Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Two

[lincslady]

Mysty - I know you are shortly going on a big adventure, but not knowing the SS timetables and to save me going through pages and pages of Cooler stuff - a quick reminder of when you are off, and for how long on which ship. Pretty please?

 

It is obviously a big undertaking - a whole world cruise maybe? Certainly the right time of year to leave snowy Canada, the sort of thing we would do if we did not mind long flights nowadays. The amount of stuff you needed to pack must have been a nightmare; I also make lists, and when we have sent luggage on with Fedex have made lists of exactly what is in the cases, plus you cannot put any aerosols in etc. etc. But well worth it in the end, when you are not lugging heavy cases round airports.

 

Sorry I have not been keeping up, but would genuinely love to know what you will be doing and when.

 

Lola

[mysty]

Hi Lola! Thanks so much for your interest! Myster and I are going on the 2016 SS World Cruise which sails from Ft. Lauderdale on January 5 and ends in Venice on April 30. This is our once-in-a-lifetime trip and we are very excited! I have done the same thing as you do with suitcase inventories for the ship ahead as well as for the bags that will come with us. I've been planning since February 2015 researching ports, currency needs, visa needs, average temperatures etc. Now I am ticking boxes on my multiple to do lists. If all goes well we will be on the Silver Whisper in 7 days. :)

[mysty]

Just to make sure I still remember the process for posting pictures here I have dug one out of my files while I wait for Frances to get her energy up. I took this across from the Bridge Inn, Upper Woodford Salisbury in 2012 on our way from Heathrow to Southhampton for our first SS cruise. We had just been to Stonehenge.

 

 

[UKCruiseJeff]

Nice piccy M,

 

 

You passed along the A303 less than a mile from La Cucina!

 

 

Jeff

[mysty]

We did? That is a beautiful piece of the world J! I am missing it right now. Just took a hike to check for mail at the community post box. Put my winter grips on my boots and I still had problems making my way through the unplowed streets. Currently about 7 inches on the ground and slippery as all get out! I'll try to keep it away from you Sophia! :)

[mw8811]

Mysty - How exciting a world cruise I'm sure I'd never manage to organize that! Have a wonderful time and post lots of pix!

 

S - yes the Severn has been a bit naughty and at, or very near, flood level for the last five weeks or so - flood defences go up and down at regular intervals and we've been unable to do our usual Sunday walk as the towpath has been flooded. It looks as though Wales will get another dollop of rain overnight which will no doubt force levels to rise in a couple of days time.

Fortunately we are well above the river and it is 1.5 miles from us at its nearest point.

Our thoughts are with all those poor people up north though - how dreadful for them.

 

Mary

[mysty]

Thanks for your kind wishes Mary! I have done the planning and research since Myster was still working and I had the time. He is also not a great fan of those tasks and I seem better suited for it. We make a great team! :) I just hope I haven't forgotten anything!

[mysty]

I took Frances out for a wee trudge to give her some exercise. Here is the photo evidence of our current snow storm.

 

Firstly, a picture from the side front garden of my poor little doves under a blanket of snow.

 

 

 

 

Nextly comes a street view.

 

 

 

 

And lastly my boot print in the snow.

 

 

 

 

Not a fan of this kind of weather!

[Mark_K]

Glad you made it home safely JP! We're getting the snow and nastiness now. People are advised to stay off the roads. Hope your disappointment lessens soon..... the downside of wonderful travel is the return to routine afterwards. Hope your day is relatively quiet! :)

 

 

On Sunday we looked at the weather forecast, and spent the day packing, then left Michigan early Monday morning just ahead of the ice. We arrived in sunny SW Florida about noon today. Partly cloudy, temp about 30C.

[mysty]

Smart move Mark!!! Glad the trip went well! Enjoy the sun and warmth!

[TLCOhio]

Yes, we made it home a little after 8pm last night...way later if you're on Barcelona time! The trip was such fun and we accomplished a lot. Made it to work this morning...We'll see how that goes! The white stuff does look really pretty, from a distance! Pictures will get posted eventually, once I get over the disappointment of not being there any longer, and I can look at them without shedding a tear! ;)

 

misty: Stop The Snow' date=' Stop The Snow, [b']Stop The Snow[/b] I took Frances out for a wee trudge to give her some exercise. Here is the photo evidence of our current snow storm.

 

Mark_K: On Sunday we looked at the weather forecast' date=' and spent the day packing, then left Michigan early Monday morning [b']just ahead of the ice[/b]. We arrived in sunny SW Florida about noon today. Partly cloudy, temp about 30C.

 

Appreciate the added updates from J.P., especially the many colorful pictures from Barcelona to be coming in the future. Understand the challenges of missing Barcelona and its wonderful charm, warmth and character.

