependent. He told me to wear my bathing suit as he was sure with his altered gait and balance he'd be in the sea in short order. As the plans changed his anxiety lessened. We were told we were going to New York to overnight, but we asked what about Newport? Our messenger, the cruise director, didn't know but told us when we returned to our suite we could watch a recorded briefing on the "theater channel". Then another message, turns out nothing was recorded and all that was certain is no Portland. The journey as shown on the interactive TV now shows the Cloud beyond Portland and almost parallel with Newport. Who knows where we are going? There is a serious disconnect with the expedition concept as to communication. We don't get any announcements from the Captain, only the expedition leader, mostly at a briefing held sometimes the night before the next port. I do miss the noon announcements, or at least some daily announcement from the Captain. Today the weather is spectacular. Sunny and warm. We can see on the deck cam that the chairs by the pool are quickly being occupied, some just by a draped and artistically rumpled towel or two, I guess to make them look like someone will momentarily reappear to reclaim them. As we sip our coffee and eat our breakfast en suite, we can see the towel enrobed chairs have had no occupants for a long while. A pax is in the pool swimming about and water walking. A seafood "market" is promised for lunch on the pool deck, with "live" music. As there is a piano player and guitarist aboard, I imagine they will be playing. We are looking forward to the musical market! No updated news on the tropical storm or any impacts on our journey as of this moment. Stay tuned.

A lovely sunset from Bar Harbor. A glass of monopole or two and off we go. Not to Portland, instead a sea day due to a weather event. And we go with the flow.

Bar Harbor. 21 September. 2023. We are at anchor. Along with a number of other vessels. To get into town or on your tour, you must take a zodiac. The Cloud does not have tenders for use in ports. We are running quite late, as a face to face immigration for all onboard (with USA officials) was called. This day has been peppered with very frequent overhead announcements for either for the face to face immigration or for the zodiacs or the delays or the tours. Can you say train station!!!! Just missing is the track announcement. EGADS!!!! We enjoyed lunch at LaT outdoors, sublime! Sushi for DH followed by fresh pasta. A nice crisp white wine. Kudos to the crew and waitstaff who are trying to cope with the changes at the last minute. The ship is full, about 92 pax are Americans, 41 are from the UK, the rest are from Austria, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand and Norway. There will be a sail away cocktail party on the pool deck this evening which, I imagine, will be well attended as it is gorgeous weather.

In my case it was the boat

Did you mean exorbitant prices? Summered very nearby as a kid. When we were here in June I relived being stranded on Cranberry Island. Are those the tides of which you speak? Glad that brain processes memories as if going thru old file cabinets. Once relived they are pretty much gone. Ahhh. Old age.

Halifax. Cloudy, chilly. The end of the cruise for the Reykjavik to Halifax leg of the cruise. Getting here through the weather was a bit tough. A rocky night, with unsure footing. Not a gentle rocking, more of a smacking. The hull took a beating! The corridor was abuzz with activity in the early morning hours. The luggage colors were called, ending with dark blue. Then the all call. We stuck a sign on our door that no service was needed today. Turn around day. The crew have so much to do! We watched as our deck was given a shower by a guy in foul weather gear. He smiled and waved to us. Our interactive tvs changed to the welcome sign. And so, Day 1 for those passengers traveling to Ft. Lauderdale, other than the 14 in transit passengers. Many of the in transit pax elected to go on a 5 1/2 hour tour of Halifax and Peggy’s Cove. I am sure there is much excitement amongst the passengers waiting to board. Tomorrow is Bar Harbor.

The weather prognosticators were correct. Rough afternoon. Rain and swells and 40 knot winds. Heading for Halifax. Valises outside of suites. Approximately 14 in transit pax.

Predictions for the wind and sea to pick up about 2 pm today, as the expedition leader advised to take anti seasick meds about noon with lunch, for those prone to seasickness. Its a bit choppy at the moment, wind is 26 knots and our speed is 12 knots. Nothing wacky yet.

Filling the pool. We lost so much water sloshing on the deck they finally drained a lot out before putting on the net. It's hard to believe that this afternoon it's going to get very rough. Too rough to land at our intended stop. Hence the sea day just before the cruise end at Halifax.

Hello Sun!!! It's been awhile.

Early morning Cloud. I darent step out on verandah too far as the crew is washing the deck above and water is coming down. We are going directly to Halifax as it was determined that the seas will be too rough and prohibit any zodiac landings. And today became the last sea day.

Dare I ask the difference between the saintliness? Or is it the John or John's or ...

My favorite is that breakfast is delivered to our suite and arranged on the table with all of the napery but without a sound. I get up around 5 anyway so I unlock the suite door, close our bedroom door, and go back to bed. Food is scheduled to arrive between 7 and 8. I think the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wakes me shortly after the butler leaves. This is of course, an indulgence, decadent but delightful.