frequent traveler

That sort of behaviour gives us gluten intolerant people a bad rep! I have had nothing but spectacular service getting gluten free food on our SS cruises. Matter of fact, they tend to bring me more food than I can possibly eat.

 

(I wonder if the person complaining was truly intolerant or just one of those ‘by choice’ people who make those of us who will really get sick have to explain about cross contamination concerns and why we can’t eat anything deep fried. *sigh*)

 

 

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Every time I requested some gluten free toast at breakfast, I was served enough for 4 people and I've gotten so used to removing croutons from a Caesar salad- on the Wind they always made sure to remove for me and to offer a gluten free pasta option and bread with dinner. Never an issue for me either- I found his attitude just plain rude.

Well, the not live from the Wind portion of the trip begins now- after a long plane flight back on the 23rd. a quick Christmas spent with the family and a day at the office today. Before I go back to the beginning and go through the highs & lows of each day in detail, probably painful to some, a few quick comments on leaving the ship.

A very smooth and easy process. We ate breakfast before the mandatory vacating the cabins at 8:30 am. It was good to see some of the staff we had gotten to know before leaving the ship. Since we had waited too late to book any type of tour we were in the "brown group". A quick bus transfer to the terminal and when departing, no opportunity to shop in the terminal shops. Luggage was picked up and we cleared customs in 10 minutes. You are herded out to transportation. Having read some recommendations re negotiating tours with taxi drivers we spoke with several, including the somewhat famous 83 year old tour guide. We decided instead- it being hot and humid to take a $20.00 cab ride to the Radisson Atlantica (just near the Hilton) and stay there until departing for the airport at 1 pm. The cost was about the same as the tour option provided by Silver Sea or the customized taxi tour and delivery to the airport. We enjoyed the lovely white sand beach with calm clear crystal blue waters and were able to shower at the Radisson and arrive at the airport just before all the tour buses. The AA check in began at 1:30 and being ahead of the tour groups we moved quickly through immigration & customs. We did a bit of browsing in the shops and grabbed a bite to eat before heading home. Much easier & more comfortable than some other Caribbean airports.

But definitely recommend using Viator 5 star service on arrival in Barbados. More on that in next update.

Some quick thoughts while I still have internet access

Saw my one and only "passenger behaving badly" yesterday at the luncheon buffet. Was very irate with the poor server behind the buffet as he went through the list of items that weren't gluten free. There were plenty of other items that were gluten free. I felt bad for the poor server

Scrambling to get ready to leave ship today as we are sitting in Bridgetown Barbour. Way too busy in Tobago yesterday and those suitcases were waiting on us when we returned from out excursion to the Nylon Pool

More to come later

Just not live

This crew is extremely hardworking - and very friendly and professional. The heat is extreme this week. Yesterday it was stifling. A couple of crew members confided they had come back to the ship early from time off due to the heat.

We did another cat excursion that included a great snorkel stop, plenty of time and plenty of fish- the most variety of any stop so far and by far the calmest waters. We then motored/sailed down past a couple of fishing villages to the landmark Pitons. Again, an uncrowded cat with lots of room and a friendly crew. A bit of excitement on the way back as a lady had her brand new cap go "overboard".

The crew was kind enough to circle back and a sharp eyed passenger spotted the cap before it drowned. South Carolina lady and cap were reunited and we returned to port without further incident.

Cheese sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, and cut up mixed fruit were available for snacking and sodas and water were available all the time. Rum punch was available after the snorkel/swim.

Georges, the maitre d at the Grill, had arranged for us to have lobster last night- it was wonderful (I'm using that word a lot this week). We appreciate his thoughtfulness. His team was working in high heat after a brief rainstorm made the humidity 100% at the Grill- the hot rock experience in the Caribbean can be very different than Alaska! I believe I overheard one of the managers talking about a high number of passengers choosing to dine in their rooms last night, hard to remember it's Dec 22

If you get the chance tell him that Sir Jeremy and Miss Kim are missing the cocktails. He'll know what you mean!

Just saw Jeremy at lunch. He was happy to be remembered and wondered if you were still drinking different drinks every night!

