Shadow, Aug 1st, Alaska

[wripro]

billcrooz,

 

You will LOVE Gary Danko's.

[endosunshine]

I went with the Petite Auberge in SF. I like the small boutique hotels.

 

Ladies, I have a question. For a casual night do you think a denim skirt would be acceptable? It is actually Tencel, so it has a nice drape to it and is lower calf length.

 

I know the word is that jeans are a no-no, but wasn't sure if that included all denim.

[dusababy]

Responding to your question -- I would wear a denim (tencel) skirt in daytime but wouldn't feel comfortable in one at night -- even on "casual" night -- and even in Alaska. Still on a Silversea ship.

 

Just my opinion FWIW

 

Dusababy

[endosunshine]

Thanks, I had pretty much ruled it out anyway, but I may bring it for day time.:)

[cinbeach]

I am afraid to tell you as well that Denim is really not appropriate at night. During the day - definitely.

 

Cindy

[Keith1010]

I just wanted to post to say that my wife, Anne Marie, and I arrived in the Bay Area yesterday afternoon. We are staying a couple of days in the suburbs of San Francisco to visit with friends who we first met on a Crystal Cruises Trans-Atlantic cruise in 2004 and we will then spend two nights in San Francisco before the start of our August 1st cruise on the Silver Shadow.

 

The main reasons we chose this cruise was to get away from the hot temperature and drought that we have experienced this summer and to try Silvesea for the very firs time.

 

Since we arrived in the Bay Area our wishes have been answered. Today in the Bay Area has been absolutely beautiful with highs in just the low 80's. The scenery has been breathtaking. We live here for four years in the late 1980's and the early 1990's and today reminded us of how special this area is.

 

We will try to post again before we board the Silver Shadow on August 1.

 

Keith

[WesW]

Keith, thanks for the pre cruise post from the our favorite (albeit expensive) part

of the US (grew up in Cupertino (Apple Computer's home 60 miles south of SF)) we were in Bel Air for a Board mtg late last month and loved the 60/70s temps vs HotAtlanta temps and humidty. Looking forward to your posts...enjoy the Bay Area!

[wripro]

Have a great cruise, Keith. Looking forward to hearing all about it when you return.

[Keith1010]

Thank you, Wripro. I will be sure to provide comments about the cruise.

 

Keith

[chicagogal]

Thank you, Wripro. I will be sure to provide comments about the cruise.

 

Keith

 

I look forward to your post as well since we are a few weeks behind you - Vancouver RT Shadow Sept 3rd sailing.

Have a WONDERFUL cruise!

[Keith1010]

Thank you Chicagogal.

[Keith1010]

We are now in downtown San Francisco as we checked into the Ritz Carlton earlier today. The weather in San Francisco was spectacular. We walked from the Ritz Carlton down to Fisherman's Wharf and then over to Pier 35 where the ship will be docked on Saturday morning, then over to the Ferry Building and then over to Union Square and now we are back at the Hotel. We had picture perfect weather and had a beautiful view of places such as Alcatraz.

 

Keith

[avalon1025]

Enjoy our city! If its cool weather you are looking for our San Francisco summers are our coldest season! and this one is no different, its been foggy and 50-65 degrees every day for the past week and its expected to be that way through the weekend. Say hello to my Shadow, i board her in Seward on the 18th! Same cabin as in December, should really be like coming home!

[Keith1010]

Thursday in San Francisco was delightful. We had beautiful day and could easily see Alcatraz with no fog. It doesn't happen very often (no fog) so it made for nice views. Yesterday, was a bit cooler but nevertheless we enjoyed a wonderful long walk. We walked in reverse this time from the Ritz Carlton over to Union Square, then headed to the Ferry Building and then walked past Pier 35 where we will board the ship today and then over to Fisherman's Wharf where we then walked thru the Italian Section plus Chinatown before heading back to the Hotel.

 

We will leave here around 10:00 AM, as we had previously requested early boarding. We were told that to plan on boarding at around 10:30 AM this morning.

 

Keith

[WesW]

Keith, thanks for a last pre cruise update from the bay area, believe you will

truly enjoy the Shadow and SS. After your delightful welcome champagne, am sure you both will enjoy getting acquainted with the Shadow. Knowing you're a fitness aficianado, here are some cliff notes on the Shadwow fitness areas. Tho, Anne marie and you will find the jogging track (deck 9) is not 360 (full like one on the promenade deck on the Symphony) , but it is a reasonable circumference (believe 8-12 laps to a mile)..believe the deck crew will daily, leave Iced water in a cooler for walker's/jogger's use just infront of deck nine suites overlooking the pool. Have found 5:30 am -6:45 am a great time to get a 75 min am jog in..by then the night crew has finished filling the pool and the pool invites u for a refreshing swim. SS's Gym will be adequately equipped but on a smaller scale to Crystal..as I recall on our voyages, it is busy, but early in a.m., u should have no problem finding available equipment--a treadmill or a eliptical. If u do twofer daily workouts you can get a pm workout (jogging track, gym & pool) between 6:15pm-7pm (when most pax are dressing for dinner--therefore lots of space.

 

Again, may the Shadow have fair winds and following seas in Alaska.

[Keith1010]

ColonelWes, thank you very much for the well wishes and all of the great information on the fitness areas. You are correct that we both like to work out and we will try to take advantage of the early times in the fitness center and also the jogging track. We have sailed with Seabourn so we realize that public areas such as the deck and the fitness center will be smaller than say the Symphony or Serenity.

 

Thanks again.

