Silver Cloud Live ... June 9-19 from the Kimberley!

[jpalbny]

3 hours ago, PANK of Three said:

RachelG, thanks for chiming in!  I spent an hour on the phone with Silversea and they said it was an IT error and my electronic tickets should show the included charter flight (even though I am door-to-door with flight credit).  Hopefully I will get an updated electronic ticket early next confirming this.

 

Unlikely. I'd be careful about this.

 

We're also D2D with flight credit, and I bought our own tix from Broome to Perth because that flight is NOT included. Better have a look at flights ASAP. Both Qantas and Virgin fly that route.

[jpalbny]

Hi from the SilverKris lounge in T3, Changi. We survived the 18h flight and even arrived a few minutes early. Very pleasant flight, and it didn't even seem excessively long.

 

Thanks for the tips, Jeff. Maybe we'll look into that on the way back, when we'll have 5h to spend here. But inertia won out this morning. And the Piper-Heidseick in the lounge helped solidify our choice.

 

Singapore Airlines is now very careful about turbulence, as one might expect. So every time there was a bump, the seat belt sign came on, and cabin service stopped. We were actually hungry by the time they could serve the second meal!

 

On to Darwin. Our flight leaves in an hour. Only 4h45, barely time for a nap! The weather looks delightful - low 80s and sunshine. Updates once we arrive.

[Host Jazzbeau]

Did your checked luggage make it to Singapore with you?  Can I exhale yet???  🤣

[jpalbny]

7 hours ago, RachelG said:

I thought our trip was long, but you have us beat.  We fly Tulsa to LAX then LAX to Sydney, spend 2 days in Sydney then on to Darwin.  

 

I could not make this itinerary work using SkyTeam. We didn't have extra time to spend in Sydney, and the connections onward to Darwin were awful.

 

Since Virgin Australia left the SkyTeam alliance, there's really been no substitute. And no more nice flights between LAX and locations other than Sydney on VA. Much harder to travel here now.

 

We would have had to fly JFK-LAX-SYD, then switch carriers, and fly SYD-MEL-DRW. Without a few days in the middle to break that up, it would have been too much.

 

So we decided to try Singapore Air. One stop and done. So far so good!

 

Did you manage to find any direct flight from Sydney to Darwin? 

Edited June 8 by jpalbny

[jpalbny]

18 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Did your checked luggage make it to Singapore with you?  Can I exhale yet???  🤣

 

All good. They are on board with us. 

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

[tgh]

For those brave souls visiting down under, a short educational pictogram displays essential knowledge….

[DavyWavey70]

15 minutes ago, tgh said:

For those brave souls visiting down under, a short educational pictogram displays essential knowledge….

I Wish I’d have known this before I went tight. 😁 An invaluable cultural assessment. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

@tgh upper right corner:  In 2024? – I think you have the wrong Asian country listed there, and maybe you want to think about a stronger defense in light of middle row left side.  Otherwise, to the extent that I understand all the references: very funny!

 

@DavyWavey70 to bad there isn't a chart of Fairmont motel locations...  [did I get the right chain this time? 🤣]

 

[DavyWavey70]

17 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

@tgh upper right corner:  In 2024? – I think you have the wrong Asian country listed there, and maybe you want to think about a stronger defense in light of middle row left side.  Otherwise, to the extent that I understand all the references: very funny!

 

@DavyWavey70 to bad there isn't a chart of Fairmont motel locations...  [did I get the right chain this time? 🤣]

 

Aye Aye Jazz, that was the one that it wasn’t! 
https://www.fairmontresort.com.au

 

Edited June 8 by DavyWavey70

[ging466]

2 hours ago, tgh said:

For those brave souls visiting down under, a short educational pictogram displays essential knowledge….

As an Australian, I'm killing myself laughing at this...it's absolutely brilliant.🤣

 

Cheers

Jennifer

[RachelG]

JP, direct flight from Sydney to Darwin on Qantas.  We arrive after midnight but it is direct

[jpalbny]

Just a quick update, as we are busy like usual, running around Darwin like mad people. 

