Live from the Silver Cloud - Reykjavik to Ft Lauderdale September 8 - October 1

[jpalbny]

I've been on cruises where Cloud and Wind used their lifeboats as tenders. Probably lots of factors that go into the decision to use them vs zodiacs, but I'm not privy to that!

 

Enjoy the sailaway party! Have a glass for me (and one for Chris too).

[spinnaker2]

A lovely sunset from Bar Harbor.

A glass of monopole or two and off we go.

Not to Portland, instead a sea day due to a weather event. 

And we go with the flow.

[Stumblefoot]

1 hour ago, spinnaker2 said:

Not to Portland, instead a sea day due to a weather event.

I’d love to hear more about this weather event.  According to the local forecast temps are expected to be 66°, more sun than clouds, and a scant 6% chance of rain.  So, the rationale to miss Portland seems bogus to me.

[Stumblefoot]

But, there is always a tropical storm lurking somewhere this time of year.

[jollyjones]

 

Potential tropical cyclone 16?

 

https://www.weathernerds.org/tc_guidance/storm.html?tcid=AL16

 

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov

 

Edited September 22, 2023 by jollyjones

[DocMarcus2]

Well, regardless of the weather and the cacophony for the senses, it looks like a  lovely view. With a glass of wine, it’s hard to budge from your spot. Hope the peace returns asap. Enjoy. 

[spinnaker2]

Friday. Where in the world is the Cloud O?

Where exactly is the Cloud going?

Last night we were told that we were skipping Portland. That was ok with DrSpins who had learned that the schooner we were going to board there had a gangway without any rails and was tide dependent. He told me to wear my bathing suit as he was sure with his altered gait and balance he'd be in the sea in short order. As the plans changed his anxiety lessened.

We were told we were going to New York to overnight, but we asked what about Newport? Our messenger, the cruise director, didn't know but told us when we returned to our suite we could watch a recorded briefing on the "theater channel".

Then another message, turns out nothing was recorded and all that was certain is no Portland.

The journey as shown on the interactive TV now shows the Cloud beyond Portland and almost parallel with Newport. Who knows where we are going?

There is a serious disconnect with the expedition concept as to communication. We don't get any announcements from the Captain, only the expedition leader, mostly at a briefing held sometimes the night before the next port.

I do miss the noon announcements, or at least some daily announcement from the Captain.

 

Today the weather is spectacular. Sunny and warm. We can see on the deck cam that the chairs by the pool are quickly being occupied, some just by a draped and artistically rumpled towel or two, I guess to make them look like someone will momentarily reappear to reclaim them.  As we sip our coffee and eat our breakfast en suite, we can see the towel enrobed chairs have had no occupants for a long while.

A pax is in the pool swimming about and water walking. 

 

A seafood "market" is promised for lunch on the pool deck, with "live" music. As there is a piano player and guitarist aboard, I imagine they will be playing. We are looking forward to the musical market!

 

No updated news on the tropical storm or any impacts on our journey as of this moment.  Stay tuned.

Edited September 22, 2023 by spinnaker2

[spinnaker2]

Cloud caravan in the distance

And deckchair awaits. ..

 

[spinnaker2]

Newsflash.

The ship course has been altered on the interactive TV.

Tomorrow we arrive at NYC at 8 am and overnight. We will depart Sunday at 11 pm.

No Newport. 

 

[TLCOhio]

1 hour ago, spinnaker2 said:

Today the weather is spectacular. Sunny and warm. We can see on the deck cam that the chairs by the pool are quickly being occupied, some just by a draped and artistically rumpled towel or two.  

No updated news on the tropical storm or any impacts on our journey as of this moment.  Stay tuned.

 

Appreciate all of these great updates and details from Spins.  BUT, what a "WILD RIDE" and it looks to be even more uncertain during the next week.  Below from national weather people is their projection for this upcoming storm. Ugly??

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT16/refresh/AL162023_5day_cone_no_line_and_wind+png/150529_5day_cone_no_line_and_wind.png

 

Keep us posted.  Love to see some "food porn" visuals from the dining delights on this Silversea ship.  Good luck!!

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[jpalbny]

6 hours ago, spinnaker2 said:

Newsflash.

The ship course has been altered on the interactive TV.

Tomorrow we arrive at NYC at 8 am and overnight. We will depart Sunday at 11 pm.

No Newport. 

