Perfectionistcruiser

I have been in Ushuaia twice pre and post Silver Exporer trips, trust me the best way to spend your evening is on the Silver Muse.

There is a big sign at the pier that says 'welcome to the end of the world' and it is. The town is a backpackers gathering point, no fine dining or shopping all pretty basic and a couple of hours walking you will see it all and be back on board.

Sorry I have no idea how to post the article but sure some tech person can find it at travelpulse.com

Speculation about might SS be purchased by Crystal Regent or Seabourne, but they all have there own growth and build programs, so why would they !!

This is the first time SS has sought external money publicly before, although clearly something private has happened if the Shadow is not presently SS owned and the Discoverer is leased.

Travel Pulse reports Silversea putting notes up for offering in the amount of $550 Million at 7.25% due 2025.

This was also in the London Daily Telegraph late last week, travel pulse story is dated January 18, 2017.

Interestingly the article states a good deal of the money to pay for the Silver Muse, to repurchase the Silver Shadow and to pre-fund capital expenditure requirements.

It goes on to explore the present financial situation of Silversea and speculates about the company's future .

La Champagne never changes, Hot Rocks never changes, La Terrazza changes regularly very 3-4 days no real pattern but can always get in there.

Don't think Seishin changes but always best to go there for lunch, guilt and no extra charge.

Dining room changes daily.

Enjoy your cruise

Yes there is a Charge to dine in La Champagne of I think $ 40.00 US but well worth it once in the cruise. Also possibly in Seishin only on the Silver Spirit at Dinner, ( sorry don't recall how much that is), .

Silversea pour Heidsick Monople and Pommery ( which we much prefer), and a word of advice you need to be very specific each time you order with each member of staff about your preference or you may quickly have prosecco coming your way.

Safe travels

Any tips please for a really good Restaurnt for Lunch in Livorno would be much appreciated.

Kent is known as the Garden of Englnd and as advised above there are a great many lovely gardens to visit, especially at the time you will be there.

I would advise looking to base yourself at Gravetye Manor, at East Grinstead, which albeit in the adjoining county of East Sussex is an ideal, and civilised hostelry from which to set forth each day on garden tours.

Gravetye's gardens were laid out by William Robinson and are superb and particularly recently as such attention has been given to the re-establishment of the kitchen garden there to accommodate the very good restaurants requirements.

Sissinghurst White Garden, should be at its best then, ( given a fair Spring) and Leeds Castle oft referred to as ' the most beautiful castle in Englnd' should not be missed.

Master Echo, I too was on the Wind and had similar discussions with informed sources. I'm in the hospitality business and so well understand the issues you outline above.

I think S S are going to be pretty 'game changing' in the approach to no MDR, a change I for one fully endorse, it's brave and clear explanation will be needed to take the very loyal V S Members on the journey, but I suspect in two or three years we will take it for granted.

On the Lisbon London cruise we had two dinners in MDR, two in the grill and eight at La Terrazza, shows we prefer the more intimate dining locations, so will be ready for the Muse. I always pre book dining at My Silversea, sometimes I change them once on board, but by studying the itinerary you can soon work out where you might want to be when.

We are on board The Wind now and enjoying this cruise immensely the crew have been outstanding and although the ship is full with increased staff numbers all is well. There has never been a problem to secure a table in any bar or restaurant, the food has been exceptional and David Bilsland's market tours and produce purchasing great fun.

Last night the main Dining Room had a huge Oyster shucking station and a magnificent selection of French cheese at another station, it made for a super dinner and most convivial.

Wines likewise have been very good and varied with anything you request immediately provided for you, the bar team excell, know your likes and have been most attentive. the included wifi appears good and reception has been good.

The downsides, the TV news has not worked for three days now, constant excuses about a technician needing to come onboard but no sign of same, despite the fact we just had two full days in Bordeaux. The Hotel Director has failed badly to not send out a note explaining the situation, but he is invisible..

Today at Belle Ile was the first of three consecutive days of tendering, it was a shambles IMO, only one tender in operation and waited over an hour to board and get ashore. Was told the other tender had a technical issue, well what if it had been needed for its real purpose, and was not working. That is inexcusable and a great black mark for S S who really should and must do better. We will see what tomorrow brings in St Peter Port, Guernsey.

We are onboard the Wind now and do exactly as above accept or decline, tonight is Venetian Night and we were invited but elected to decline.

Interestingly first time in over 250 days to my memory when the dress code tonight is informal, but it's only a twelve day cruise so that is likely the reason.

