Tothesunset

Mmm. I wonder if the reviewer's partner was trying to tell him something. The sommelier story sounds a bit more National Enquirer the NY Times!

And for those still serving, some of whom will not see their homeland again.

It strikes me that Silversea are really quite ungenerous with their loyalty rewards for regular passengers. Compared with Seabourn and RSSC you need to accumulate an awful lot of sea days before gaining any real benefits.

In fact, the rewards from Seabourn, for example, are so much more generous that this would be a significant factor when looking at future cruises.

Does anyone else feel a little short-changed by Silversea?

Assuming that you arriving by air then you will find the Salisbury the easiest to reach from the Airport. Shatin would be a hike.

As for food, which is of course down to personal taste, if you are interested in authentic Thai food there is a brilliant restaurant in Wanchai (on the Island - easy MTR journey) called The Chilli Club (online for address). It really is astonishingly good and you can eat to bursting point and still have change from US$25. Get there before 7pm if you don't have a reservation. We've only been there, oh, maybe 50 times!

We lived in HK for several years and if you get the chance to be there over CNY then take it. Yes, on the actual day itself the harbour area will be packed but otherwise life in HK goes on pretty much as normal. Almost nothing gets in the way of commerce and only the banks and the very small shops will be shut.

If you have a spare day might I take the liberty of suggesting the following (I'm assuming you will be staying in Kowloon or on the Island):

Arm yourself with HK€50 in change.

Take the MTR to Tsuen Wan. Follow the signs to the 51 bus direction Kam Tin. This route will take you over Route Twisk and into Sek Kong then Kam Tin. You get a hairy ride over HK's highest peak (Tai Mo Shan) and as you go down the other side you pass the old British Army and RAF base's accommodations and once you get to level ground you pass the old British RAF base and Army barracks. All now occupied by the PLA.

Get off the bus at the terminus and get another to Yuen Long (just look at the name on the front of the bus) where you can get a further bus round the coast road and back into TST (Tsim Sha Tsui). If you get lost at any point hale a taxi and say ''Star Ferry''. You cannot be more than a £15 taxi ride away!

This is a great way to see the New Territories and kind of fun if you're happy to go with the flow.

Do not attempt this on the day of CNY!

Might it be wise to have a list of dangerous topics for this thread on the grounds that they have been argued into an early grave elsewhere? I would propose:

1. Smoking

2. Dress Code

3. Children on ships