 

Our two bags arrived in Darwin along with us, right on time at 2:45PM on Saturday. Because we were the first two off the plane, we were through immigration and customs within 20 minutes. Caught a cab and we were at the hotel by 3:20PM. Amazing efficiency!

 

After a shower and a change, we headed out to explore Darwin. The Botanical Gardens were about 30 minutes away on foot, and a nice walk was in order after sitting on our butts for the past day. My phone had recorded a record low of 57 steps for Friday. 

 

The gardens were pretty. There were several weddings going on. We didn't crash them.

 

 

 

We found our first saltie! Looks friendly. 

 

 

And a dragon.

 

 

From here we went to Mindil Beach. A monument to the Original Inhabitants, who had used this area as a burial grounds.

 

 

Nearly sunset. My energy level was flagging as well.

 

 

 

Time to stumble back to the hotel. On the way we caught the actual sunset at Bicentennial Park, just across from our hotel. 

 

 

 

We rested our feet for a bit and then went for a light dinner. Some cheese and charcuterie at a wine bar fit the bill nicely. After the walk home we had exceeded 20,000 steps so we'd officially made up for Friday. Time for bed!

Edited June 9 by jpalbny

[Lois R]

Glad you made it safe and sound🙂

[Silver Spectre]

Late to the party, watching too much tennis! Here’s wishing you a fabulous voyage and thanks for your updates.

[UKCruiseJeff]

Everything smooth so far …. bags through  first …. upgrade on SS … when does life ever get sweeter. 😊

 

Jeff

[lincslady]

I see you are under way towards Ashmore Reef. jp.  And possibly it is breakfast time with you - nearly bedtime for me!  Looking forward to hearing that your trip continues to be smooth sailing.

 

Lola

[jpalbny]

Sunday June 9th. Darwin.

 

We slept well and were up for breakfast before 7AM. OK buffet at the Doubletree Hilton. We wanted to maximize our time this morning before the tour left at 11:40 so we headed out right after breakfast and walked through Bicentennial Park.

 

We had a Silver Cloud sighting! She's here!

 

 

The cenotaph in the park.

 

 

And Silver Cloud again. Getting closer!

 

 

We walked all the way to Stokes Hill Wharf and got there just at 9AM, as the RFDS Museum was opening. Good timing! This was a nice exhibition of the Flying Doctors, with real exhibits as well as some VR exhibits. 

 

 

Chris tries her hand at being a Flying Doctor.

 

 

There were two 20-minute films, one about the bombing of Darwin Harbour in 1942 and another about the history of the RFDS. Not bad for the AUD30 entry fee.

 

At the end of the pier, she awaits us. Too bad it's not until this evening! 

 

 

 

We still had some time so we slowly worked our way back along the waterfront. 

 

 

These birds were all over. Colorful designs.

 

 

We detoured to see the WWII tunnels. Hastily built for fuel storage after the bombing of the Harbour, they never worked very well but make for an interesting but brief detour. A bit expensive at AUD9.50 per person.

 

 

This one had lots of historical information that we didn't have time to read in detail. 

 

 

Now we had to climb back to the upper town. It was an easier climb than expected, though, and we passed by the Government House. 

 

 

Once more through Bicentennial Park. 

 

 

We even had a minute to sit on a bench and enjoy the scenery. Back to the hotel with time to spare! Silversea had arranged an 8PM check out so we didn't have to worry about bringing our hand luggage with us. So we headed out for our afternoon tour, having done most of what was on Chris's list for Darwin. 

[turtlemichael]

Darwin is a real "frontier" town. Hope you enjoyed it.

[DavyWavey70]

Have a ball JP. You’re doing several of the bits I had to save for next time.

