A late report on an August dawn cruise.

[drron29]

Just to show that each day in the main dining room, Atlantide, they do have a few dishes of the day so that you are not stuck with the same menu every day.I had the foie gras dish and then have totally forgotten what my main was. Mrsdrron had the lobster and some ice cream. We didn't need a big meal.

 

It was late until late so a couple more shots from our room.

 

 

[drron29]

Some not so good news that afternoon. Our visit to Palermo was cancelled for the next day due to a severe storm. So the ship spent an extra day in Livorno. Although they did put on excursions we both decided on a day of rest. Taking the shuttle into the centre of town was dismissed as we saw nothing there to interest us.
So the next day started the same way as every other day except a bit later. Breakfast in the Arts cafe. We would have a fruit plate to share,a cronut each and a cappucino though this day I also had a salmon panini.

 

 

[vistaman]

I am not so crazy of Livorno - i was in Florence and Pisa many times. 

A visit to the market is very pleasant .  You can also take a train to Viareggio or the upmarket Forte di Marmi.  For the  wine lovers : there is a restaurant some 4 klm outside Livorno with a exceptional and not so expensive wine list.  "Oscars "    

A few years ago the ms Europa 2 did make a call in Viareggio and it was with tenders . 

 

 

[drron29]

Passed some time watching ship movements as well as our ship being refuelled. The weather certainly was miserable. Later talking to those who had gone to Pisa was that the rain was heavy and everyone got soaked.

 

Some new flowers today.

 

 

[drron29]

Then to my favourite place for lunch on the ship, Kaiseki

 

[drron29]

After lunch we did go for a walk around Deck 10. the smallest ferry we saw.

 

[drron29]

That night it was dinner on the Pool Deck where they do Hot Rocks. We do like this.

 

 

[drron29]

You get a plate of corn chips with dips to start. We then often share a Caesar salad.

 

Rojaan had the lamb because she can cook it close to well done whilst I always have a steak as it is the one place I can have it blue without announcing it to the world.

 

For dessert Rojaan

 

had the fruit salad whilst I had the apple and cinnamon rose.

 

A delightful dinner. We had invited a solo German woman to share it with us. She had sat alonside us one night in the main restaurant and we asked if she would join us which she did. That was a great night hence the second dinner together.

Edited November 7, 2022 by drron29

[drron29]

That evening I went to our Cruise Director's show. We both really like Miss Vicki though some are the opposite. Our last pre covid cruise was with her as CD. She celebrated Covid by getting remarried to a Frenchman in the management team at viking so she moved there as a CD for a while but didn't like the vibe so recently moved back to Silversea. She is first a singer, learnt to dance but is a great comedienne. Her show is called Ship happens and tells her life story. Although that story doesn't change the show sure does.. Pre covid she always got members of the audience up on stage but that is now Verboten. Sadly meals with officers is also not allowed now as a routine.

This show also featured Dimitri the Ukrainian opera singer who made a great straight man even though most of his part was playing a gay man. Once again I was in the front row.

 

The crew member that went around disinfecting the ship when very few of us were out and about did a little cameo with all his equipment.

 

Just along from me were 4 officers. They had no idea why they were told to be present. They soon found out.

 

They were the source of many one liners such as -poor Dan doesn't knpw where to put his hand.

 

 

[drron29]

Her first major break came as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator in Japan.

 

She came back to NYC and went to dance school where she fell for her instructor. Yes Dimitri again.

 

However he left with another man.

 

She did appearin a few Broadway shows but only once got to the final audition of 2 for the female lead. Her memory of the person who got the role might be a little coloured.

 

Now she did get an audience member up on stage but it was her husband.

 

But then I had my moment having got a message from 1 of the 4 officers to stand up as Miss Vicki announced the show was over which I dutifully did. She turned and looked at me and said-sit down you are going no where in a hurry. I was proud to be laughed at.
So that is the end of the show and our second day in Livorno.

[drron29]

Another day,another port. Today Olbia Sardinia.