Well, darn it. Missed the risotto again. Yesterday was the day for the menu change in La Terraza so I had to settle for a steak instead, such a rough life! Service was impeccable-it was somewhat hilarious to the wonderful sommelier as my husband and I have exact different tastes in wine but he enjoyed his white and I enjoyed my red. My artichoke appetizer was beautifully presented and the chef made the best gluten free pasta I've ever had. The thoughtfulness of marking what dishes were "off limits" on the menu was greatly appreciated. Now I understand the demand for seating in La Terraza for dinner. Amazing service and delicious food last night.

There's something very relaxing about not getting to a port until noon. Plenty of time to be lazy enjoy going past St Vincent to arrive at Bequia. Highly recommend the 3 hr catamaran snorkel/beach tour we took today. Brand new cat, great crew, interesting trip to secluded protected reef with lots of fish and ending with a stop at Princess Margaret Beach.

If I got the story right, there is a line of houses built of stone with no windows & doors -basically a failed off the grid eco resort. One was built right into the cliff and was inhabited until a boulder crashed through the bedroom. It was eerie but beautiful. It's called Moon Hole.

We are sharing the harbor with the MS Hamburg- a ship I'd never seen before and none of the crew on the tender could identify the line. Speaking of tenders, I love the tenders on the Wind- I can always get a seat near the fresh air and there is never a long wait.

Listening to Alex again before heading to dinner-looking forward to the risotto.

We did, on our Transatlantic, on the Whisper, with our favourite bartender Oliver. My favourite turned out to be the French Martini. YMMV

 

 

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Going to be next one- currently enjoying my first Pom-Martini, easy on the pomegranate juice to lessen the sweetness.

We did, on our Transatlantic, on the Whisper, with our favourite bartender Oliver. My favourite turned out to be the French Martini. YMMV

 

 

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Last night I started with dessert before dinner, an expresso martini which was very good but so sweet, one was enough. And I'm turning into a lightweight because while the Mad Men Martini was my idea of an absolutely perfect Martini, it was also the largest Martini I've ever been served. First time I can remember not finishing a cocktail!

And Paulino has quickly become a favorite. My husband called him a ninja because he always popping up asking if we need anything. His Silver caprihlana yesterday pm was very good (I order without sugar- most bartenders think I'm crazy, but then I add just a bit of stevia since cachacha already has plenty of sugar).

Looks like we are sailing into some rain this morning as we approach Bequia this morning. Supposed to arrive around noon.

Last night we hadn't planned on room service but with only 3 tables occupied at 7:30 pm, the Italian restaurant could not accommodate us even though they had several no shows for 7 and 7:15 reservations. Unique system they have here on SilverSea .....and I really wanted the Risotto which wasn't being offered in the Restaurant. I don't like large ships but in a suite on several other lines room service is available from any restaurant, not just the open dining. Guess we have to get smarter about reservations

Wandered through the on board shop as they had a TAG watch event. But this cruiser comes for the sea and the stars, not the shopping. Seems the shop is much more upscale than our Alaska cruise on the Shadow several years ago.

Beautiful skies last night. Polaris, Orion's Belt and the Big Dipper appeared fairly early (or at least this amateur stargazer thought so) and it amazes me how easy (and early) I fall to sleep.

Has anyone worked their way through the Classic Cocktails with a SilverSea Twist or the Silver-tinis? Trying to decide between a Vesper, Mad Men Martini or the Bermuda Sidecar.

Part 2 of Antigua

We decided to try the buffet for lunch - and loved the mixed grill. The lamb chops were grilled to perfection. Was not expecting that.

Then since we are docked, was easy-peasy to head back into St John - but while there are advantages to being the only ship in town, the disadvantage is that every two steps there is someone wanting to sell you a tour, braid your hair, or the old "step into my shop, I have a deal just for you."

Seriously- the beaches are gorgeous and the forts are still very visible. Sitting in the Panorama lounge, listening to Alex play, drinking a Silver Caipirinha, I can almost ignore the cannons aimed at the ship from both sides of the harbor.

2nd try at posting this-

Today we took our first excursion- a 3 hr snorkel and beach stop.

The catamaran was located right next to where we docked in St John, Antigua and we had a very reasonable start time of 9 am The cat will accommodate 120 people and we were about 40 (my estimate) so with a captain & 3 crew members we were very comfortable. Sodas and non-alcoholic beverages were made available from the start.

