Jump to content

Spirit, Mar 15 departing Mumbai


lesliedrew
 Share

Recommended Posts

16 hours ago, jeffkauf said:

I just visited the My SS website and see no mention of cancellation Dubai to Athens 3/25. I am on with a BtoB  Athens to Venice. I would imagine a detailed cancellation will be forthcoming tomorrow. On a Sunday, how did your agent get this info?

Sorry to say, both voyages have been pulled off the Silversea website.  (Mumbai & Dubai ) 

 

I really feel for all that are affected with refunds, making new travel arrangements, major disappointments and the shore excursion guides losing out on much needed income... In that part of the world, every little bit helps.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, I'm just catching up on email after being detained in the Mumbai airport for 3 days (talk about being held prisoner!). Eventually they sent me back to Cairo, since there was a problem with my visa. 

 

Thank you for the on-board updates -- it looks like India closed their ports around the time I arrived. All in all, I'm glad I didn't get stuck there, and that they shipped me back here. Obviously I'm disappointed in the cancellation of this B2B. 

 

Sending best wishes for all who are affected in one way or another. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Unibok said:

Wow, I'm just catching up on email after being detained in the Mumbai airport for 3 days (talk about being held prisoner!). Eventually they sent me back to Cairo, since there was a problem with my visa. 

 

That sounds extremely unpleasant! Sorry to hear this. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, friends. I've been on a DIY grand adventure again, having left North America in early January (before COVID was even a twinkle in anyone's eye). A few days in Qatar, 3 weeks in Cambodia, 3+ weeks in parts of Sri Lanka I've never explored, then 2+ weeks in Egypt -- which included private meditation time deep inside the Queens and Kings chambers in the Great Pyramid (wow!). The Spirit B2B was going to get me over to Greece in the most interesting 26 days I could imagine. The visa error was entirely my own, although I will give partial credit to the miserable Indian eVisa system that has been overloaded for the past month. Long story short, US citizens are no longer able to do visa on arrival, which meant I arrived unlawfully and was basically put in a windowless holding cell for 3 days. Not fun, but also I have to say I was never afraid for my life -- just frustrated and rather helpless. On the upside, I also learned that with knitting needles and a bit of yarn, you can make friends with women pretty much anywhere in the world, including my armed guards at the Mumbai airport. I kept thinking the 3 days in hell would be worth it once I actually embarked on the Spirit and had that first plate of handmade pasta and an herby amaro. 

 

But no, once back in Cairo (with security escort!), I found the email cancellation of the Mumbai-Dubai-Piraeus. I had actually booked that one within days of it appearing, so the disappointment is real. Right now I'm drowning my sorrows at the lovely Conrad in Cairo while I regroup. Hmm ... 26 days of adventure to fill before heading to Greece ... where to go??? Given my misadventures in Mumbai, I will likely return to a place I know well and feel comfortable, one that will still keep me away from the chilly northeast, but will also keep distance between me and the worst of the outbreaks.

 

Now that the cruise has been cancelled, I am so glad I spent 2 layover days in Doha on the way to Cambodia. It's a lovely human-sized city amidst all the new oil megalopolii, and I especially loved the Museum of Islamic Art. It's one of the few museums I've left feeling like I had a much stronger understanding of what I was looking at. 

 

Until my next misadventure ... be well, all!

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

O... M... G... Libby!  Could not imagine being trapped in an airport for 3-days.  And now, you’ve been flown 6-hours to a rapidly developing hot spot for the virus.  Stay away from Luxor!

 

Also, be aware, starting tomorrow (Wed., Mar 11) Greece is shutting all schools, universities, daycare centers and other educational establishments for a two-week period.  So, the situation on the ground is rapidly changing. I’m not sure Greece is the best place to be heading at the moment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, Brian and all. I've often liked to think that I am equally at home in a village with no plumbing as I am in Silver Wind's The Bar, so perhaps my stint in the windowless depths of the Mumbai airport has proven that once and for all. I truly appreciate your COVID update, as the news I'm getting is slow and heavily filtered. My Luxor days are over, having gone there 2 weeks ago.

