Ruminations from the Silver Muse.

[drron29]

The next morning saw us steaming into Benoa, Bali.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

A welcoming party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were now off on the Ubud on your own excursion. basically a shuttle bus to Ubud. Probably about 40 years since we had last been.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RetiredandTravel]

Away from the Ossobuco is it fair to say that you have been generally content with the food and service?

 

ty

Edited November 28, 2023 by RetiredandTravel

[taxatty]

Did you catch anyone from the ship sneaking into the KFC? That would be the ultimate negative review of Silversea's food.

[drron29]

No passengers but in Singapore there was a food court in the terminal and I did catch a crew member with a Macca's bag.

[Grand Duchess]

On 11/27/2023 at 12:34 PM, drron29 said:

Sail away continues. The view back to the dock.

 

 

 

The yacht comes with it's own chopper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.superyachtfan.com/yacht/cloudbreak/

[drron29]

@RetiredandTravel we are definitely satisfied withe food with the exceptions of the Osso Buco and La terraza in general. We have lived in Italian suburbs of Sydney when young and more recently I have worked in griffith, NSW which has a very large Italian population. The hospital has it's signs in English and Italian. As well s that several visits to Griffith when one of our best friends was Headmaster of the High school there. So we have had many meals wiith italian families and love the Nonnas cooking. So La terraza has never been one of our favourites.

The Grill meals we thought had less quality than before as well as basically being too hot to eat there.

And the other complaint is the repetious nature of the veggie accompaniments to the main meals in Atlantide. saying you didn't want them didn't work. they still appeared.

 

As to service in general we felt it better than usual. After a while we always ate in Pablo's section of Atlantide. An exceptional talent who we praised in the assessments. However that meant on the last night of our cruise he had been promoted to La Dame.

We also found the sommeliers were very good. And they did have qualifications.

[Brad1185]

Seems like a lot of repeated menus. Lots of raw meet and fish. 
 

I am sure we will be happy with the offerings but comparing the menus and food pictures to our Oceania Vista cruise a month ago SS seems like a let down and disappointing.  The cheese course one meal looked really bad.  
 

the menus seem small, repetitive and a little disjointed. 
 

seems you had your share of meh meals

per your posts. 
 

seema you have been on the cruise for a month or longer?

 

 

[drron29]

We had 44 days and weren't worried by the choices. you svee a lot of raw meat and fish in my pictures because that is what i like.

We didn't go to Indochine a lot because there is a large percentage of spicy dishes. Rojaan does not do spice. If you like spice there is an immediate increase in your choices.

 

And my major yardstick is does it taste nice and by that standard the majority of dishes passed the test. In particular the beef in Atlantide was up there with the best I have had. I was very pleased with it.

 

But yes I was totally disappointed with the cheeses on offer.

 

However we have never cruised Oceania, I don't think I have seen any pictures of their food so I can't comment on that.

As to limited menus the Atlantide menu has 4 pages every night of which the first page changes each night. It does repeat dishes but not for at least for a week and then not every dish. was more than enough choice for us.

Plus there is a much more extensive everday/room service menu and we sometimes substituted a dish from there. So if I didn't like the desserts I would order the creme brulee or the Eton mess from that menu.

[drron29]

Temples and stone works everywhere. Very little undeveloped road frontage all the way to Ubud. Very different to 40 years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We arrive at the bus parking lot.

 

[drron29]

So we started our perambulation around Ubud. First the surrounds of the parking area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The footpaths were narrow and uneven. Often with cars or motor bikes parked on them so walking the main street was at times rather daunting. so we decided to go down a side street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But it began to go uphill and the number of cars pushing through increased so back to the main road.

Edited November 29, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

Then a building I recognised. Same design but modernised. 40 years ago it was the public market and open air with iron roof.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wouldn't want this fellows job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tried to find where we stayed. out of town not far from the market and overlooking rice paddies and the river. all gone and heavily developed now.

[drron29]

Time for lunch. We decided to have lunch at the restaurant right beside the bus parking are. Only 1 other couple there. Simple food but tasty and cheap. no wine so Rojaan had a sprite and I a Bintang.