It will be done for you once onboard by your Butler.

Master Echo

Thanks indeed for your very interesting notes and we are looking forward to joining you next Tuesday in Lisbon.

Would you mind sharing who is the Capt, HD & Chef ?

Hi Carrie

Thanks for your question and on balance I would stay at Shangri La, unless you have a balcony at SwissHotel, it will be on the TV,s which they will likely have in the Lobby at Shangri La and it is an oasis of peace and calm there with superlative service, which will make your whole stay that much better I think.

As Jeff says it is so small, and inexpensive to get around. Hope this helps, enjoy your trip, I am at Shangri La for a week in August, then a short visit in October and ten days over Christmas but leave before NYE.:

The Valley Wing at The Shangri La wins hands down for me after twenty years of visiting Singapore every year, I have tried them all!!

The Valley Wing suites are superb as is the private check in, lounge with complimentary drinks and last Christmas Perrier Jouet Champagne all day, it is rather like Silver Sea, but on land.

We are on the Wind for what I think is the first arrival at Tower Bridge for the season from Lisbon, arriving 11 June which was to be 4.00 pm and has just been moved to 8.00 pm, that will sure make everyone that wants to view very late for dinner.

We overnight there before disembarking on Sunday 12, not a big deal for us as we live in London but for anyone that had been planning theatre or dinner ashore that's now impossible. Likewise to,late to,invite guests aboard for dinner.

And yes we just paid in full !!

Where do I find the world cruise blog on CC please?

My understanding is, that there is no Main Dining Room, there are more than enough restaurants, and an excellent selection, that will entail some forward planning through my silversea, that we all make as many reservations as possible pre-boarding.

I think I am very happy about this as usually dine at Terraza or Hot Rocks anyway, MDR has never really suited us except on Wind and Cloud and of course Explorer where till recently no choice but now hot rocks there was great in Cuba this month.😀

Very sad to advise that this talented member of S S Expedition Team has passed away. RIP Chris, you were a very special and hugely respected lecturer and travel companion to many of us on the Expedition ships, remembered with great affection.

Well I'm on the Explorer now where we had an exceptionally well managed drill following embarkation, before sailed, I think the entire thing took less than twenty minutes and a subsequent crew drill whilst we were in Cuba was equally well run, no complaints here at all.

It is only half full as originally chartered to an Australian operator, who failed to fill it, then later released to some UK Agents, as it could not be offered at the time to the US market, so there are no Americans on board, big slice of SS clients not here, or able to be here.

We sailed yesterday from Nassau and have a sea day today before arrival tomorrow morning in Havana, a maiden call for this and indeed any SS ship, there is a great sense of anticipation on board for the passengers and crew, we are all really looking forward to our eight days around Cuba.

72 passengers and 127 crew on board, calm sea, great service and a 'burger free menu' here has made for a very happy start.

The ship sailed empty of passengers from St Johns to Nassau but contractors were on board and a lot of plush new carpet has been laid.

More later as we progress

We were in Port Klang last December on the Wind, nothing to do their at all, we took the shuttle to local shopping centre and came directly back on the next one, nothing there you would want to look at or buy!!

As to going to Kuala Lumpur the best bet, by far, is car and driver then you can make your own time, see the twin towers, have Lunch at The Mandarin Oriental and then return to the ship is my advice.

J P, love your comment re the Air-Con on the dear old Cloud, but so right.

Another thought, and thanks to cruzer9 for emailing Conrad, the Mud Room can obviously take over the boutique space, a far better use than that of the present unnecessary merchandise that is so rarely purchased. Seriously though, two hundred is a lot of boots and kit for a mud room !!

I think it's a winner for SS and of course you can charge a lot more for an Expedition Cruise, mind you I have always found it worthwhile the expedition teams are just so knowledgable you really do explore and learn.

Please again give us the make and model number Jeff, then I'm off to Peter Jones tomorrow. With huge thanks.

Perfectionistcruiser - I see from another thread you are on the Explorer from Nassau doing Cuba. So are we. Do you want to meet up and have a drink ? When do you arrive in Nassau and where are you staying ?

Thanks Rojaan19 but think drink will have to wait till we board the Explorer, we are party of five, only one night in Nassau staying at the Colonial Hilton, looks the nearest to the port, and we have to visit friends who live in Nassau so time will be short.

Really looking forward to this cruise, it sure will be an adventure, got the Silver Box last week, so now I know it's really happening. A nine hour flight from London, but I know yours will be much more, we used to live in Melbourne so no the distances involved. Safe travels and see you on the little ship.