 

 

Hope you can dock!

 

When we were in NYC last weekend we saw two cruise ships afloat by the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. They were just sitting there waiting out the storm. That would really be no fun to be so close to the city but not at a pier.

 

Sorry you're missing Newport. We visited once by cruise ship probably 25 years ago and were not impressed but when we went back in February for a weekend on our own we loved it.

Edited September 22, 2023 by jpalbny

[Dolcevita Diva]

7 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

 

Appreciate all of these great updates and details from Spins.  BUT, what a "WILD RIDE" and it looks to be even more uncertain during the next week.  Below from national weather people is their projection for this upcoming storm. Ugly??

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT16/refresh/AL162023_5day_cone_no_line_and_wind+png/150529_5day_cone_no_line_and_wind.png

 

Keep us posted.  Love to see some "food porn" visuals from the dining delights on this Silversea ship.  Good luck!!

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

So sorry that you're missing Portland and Newport, Spins! What are the odds that a tropical storm would be impacting you so far north?

 

Watching this very closely - not only for Spins, but because I'm scheduled to fly through NY on Tuesday to Lisbon...

[spinnaker2]

We have been told we are going to be at pier 88. I believe that's near the Intrepid. 

The pilot is to come aboard about 6 am and we are to pass by the Lady at about 7 am, best seen from the port side. 

 

This day has been amazingly beautiful. Barely any humidity, bright sun and warmth. Many pax soaked up rays by the pool.

 

The sea food lunch was a mob scene,  partly because the music started at noon and food began at 12:30 and it was a cooked to order buffet. The line for food was long.  Moreover, there are too few places to sit at the pool deck.  The undercover areas are used as storage for items where tables and chairs are placed on other vessels. Many pax arrived in advance and there simply wasn't any availability to sit. 

We decided to go to LaT where the buffet has sushi, which DrSpins enjoys. Lovely lunch.

 

 

 

 

[spinnaker2]

Just now, Dolcevita Diva said:

So sorry that you're missing Portland and Newport, Spins! What are the odds that a tropical storm would be impacting you so far north?

 

Watching this very closely - not only for Spins, but because I'm scheduled to fly through NY on Tuesday to Lisbon...

This is the second storm that has impacted this cruise!!!

Talk about odds.

[jpalbny]

58 minutes ago, spinnaker2 said:

We have been told we are going to be at pier 88. I believe that's near the Intrepid. 

 

Definitely. Shadow was at Pier 90 last weekend. Sorry to miss you!

 

It's going to be a rainy weekend here in Albany; hope you get some decent weather further south.

[DocMarcus2]

So much change! Hopefully “The City” greeted you with open arms. Magical from the perspective you sneak in…send some hellos to The Lady. Lots of changes on this voyage. Xo 

[spinnaker2]

And the rains came. Ophelia. 

The approach to the harbor was rough and tough. Strong winds on the starboard side and high seas. 

 

City noise and rain did not dampen the spirits of the pax who went off the vessel to be New Yorkers for the day.

 

 

 

[spinnaker2]

The low clouds are preventing any view. And the view from the Top of the Rock is totally obscured but a group of pax are still going!

Rock on!!!

 

Many crew also took advantage of the opportunity to get off the Cloud. There is a shuttle bus to and from Macy's every hour for anyone who wishes to use it.

 

At the pier next door is the Costa Venezia. It's gigantic. Watching some pax walk the decks in the pouring rain. And now the mountainous ship departs. Our view instantly improves, well not really, just more driving rain.

[Stumblefoot]

3 hours ago, spinnaker2 said:

And the rains came; Ophelia. 

Sounds like a wonderful Broadway play starring Daniel Day Lewis.

[spinnaker2]

If Daniel Day Lewis plays Hamlet, then who will Ophelia be, or not be, that is the question? And will it involve a willow, or female hysteria or flowers? 

 

Meanwhile day 2 in NYC and the rains continue. The Norwegian Escape has come alongside the pier and is loading pax. 

 

The Gargiulo Produce truck from Hillside, N.J., is also here, and I might add just in the nick of time, as this morning there were NO BERRIES. AGAIN. 

 

 

Not sure what is in the large drums (wine?, oil?, liquid soap?, Jimmy Hoffa?, someone else?). But we can clearly see the tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, lettuce, etc. There seemed to be an argument with the  fork lift driver and someone else who said they needed a spoon, yes, that was clarified by the driver, a SPOON. 

