Silver Spirit- 23 days - Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona - April 2

[spinnaker2]

Name that tune was performed by the Voices of Silversea! It started out as a standard game, with the performers singing snippets of songs. We were to guess the artist.

 

Then we were treated to more singing as the artists perfomed show tunes and wewere to guess the Broadway show that the song was known for.

 

Next the game became a little silly. Each artist performed a song using "do do" as lyrics!

 

But the best part of the game was when the Voices performed songs for us to guess by gargling with water, or for example with a number of oranges in their mouth. It was hysterical.

 

Here is Aimee Lake,  as she tried to sing with three large orange slices in her mouth.

 

 

 

[spinnaker2]

here is Aimee and her fellow performers cracking up as she sang with the oranges.

[Stumblefoot]

2 hours ago, spinnaker2 said:

Here is Aimee Lake,  as she tried to sing with three large orange slices in her mouth.

 

 

Somewhere Over The Rainbow!  Did I win?  Did I win?  BTW... I got it in three notes.

 

[Tothesunset]

My darling Clementine? 

[spinnaker2]

orange you glad you asked?

[spinnaker2]

Last night was the Venetian Society Party.

Many Venetians aboard, lots of free laundry awarded.

Top numbers were over 1000 days.

 

Then an enjoyable dinner with the CD Barrie and other pax. A nice evening in Atlantide, which was crowded.

 

 

Early mornng was chilly and cloudy.

Then there was a cook off between two chefs, with some pax who volunteered to assist.

 

Captain advised us at noon about superstitions. Bananas are a fruit considered bad luck to have aboard. They have a gas when overly ripe, the fumes of same bothered sailors. And, bananas also had spiders who hitchhiked aboard in the bunch and when provoked, the spiders had a lethal bite. So too were women considered bad luck, as they were a distraction. BUT, not so for naked women who apparently could calm a storm by exposing their breasts. Hence the reason the ships often had a figurehead of a naked woman on the bow. Don't whistle aboard because that could summon a storm. Lastly, don't kill an albatross, they are the spirits of dead sailors. 

 

Its 61 degrees F and we have 618 miles until Horta.

 

Up to the grill for lunch, chilly but the crew had prepared a yummy lunch of lobster.

 

 

below bill, sous chef at the grill

Edited April 9, 2019 by spinnaker2

[Silver Spectre]

Great photos Spinnaker2, glad to see the weather is holding up. That Voices routine is one of Martins, I can see him smiling in the background.

[TLCOhio]

1 hour ago, spinnaker2 said:

Captain advised us at noon about superstitions. Bananas are a fruit considered bad luck to have aboard. They have a gas when overly ripe, the fumes of same bothered sailors. And, bananas also had spiders who hitchhiked aboard in the bunch and when provoked, the spiders had a lethal bite. So too were women considered bad luck, as they were a distraction. BUT, not so for naked women who apparently could calm a storm by exposing their breasts. Hence the reason the ships often had a figurehead of a naked woman on the bow. Don't whistle aboard because that could summon a storm. Lastly, don't kill an albatross, they are the spirits of dead sailors.  Its 61 degrees F and we have 618 miles until Horta.

 

Loving the pictures and cruise details.  Really enjoyed these excellent cruising background items, including about women on ships, distractions, exposing, etc, etc.  Very interesting and historic!!??  Keep it coming.  Sounds like you are having fun!  Must be getting some Internet improvement.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 245,159 views.

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

[spinnaker2]

Pod of dolphins sighted last night at the bow on the starboard side. Fortunately we were in the OBs lounge and had an opportunity to see them. 

 

Liars Club after pizza in Spaccanapoli. 

 

The new(to Silversea) CD is hilarious. He and the magician and two of the Voices were the liars,  with Martin officiating.

A very good time had by all.

 

Today we have an invitational wine tasting at 11:15 am in La Dame.

 

 American Diner lunch in La Dolce Vita at noon. 

 

The Cruise Consultant Barrie, is busy with new bookings.

 

The Spirit continues to please!

 

 

 

 

 

[spinnaker2]

18 hours ago, Silver Spectre said:

Great photos Spinnaker2, glad to see the weather is holding up. That Voices routine is one of Martins, I can see him smiling in the background.

Thanks and yes Mr. Silver, Martin was(and is) terrific!

And the weather is holding up, quite a calm crossing thus far although we kept hearing that the weather would deteriorate. 

Tomorrow if all holds we will be in Horta. 