We motored out to the reef just past the Sandal's resort where we were informed this was a "guided" snorkel tour. We are experienced snorkelers and while I've been on excursions where due to strong current the boat drops you at one place and then trails you and picks you up at the end, I've never been told we all have to follow the guide. I can't count the number of times I was kicked by fins or swam into by others today.

We all dutifully swam out against the current and I lagged back while drifting in. I thought maybe today's "guided exception" was due to the swells and current since a crew member told me directly that it's usually a very calm reef. However the Silverseas rep on board said it's always a "guided snorkel." It is not labeled as such in the book we received and we would have done a different excursion had we known.

The lead crew member attracted a number of fish with bread crumbs-I'm not a fan of that either while the lagging crew member herded the rest of us.

The bar opened while we sailed to Deep Bay which has a very calm beach and a shallow ship wreck from the 18th century. That could have been fun to explore. after half an hour on the pretty beach we returned dockside.

If you are a serious snorkeler- and this is in fact always aherded, oops, I mean guided snorkel, I do not recommend the 3 hr tour (even though we turned out better than Gillian)

So, have received invitations to a Cocktail Reception for Venetian Society Guests and the Venetian Dinner. Since the first begins at 7 and the dinner at 7:30, any advice on whether we should attend? Since Alex is playing in the Panorama there is actually a schedule conflict! Ha, I never thought I'd say that out of the office.

Dinner was room service tonight. Highly recommend. On time, everything arrived cooked to order and at right temp. No bottomless glass of wine but with an excursion in the morning, that's a good thing!

That has happened a couple times to us. Once on the Wind and once on the Spirit. Never did hear why they did it on the Wind though ....On the Spirit it was understandable as it happened to be the night we were sailing past Somalia and the captain closed all outside decks at night and turned off all deck lights.

Well, if we are going past Somalia tomorrow night then I think we are definitely making a detour since we are supposed to be heading from Antigua to St Vincent. Just learned that there is The Venetian dinner tomorrow night at the Restaurant so maybe that's the explanation.

Christophe's steak tartar

Guess you have to take the good with the bad...just got notice that our reservation for dinner tomorrow night has been unilaterally cancelled as the Grill is now "closed" tomorrow night.

And before I forget, do the elves miraculously leave cleaning cloths for eyeglasses in your cabin without request? 2 showed up this morning - a wonderful event since I have lost a couple of old ones on this trip (and never said a word to anyone!). The small chocolates with the turndown service are great, especially the ones last night that are made right here in St Kitts but the cleaning cloths and unscented soap and lotion made my day:)

I hate autocorrect-please forgive the typos

SD made my March 17 birthday probably the most spectacular I have ever had- even with bad weather and not being able to go to Jost for the Champagne Splash. I adore caviar, but the beach barbecue is so wonderful it will be one of your best birthdays ever. Happy Birthday in advance!

And before I forget, do the elves miraculously leave cleaning clothes for eyeglasses in your cabin without request? 2 showed up this morning - a wonderful event since I have lost a couple of old ones on this trip (and never said a word to anyone!). The small chocolates with the turndown service are great, especially the ones last night that are made right here in St Kitts but the cleaning cloths and d unscented soap and lotion made my day:)

If you get the chance tell him that Sir Jeremy and Miss Kim are missing the cocktails. He'll know what you mean!

Looks like he was transferred elsewhere as Kevin is now working the deck but next time I see him I will definitely tell him

Back from our short walkabout in Basseterre. Quite enjoyed rhe children's choir practice at St George's Anglican Church. Can't resist the batiks made right here on St. Kitt's and DH was ecstatic at finding 3 types of Blanton at duty free when it's almost impossible to acquire at home.

Sometimes the best times to be poolside on ship is when everyone is on shore and that seems to be the case today. Quite peaceful and Jeremy made sure I had my sparkling water before I could unpack my bag. With a comfortable lounger, so glad to be here.

Just a comment for anyone with food allergies. I have one deadly allergy, two less serious and a couple of sensitivities. Now that the waiters are using I pads or tablets, I have a number of warnings re hidden ingredients or reminders. This is fantastic. A much welcome use of technology in an unobtrusive manner.