 

 

 

[spinnaker2]

Before we leave I will raise a glass of bubbly to my great great uncle Alfred Larson, his wife Hanna and daughter Helen. In 1905, they lived right here, in the block between 52nd and 55th street, at the Hudson River Bulkhead. He was a captain who took ferry boats up and down the Hudson River. He lived aboard as many of those families did in that era. He came to the USA from Adolf Fredrik, Stockholm, Sweden. 

He was a captain for many years, eventually relocating up the Hudson to Kingston until he injured his foot. At that time he relocated to Roebling, New Jersey, where he became a watchman. Roebling was the home of a steel mill that was a leading producer of wire rope. John Roebling, (who designed the Brooklyn Bridge) and his three sons built the company into a huge producer of the wire rope and also built a model town for their workers. 

Here’s to you Alfred and to your family!

[TLCOhio]

20 minutes ago, spinnaker2 said:

Before we leave I will raise a glass of bubbly to my great great uncle Alfred Larson, his wife Hanna and daughter Helen. In 1905, they lived right here, in the block between 52nd and 55th street, at the Hudson River Bulkhead. He was a captain who took ferry boats up and down the Hudson River. He lived aboard as many of those families did in that era. He came to the USA from Adolf Fredrik, Stockholm, Sweden.  He was a captain for many years, eventually relocating up the Hudson to Kingston until he injured his foot. At that time he relocated to Roebling, New Jersey, where he became a watchman. Roebling was the home of a steel mill that was a leading producer of wire rope. John Roebling, (who designed the Brooklyn Bridge) and his three sons built the company into a huge producer of the wire rope and also built a model town for their workers. Here’s to you Alfred and to your family!

 

Sorry on the NYC rain.  Not so fun for the Big Apple. Kind of cold, too!  Below is what AccuWeather shows for your weather there.   Not a great forecast?

 

Loved the family history/connections.  The Roebling angles and tie to the Brooklyn Bridge are very interesting.  Will you sail south from NYC Monday am?  How will the rest of the schedule/port stops be adjusted?

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[TLCOhio]

Just checked at this website: 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=8903923

 

And, they showed the Silver Cloud, along with a Viking ship, sailing south off of the coast of New Jersey near Atlantic City.  

 

For Spins, is this correct?  You've escaped the rains of New York City?

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[highplanesdrifters]

20 hours ago, spinnaker2 said:

Before we leave I will raise a glass of bubbly to my great great uncle Alfred Larson, his wife Hanna and daughter Helen. In 1905, they lived right here, in the block between 52nd and 55th street, at the Hudson River Bulkhead. He was a captain who took ferry boats up and down the Hudson River. He lived aboard as many of those families did in that era. He came to the USA from Adolf Fredrik, Stockholm, Sweden. 

He was a captain for many years, eventually relocating up the Hudson to Kingston until he injured his foot. At that time he relocated to Roebling, New Jersey, where he became a watchman. Roebling was the home of a steel mill that was a leading producer of wire rope. John Roebling, (who designed the Brooklyn Bridge) and his three sons built the company into a huge producer of the wire rope and also built a model town for their workers. 

Here’s to you Alfred and to your family!

Great story. Cheers to your family.🥂

[spinnaker2]

Good morning from the Cloud. We left rainy NYC about 11ish last evening in the rain. I can say that pax and crew went ashore often and enjoyed the extra day. We were to eat at the Grill last evening, but it was just too rainy and damp, instead we braved the MDR. Much more comfortable!

 

A brief aside about the dress code. Well the non dress code. I know the dress code is casual most of the time, but jeans are not supposed to be worn after 6 pm. No one pays any attention to this “rule”. I suppose casual means many things to many people, but in general the attire favored by most is sloppy and wrinkled. I don't think casual means roll out of bed, pick up the clothes you left on the floor in a ball (like in college),and put them on. 

 

At the moment the sun is out and the pool deck has nary a lounger. Hot tub is full. Today is another seafood invictus, supposed to be held in the MDR. Lots of activities in the Chronicles, lectures, jewelry, bridge, dancing, trivia, photo workshops, tea, culinary demos, etc. 

 

At some point we will make a turn to starboard to enter the Chesapeake Bay and up to Baltimore. 

 

A photo from this morning as the sun was making her appearance.