Port Power

Las Palmas is warm and sunny and on the ocean. It has some lovely and colourful old houses. But, gee! Look at the housing sprawl it is pretty dense.

Yes, it certainly is. I also ask for it not to be brought out as there is too much food on it. However, I might request an individual serving. The large board is all right when there are at least four diners.

As usual, the flower arrangements all over the ship are gorgeous. I met the florist one day. She is the only florist aboard!

Wednesday, 29 November, 2023. Las Palmas, Grand Canaria, Spain. I went for a walk off the ship this morning, but didn’t find much worthy of being photographed. Next to the ship there appears to be a building (cruise terminal?) being built, and we are being regularly serenaded by the pile driver. It is amazing how much of the metal pillars end up underground! About one-third remains visible. Opposite us again is the P&O UK “Ventura”, so there are lots of Brits in their shorts and summer clothes out and about. Some children too. I was passed by three young women leaving the ship with their plastic tumblers of wine! Further along in front is Lürssen’s “Golden Odyssey”. Whether it has the Arabian Sheik onboard or is chartered we cannot tell. Opposite and behind “Ventura” is the CroisiEurope “La Belle does Oceans”, which many of you may remember when it was “Silver Discoverer”. There are lots of happy looking people on the aft deck and walking back from shore. I could take a photo because of the pylons obstructing the view. It is a very pleasant and sunny 21C today. There is a big shopping centre opposite the port with a large supermarket, which is very handy for crew shopping for their necessities as well as treats.

I was watching from my balcony when the small “wheelchair” bus returned from the day’s excursion. By then the tide had risen, so the gangway was even steeper! I thought, surely the deck 3 access door could be opened and a ramp put out for wheelchairs and mobility walkers? Everyone did get up the steps, all with assistance from their companions or the crew. One companion ran up and down twice, I would think to ask about how her Dad should get aboard. The assistance fellows are wonderful. A gangway across to deck 3 would have been even better.

Thank you. I saw the yellow funnel in the distance and looked no closer.

Tuesday, 28 November, 2023. Arrecife, Canary Islands. I was somewhat unwell overnight, so did not go on my tour. Hopefully one of the other Cruise Critic members on board will be able to post their experiences. So here is the uninspiring view from my starboard balcony. At least there was fresh air. Actually I was looking at the ocean on the other side of the road, so it was quite nice. There has been a large ship in front of Silver Dawn when we arrived. It left at around 4:00pm or so. Turned out it was a Costa ship. 🥴

Monday was a long awaited sea day. No photos were taken. We had the Captain’s welcome in the Venetian Lounge and this time I was invited to have dinner with the Human Resources Manager. There was another solo lady and a couple, and John, the Future Cruise Manager, also joined the table. A good time was had by all.

On Sunday evening the housekeeping crew were very busy indeed. Christmas decorations are now up. Atrium deck 5: Deck 4. Not very easy to photograph with the tree above the ceiling.

We were back at the port in time for a mid afternoon departure. Sunday regatta.

The day finished with a visit to Ericeira, originally a fishing village but now a large and popular holiday resort area. There is surf, and just like Perth in autumn and winter, the kids were out on their surfboards in their wetsuits. It was charming to wander around a bit. It was Sunday, a brass band had just finished playing and the small Christmas market had opened. The old houses had tiled walls from the Moorish influence. We admired the lovely wrought iron balconies, and were amazed by the festooned power lines!

This palace is intentionally a mini Versailles. However, was one chandelier I saw was extremely similar to one I had recently seen in Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna.

The gardens were just lovely. We had fifteen minutes to stroll around before leaving. There is a small river running through the property. This was beautified by making a tiled canal and pagoda. During summer the ends of the canal would be closed, forming a pool. Gondolas were placed on the water for people to float back and forth for amusement.

There are still occasional problems adding photos and editing posts. When I moved to my phone to add the photos, the first line of description disappeared. I think it can easily be seen those first two photos are of the ballroom, also known as the throne room and the mirror room.

The view from the ballroom The music room A soup tureen that is prett cute. There were some lovely dishes on display. This room opens onto the terrace and gardens, and the walls are all tiled. The scenes are from countries around the world. The Ambassadors’ room, where ambassadors presented themselves to the king and queen. Royal seats at one end, then the ambassadors would have to walk backwards to their seats. Some lovely Chinoiserie pots

You cannot do anything until you have the record locator. From various other threads on this subject, that might only become available a matter of weeks before the flights. Silversea has the ability to hold seats for a long time. However, when you go into “manager my booking” you will see the flight details are there. That will give you the information you are after about class of flight. You cannot make any adjustments or seat selection until they seats are actually ticketed.

A section of the palace (on the left) is still used for important visitors, one of most recent being Queen Elizabeth II. Maybe it isn’t used as much or more recently as our guide said? This is the servants’ quarters and stable complex.

Sunday, 26 November, 2023. Lisbon On our second day in Lisbon, I went on a tour to the Royal Palace of Queluz and Ericeira Village. Lisbon was a monarchy from 1143 until 1910. It has had the same land border since 1249, one of the few countries in Europe that has kept its same borders for such a long time through history.It is the second oldest capital city in Europe after Athens, and one of the oldest cities overall. It was a nice drive out of Lisbon to the summer palace. Along the way we pass under an aqueduct. Not from Roman times, but opened in 1740 to bring water from the hills down to Lisboa.

In Copenhagen, an absolute must see is the architecturally fascinating opera house. The ship might do a tour. Otherwise book it yourself. Next June I will be staying at the Grand Hotel in Oslo pre-cruise with the tour group. I’ll have my fingers crossed @highplanesdrifters. And earplugs packed! On my own dime for three nights prior, I have booked the Clarion Collection Hotel Folketeateret. It is near the opera house and the port.

Have a great cruise @mysty and Myster. Enjoy yourselves. Don’t try to report from every port along the way.

On the way out of the dock on the boat, we saw an area where a ship and a yacht/ schooner were tied up. It looked like a place where they might be renovated. One of these ships wore a very familiar name. The next day, 26th, we had a new neighbour tied up in front of Silver Dawn. Wasn’t that the quickest makeover ever!!!

There was a neighbour at the port. Celebrity Infinity, a medium sized ship these days. I took these photos coming back, and couldn’t help laugh at the first one where the angle makes Silver Dawn look to tiny next to Infinity.

When most of the passengers had disembarked, our tour set off at 10:00am. There was a bus ride around town showing the highlights, and then a Tagus River cruise. Two bus loads of passengers were on the boat, but only about 50 people in all over two and a half decks. It was a foggy morning still, which made for some interest views and photographs.

Saturday, 25 November, 2023. Lisbon.