Live Blog – Silhouette Nov 3 – Beaches to Broadway – Pull up a seat and Join

[h20cruzer]

Jim I heard no alcohol in New York excep berr wine an cider. Is it TRUE!! I heard they never got a  license for the state of New York

Norma

[gimletgal]

3 minutes ago, h20cruzer said:

Jim I heard no alcohol in New York excep berr wine an cider. Is it TRUE!! I heard they never got a  license for the state of New York

Norma

I think you'll find your answer in post #631. They (X) did apply for the license.

[ecslady]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

The infamous Naked Cowboy was out performing for tips.   Brrrtrr

 

 

He must be getting pretty old.  He's been there for as long as I can remember. LOL

[chamima]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

WARNING!!!    AGRESSIVE SPECIALTY RESTAURANT SELLING 

 

I've heard of aggressive selling of Specialty Restaurants but this is the worse I have ever experienced.   Not only are they aggressively selling they seem to be more aggressive than I have ever seen.   Last night they were almost arguing with us when we politely said no thanks.    

 

Reservations must not be doing well.    Even last evening in Luminea our waiter was pushing The Chef's Table at a "Special Price for either the two of us or even 3 if Marsha wished to join us"   

 

I definitely plan on slamming the behavior on our Survey at the end of the cruise.   I've gotten to be as rude to them as I would a telephone solicitor, not even responding and walking past them. 

 

 

I'm sorry to hear that they're doing this but you know there must be tremendous pressure from on high .

They are probably almost as uncomfortable doing it as you are hearing it but I would imagine they are observed and reprimanded if not doing as they are instructed.

Instead of waiting until the end of the cruise there is a middle of the cruise type survey (I can't remember the exact name but it's something like "How are We Doing") that you should probably fill out.

(This will be an issue for us as well since my husband is a vegan and I am a vegetarian and the specialty restaurants are a total waste for us)

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, upwarduk said:

I imagine there will be many unhappy beverage package passengers. Will they be partially refunded for the days in New York?

I haven't heard anything about a refund or credit and personally don't expect one.  

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, mickey89 said:

Hi Jim -  Followed your blog with interest as we board Silhouette on the 30th of this month for a B2B cruise.  You have had a great time, and looks like the weather yesterday was better than today looking at the Port Webcam.

If you get the chance -- could you find out who is the Maitre d' in Murano and if Roxanne is still there - Thanks.

I'll check on it.   We are going there again on the 16th.

[Covepointcruiser]

Glad the weather cleared at 11am just as predicted.    We did Bryant Park with their Holiday Bazaar and free ice seating rink.   It was really beautiful last night and the hot cider drinks made it feel like Christmas.  Today was a great day for walking and not as cool as yesterday.   Had the oyster stew in Grand Central and it was as excellent as ever.

there are certainly no shortage of great, inexpensive places to eat in NYC.

 

its odd that you have had so much upsell for Specialty Restaurants.    Has this been while dining in Luminae?   We havn’t had dinner there but we didn’t notice upselling at breakfast or at the two lunches we endured.   For some strange reason they did not open the Porch for lunch yesterday.   It was not cold and it would have been a great spot to watch us sailing towards NYC.   We did go to the “exclusive” helipad experience sailing into NYC.   There were so many there it was hardly exclusive.   Las time we had about 40, this time it was closer to 150.   Couldn’t get near the rail so we took one bridge photo and left.

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, h20cruzer said:

Jim I heard no alcohol in New York excep berr wine an cider. Is it TRUE!! I heard they never got a  license for the state of New York

Norma

That is correct that they could not serve anything besides Wine, Beer and Cider while in New York.   The indications I got was that they did receive license but it was limited to those items.  To me it sounds like someone screwed up.

 

[floridaag]

My wife snapped some nice pics from Hoboken and the ferry as she was visiting cousins

[Jim_Iain]

58 minutes ago, ecslady said:

 

He must be getting pretty old.  He's been there for as long as I can remember. LOL

 

Just googled on it, Robert John Burch was born December 23, 1970 which would make him 47 almost 48.  

[Jim_Iain]

9 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

Glad the weather cleared at 11am just as predicted.    We did Bryant Park with their Holiday Bazaar and free ice seating rink.   It was really beautiful last night and the hot cider drinks made it feel like Christmas.  Today was a great day for walking and not as cool as yesterday.   Had the oyster stew in Grand Central and it was as excellent as ever.

there are certainly no shortage of great, inexpensive places to eat in NYC.

 

its odd that you have had so much upsell for Specialty Restaurants.    Has this been while dining in Luminae?   We havn’t had dinner there but we didn’t notice upselling at breakfast or at the two lunches we endured.   For some strange reason they did not open the Porch for lunch yesterday.   It was not cold and it would have been a great spot to watch us sailing towards NYC.   We did go to the “exclusive” helipad experience sailing into NYC.   There were so many there it was hardly exclusive.   Las time we had about 40, this time it was closer to 150.   Couldn’t get near the rail so we took one bridge photo and left.

