duct tape Posted May 6, 2014 #51 Share Posted May 6, 2014 More great pix and commentary! Thanx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 6, 2014 #52 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Hope the weather improves for you in Petropavlovsk, as said before the Volcano ATV tour is wonderful, if the weather obliges. If you get a chance ask David Bilsland how he coped with having to loose hours on the Spirit after doing the same on the Cloud, and then flying out to join you guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellseasoned Posted May 9, 2014 Author #53 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Well, we really lucked out! After two sea days with fog, rain, overcast, we anchored at Petropavlosk yesterday morning (May 8), with clear skies and bright sunshine. They had had fog and no visibility the day before. The Kamchatka volcanoes all along the bay are spectacular, particularly the ones looming over Petropavlosk. We did the all day excursion to a camp in the saddle between the tallest Kamchatka volcano, Koryaksky, and the most active, Avachinsky. The route was on a "dry" muddy, rocky riverbed and snowfields, by ATV truck and snowcat. Absolutely spectacular! We celebrated the evening with a great meal in Le Champagne. The Indian dinner the previous evening was terrific. They created wonderful dishes for our group, and we all loved it. Today at sea it is again cold, overcast and foggy. This is the first of three sea days (we get an extra May 9 because of the dateline). We attended David Bilsland's knife skills session this morning, learned much, had fun, and managed to avoid drawing blood. Tonight is the Venetian formal. The internet connections remain inconsistent and could use real improvement. I also wish that we had more lecturers on different topics aboard. We've also had four straight nights of losing an hour's sleep because of the time changes since leaving Japan. There are several more to come. But the food and service remain excellent, and the passengers and crew seem happy. Petropavlosk and Volcanoes Avachinsky Volcano Koryatsky Volcano and ATV Truck Local Kamchatka Beer at Volcano Camp Lunch Snowcat and Certain Passenger at Volcano Camp Hiking at Camp Between Koryatsky and Avachinsky Volcanoes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stumblefoot Posted May 9, 2014 #54 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Wow! The Kamchatka volcanoes are stunning. Glad you had an incredibly beautiful day to enjoy them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare spinnaker2 Posted May 9, 2014 #55 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Spectacular ! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ging466 Posted May 9, 2014 #56 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Fantastic to see your pics of the volcanoes. When I was there in 2012, we didn't have snow on the ground. Just love your wonderful pics. Cheers Jennifer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WesW Posted May 9, 2014 #57 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Thanks for another wonderful update Dieter, coupled well with your beautiful pix, esp liked the pix with Debbie in front of your excursion ride above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duct tape Posted May 9, 2014 #58 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Wow is right. Terrific pix. Thanx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emtbsam Posted May 9, 2014 #59 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Your photos are simply wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 10, 2014 #60 Share Posted May 10, 2014 Firstly, glad that you were blessed with such good weather and you got to travel in a snowcat. Love your excellent photos. Hope your next couple of day in the Bering Sea are not too rough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellseasoned Posted May 11, 2014 Author #61 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Thank you all for your kind words! Tonight we are finishing three straight sea days. It's been cloudy, foggy, but the seas have been normal, none of the rough Bering Sea problems! We've enjoyed the usual on board pleasures, such as David Bilsland's demos, knife and appetizer lessons (no blood!), great service and food, and reasonable success at trivia. The CD Don Fluke did his own singing show yesterday, and it was quite good. It would still be nice to have more lecturers with all these sea days. The Artists are good, and two of the female singers have outstanding operatic voices. Tonight is the last of seven consecutive turn clock ahead nights. Tomorrow morning we dock at Dutch Harbor, Alaska for a half day visit and have the Coast Guard/passport inspection. The Health Service inspection is on one of the next few days. Hope all goes well. I understand that the weather will become warmer with sunshine as we progress through the Alaskan island stops until Seward. All in all, a great cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duct tape Posted May 11, 2014 #62 Share Posted May 11, 2014 So glad you had calm seas. One thing Cunard does that I like - when eastbound TA they change the clocks at 12N so the crew is less traumatized. Nice idea. I keep mentioning it to SS but they aren't listening. Catch up on that sleep! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare spinnaker2 Posted May 11, 2014 #63 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Sounds like so much fun We are on discoverer Seward to nome in July. Wonder if you encountered mosquitoes since we have been told it's an issue? