Aboard the Cloud

[tonyballoons]

Dear Duct tape,

 

It was so nice to finaly meet You !

Once back,...we were very quickly back to reality !

We miss life on board !!!

Hopefully, we will have the chance to meet You again on an other cruise .

Who took our place in the jaccuzi with a glass of champagne ?

Please thank Doods and German again for the many refills !

 

Did Gianni survive his meeting with the owner ?

We never saw him so stressed .

Give him a kiss from AS .

 

Please say hello to the wonderfull crew for us .

 

A bientôt, bisous à Vous et Votre mari

[duct tape]

This segment has been quite different from the prior one. The ship is still full but very noisy this time and the current groups are not exactly friendly, quiet and well dressed. Oh well. They will be going soon and then we get a new crowd again. It was a pleasure spending time with you both, as well. Gianni is still flying around. Judie went home and David Lawton is here. He does a good job. Again, a port intensive cruise so I haven't posted much. Catching up today. We are in Sardinia, Cagliari, and it is raining. The BBQ has been cancelled. @sea tomorrow and then into Palma, always a pleasure. I think It has one of the most beautifully situated cathedrals in the world, not to mention the quirky Gaudi Chapel!

[Herman The Cat]

This segment has been quite different from the prior one. The ship is still full but very noisy this time and the current groups are not exactly friendly, quiet and well dressed. Oh well.

 

 

What do you attribute that to? A large group travelling together, a certain age group, etc.?

[duct tape]

There are 2 groups that do not speak nor understand any English so all announcements are remade in Portuguese. Now for the good news, Chef Olivier Joanicot has gotten his team reassembled and the food has improved greatly. I did not know that he boarded with us and that he was completely new to the line. I apologized to him yesterday for being so hard on him in the beginning. Everything is going swimmingly now. We are even having fresh fried oysters today for lunch! As for the weather, it has gone downhill but can't complain since the last few weeks has been warm, sunny and breezy. Today, we are @ sea all day on our way from Cagliari, Sardinia, to Palma, Majorca. The winds are 35K with 10-14' seas. The Captain says it will improve later in the day.

[TLCOhio]

There are 2 groups that do not speak nor understand any English so all announcements are remade in Portuguese. Now for the good news, Chef Olivier Joanicot has gotten his team reassembled and the food has improved greatly. I did not know that he boarded with us and that he was completely new to the line. I apologized to him yesterday for being so hard on him in the beginning. Everything is going swimmingly now. We are even having fresh fried oysters today for lunch! As for the weather, it has gone downhill but can't complain since the last few weeks has been warm, sunny and breezy. Today, we are @ sea all day on our way from Cagliari, Sardinia, to Palma, Majorca. The winds are 35K with 10-14' seas. The Captain says it will improve later in the day.

 

Appreciate the continued updates as we travel along. Glad the food is better. Yes, a good Executive Chef, does make a major difference as we experienced two years ago traveling with you along the Norway Coast. We'll keep following along as hopefully your weather gets better.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 80,181 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[Skeezics]

Hopefully Chef Joanicot is still on the Cloud in November....and the food is even better!

[duct tape]

Interesting day today in Sete, France. We were here last week and welcomed as we were this morning. This afternoon the fisherman have decided to blockade the harbor and not let us leave. I do not know if it is just us or the other tanker and ferry in the next small harbors. The Captain has been keeping us informed. Funny, I have never been held hostage by fishing boats!!! Oh well, the pool is warm and the drinks are cold.

[TLCOhio]

Interesting day today in Sete, France. We were here last week and welcomed as we were this morning. This afternoon the fisherman have decided to blockade the harbor and not let us leave. I do not know if it is just us or the other tanker and ferry in the next small harbors. The Captain has been keeping us informed. Funny, I have never been held hostage by fishing boats!!! Oh well, the pool is warm and the drinks are cold.

 

Has the Silver Cloud been "FREED"?? Do we need to picket and protest? Glad the pool and drinks were good. Keep up the great and interesting posts.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 80,618 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[billcrooz]

Interesting day today in Sete, France. We were here last week and welcomed as we were this morning. This afternoon the fisherman have decided to blockade the harbor and not let us leave. I do not know if it is just us or the other tanker and ferry in the next small harbors. The Captain has been keeping us informed. Funny, I have never been held hostage by fishing boats!!! Oh well, the pool is warm and the drinks are cold.

 

Typical French!

[duct tape]

Update, we were freed on schedule! Had a wonderful day in Cassis yesterday, the market was colorful, the cafes were all very lively and the tourists were all very happy. When there, it must be Restaurant Nino, along the quay. Gambas beignets, mussels Provencale, grilled prawns and a great Sancerre. At the market in St Tropez today, trolling for lunch, let's see...roast chicken, tomatos, fresh strawberries and a little goat cheese! Monte Carlo tomorrow to be reminded of my acute case of boat envy! Chef Joanicot contunues to put our some great dishes and they are good looking too! Weather is still lovely but getting a little humid now.

[TLCOhio]

Update, we were freed on schedule! Had a wonderful day in Cassis yesterday, the market was colorful, the cafes were all very lively and the tourists were all very happy. When there, it must be Restaurant Nino, along the quay. Gambas beignets, mussels Provencale, grilled prawns and a great Sancerre. At the market in St Tropez today, trolling for lunch, let's see...roast chicken, tomatos, fresh strawberries and a little goat cheese! Monte Carlo tomorrow to be reminded of my acute case of boat envy! Chef Joanicot contunues to put our some great dishes and they are good looking too! Weather is still lovely but getting a little humid now.

