A Wind around the British Isles

[drron29]

Next the food.Rojaan started with the beef carpaccio,I the salmon carpaccio and we both had the gnocchi.

.

 

.

 

.

She then had the veal marsala,I the scallop and halibut

.

 

.

Rojaan went for the assorted berry dessert and I the chocolate frangipane tart.I can never resist a tart.

.

 

.

[drron29]

Day 14 and we awake as the ship is in the very wide Thames river mouth.It is a really interesting cruise up the river.Naturally today the weather is overcast and breezy.The info says it is 17C but the real feel is probably half that.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

..

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

The Thames barrage comes into view.

.

 

.

whilst a plane comes in to London City airport.

.

 

.

 

[drron29]

A car ferry terminal.

..

 

.

 

.

And another plane.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

Through the barrage.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

Through and a take off.

.

 

.

A lot of building going on as we head upstream.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

The Emirates Air Line as we approach Greenwich.

.

 

.

Not many people taking a ride.

.

 

.

Not forgetting Tony Blair's monument-The Dome.Called by some the "Museum of Toxic Waste"due to materials used such as the glass fibre fabric canopy.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

.

 

.

And I believe this is where the Whisper was docked at the end of her well documented World Cruise.

.

 

.

And the end is in sight.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

.

 

.

 

.

 

..

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

.

Our tug joins us.

..

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

..

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

Tower Bridge can now be seen.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

[drron29]

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

[drron29]

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

 

[drron29]

..

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

..

 

..

[drron29]

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

No one is watching from our room at Cheval!

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

They may be watching from here though.

.

 

 

[drron29]

Our berth is in sight.HMS Belfast.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

The children on the Belfast enjoyed us docking beside them.

 

 

[drron29]

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

We are now tied up alongside the Belfast and the Captain has done his job.We still have another night on board before disembarking.
Rojaan caught the CD,HD and chef having a talk on the pool deck.

.

 

.

And a last look around at the sights we had got used to.

.

 

..

 

.

[drron29]

A simple lunch on the pool deck.Deep fried camembert shared,fish forrojaan and a burger for me.

.

 

.

 

.

 

Whilst lunching the crew were doing a thorough clean of the pool.

.

There was also a woman on the opposite bank seemingly looking for something.

.

She was still there about 3 hours later even going under decking.I think the tide forced her back.

.

 

 

[drron29]

We had dinner that night in La Terraza.It is at the stern so should have good views of Tower Bridge.Now we booked 60 days before sailing but the couple in front of us had not booked but the Maitre'd said he could fit them in.they got the last window table.
The menu.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

And sweets.

.

You always get a platter of antipasto and breads with roasted garlic.

.

 

.

Then I had lasagna,tomato soup and the veal livers.

.

 

.

 

.

[drron29]

The next morning our last view back at Tower bridge.

.

 

.

 

.

 

.

And surrounds.

.

 

.

The Hotel Director,Fabien Leconte,watches as we depart.

.

 

He was only filling in for the regular HD whose wife was having their baby so he was given time off.Fabien is now in head office and talking to him I have great confidence that the takeover of Silversea by RCI is not going to result in a decrease in standards but more likely a better standard.Certainly on this cruise the food and wines were of a higher standard than we have had before on Silversea.

 

And a last point for anyone considering a cruise leaving or ending at Tower Bridge the Cheval Apartments are so convenient and our stay was great.If disembarking there is really not a problem with transport.When we left there was a queue of taxis in Little Thames Street.

.

 

So here endeth this Cruise Report.I hope some of you enjoyed it and maybe got some ideas for future travel.

 

After that we had 10 days driving around Southern England.We can recommend staying at the Osbourn Gatehouse Apartments on the grounds of Osbourn house on the Isle of Wight.It is the place Queen Victoria died.Staying there you can wander the grounds before and after the day trippers are there.

 

Also recommended Rhinefield House Hotel a member of Handpicked hotels in the New Forest at Brockenhurst.