 

Great job by misty in practicing and successfully posting those larger pictures. Looking forward to lots more as you travel during the coming months.

 

Yes, winter is happening and hitting certain parts of North America rather aggressively. But, however, it is now winter!! Glad we will be departing in less than a month for our third-straight winter doing the "south of Equator" strategy to avoid the cold, ice and snow.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 207,631 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[lincslady]

Mysty - many thanks for taking the time to let me know what you will be up to - and what a fantastic cruise! I have now looked it up, so will be able to follow you. We did a trip on the Shadow quite a few years ago, and particularly liked the Panorama Lounge, the Bar, and doing trivia with two really excellent Cruise Directors. I think Silversea does specialise in good CD's.

 

You will be leaving for Fort Lauderdale in just a few days now; when you get back it will be late spring, and no more snow. Have a wonderful time, we will all be following you and hoping to hear from you.

 

Lola

[specialcruisegirl]

Lovely pics Mysty....you've had a bit of a dollop of the white stuff!! We are still under threat of storm Frank here...thankfully not too bad at present for me.

 

Virgin Atlantic have come very very good with my transatlantic one way flights for this year...so right now I'm a happy bunny as air miles have worked the magic!

 

Noon time is wine time now.....[emoji6]

 

S [emoji4]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[UKCruiseJeff]

Thanks for reminding me Soapy ..... it is 12.....and .... the wine box is out and it is simply cheese and crackers and wine today and an apple for lunch!

 

We have gravadlax and proscuitto for supper!

 

 

Nice piccies M,

 

Jeff

[mysty]

Mysty - many thanks for taking the time to let me know what you will be up to - and what a fantastic cruise! I have now looked it up, so will be able to follow you. We did a trip on the Shadow quite a few years ago, and particularly liked the Panorama Lounge, the Bar, and doing trivia with two really excellent Cruise Directors. I think Silversea does specialise in good CD's.

 

You will be leaving for Fort Lauderdale in just a few days now; when you get back it will be late spring, and no more snow. Have a wonderful time, we will all be following you and hoping to hear from you.

 

Lola

 

Thanks for your kind wishes Lola! I plan to bring the Coolers along with us. :) Watch for posts on the 2016 WC thread as well as special posts here in the Cooler where all have been so warm and welcoming!

[mysty]

Lovely pics Mysty....you've had a bit of a dollop of the white stuff!! We are still under threat of storm Frank here...thankfully not too bad at present for me.

 

Virgin Atlantic have come very very good with my transatlantic one way flights for this year...so right now I'm a happy bunny as air miles have worked the magic!

 

Noon time is wine time now.....[emoji6]

 

S [emoji4]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks Sophia! I hope "Frank" moves away soon! Glad your flights have worked out! Enjoy your wine. I have to corral the dustbunnies before we leave otherwise they will take over the castle. :) That's my to do item for today.

[mysty]

Thanks J......Enjoy your lunch! Did you ever get your exercise machine assembled? Is it working out for you?

[UKCruiseJeff]

Thanks J......Enjoy your lunch! Did you ever get your exercise machine assembled? Is it working out for you?

 

Most of the exercise has been gained in assembling the eliptical trainer. I would say that the 5 minutes at a time I do before the legs give up is very beneficial.

 

:D

[mysty]

That's good J! And I'll bet you have gorgeous legs! :)

[Mark_K]

Most of the exercise has been gained in assembling the eliptical trainer. I would say that the 5 minutes at a time I do before the legs give up is very beneficial.

 

 

 

:D

 

 

My legs are not the problem, my hips and elliptical trainers do not get along at all. Walking is about the only leg exercise I can do, even jogging hurts them.

[specialcruisegirl]

May I wish all coolers and indeed everyone on the SS board a Very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[mysty]

Indeed you may Sophia! :) And I will add my voice to yours in wishing all the very best for 2016! Live Long And Prosper!

[spinnaker2]

And I echo all of the good and warm wishes for 2016!

Fair winds and following seas all!

[UKCruiseJeff]

Happy new year to all ..... and in particular our Ozzy friends who are already there.

 

Lovely to join in the kids firewok display at 9pm and the main event via the live HD stream courtsey of The City of Sydney ... and to just see the Singapore event a few minutes ago.

 

Today we were lucky to find some gorgeous fresh mussels .....we had far tooooooo many .... :D which we had in a very spicey and sweet Thai Green Curry sauce ... it was lovely.

 

Jeff

 

 

Edited December 31, 2015 by UKCruiseJeff

[Mark_K]

Happy New Year to All!

 

Jeff, the mussels look delish.