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stumblefoot Posted May 11, 2014 #64 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Tomorrow morning we dock at Dutch Harbor, AlaskaBe on the lookout for the Northwestern, Time Bandit, Wizard, Cape Caution, Saga, and Seabrooke. While I love watching them work, I would never want to take a "cruise" on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaEyre Posted May 11, 2014 #65 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Your pictures are indeed wonderful, Dieter. We're looking forward to welcoming you home and hearing about the trip in more detail. Read Jennifer's (ging466) review of her first trip on Crystal Symphony, since my own experience of the ship almost exactly echoes hers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellseasoned Posted May 13, 2014 Author #66 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Monday May 11 morning it was gloomy and drizzly in Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Alaska. Just a half day. Saw some bald eagles. No mosquitoes so far. But the afternoon brightened into a beautiful sunny evening, cruising along Aleutian islands with lovely volcanoes and mountains, whales cavorting nearby at dinner. Our same group that had the Indian dinner a few nights ago arranged a Philipine dinner for last night, and it was again a multi-course delight. The chefs create the menu and surprise us with an array of wonderful dishes. Today, May 12, we are again at sea, again overcast, but no time changes! Tomorrow Kodiak Island is supposed to be partly sunny and warmer. Hope so. The pool grill has not been open for lunch or dinner for quite a few days, and the pool has been closed. Earlier I mentioned the large group of 93 who are part of a multi university alumni tour, and some who booked through the Smithsonian, same travel booking service. Pleasant fellow passengers, many new friends. But they do have their own lecturers, and Silversea makes no mention of those lectures to the rest of us. They of course attend all of the regular Silversea talks and events. I wonder if that is part of the reason that we have so little in the way of lectures for such a sea-intensive cruise? On several afternoons a movie is shown in the show lounge, which is unusual in our experience. Two nights ago the Panorama Lounge was occupied by a private pre-dinner cocktail party for the large group. We have also wondered why most of the tours in the next stops of Kodiak and Homer Alaska, which have limited tourist infrastructure, were already waitlisted when they became available for booking four months prior to the cruise. Had the large group been given early access? I don't know, but I wonder. I don't know how this could be done, but I agree with others on CC that Silversea should allow potential or booked passengers to know if there is a large group booking a cruise, with an option to change or cancel if desired. I hasten to add that I would never have cancelled for this group, but what if it had been a reward cruise for 93 (pick your own nightmare group)? Lovely dinner tonight with Carl, the cruise consultant. He should write a book about his experiences. It would be a bestseller! pool deck, Dutch Harbor, Alaska Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare RachelG Posted May 13, 2014 #67 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Brrrr! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
englishusa Posted May 14, 2014 #68 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Dieter:Have any of the Shadow's bathrooms been converted to the "rainforest" showers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duct tape Posted May 14, 2014 #69 Share Posted May 14, 2014 How much better weather is anticipated next month? It is anticipated at all???? Thinking of escaping to Alaska. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellseasoned Posted May 14, 2014 Author #70 Share Posted May 14, 2014 David, no, there are no rain showers. Duct tape, The weather improved greatly by yesterday. Kodiak was sunny and beautiful and warm enough to open the pool deck and grill. Today we just docked in Homer and it is clear and sunny at 8 AM, temperature currently 57 F. We are about to go ashore and explore. Today is the last day aboard. Early tomorrow morning we dock at Seward and board the scenic train to Anchorage and flights home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duct tape Posted May 14, 2014 #71 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Thanx. Have a terrific day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare spinnaker2 Posted May 14, 2014 #72 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Looked like a splendid voyage Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted May 14, 2014 #73 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Thanks for taking us with you Dieter, have a safe and pleasant journey home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WesW Posted May 14, 2014 #74 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Echo Mr. Silver's Thanks Dieter(and Debbie)...safe travels home Sent from my iPad mini using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare drron29 Posted May 15, 2014 #75 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Thanks for the report.Brought back some good memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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