drron29

It used to happen all the time until Covid. Covid ended the automatic asking if you wanted to share a table. However some of us couples will say that we don't mind sharing if anyone wants to so did end up on a couple of occasions sharing a table with a single German lady last August. So when you enter Atlantide do tell the Maitre'd that you would like a shared table.

Just received an email from SS about combination cruises having a discount of 20%. One of the combinations is a cruise we are doing on the Muse in October this year.However the discounted price is $A9700 dearer for each person than when we made the booking. So book early.

Lots of fine dining in Singapore. 52 Michelin starred restaurants. Les Amis is very good but of the 1 star restaurants we really like Whitegrass, Iggys and Summer Palace. Full list here. https://www.timeout.com/singapore/news/michelin-guide-singapore-2022-the-full-list-of-michelin-starred-restaurants-071322

Then to the mains. Rojaan had the French poulet with langoustines. She thought it very good. My Waygu was worth the supplement. Then the desserts. Okinawa pineapple for Rojaan and Rosemary ice cream with pistachio and cherries for me. Both were enjoyable. And to finish off a little cake. The chef you will not be surprised to know is Japanese but trained in France. It shows not only in the food but also the crockery. Though this plate looks like a Japanese style it is made in Germany. We ended up getting along very well with the manager/sommelier Wendy so had a couple of good conversations. I think because she liked my summation of our lunches at Odette and Whitegrass. We had eaten at Odette a week before and it was very good but too much food for us aand it cost 3 times as much $A1100. Odette is very much on the production and presentation where Whitegrass is basically about the food. We were last to leave. We were also each given a complimentary glass of a Yuzu liqueur. As we were last to leave I got a picture of an empty restaurant. We heartily recommend Whitegrass.

So must do post or two about Whitegrass. The menu. I paid the waygu supplement. Rojaan had the smaller set. So her Amuse bouche was smaller than mine. And mine had a little bit extra -tiny sashimi prawns which were very nice. Then my appetiser an excellent tuna dish whilst rojaan's was NZ salmon. Second appetiser for me Hokkaido scallops.Wonderful. Rojjaan enjoyed her corn consomme. Then my extra course -Japanese Amadai tilefish. Very crisp on the outside and so moist and tasty inside, Excellent. To be continued.

Indeed this is what I am finding. Having taken a year to get here I am not easily going to undo it. I made a goal wait of 81KG a year ago but the target is for the end of the year. Well we do have a 54 day followed by a 45 day SS cruise before the end of the year. Unofficially I now think I will try for 80KG and that is a BMI of 24.1.

Actually not as bad as I thought. Only 100Gm higher so BMI 25.0.

I reached a significant milestone on Sunday when for the first time probably in 40 years I reached a BMI of 24.9. So officially no longer overweight. So to celebrate we went for a long Sunday lunch at a French restaurant on the Sunshine Coast - Periwinkle at Peregian Beach The food was excellent. The owners also run an italian restaurant so a couple of Italian styles appear. We usually now only have a 2 course lunch but Rojaan does consult the dessert menu beforehand. So it was a main and dessert this day. I started with a Tuscan tarte Flambe and then had an apple tart. I do love a good tart. They both were excellent. I love Gorganzola and it really lifted the Tarte. Rojaan had the linguine with spanner crab and a creme caramel. Both very good but she loved the creme caramel. we went with another couple and here is their food. The crab souffle, canard confit aux peches and crepe suzettes. So one to remember if you get to stay on our Coast.

He was a bit more refined than me. I am a bit uncouth.😃

I also like to dress up though over the last 4 or so years it is dark trousers and a colourful jacket. However today was trying on my clothes after a substantial weight loss. Hey Presto I can fit into my dinner suit I wore in my twenties perfectly. There were always balls and formal dinners in rural Australia in the 70s and 80s. And because it fits perfectly thats what I will wear on formal nights with a colourful bow tie. But my pink jacket will also go for informal nights. I frequently wore a Jacket and bow tie even when on the Explorer for significant nights.

The world cruise will be arriving in Australia when the biofouling will be strictly enforced. however if that was the reason for missing Eden you would be missing all Australian ports. A viking ship a few months ago arrived from NZ but wasn't allowed to dock in melbourne. They sailed on to adelaide and refused again so they finally realised that they should fix the problem or else cancel their cruise around Australia. You were scheduled to visit Eden late in February which is the time they would welcome an influx of tourists as usually the slowest month for travel in Australia. This year there was a game fishing tournament on then but I don't see that as a problem. So probably just SS having a rethink.

In view of your husband's desire's you should book it. more likely to miss a day in South Georgia. I found an old Trip advisor report (2004) that said most passenger ships are able to land their pax in Stanley. Of those who didn't when expected several were because they were behind schedule.

Yes even though our vaccination records have been uploaded to Silversea and our passport we still had to show a record when boarding in Barcelona mid August last year.

Well today marks 1 year since my final retirement. I did have a couple. It marks the time I started to consider my health a bit more. Simple plan just eat less and exercise more. So this morning I weighed 84 Kg ( 185 lbs). A lossof 22.5Kg (49.5 lbs) My plan was to be at 84.5 Kg by the time we leave home for our next cruise on 17/3/23. Feeling a little bit satisfied.

Thanks but for our upcoming cruise it is waitlist only. So no chance there On our next 2 cruises after that they are both $A20000 above what we paid. just hope SS doesn't want extra.😁 seems we pick popular cruises.

And i like to keep the chronicles until I have finished my cruise report. A good aid for my fading memory.

You are picking good excursions for your Japanese ports. cherry blossoms should still be in blossom for your Hakodate excursion and the Otaru canal are is very interesting.

Yes I also enjoy the steaks at the grill because I can cook it just the way I like it. Nearly raw!

In the past with a mainly Filipino crew they definitely preferred USD. Much more diverse though on our last cruise in August.

But I have a USD bank account and am well in front from the time i opened it.

Some years ago we stayed in the Lakes District at the Samling hotel and their restaurant had a Michelin star. A bit concerned as half of the trip advisor reviews said excellent and the other half poor. All was revealed when we went to dinner on the first night. The manager was a tall,thin Englishman who had perfected a certain walk and one waiter was Portugese going by the name Manuel. A comedy show every night. It was then we understood the Trip advisor reviews. The excellent ones were from the UK and the poor from the USA.

Just a warning for those taking tours into the mountains when visiting Bali on a cruise. A very interesting warning given by SS on what you should wear. give particular attention to the shoes you should wear. We suggest wearing light and comfortable clothing and turdy walking shoes at all times due to basic road and walkway condition,