drron29

We went to Indochine for dinner. This has become more popular with us as they have a few more non spicy options compared to the past. Contrary to some people's opinion Asian food is not necessarily spicy. One part of the Mains Menu. Tonight we both had foie gras accompanied by a beef consomme. not a combination I would have thought of but it was very nice and we treated it as having 2 starters. I like spicy food so I had the lemongrass beef which was excellent. Rojaan had char sui beef which she enjoyed. Rojaan had rice with her main dish and I noodles. She also had the excellent kaffir lime and ginger creme brulee whilst I tried their trilogy of desserts. A bit disappointing so will go back to the creme brulee.

They had kept the restaurants open for lunch so we went to Atlantide. forgot to take a picture of the menu. Unfortunately my choices were unforgettable. First were corn fritters. Virtually inedible. Couldn't cut them with a knife easily and very hard to find any corn. Then I had mushroom goulash. I had a similarly named dish on our last cruise on the Muse and it was really good. this was the opposite with chunks of potato and zucchini as well as mushroom plus the sauce watery. Terrible. Rojaan did better with an avocado salad and a chocolate cake. I had a coffee to cleanse my palate. I did let my displeasure be known. Sailaway from Manilla. We were having a later dinner after our late lunch. There were fireworks.

Just a note @commodoredave the Muse voyage starting in Yokohama tomorrow is completely full. I have asked if getting extra staff but a lot of changing the subject going on. At least they should be re provisioning as very little done since Bali if any.

We did 2 classic fleet cruises in 2019 - Muse Sydney to Auckland and Wind around the British Isles. In 2022 we had a B2B on the Dawn in the Med. 2023 was 54 days on the Moon in the Med then 44 days on the Muse Japan to Cairns. Currently on the Muse Bali to Japan. Since COVID there has been a consistent decrease in the on board experience. Currently sitting in Atlantide waiting for breakfast. Arrived 40 minutes ago and all I have had is water and a glass of tomato juice. Rojaan has had fruit though the melon was hard and tasteless so it went back to the kitchen. Just interrupted by a pair of dolphins swimming along side for a couple of minutes. The thing that has upset me the most is the apparent incompetence of Head Office . We had 5 more cruises booked after this one. Though 2 B2Bs I count as 4 cruises. The first of these was May 25- Singapore -Doha - Athens. So SS put in 6 days in Doha between the cruises shortening both sectors. Obviously a 6 day charter which they deny. Offered a discount on the first leg but only a refund or 10% deduction on a new cruise. So changed the second sector to a Capetown cruise going up the east coast of Africa which we have not done as we are on the cruise before Mahe to Capetown in Jan 26. One week later they changed the new cruise to a west coast of Africa cruise. A fair bit of argument before we were allowed to swap that to the cruise before Mahe and keep the extra discount. Next cancelled excursions one of which is for the second sector of this cruise. However we had already boarded so can’t access MySilversea so can’t book a replacement. So went to the Shore Concierge team who told me that they could only put me on a wait list until the next cruise starts. Of course those who are to embark on that cruise can book those excursions. Also told that they have suggested to Head Office that they change the policy but they wouldn’t. So will we continue to book with SS. At the moment we will keep our bookings as at much cheaper prices than now plus can use our complimentary cruises to reduce costs even further. However if we see no change in attitude these booked cruises will be our last with SS.

Re The comment about no fruit bowl in suites. We had no fruit bowl for the first 2 days of the current cruise. So I asked our butler if they were no longer supplied. He said they were available on request so I requested one. I was asked what fruit I wanted so that is a positive. The problem is that no where is it stated that if you want a fruit bowl you have to ask. A similar situation for ordering from the In Suite Dining menu. Yes you can order from it in restaurants and we have done this a few times in Atlantide. Those new to SS have no idea that this can be done. Of course there have also been cuts in this menu. For example lobster and caviar are no longer on it. But asking I was told that caviar is available at any time but lobster may not be and could be a special request with 24 hours notice. There have been some differences between senior crew that I have asked such as Restaurant Managers and those higher up in the Hotel Department management.

No.

For us the crew is not the issue. Most of the new staff recruited by SS that we have met have experience with other cruise lines or in Hospitality. Five of the new crew we have met in the last 6 months have been from the Hyatt Dubai and 3 from the Royal Livingstone hotel Zimbabwe. They are excellent. However food quality and provisioning have gone backwards. If the increase in pricing goes towards better provisioning and quality ingredients then maybe things will be OK but I doubt it. Although things have been satisfactory on our current Muse cruise have been OK our butler said today he had to search high and low before finding a banana of decent quality for our fruit bowl. I do like a fresh banana every day. There should be no excuse for that, The excursions are also experiencing a decrease in quality. Our 3 Japanese excursions have had 34,38 and 39 passengers on a bus. Way more than in the past.

Thanks for this marvellous trip report. I am officially jealous. But you have confirmed my decision to go to Londolozi after our cruise in 2026.

The Statue of Jose Rizal killed by the Spaniards on 30/12/1896 by firing squad. Backfired badly as the locals revolted and less than 2 years later the Phillippines were ceded to the USA by Spain in 1898. They began self Government in 1935 and full Independence on 4/7/1946. On 29/12/1896 Rizal was taken to this holding cell the night before his execution. This was exactly 50 years before my birth. Views from the fort. The last of the fort. This time we walked the 100 metres to the bus which was on the other side of the road to where we were originally dropped. It was outside a Fire Station. On the way back evidence of China being not entirely unwelcome here. And Past the Naval Reserve HQ.

Fort Santiago.

And finally our destination. Manilla's oldest distillery. It seems they were best known for their billboards. Including one featuring miss universe 1974. The competition was held in Manilla. And some old equipment. They have a display of all their labels. Not many recognisable. We were meant to have a tasting but the small tasting room was already overcrowded so off we went to our final stop.

Then back on the Kalesas for another 20 minute ride to a spot 100 metres away just like the first time. Past a display of the Presidents of the Phillippines. We seemed to go around most of Intramuros. Past a university campus.

The kitchen was next door. And you had to go through the kitchen to get to the bathroom and toilets. Then taken to one of the restaurants for refreshments. For refreshments you could have either a beer or an ice cream. I chose this that was said to be made on the property. I doubt it.

We then crossed the road where there were some restaurants and then a museum of a nobleman's house. Fine dining. It wasn't only India and the English that had punkah wallahs.

The Spaniards built lots of churches around the Phillipines. Finally we got to see the church. A christening was being conducted. The last of the church and it's museum. The next day was palm Sunday so they were getting ready.

This church museum is huge. Indoctrinating the locals.

There are going to be a lot of sunburnt books on the Muse by lunchtime.

It was a little ironical that priests from Spain in the time of the Spanish Inquisition were always described as spreading Love. These messages of "Love were everywhere.

So now time to see the Church and it's museum.

Then off in busses to "Old Manilla". Not all the trucks were in good repair. And we now set off in the horse and cart -"kalesa". Cars moved out of the way.

This is the Easter Basket on the Muse tonight.

The next morning we were arriving in Manilla. And a welcome as we disembarked for our tours.