Caribbean Sunshine Aboard the Shadow December 10, 2019

[QueSeraSera]

Also wishing you the best Spins as we enjoy the weather in Tortola, our last port before leaving this fine ship for you and your shipmates.  Have fun!

[spinnaker2]

1 hour ago, QueSeraSera said:

Also wishing you the best Spins as we enjoy the weather in Tortola, our last port before leaving this fine ship for you and your shipmates.  Have fun!

Thanks QueSera.

And thanks so much for all of your wonderful posts. 

Safe travels!

[spinnaker2]

Waiting for the car and driver as we had to arise at 3 am. 

No amount of saying I believe 

allowed me to fly.

Soon we are off!

[WesW]

Fair Winds and Following Seas for Larry and your Shadow voyage Candy.  Looking forward to vicariously enjoying y'alls "newly polished/refurbed," Shadow voyage from this home office deck chair.

[nowornever]

Ya'll have a fabulous trip & will look forward to more thoughts & photos !  Safe travels.

[jpalbny]

Safe travels, Spins, and enjoy! Looking forward to your posts along the way. It will take my mind off bing on call this week. But, only 3 weeks and 4 days until we board!

[Silver Spectre]

Have a great time Spins.

[beaujolais]

No  M&M this voyage or the previous although I had e-mails confirming a meeting should have taken place on each voyage

Cruise Consultant informs me that she had no.notice from Head Office and she needs them to send all the details so that it can go ahead

So once again SS have passed on M&M

 

[brimary]

Out of our last ten cruises on Silversea only two M and M were held with not much interest shown on board as to why the other eight did not happen.Silversea should either run them properly for guests joining M & M  or scrap them altogether!

[spinnaker2]

Good morning from Fort-de-France, Martinique!

The Shadow est magnifique!

 

Thanks all for the good wishes, I will provide more info about the ship in a subsequent post, but sufficeth to say, the vessel is lovely. Crew, many of whom we know from prior cruises, are spectacular.

 

M&M tonight. 

 

 

 

[beaujolais]

Yes, I was a little fast with.my.comments, got back to suite last.night to an invite to M&M tonight

Everything taken back

Now a heavy shower but forecast hot

 

[spinnaker2]

The sunset in San Juan just before departure.

 

[spinnaker2]

Some initial impressions.

The ship does look lovely. The colors are those of the Muse.

The two tone hull is striking! 

 

The verandah suite has been redone and musified.

The bathroom lighting is vastly improved. DH can see to shave. A  separate light placed strategically under the two sinks offers an option for a dim light to allow one to see at night without the shock on sleep filled eyes.

The shower does not have a square rain shower in its ceiling, only the hand held shower which is attached to the wall but moves up and down.

The outside suite door does not SLAM shut. Great news for neighbors. 

A small switch placed near the door allows one to choose from several options, which incuded do not disturb and please service room. Pressing those buttons changes the color of a small light on a panel outside the suite to alert the butler or room steward,

No more card!

 

There are new menu items on the Grill menu at lunch. I am working my way through them. So far I have sampled the fish tacos and a chopped salad. While the descirptions in the menu sounded quite yummy, none of them met the Spinnaker culinary test. Fish tacos were tiny bits of dried out fish in a hard stale taco shell with chopped up iceberg lettuce and an avocado type dressing with some mayo on top. Nope.

The chopped salad was chopped iceberg lettuce with a lot of chickpeas and some tomatoes. No salad dressing comes with it. 

Nope.

On the yes side was DH smart choice of crab cake. A large sized crab cake which his discerning palate said was very very good.

And then he choose grilled salmon with BBQ sauce. Again a winner dish, nicely grilled.

 

 

 

 

 

[spinnaker2]

More on the sail away from San Juan.

The beautiful sunset belied what was to come.

 

and soon the clouds were directly overhead and what they were filled with fell towards the pool deck and everywhere else.

 

 

As we sailed out by the old fort, the skies were already clearing.

[spinnaker2]

Approaching St. Kitts.

 

[spinnaker2]

Captain Cataldo Destefano

Staff Captain Dion Andrew Notman

Chief Engineer Frederico Gallinella

Hotel Director Paolo Percivale

Cruise Director Adam Wright

Cruise Consultant Natasjha Horn

 

[lincslady]

Good to read of a Cooler having warm weather and (mostly) good food etc. on Silversea.  Beats being in the wet, windy and cold UK at present, with the election result pending etc. etc.

 

Have a great time, and think of those of us who are not able to at present!  Enjoying your trip vicariously.

 

Lola

[nowornever]

Are they still putting the make-up remover pads in the bathroom?  That's such a nice touch & one less thing to pack.

 

Thanks for the gorgeous photos...keep them coming. Enjoy every minute.

[spinnaker2]

 

15 hours ago, nowornever said:

Are they still putting the make-up remover pads in the bathroom?  That's such a nice touch & one less thing to pack.

 

Thanks for the gorgeous photos...keep them coming. Enjoy every minute.

 

 

 

Yes there are makeup remover pads in the bathroom!

[spinnaker2]

In St. Kitts we took the train excursion which was a great way to see some of the topography of the island. 

Sister island of Nevis.

 

Mountains on St. Kitts, including a dormant volcano.

 

And tropical weather soon overtook the mountains and the train. We were on the top observation level open to the elements on the sides, and the rain came at us sideways in huge drops. We fled to the airconditoned car below for the remainder of the ride. Rain is a theme on this cruise, as it nourishes the tropical flora and fauna. The pax however are looking for more soleil!

 

Edited December 13, 2019 by spinnaker2

[spinnaker2]

And adieu St. Kitts!

 

 

Our ensuite sailaway included caviar for DH.

 

 

 

 

[spinnaker2]

The harbour of Martinique.

 

And another day of sun and then some rain, and repeat. The sun worshippers made the most of the sun.

  

Martinique through the frame of the Shadow.

 

The long walk into town which was fine in the sun, but in a squall it was tough to keep an umbrella overhead.

 

 

[spinnaker2]

Logo on the stack.

 

[spinnaker2]

Some additional impressions:

 

The Arts Cafe. 

One really can not compare it to the Muse or the Spirit. It simply isn't the same. 

There is no "art" on the walls, or books of art to peruse while enjoying a snack and libation. Instead there are shadow boxes of jewelry strategically placed on the walls. The actual seating area has boutiques at one end and reception at the other.  In between are offices for the Cruise Consultant and Hotel Director and others. The office of the Cruise Consultant is open to passersby.

In the middle is the actual Arts Bar where the display cabinet is located along with the liquor. In order to get to the cabins on deck five one must go around the Arts Cafe Bar.

At the moment the light dimmers are not functioning, which means that the area is very bright and no "mood lighting" can be achieved at twilight.  I was told this will be fixed soon.

 

The Arts Bar seating.

Food display.

 

Arts seating, one may see the shadow boxes with jewelry along the wall and also see the Cruise Consultants office on the far right.

 

Edited December 13, 2019 by spinnaker2

[spinnaker2]

Arts cafe view into jewelry boutique.

 

Looking into reception area (more midships), with free standing podiums and some diminuitive round banquettes.