[jpalbny]

1 hour ago, turtlemichael said:

Darwin is a real "frontier" town. Hope you enjoyed it.

 

We did! We had no idea what to expect but we had a great time. 

[drron29]

We arrive in Darwin in 2 weeks time and spending 3 nights there. I know in that time we won't see as much as you have just done.

And when we go from the seafront up to the CBD it won't be stairs for us.

 

[jpalbny]

Sunday June 9th. Territory Wildlife Park, outside of Darwin. 

 

So this was a tour set up by Silversea to make up for the delayed boarding. We drove almost an hour out of the city, in comfortable busses. Once there we got maps and a brief explanation, then we collected our lunch boxes.

 

Lunch was meh. Some pasta salad with chicken, unripe fruit salad, an overbaked brownie, and a juice box. On the plus side, we didn't spend much time lingering over it, so more time to explore the park!

 

We stopped first at the Nocturnal House for some cute critters. 

 

 

 

 

 

And some who were less cute, depending on your personal preferences. 

 

 

There was a bird show at 2PM. The lorakeets were cute and colorful but too fast for a good photo. 

 

 

The Bustard was much slower. Apparently they taste good too! Bad combination. 

 

 

And a non-bird. This beautiful specimen was a third-generation captive-bred dingo. She was adorable. 

 

 

A black wallaroo. I think he was looking for a handout!

 

 

The Goose pond. Sans the geese! I guess it's waterlily season instead. 

 

 

Now, the reptiles. 

 

 

 

 

 

We ran out of time to do the Mangrove forest walk so we visited some pelicans instead. 

 

 

Now we only had a few minutes before the bus left. Time for one last pose, before a brisk walk to the bus.

 

 

No worries. We were still 10 minutes early!

 

Another hour back to the hotel. We got there at 5 and got ready for dinner at 5:30. They tried, but it was a crummy setup. We were all hungry from the bad lunch. 

 

We were set up in a large ballroom. They gave us two drink tickets each. Big line at the bar but we got some white plonk to start. 

 

There were menus on the table, seemingly with two entrées and two mains to choose from. But nobody took our order. I should have known that something was amiss, since the menu bid a warm welcome to the 'Sliver Cloud' passengers! 

 

At 6PM the food arrived. It was an "alternate drop" menu which meant that they dropped food plates on the table, alternating choices between every other person. We split the entrées, a beetroot and burrata salad, or a crispy salmon.

 

The mains arrived around 7PM. They were uninspired - stuffed chicken breast, or lamb backstrap. Neither was very tasty, so we bailed on dinner, and grabbed our hand luggage to make sure we made the first bus at 7:30.

 

We got to the pier at 7:40 and embarkation was a cluster. Passport checks. Health forms. Then a long wait for the last stop where they took pictures, registered credit cards, and distributed keys.

 

It was very inefficient. We were lucky to be on the first bus, as we were aboard at 8:15! The line was huge when we left.

 

Numerous Australian passengers were shocked to learn that passports were required. They were pulled out of the line while the officials tried to figure out what to do with them. I'm not sure what eventually happened to them.

 

We checked into our suite and ordered room service. It went well with our bottle of Monopole! Much better. And then we waited... For the lifeboat drill, which finally happened at 10PM!

 

After that, we called it a night. Luckily we go back to WA time tonight so we gain 1.5 hours. And, Monday is a sea day.

Edited June 10 by jpalbny

[jpalbny]

21 minutes ago, drron29 said:

We arrive in Darwin in 2 weeks time and spending 3 nights there. I know in that time we won't see as much as you have just done.

And when we go from the seafront up to the CBD it won't be stairs for us.

 

 

We rode that elevator down, but the WWII tunnels took us away from the elevator, so it was faster to climb the stairs. I wouldn't have minded a ride up, as our legs are very tired after all that walking! 

[Joc123]

As an Australian I’m so sorry for the experience. 

We have so much to offer and this is unacceptable, not sure who is to blame.