 

Keith

[avalon1025]

Its a beautiful day here in SF, the Shadow looked great at the pier, should be a nice sail away if the fog does not roll in early. Bon Voyage!

[frockoff]

While on board can you please advise who will be Cruise Director and Maitre D on the Shadow on cruise LA/LA September 24 - thanks

[avalon1025]

Yes! I board the 18th, would love to know who is on board, thanks!

[Oceans&Rivers]

Thursday in San Francisco was delightful. We had beautiful day and could easily see Alcatraz with no fog. It doesn't happen very often (no fog) so it made for nice views.

 

I don't know what to say... Fog? In San Francisco? Harumph!

 

I think tourists pack it in their luggage and bring it with them, present company excluded, of course. :)

 

Hope you are having a wonderful time on your voyage north to Alaska, and I am very much looking forward to your thoughts and photos of your trip on your return. Details about available fresh fruits and vegetables will be very welcome. ;)

[Keith1010]

We embarked the ship yesterday morning. We chose the early embarkation and it was the fastest embarkation of any cruise we have been on. We were actually the first ones on the ship and the first ones to be escorted to our room.

 

We explored the ship, enjoyed a very nice lunch in the Restaurant and by the time we got back to our room our luggage arrived and we unpacked. After attending the lifeboat drill we enjoyed the sail away party and then stayed on the open deck until we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge. We attended the kickoff of the cruise with the cruise director and then enjoyed a very nice dinner in the Restaurant. Afterwards we continued to explore the ship.

 

We were up early this morning and arrived to the Fitness Center so that we could begin our workout as soon as it opened at 6:30 AM. There were some passengers who arrived there about 20 minutes later. I was able to enjoy a nice long workout on the elliptical machine and my wife enjoyed her workout on the treadmill.

 

 

Afterwards we enjoyed a nice breakfast at the La Terazza Restaurant. About half way through our breakfast the shopping expert from the ship sat with us and we enjoyed a nice conversation with him.

 

The ship is full and the passengers are from the USA and other parts of the world including Europe and Australia. There are some children on board the ship and there is a program for them. I would estimate around 20 children but there might be more or less as we have not seen everyone yet.

 

The internet connection is not too strong from our room so I am going to keep the posts short. In fact, I am posting this now from one of the lounges. I will try to post from time to time and will post a review at the end of the cruise.

 

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

We have continued to enjoy our cruise. After I posted yesterday, we had a very nice day at sea. We attended some lectures, spoke with some fellow passenger’s and even took a dance lesson on board the ship We’ve been saying we needed to take some lessons so it was nice that we did this. Yesterday was the Cha Cha. I am not sure how much of what we learned we will remember but we did write enough of it down that hopefully we will remember most of what we learned when we get home and we can practice it. As they say, practice makes perfect. ☺

 

Last evening we enjoyed the first of three formal nights on the cruise. It was great to see many passenger’s dressed up in their formal attire. We enjoyed a pre-cruise drink in one of the lounges, and after a while one member of the staff who we invited to join us for dinner at the Restaurant joined us there. We enjoyed the dinner (Lobster) and the wonderful conversation.

 

By the time we got back to our room the seas had gotten a bit choppy. No it was not the wine but really the roujgh seas. The seas continued to be somewhat rough during the evening and into the morning.

 

We did still make it to the Fitness Center for our morning workout. There were a fair number of passengers who arrived about 30 minutes into our workout and I assisted one who had not used the elliptical machine before. Afterwards we enjoyed a very nice breakfast and we look forward to another full day at sea as we cruise to our first stop in Alaska.

 

Keith

[WesW]

Keith, glad you're enjoying your Alaska cruise..thanks for the seamail.

[Oceans&Rivers]

We were up early this morning and arrived to the Fitness Center so that we could begin our workout as soon as it opened at 6:30 AM. There were some passengers who arrived there about 20 minutes later. I was able to enjoy a nice long workout on the elliptical machine and my wife enjoyed her workout on the treadmill.

 

I wish I could get used to using an elliptical machine. It's just the oddest feeling to me, not at all comfortable. Speaking of comfort, I hope you are having cool, not cold, weather. I know how much you have been looking forward to cooling off after the hot summer you have experienced thus far at home.

[chicagogal]

We have continued to enjoy our cruise. After I posted yesterday, we had a very nice day at sea. We attended some lectures, spoke with some fellow passenger’s and even took a dance lesson on board the ship We’ve been saying we needed to take some lessons so it was nice that we did this. Yesterday was the Cha Cha. I am not sure how much of what we learned we will remember but we did write enough of it down that hopefully we will remember most of what we learned when we get home and we can practice it. As they say, practice makes perfect. ☺

 

Last evening we enjoyed the first of three formal nights on the cruise. It was great to see many passenger’s dressed up in their formal attire. We enjoyed a pre-cruise drink in one of the lounges, and after a while one member of the staff who we invited to join us for dinner at the Restaurant joined us there. We enjoyed the dinner (Lobster) and the wonderful conversation.

 

By the time we got back to our room the seas had gotten a bit choppy. No it was not the wine but really the roujgh seas. The seas continued to be somewhat rough during the evening and into the morning.

 

We did still make it to the Fitness Center for our morning workout. There were a fair number of passengers who arrived about 30 minutes into our workout and I assisted one who had not used the elliptical machine before. Afterwards we enjoyed a very nice breakfast and we look forward to another full day at sea as we cruise to our first stop in Alaska.

 

Keith

 

Keith - thanks for already taking time out from your cruise to post twice so the rest of us can hear about it and live vicariously through you. Many of us will be embarking the Shadow soon (Sept 3rd for us) Enjoy - I look forward to your posts.