 

Great report and update. Glad you have been "FREED!!" by the French. Happy you are getting good weather and wonderful food on the ship and on shore. Keep up the great reporting.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 80,847 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[duct tape]

Thanx, Terri. Beautiful day yesterday in Monte Carlo. FAB lunch atop the Hotel DeParis across from the Casino. Very busy in the square. Venetian Night last night with a good crowd. 500 day mark for a fellow CCer. Portofino today. Off to the little port after a good dip in the pool. Livorno overnight tomorrow then back to Portovecchio. Oh dear, then Rome and home again. Oh well, not long until the Whisper. This was a great trip on segment 1 and 3. Later!

[duct tape]

Interesting day in beautiful Portovecchio, Corsica. Started out sunny and breezy and deteriorated into a hale storm while we were in the town having lunch! I have seen hale occasionally, but never this big and for this length of time. Always something new on SS! It actually chilled the pool.

[duct tape]

Arrived in Civitivecchia yesterday AM and went off to the airport. The weather was dreadful, high winds and then lots of rain. Cold damp people do not necessarily make for a fun bunch. Hope everyone got home easily and safely. Mayflower1, it is now up to you and Brimary to report what is going on without us! Thanx for the farewell from your veranda!

[Mayflower1]

Sorry Duct tape for being so tardy in replying, did not bring Lap Top and Ships Internet has been spotty and very expensive for long Posts. BriMary and I have been comparing notes on the Rome/Venice leg and its been very different to the last Cruise - One large Wedding Party ( 47 ) plus 2 Wine Groups ( 40 ) The noise levels have increased considerably especially in the Restaurants and the Staff have been at full stretch coping with these Groups - not ideal for the regular SS Guest. Weather has been very good apart from the day in Civit which as you say was horrendous - also Kotor was a washout until lunchtime.

 

Overall an excellent cruise but Cloud cannot accommodate large Groups well and everyone is looking forward to the refit - one of your cherished Drapes in the Dining Room gave up the ghost whilst we were Dining on Thursday and elegantly slid down the wall - did you have a hand in releasing some Tacking !!!. I hope we are not expecting too much from the refit but live in hope for 2013 when we are on for 3 Cruises - you will no doubt Report from the Amazon.

 

We enjoyed hitching up with you again and look forward to seeing you before too long.

[duct tape]

I knew about the wedding and 2 wine groups but did not know they were that large! Too bad. Yes, I am looking forward to the refit and NEW DR drapes. Got a kick out of that. Send me an e-mail and let me know which Cloud trips you are on next year, probably some of the same. Best to your other 1/2.

[bsrkent]

I knew about the wedding and 2 wine groups but did not know they were that large! Too bad. Yes, I am looking forward to the refit and NEW DR drapes. Got a kick out of that. Send me an e-mail and let me know which Cloud trips you are on next year, probably some of the same. Best to your other 1/2.

 

Hi Duct tape,

We are about a month out from our Cloud Trans Atlantic (the first sailing after the refit) so we can certainly report on any new drapes... but a question for you

Tho we have sailed Silver Sea in the past, this is our first Cloud experience and would like to know your favorite MDR waiter/team and where his/her section might be?

We promise to follow your advise on how to treat the wonderful crew that takes such good care of us.

[duct tape]

O my! If I miss anyone they will let me know. About 1/2 of the crew is going home during/right after drydock. Fred, Maitre'd, should be replaced by Jorge then. Rama is the Sommelier, lovely man. On deck you will have bar waiters German and Ricky, very attentive. The Bar and Panorama may have Marwell and Elbert (bartenders), and servers Tezza, Jovi and Amafay. Mario is the piano player and he is just terrific. As far as the waiters in the DR, you can't go wrong with any of the following and probably someone I forgot...Cherry, Joy, Chris, Alexander, Phillip. Tell them all we send out best and will see them soon. Nov 13.

[Scott1sh]

We are joining The Cloud on 5th October in Barcelona. Do you know who the CD is? We are hoping it is Judie but I seem to remember reading she's not on board right now.

[duct tape]

Judie is on vacation. David Lawton is the CD.

[duct tape]

In the Terrace, Abigail and Oscar!

[bsrkent]

Thanks Duct tape... I just knew you'd be the source.

We do hope that Jorge and most of the other famous crew will be back on board for this crossing... we'll try to bring the Cloud safely back to you in Barbados and will remember Duct tape to each you have named!

[duct tape]

Just got our documents! YAH!! FYI, when you get new boxes for voyages, please check the dress code days per segment. They have changed...no more 4Fs, more Is, some fewer Cs.

[brimary]

Just got our documents! YAH!! FYI, when you get new boxes for voyages, please check the dress code days per segment. They have changed...no more 4Fs, more Is, some fewer Cs.

Home again after 3 wonderful Silversea cruises plus the group trip which Mayflower and ourselves agreed was not a great experience for normal Silversea regular clientelle.The groups did not adhere to the dresscode despite Freds efforts to enforce eg jeans and shorts with Disney shirts on informal nights no jackets on informal or formal nights.The last night summed up The Wine and Sea group.Five large tables (8 to 12 persons) reserved in the dining room same as every other night. 4 people only showed up the rest thankfully went out in Venice (it was pleasant and quiet in the D/R) but no one from the Group had the courtesy to inform Fred.Hope the back is easier after the warm pool therapy and look forward to your Amazon reports and any tips for us for our 2014 trip.Dress code change ...no more formals is a surprise!

[duct tape]

Oh Brimary, I guess i was not clear. There wil lnot be a 4th F night. Only 3. I didn't mean that the Fs were dropped! Oh my, I would be kicked out of the club! thanx.