[spinnaker2]

17 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

 

Loving the pictures and cruise details.  Really enjoyed these excellent cruising background items, including about women on ships, distractions, exposing, etc, etc.  Very interesting and historic!!??  Keep it coming.  Sounds like you are having fun!  Must be getting some Internet improvement.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 245,159 views.

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

Thanks Terry. We are having a grand time. 

The Captain gives us the weather news and some other details about our locale or maritime facts and fiction.

 

Edited April 10, 2019 by spinnaker2

[Mudhen]

Quickie question for you folks.....

Is Karolina still the head sommolier (sp?)

I thought she did a fabulous job on our fall crossing.

We think she's a treasure! If she's not on the Spirit, 

does anyone know where she is?

[TLCOhio]

1 hour ago, spinnaker2 said:

Thanks Terry. We are having a grand time.   The Captain gives us the weather news and some other details about our locale or maritime facts and fiction.

 

Great news!!  Look forward, when handy, no rush, to learn more about typical life and the best options/activities during these sea-days when doing such a trans-Atlantic sailing.  As I have previously shared, we are more "port-focused" folks and not sure how we would fit/experience such a longer trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific sailing.  Also, for our personal interests, the timings of October and April to do such an ocean crossing is not always our best schedule need/priority.  BUT, trying to keep an open mind for doing such a crossing at a future date.  Like learning more.  

 

Also for your with the Azores coming up next, interested to learn what you have planned for there and if this is your first stop at these islands.  Keep up the great sharing, including with those wonderful visuals. Glad that the postings of pix's are working fairly well currently.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Wonderful scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 234,704 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[Tothesunset]

3 hours ago, Mudhen said:

Quickie question for you folks.....

Is Karolina still the head sommolier (sp?)

I thought she did a fabulous job on our fall crossing.

We think she's a treasure! If she's not on the Spirit, 

does anyone know where she is?

Without exception the most knowledgeable, helpful and efficient corkscrew wrangler we have yet come upon on SS. 

[WesW]

Mudhen, when I disembarked the Muse on March 21st, Karolina was still on board as the head Sommelier.

 

Candy, loving your photos especially the "candid" shot of Aimee 🙂

Edited April 10, 2019 by WesW

[bspill]

Karoline is not on board.  

[Mudhen]

Thank you all.

Will keep watching for her, whatever ship we're on.

She did a great job!

[spinnaker2]

Mudhen and others, the Head Sommelier aboard is Biljana Apostolovic, who is from Serbia. She is also everpresent, has an engaging smile and fun sense of humor.

 

Thanks Wes! for the compliments.

 

Here's a photo of Martin singing Pretty Woman, of course as the iconic Roy Orbison.

 

This shot was taken at the American Diner lunch! Martin performed for us while we dined.

And the onion rings were killer.

[spinnaker2]

After getting up almost every hour to look out the verandah to capture a photograph of Mt. Pico, and seeing nothing but darkness, I finally heard the pilot boat approach.

We had arrived at Horta, on the island of Faial, Azores, Portugal!

The last time we were here we had clear weather and the sun had risen enough so that Mt Pico was visible from miles away. This time we weren't as lucky and the weather didn't hold. 

The city was enshrouded in a cold damp fog.

According to history, the first settlers from Portugal and Flanders came to Horta on a failed expedition to find tin and silver ore. The Flemish inflence is evident in the charming buildings perched on the gentle hills surrounding the harbor.

  

 

 

[spinnaker2]

as we came into Horta, she was still sleeping

 

 

[spinnaker2]

farms are terraced and the cows climb up to graze

[spinnaker2]

more of the town

[spinnaker2]

Dinner last night in Atlantide with the trivia team, guest lecturer,  and the CD's, after a lovely cocktail party hosted by Alec.

This is table 1 of 2.

 

[spinnaker2]

table 2.

Lovely food and company!

[spinnaker2]

We sailed away to Ponta Delgado. Mt Pico was never to be seen as she was completley wrapped in a ruana of fog. 

Early in the morning we heard the pilot boat and when we looked out, there she was along with her friend, the FOG.

 

 

Ponta Delgado is located on the largest island of the archipelago of the Azores. 

 

The view from the stern.

 

Sharing the harbor with us was this 3 masted square rigged schooner, the Lord Nelson. What a beauty! We saw her leave the harbor about 2 pm, and racing behind her in a zodiac were several people who then boarded as she was under power. Late comers, lucky they were not left behind in the Azores. Maybe it would have been a good thing. This island has some breathtaking scenery, which was not visible due to the fog. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2019 by spinnaker2