 

The upselling has been in multiple places.    The heaviest is outside Ocean View Grill were they have at least 4 selling.   Also they have them stationed at the entrance into Ensemble Bar and at the landings where the entrance to Grand Cuvee on 4 and entrance to Luminea on 3.    Last night they had one that was particularly aggressive as you came through Security back onto the ship.  

 

We enjoyed the Helipad but as you I was surprised by how many were invited.   We were escorted down by our butler a little earlier so had a place on the railing.   It was rather cold until we got into the Hudson where we were protected from the winds.  

[Jim_Iain]

Now this is one job I wouldn’t want. 

 

[UKPete71]

6 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

WARNING!!!    AGRESSIVE SPECIALTY RESTAURANT SELLING 

 

I've heard of aggressive selling of Specialty Restaurants but this is the worse I have ever experienced.   Not only are they aggressively selling they seem to be more aggressive than I have ever seen.   Last night they were almost arguing with us when we politely said no thanks.    

 

What do you class as aggressive? I’ve had menus waved at us as we’ve walked passed and asked if we want dine in Tuscan etc. that night. The first few times I mentioned we had a dining package and reservations booked. The chap outside OVC now just has general chat and no pushing to book anything. 

 

We’re actually in Tuscan tonight so it’ll be interesting to see how busy it is.

[Jim_Iain]

The rain ended around 10:00 this morning and with the exception of some fine mist early was a rather nice overcast day for walking.   

 

We had been told by some locals that we must visit the recently remodeled City Library at Bryant Park.  We passed St Patrick’s Cathedral. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

11 minutes ago, UKPete71 said:

 

What do you class as aggressive? I’ve had menus waved at us as we’ve walked passed and asked if we want dine in Tuscan etc. that night. The first few times I mentioned we had a dining package and reservations booked. The chap outside OVC now just has general chat and no pushing to book anything. 

 

We’re actually in Tuscan tonight so it’ll be interesting to see how busy it is.

 

I would classify it aggressive when asked and I politely say no thank you and then he starts following us asking why.   I can make a good deal for you.   I again reply no thank you and he continues following with his selling pitch.   I finally told him to get out of my face or I would file a formal complaint.   He finally backed off. 

[Jim_Iain]

Next stop was a visit to Macy’s.  Beautiful and fun to just browse.  

 

 

 

 

Incredible old wooden escalator steps. 

 

[bengaltiger1]

19 minutes ago, UKPete71 said:

 

What do you class as aggressive? I’ve had menus waved at us as we’ve walked passed and asked if we want dine in Tuscan etc. that night. The first few times I mentioned we had a dining package and reservations booked. The chap outside OVC now just has general chat and no pushing to book anything. 

 

We’re actually in Tuscan tonight so it’ll be interesting to see how busy it is.

I class aggressive when I smile, say no thank you and they push the menu in my face. That has happened once this trip.  If it happens again I will be speaking to the suite manager.  

 

We dined in Murano on the fifth and I have never seen it so empty.  

 

However, my pet hate is photographers interrupting my meal. Again, I remain polite and pleasant, but I do find it annoying.  

 

I feel  like I am running the gauntlet when I walk through the shops.  It’s constant badgering and you can’t browse without someone pushing you to buy.  

 

Other than that it’s been a marvellous cruise and I expect that some would think I was being picky. 

[bengaltiger1]

10 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I would classify it aggressive when asked and I politely say no thank you and then he starts following us asking why.   I can make a good deal for you.   I again reply no thank you and he continues following with his selling pitch.   I finally told him to get out of my face or I would file a formal complaint.   He finally backed off. 

Same with the staff in the shops.  Please leave me alone.  If I want more info I will ask for it.  

[Jim_Iain]

We strolled down the fashion district. 

 

 

Smallest police car I have ever seen. 

 

[goofysmom99]

A particularly charming lady at my dinner table felt bad for everyone being short and curt with the photographer.  She smiled her thousand watt smile and asked him to take her picture.  She has no intention of purchasing it...it's nice to see another perspective occasionally.  Made me retink my attitude.

[Jim_Iain]

We next headed back to the ship with a visit to the USS Intrepid.   They also have the Air Shuttle Enterprise and Concord there.   The Submarine Growler is also open to explore. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

 

5:00 pm and departed New York for Bermuda.   Really got cold this afternoon.   

 

 

 

 

[Turtles06]

Jim, sorry you’ve had some bad experiences with staff hawking the specialty dining venues. We’ve managed by saying “no thanks” and walking on, but I’d be pretty ticked off as well if someone kept following us and badgering us after that.

 

The people I’ve found most bothersome and creepy are the staff who work in the shops, who stand outside them after any event in the theatre and make you feel like you are running a gauntlet to get by them.