 

My current plan is an Ayurvedic resort in Sri Lanka, starting tomorrow. From what I can tell, Sri Lanka still has only 1 confirmed case. I'm not due in Greece for a month, so there's plenty of time to monitor, and pivot again if needed. 

 

THANK YOU again for the Greece updates. You are a good friend, even if we've never met 🙂

 

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reading about this incredible series of mishaps has totally cured me of feeling sorry for myself for having to cancel the Transatlantic Cruise on The Shadow..Ft Lauderdale to Lisbon and on to Barcelona. The thought of being held captive in the Mumbai airport is horrifying. Unibok, you must be the bravest, most stoic, calmest person in the world. I salute you..big time.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/8/2020 at 3:13 PM, Poskashflo said:

We are currently on the Spirit anchored offshore from Langkawi Malaysia.

as of this morning Malaysia has closed all ports and the Captain announced that India has done the same. This is on top of Myanmar and Sri Lanka earlier this week.

i am expecting the ship to return to Singapore while it is still open and end the cruise early, but this is just my opinion. 
good luck to all on the next cruise. I suggest confirming with SS before you leave home.

Just heard passengers onboard had temps taken yesterday is this a precaution or is someone sick onboard

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, rosepark said:

We are supposed to be on the 26th May sailing. Considering an alternative holiday in Bognor if all goes pear shaped. 

Rp

I hate to say it but you clearly need counselling, so you do.

 

I spent a fortnight in Bognor one afternoon.

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Away and feel yer head. I plan to retire us to Bognor TTS. OH doesn’t know that yet. 

Completely off topic, have you seen the website of Norn Iron Tees? Very funny and great presents for those of us who may come from a similar background and who may have a similar sense of humour. Do google it. 

Off to find my English/Bognor phrase book. 

Rp

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The latest from the Silver Spirit...

 

As many of you know, after canceling the current cruise mid-voyage, the ship decided to head to Vietnam to disembark passengers.  While steaming for Vietnam, the country informed the captain they would not accept the ship.  Alternative plans were made and the Spirit started steaming for Manila with arrival/disembarkation scheduled for tomorrow, Mar. 13.  The Spirit has just learned that Manila will not accept the ship either, even after all of the testing done on board to prove the health of passengers and crew.  Now, the ship is steaming for Darwin, Australia for arrival / disembarkation on Wed., Mar 18, nearly a full week from now.  Holy Smokes!  At what point do they run low / out of food?

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Silver Spectre said:

Adventure so far.


The humorist in me would have to ask....”Do these days count against my 100 days?  I’m seven days short.”   😬😀

Edited by Randyk47
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Randyk47 said:

All I can say it’s either an adventure or a nightmare.  Not sure where we would be depending on the conditions onboard.


The two folks I’ve seen reporting onboard say all is well.  From my POV, I know we’d be getting rather nervous by now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And now Australia requires everyone arriving in the country to self isolate for 14 days. So Darwin doesn't sound like a great destination either. Whatever next??

(we have some cruising / CC friends on this sailing so have been following with extra interest)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really appreciate these updates, Stumble. Although a large part of me would love to be trapped on the Spirit indefinitely, the realist in me worries about everyone concerned. Glad to hear that folks are holding up well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/13/2020 at 1:59 AM, Stumblefoot said:

The latest from the Silver Spirit...

 

As many of you know, after canceling the current cruise mid-voyage, the ship decided to head to Vietnam to disembark passengers.  While steaming for Vietnam, the country informed the captain they would not accept the ship.  Alternative plans were made and the Spirit started steaming for Manila with arrival/disembarkation scheduled for tomorrow, Mar. 13.  The Spirit has just learned that Manila will not accept the ship either, even after all of the testing done on board to prove the health of passengers and crew.  Now, the ship is steaming for Darwin, Australia for arrival / disembarkation on Wed., Mar 18, nearly a full week from now.  Holy Smokes!  At what point do they run low / out of food?

 

It begs the question if permission is granted before setting off and gets rejected on arrival. You'd like to think it must be the case (but the number of times now, is not funny.) At the rate this is going to be a world cruise without stops!

 

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...