Silver Spectre

It’s 30F outside and pool deck is deserted apart from our little feathered Japanese stowaways, who are struggling to survive

On 5/3/2024 at 1:25 AM, jpalbny said:

Brr! Sounds like it's time to reinstitute the late morning boullioun service...one thing that we look forward to while cruising in Polar climes. Stay well and stay warm!

It is there when required.

Today is our second full sea day on the way to Dutch Harbour, and its perishing outside, currently 35F or about 2C outside and even the most hardy of souls have vacated the pool deck. There are now many sniffles to be heard onboard. IMHO the best place to be is in bed, unless you happen to be hungry.

Currently on the Shadow WC with Moss. His Trivia is fair but hard and after 2 weeks, no team has managed to get a full 25 out of 25. That’s quite surprising as there are a number of very seasoned players on here.

How’s the included wine and beer selection on the Muse. As the Shadow has run out of many wines the HD and F&B mgr managed to effect a heist of some 600 bottles whilst you were in Hakodate.

Here’s one that you may never see again

Final port of call in Japan, Otaru. Immigration again, and now we begin the 6 day sail to Dutch Harbour.

10 hours ago, PaulaJK said:

Have menu offerings and quality of cuisine continued to decline. We ‘shared’ the Feb 24 SSpirit cruise. I don’t recall liquor brand cutbacks…is that new? Is an anything  else new since Feb.?

His is a big change instigated by RCI since we were on the Spirit in Feb.

Tandoori chicken breast and a Sachertort 

Lunch at sea 

The biggest issue on here, SS Shadow WC, is the major cut backs of premium brand liquor and beers. The cheese paring and penny pinching has gone way too far. Many WC’ers will not be returning to SS in its current form.

13 minutes ago, mysty said:

Today is a sea day en route to Hakodate,  Japan.   Silversea is introducing a new champagne.   We're doing a wine tasting this afternoon. 

 

I hope you enjoy. As this is promotional I’m a little surprised at the level of the fee.

9 hours ago, les37b said:

Fingers crossed it remains. I suspect you’ll be treated to the usual Japanese welcome and farewell as you arrive and depart. Something I was so impressed with.

Having left Japan 3 days ago we are now re-entering and have to go through all the immigration and customs procedures again this morning.

Last night was informal and whilst all the guests were dressed appropriately in the restaurant a party arrived late for desert having dinned on the pool deck. No jacket was worn or required which again makes a mockery of the dress code.

Yesterday was also the new low point of the wine drought. No more Pouilly Fume, Tiki and Vouvray. The is an ocean of undrinkable cheap Chardonnay left though.

Putting logistical supply issues aside, this ship has relatively recently been in both New Zealand and Australia and it should have been possible to restock locally and avoid running out this early. 

Beautiful day in the Sea of Japan on our way to Kanazawa, with some well deserved sunshine.

8 hours ago, Carolfay said:

When I was on Nova in January, one of the bartenders told me that management has substituted a cheaper liqueur for Drambuie.  A couple other bartenders were candid enough to confirm this and add that there have been a number of similar substitutions.

Yes, it’s called Glayva, and it’s a cheap alternative that will not pass my lips.

Hi Les,

the Emirates issue was rain in the UAE and flights cancelled.

We have had rain but yesterday afternoon was nice and today is sunny, off the South Korea tomorrow.

shocked yesterday to find that SS no longer stocks Drambuie or Polish vodka. ***** is going on here?

Today we are in Kagoshima. Visited the Sakurajima volcano and this afternoon we were treated to a view of it without clouds.

Captains welcome and rain day, St George’s and pub lunch

An interesting day in Shimizu yesterday, with our tour completely rescheduled. We visited a Buddhist temple, followed by a shrine. We lastly went to a volcanic beach for an iconic photo stop to see the elusive Mt Fuji, which was covered with clouds and invisible. At Team Trivia we came joint first.

Actually SS’s only Norman of note, Rafleson.

6 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Norman the sommelier?  If so, he did an amazing job on Cloud last month for us!

🤣🤣🤣

A parting gift from Tokyo

Finally onboard at 1:30. A quick lunch at La Terrazza and a big hello from Gilbert, Jason and the crew. Bumped into Norman who has just joined. Stopped by Reception to say hello to Begonia and Flavio. It’s great to be back home!

Room with a view