Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Five

[Port Power]

A train enthusiast ’s happy place, for sure.

[QueSeraSera]

Looks like Silversea Air has us on ITA business class to/from Rome in April.  Has anyone had experience with them?

 

[jpalbny]

1 hour ago, QueSeraSera said:

Looks like Silversea Air has us on ITA business class to/from Rome in April.  Has anyone had experience with them?

 

 

All I know is that they are the successor of Alitalia. Haven't flown them yet but they are a SkyTeam partner so you'll have to let me know how they are!

[drron29]

An interesting walk back from the Museum basically alongside the train tracks. one section was industrial but one place had a good display of flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

But then I looked at the name on the building.

 

Caught the shuttle from Kyoto station. It passes a huge temple complex on the way back to the hotel.

 

 

And tonight a 4.30pm sunset.

 

 

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

 

[Lois R]

13 hours ago, drron29 said:

An interesting walk back from the Museum basically alongside the train tracks. one section was industrial but one place had a good display of flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

But then I looked at the name on the building.

 

Caught the shuttle from Kyoto station. It passes a huge temple complex on the way back to the hotel.

 

 

And tonight a 4.30pm sunset.

 

 

 

 

 

The flowers are beautiful!

[drron29]

 

We have a famous American in Australia at the moment and half of Australia have absolutely lost it.

 

[QueSeraSera]

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

[Host Jazzbeau]

[dawntrdr]

Passing on an item that might be of interest to you...

 

Many of us had the pleasure of sailing with Kirk Detweiler, recently CD on several SS (and RCI) vessels.  He is now executive director of the historic Palace Theatre in his home town of Marion Ohio.  On March 20, 2024, the Palace is presenting a lecture and presentation by Julia Hansen, a survivor of the Andrea Doria sea disaster of 1956.  Here is the link:

 

https://marionpalace.org/event/andrea-doria-a-famous-sea-disaster-and-a-survivors-story/

 

By the way, it looks like Kirk is still hosting Trivia night!

[Emtbsam]

1 minute ago, dawntrdr said:

Passing on an item that might be of interest to you...

 

Many of us had the pleasure of sailing with Kirk Detweiler, recently CD on several SS (and RCI) vessels.  He is now executive director of the historic Palace Theatre in his home town of Marion Ohio.  On March 20, 2024, the Palace is presenting a lecture and presentation by Julia Hansen, a survivor of the Andrea Doria sea disaster of 1956.  Here is the link:

 

https://marionpalace.org/event/andrea-doria-a-famous-sea-disaster-and-a-survivors-story/

 

By the way, it looks like Kirk is still hosting Trivia night!

His trivia was the best of any CD on Silversea!

[Lois R]

There is a video out of Taylor giving her hat to a young girl who has brain cancer.........(during one of her shows in Sydney)......pretty cool. 

 

DW, you were on the Edge on your cruise, right? And Que, ya'll  were on NCL recently, right? I am actually trying to find a cruise for the spring but I have loved the small ships of SS so much I am hesitant of going back to the big ones......I think Silversea has spoiled me but I found a nice cruise on Celebrity to Bermuda and Martha's Vineyard. I keep thinking......do I book? Or no? Do I book?

The ship is The Eclipse and I sailed her many years ago.  SS not nothing for me on their itineraries right now😮

[drron29]

Virgin voyages are expecting the problems in the Red Sea to continue at least for another year. They have already abandoned the Australian 24/25 cruising season because of the Red sea problem.

 

"

Virgin Voyages has announced a number of changes to their upcoming Australian summer season aboard Resilient Lady. This includes the outright cancellation of any sailings in Australia later in 2024 and early 2025 due to the fall out of the Red Sea issues. Due to heightened tensions in the region, the Resilient Lady had to reroute its sailing through the Suez Canal for the 27 March half world voyage to return to Europe.

A host of new itineraries are expected to be announced on Thursday (29 February), stay tuned to VV Insider for the latest updates."

 

https://vvinsider.com/virgin-voyages-cancels-australian-2024-2025-summer-sailings/

 

[QueSeraSera]

7 hours ago, Lois R said:

And Que, ya'll  were on NCL recently, right?

Yes.  And maybe 15 months ago we were on the RCL Quantum of the Seas.  I have no experience with Celebrity.

Wish I was better with words, but I'll just give it a try.  I had a wonderful time on both of these cruises & I was not at all confident I would!  They both lose in comparison with Silversea IMO, but neither trip was unpleasant.  They were both clean.  Someone else cooked every meal and cleaned the room every day.  On both trips, the room attendant was polite and pleasant.  We were on the ocean (soothing for me) and visited some interesting places.  There was a good TV in the room, etc.

I hope this isn't presumptuous, but I hope that you find a good cruise, be it on any line, for this Spring.

 

 

[Lois R]

10 minutes ago, QueSeraSera said:

Yes.  And maybe 15 months ago we were on the RCL Quantum of the Seas.  I have no experience with Celebrity.