 

Rojaan had chicken satays which were OK and I had spicy pork ribs which were nice.

 

 

Total cost just under 140000 rupiah. $A10/$US9.

The restaurant and the views from the back of the restaurant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then a bit of a stroll around the buildings around the parking lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then took my life in my hands and crossed the road to a little temple.

 

 

The road wasn't that busy just then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Time then to get on the bus and head back to the port.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Note the petrol bowsers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bus stops were raised.

 

 

 

[drron29]

Back to the ship and I went up to deck 12 above the observation lounge for a bit of planespotting and enjoying the surrounds.

 

 

Qatar came in quite low.

 

They came in at 10 -15 minute intervals

 

The sun was starting to set.

 

just to the left of centre over the bridge you can see the landing lights for DPS.

 

 

 

 

 

A little later the sunset became better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RetiredandTravel]

9 hours ago, drron29 said:

@RetiredandTravel we are definitely satisfied withe food with the exceptions of the Osso Buco and La terraza in general. We have lived in Italian suburbs of Sydney when young and more recently I have worked in griffith, NSW which has a very large Italian population. The hospital has it's signs in English and Italian. As well s that several visits to Griffith when one of our best friends was Headmaster of the High school there. So we have had many meals wiith italian families and love the Nonnas cooking. So La terraza has never been one of our favourites.

The Grill meals we thought had less quality than before as well as basically being too hot to eat there.

And the other complaint is the repetious nature of the veggie accompaniments to the main meals in Atlantide. saying you didn't want them didn't work. they still appeared.

 

As to service in general we felt it better than usual. After a while we always ate in Pablo's section of Atlantide. An exceptional talent who we praised in the assessments. However that meant on the last night of our cruise he had been promoted to La Dame.

We also found the sommeliers were very good. And they did have qualifications.

 

 

Much Appreciated.  We are on the Muse in May and again in 2025 so your report has been of great interest.  Given the recent multiple mixed reviews across all the luxury lines it's refreshing to see positive comments from a seasoned veteran with discerning taste.  Enjoy!!

 

[Brad1185]

44 days sounds wonderful.  14 days is my wife’s max at one time. 

[drron29]

Since retiring we have been doing longer cruises. We did 54 days on the Moon earlier this year. We have found it very good as you do get to know the crew better.

As well anywhere from Australia is basically a long flight so better to get value out of it.

[drron29]

Before dinner a village group boarded and per formed the Kecak dance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kecak

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They find the Queen.

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

The baddie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They now invited audience participation. though I'm sure that those that volunteered had been selected prior. they had the rest of us ROFL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Shaman appears.

 

And all ends well.

 

It went way overtime so everyone was late to dinner.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 30, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

Finally dinner in Atlantide.

 

 

Rojaan had the watermelon and tomato salad which was nice. I had potato Laksies which tasted nice but weren't the way they normally would be made.

 

 

She had the an appetiser as a main.

 

Whilst I had the duo of scallop and halibut which was good.

 

Rojaan had the pavlova and I the lemon meringue pie for dessert . They have been shown before.

Lunch was at the grill just a salad for Rojaan and a burger for me. Quality has slipped from previous cruises.

Edited November 30, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

We stayed on board for the second day in Bali. Some views from outside the Panorama lounge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today the planes were taking off over us so were a bit higher.

 

 

Then I witnessed an absolutely insane moment.

 

The fellow on the red jet ski had stood on the very rear of the jet ski and took a lot of photos of the woman in various poses. I hadn't realised what he was doing but then he handed the phone to the woman who proceeded to take about 30 selfies of herself in different poses. Truly idiotic to me.

 

Then it was time for sail away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

Dinner that night.

 

Rojaan had the crab salad.

 

And I had the tuna salad.

 

I had the Mushroom soup and Rojaan had her NZ lamb.

 

I once again had the fillet steak. just the way I like it.

 

Rojaan had the pavlova and I the blueberry chocolate crumble.