 

Today we were off to Costa Esmeralda and a train trolley ride. The first part of the excursion was good, the second part not. So again shots from the bus first.

 

This is a polo field.

 

[Lois R]

Again, wonderful photos😀

 

Have to give another view about officers and staff dining with guests.  They were definitely allowed to join guests on my last 2 sailings. I went to Alaska in August and just last month to New England.  Both cruises I ate with staff multiple times on both sailings.  My experiences may vary? Are they not allowing it on European sailings? One would think it would be allowed across the fleet now. Anyway, all my dinners were very enjoyable😀

[vistaman]

7 hours ago, Lois R said:

Again, wonderful photos😀

 

Have to give another view about officers and staff dining with guests.  They were definitely allowed to join guests on my last 2 sailings. I went to Alaska in August and just last month to New England.  Both cruises I ate with staff multiple times on both sailings.  My experiences may vary? Are they not allowing it on European sailings? One would think it would be allowed across the fleet now. Anyway, all my dinners were very enjoyable😀

i think it is depending on the captain as somebody told me on other SS ships the team on board must not wear masks anymore ... 

[Lois R]

2 minutes ago, vistaman said:

i think it is depending on the captain as somebody told me on other SS ships the team on board must not wear masks anymore ... 

All the crew was wearing masks last week on my cruise.

[drron29]

On our cruise there were no hosted tables as usual pre covid. The officers could invite people to dine with them but as far as I can remember only 1 officer did.

Crew always wore masks then.

[drron29]

Arriving at the Nuraghe Village. Dates from BC times and built at about the time the Great Pyramids were being built.

 

Impressive building skills.

 

[drron29]

We went inside the major structure.

 

[drron29]

The last of the old village.

 

At least some nice natural scenery before reaching the coast.

 

Nearing our destination.

 

[drron29]

Unfortunately IMHO nature would be better.

 

We were taken to a cafe for a drink. Very limited choice. I did get a beer but it came just like this.

 

Then back up the hill to the bus to take us to the trolley.

 

Scenes from the trolley "train". A tractor pulling a few simple carriages. Basically boring and it went quite fast.

 

 

[drron29]

 

I loved the hills and rocks.

 

When we got to the main part of the port we all got off and did a little wander before walking back up the hill to the bus.

 

[drron29]

 

The heavens now opened up. I was lucky as I was under shelter when it started and left looking at these signs.

 

Soon out walking again.

 

I looked at some of the restaurant menus. It seemed the prices were doubled compared to previous places we had been in Italy on this trip.

 

Now we are headed back to the ship.

 

 

[drron29]

Mega yachts all along the coast.

 

 

But a lot of rubbish in places.

 

And back to the port.

 

[drron29]

However instead of the bus driving us to the ship we had to go to the large Port office. Basically the check in for all the ferries. Then we had to walk to the ship across a lot of traffic.

 

Arriving back to our suite Mrsdrron had a message from the Captain.

 

We went to Deck 11 and the pizza place Spaccanapoli and shared a pizza for lunch. Just OK.

 

With views.

 

It turned out it was a reasonable place for a bit of plane spotting.

 

Quite a few corporate jets flying in seeing it was Friday afternoon.

[drron29]

As noted up thread it wasRojaan's birthday that day so we celebrated by going to the top restaurant La Dame which cost an extra $US60 a head. Here is the menu.

 

 

[drron29]

Now the food. An amuse bouche and then Rojaan had the cold foie gras dish and I the warm.

 

Then I had the bouillabaisse.

 

For mains Rojaan had the lobster tail and I the beef.

 

The beef was better in Atlantide.

For desserts Rojaan had the passionfruit and I the cheese plate.

 

Plus some chocolate to end the night.

 

Now in the past La Dame was worth the surcharge. I don't think so now. They have more than doubled the size of the restaurant but no where near double staff numbers. Before the menu was definitely different to the other restaurants now not so much. The main restaurant has on their basic menu the beef,lobster and foie gras dishes.
So not really a special place. The ambience and service not anything like the past. Doubt we will be tempted in the future.