Wish I was better with words, but I'll just give it a try.  I had a wonderful time on both of these cruises & I was not at all confident I would!  They both lose in comparison with Silversea IMO, but neither trip was unpleasant.  They were both clean.  Someone else cooked every meal and cleaned the room every day.  On both trips, the room attendant was polite and pleasant.  We were on the ocean (soothing for me) and visited some interesting places.  There was a good TV in the room, etc.

I hope this isn't presumptuous, but I hope that you find a good cruise, be it on any line, for this Spring.

 

 

Thanks and your post was very good. I was a Celebrity cruiser for 15 years before I found SS. I normally always have a good time. It is just a bit strange looking at the big ships after all the cruises on smaller ones.

And, no not presumptuous at all.

[DavyWavey70]

8 hours ago, Lois R said:

DW, you were on the Edge on your cruise, right? 

Hi Lois, yes I was on the Edge, my first time on a "big" ship. I Loved every minute. I Know nothing about any of their other ships. Four of the best features for me were having the solo verandah without being fleeced, the design of the beautiful ship, the amazing service and the whole relaxed atmosphere onboard. Yes there were some things that are better on SS but I couldn't have wished for a better time. My expectations weren't high but were exceeded in every way because of that. I've spent the last 3 years hoping for a SS itinerary that fits for me but none have, they have nothing for me in Jan 25 either. For me itinerary always leads my decision as I only have the month of January to plan for and little flexibility. It all depends on what you're looking for. If you aren't too bummed out by not having Caviar on tap and a butler and the itinerary is more important just go for it. If the ship is your destination then that's a different story. You always strike me as being quite easy going so I think with the right expectations you'd have a great time e. 

[Dolcevita Diva]

A friend/former colleague is one of the presenters at a conference for the adult beverage industry and just shared this picture of the sign behind the check-in desk at the host hotel…😂

[drron29]

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

 

[drron29]

Time to go to dinner. I suggested the yakitori place but it failed as our son found a much better yakitori place a little further away. When we arrived it did indeed look a much better yakitori place and it even had a decent wine list. Unfortunately it also had a sign on the door saying fully booked tonight.
So we back tracked and went into a shopping street as usually a few restaurants. Well there were but most had between 2 and 10 seats so we weren't going to fit. We passed a pizza place which I pointed out and the grandkids thought it looked good but again overruled. After about 15 minutes the pizza restaurant became the only real choice. So in we went. There was an English menu but the server didn't speak any English so pointing was the way to order. Also there wasn't that much English on  he English menu
An unusual place.

 

2 of the children wanted ginger Ale. Here it is.

 

But it really was ginger ale.
The pizzas appeared 2 at a time. But there were excellent and some that you wouldn't get back home.
Mushroom.

 

I had the spicy fish roe. And it was spicy.

 

Our son had the vegetable pizza.

 

2 of the kids had the Neapolitan with an egg. They both said one of the best that they have had.

 

The others had the margherita pizza.

 

Turned out to be a great family evening.
As I was leaving the man and woman doing the cooking asked how it was. One simple word caused them to celebrate. Oishii.

The shopping street at night.

 

 

 

And the garden lights back at the hotel.

 

 

 

[drron29]

The next day we were off to Osaka for Christmas. however we had a late checkout and we had decided to catch the 1.20pm train to Osaka. So a free morning and I decided to do one of my back street walks. Gives you a different view of the city.

 

 

 

 

It was recycling day. People bring their bags to a pick up point.

 

Though an enterprising young fellow had about a dozen bags tied to his bicycle and arms and making off with his collection.

 

 

Ended up back at the shopping street. something for everyone. Fruit.

 

 

Temples.

 

 

 

Seafood.

 

General wares.

 

Street food.

 

Flowers.

 

And a shop called Foodjunkie.

 

Being a morning supply vehicles made it interesting.

 

I noticed this entrance.

 

So went exploring. a lovely place to live.

 

 

[QueSeraSera]

So today was replace the kitchen faucet day.  I had done so 20 or so years ago and felt certain I could do so again (always saving up $ for the next Silversea cruise).

What I didn't account for was our recently rescued cat's assistance...

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

18 minutes ago, QueSeraSera said:

So today was replace the kitchen faucet day.  I had done so 20 or so years ago and felt certain I could do so again (always saving up $ for the next Silversea cruise).

What I didn't account for was our recently rescued cat's assistance...

Didn't the new faucet come in a box?  According to dozens of memes posted lately, all you need to do is put the cat in the empty box – problem solved! 😁

[jpalbny]

1 hour ago, QueSeraSera said:

So today was replace the kitchen faucet day.  I had done so 20 or so years ago and felt certain I could do so again (always saving up $ for the next Silversea cruise).

What I didn't account for was our recently rescued cat's assistance...

 

 

Such a nice looking cat! And so helpful, too.

 

Jazz, the box trick only works if you can close the top fast enough!