ronrick1943

Thanks, you’ll enjoy Cartagena, the people are truly friendly and want to help. The food is really good. The only thing bad is the traffic-so plan again if going someplace. Taxi’s and car service cheap in price.

It was a cruise listed on Silversea website and priced. We decided about two months before leaving on the trip. But we did book though are TA for the add on. Worked out well for us.

Today is a bust day for the crew as it’s debarkation day for about 100 plus cruisers. We’ll be docking at 1PM this afternoon. They say they have about the same amount boarding today. We’ll be leaving the ship about 2:00PM as we have a cooking class in Cartagena at the Sky Kitchen School. It’s a half day evening class, so we cook are own dinner at the school (has nothing to do with Silversea). We overnight here in Cartagena. We’ll come back to the ship late this evening. They say we were full this last section of the cruise, but Silversea crew did a good job, because it didn’t fill full and you didn’t have any wait times. The weather has been holing up pretty good, no rain but warm to hot. And the sea has been smooth since we got on the ship on December 11. Now we’ll have to see how it is during the crossing home.

just a comment, the service is a little inconsistent in room service. it seems if your butler brings it. Everything is done perfectly, however if someone else is helping out, they just set the tray down and walk out. On Regent if someone is working with Butler or helping, they do it exactly the same way the Butler would.. maybe it’s training or maybe it’s lack of care on Silversea but it needs to be corrected. Service should be the same every day that you’re on the ship and be consistent.. I realize this sounds harsh but that’s what you’re paying for: service.

Don’t know what happened, so here they come……….It was neat seeing the ship behind us in the locks at different heights and other ships passing going the other way. Really the photo’s don’t capture the real look in person.

See the photo’s I just added. They really don’t give it justice-We had a ship following us, seeing it higher an only maybe a football field way was truly spectacular. We when thought it at night once because of a delay—total different perspective.

The photo’s from today taken on our balcony of the transit of the canal. I love being in the back of the ship. Unless we are eating at a restaurant in the front of the ship. On this ship it’’s a long walk…………

if you recall, I told you that room service was really good and we had a club sandwich that was outstanding including hot french fries. We ordered late that evening, maybe that is the secret to the hot food. this evening we decided not to go out and just have room service again. This time we ordered early and it wasn’t the same club sandwich. This time the sandwiches made a little differently, and the sand was cold as the french fries. service was stellar again. Of course her Butler did a perfect job but once he left, it is what it is. maybe being a little unfair. The sandwich really wasn’t cold, but it certainly wasn’t warm. Maybe we could say on the cool side(LOL)😁

Today the deck was truly special, even though we’ve gone through the canal a few times it’s always fun to watch the happenings around. We enjoy the back of the ship as we get a as we get a full view of what we’re leaving behind. I’ll add some photos very soon we got some we got some interesting shots of a few ships behind us. I know on the side of us..

It has been fun. We are enjoy the trip and thanks for your comments.

I know and it’s so easy.

Broker: that is why we don’t care what others think. We still wear mask when necessary, and always use sanitize hand cleaners. When we fly we still wipe down all around us, if someone coughs we put on mask. And we never take the ships transfer, we always stay a few days before are return home. That way when we disembark the ship, we are the last people off and don’t stand in the line nor the crowded customs area. Few luggage is left, so to standing around. It’s just the way we travel now. You can see by the photo below we are serious. We do have more in the closet drawers. And we don’t care what others think about us, we want to be safe.

Thanks for the information, sorry to hear you had to suffer because some else feels more important-and just continues their cruise without concern for others.

I don’t want to start rumors however, yesterday they started asking people to use the sanitizer or wash basin before entering the restaurants. If you ask why, the answer is for safety. We always do anyway, but others haven’t. No code was called, or reason given. Actually, I had wished they did this from the beginning of the cruise. We boarded December 11.

Yes they do, but we arrived just before are appointment. So we sat in the general lobby area and filled out a short questionnaire that the therapist will go over with. We were taken right away into the room for the treatment. The rooms are big with a private shower. I’m not sure about the sauna because we didn’t use it. They champagne.and other little treats beside flavored water with real fruit (type that is serviced at The Art’s Cafe”. They have a pool and the typical amenities of any good resort.

To is the crossing though the Panama Canal. This is are 5th trip with a transit, so nothing really for us, it is something everyone should see during their life time. We’re using the day to relax on the deck and watch the transit, scenery. Most likely have lunch on the deck as it’s warm, not really hot. Other than that not much to report…………

The Spa. It’s very nice and welcoming. We’ve had a few treatments so far, all very good-in fact really nice. The pricing some think is high, but it’s really no more than at a good resort. Besides Champagne they have favored water and little treats. The staff A+.

The other night before dinner we had a little party for a few people we met. The Butler did a nice job in setting up, all the food hasn’t been placed yet and caviar will arrive soon. They made egg nog for us as it was Christmas eve.

I realize that, but really the person in charge of tours for Silversea should have something available for guest. In the long run it’s cheaper for Silversea, as guest aren’t taking a tour that cost Silversea.

One thing that is kind of odd, we don’t really do a lot of touring unless it’s something we really want to see. So a lot of times we take the shuttle bus from the ship to the drop off. Silversea really doesn’t have people come on board to tell you what the port is about and hat to do like Regent. Like today we’re in Panama City, we asked the tour desk where does the shuttle bus drop you off? No one knows for sure other than an address for the shuttle. So if you’re not taken a tour it’s a guess unless you take a taxi which most of the time we do that.

Here are the photo’s I promised of Christmas dinner. It was all nicely presented and tasted really good. The mushroom soup was a standout as was the Foie Gras. On Ron’s plate you can’t see the turkey- the pan seared Foie Gras covered most of the turkey (the 2nd photo). Our friend dinning with us had the Steak and lobster combo. Didn’t take a photo of the soup for some reason, but it wouldn’t have photographed very good.

Just at breakfast with one of the families with children . The gifts were not at random, but depending on age, gender the ship made decisions for each child. Are friends child got a nice size toy race car. I also so a few dolls around the ship for little girls. I was a nice plan Silversea put together for Christmas.

This is the dinner menu from last night (Christmas Dinner). I’ll had pictures of the plating later today.

We really hav’t gone out of way to do that. We pretty much cruise for quiet time and just plain relaxation. However we’ve had lunch and dinner with a few people we met around the ship. If you take part in the activities on the ship you’ll have a good opportunity to meet others. It’s really up to you.

Christmas Dinner, I would say 95% of the people dressed for the night. Dinner itself was outstanding. The food was Delicious and the platting very nice, all in all the the evening was really special. We had a starter of Foir Gras Terrine which very good, followed by a Cream of Porcini and Truffle Soup which exceptional. After that we had Traditional Turkey Roast, Ron added Pan-Fried Foie Gras on top. We both enjoyed the Turkey and Ron loved the added Foie Gras. The meal ended with a Christmas Pudding & Yule Log for dessert. The platting was exceptional as the Christmas Pudding. The Yule Log was nice, but not really that good. Over all the evening was a nice ending of the day. We took some photo’s and I’ll post soon-Think you’ll like these if your thinking of a Christmas cruise.