A Silver Shadow Over The World - December 2023 to May 2024

[mysty]

Land Ho!  We have arrived in Honolulu.   Expected to dock around 8:00 am.  Cloudy here with warmth!  

[MuseCruiser]

Welcome to Honolulu everyone. 
 

[ricktalcott]

Port view

[ricktalcott]

Starboard view

[DRK0312]

Is the WC scheduled for an opera in Sydney? La Traviata?

[mysty]

59 minutes ago, DRK0312 said:

Is the WC scheduled for an opera in Sydney? La Traviata?

 

Not that I've heard.   However,  some events are announced as we sail.

[mysty]

It's been a busy few days.  Long excursion yesterday.  Updates to follow later today.   Sailing in to Nawiliwili, Kauai currently. 

[MuseCruiser]

Went on a river cruise to the fern grotto in Kauai today. Was a nice morning excursion. On the bus back now for a lunch by the pool. 
 

[MuseCruiser]

Also made a stop at ‘Opaeka’a Falls

 

 

Edited January 23 by MuseCruiser

[mysty]

In an effort to catch up, here are photos from the World Cruise event on the USS Missouri.

 

We were greeted by the  Royal Guards of Hawaii....

 

Photos from around the site....

 

 

We were served a delicious meal companied by music from the World War II era along with singers and dancers.  Servers were dressed as sailors.

 

Menu included Canapes (Ahi Poke on Crostini, Kalua Pork Spring Rolls, Chinatown Smoked Duck Taco).  Starter was Crab Cake, followed by Island Greens.  Entree was either Tenderloin Steak or Seabass. Dessert was Waialua Chocolate Mousse Cake.

 

There was an emotional moment when we all stood for the "Retire of the Colors".

 

A fine time was had by all!

[mysty]

On our second day in Honolulu we did an excursion called Explore and Taste Oahu's North Shore.  This was an extremely long excursion with a number of stops that seemed designed to sell things with not much else on offer.  Just a cautionary note.

 

The excursion started with an hour drive east to the Valley of the Temples where we visited the Byodo-In Temple.  This is a don-denominational Buddhist temple.  Some photos from the site.....

 

 

 

 

We had a delicious garlic shrimp lunch at Keneke's which is an operating goat farm.

 

 

 

[mysty]

Today we were in Nawiliwili, Kauai.  We did the same excursion described by our fellow passengers.  Here are some additional photos...

From the sail in.....

 

From the cruise terminal.....

 

From the Wailu River cruise.....

 

 

From the walk to the Grotto.....

 

Tomorrow we will be in Hilo, Hawaii.  The port has been changed.  The Shore Concierge staff are scurrying to provide options for this new port.

Edited January 24 by mysty

[jpalbny]

We love Hilo and have stayed there a few times. It's much closer to the National Park. Hope you have another great day! 

[jpalbny]

41 minutes ago, mysty said:

 

 

Cute picture of you and Myster! 

[Gourmet Gal]

2 hours ago, mysty said:

Today we were in Nawiliwili, Kauai.  We did the same excursion described by our fellow passengers.  Here are some additional photos...

From the sail in.....

 

From the cruise terminal.....

 

From the Wailu River cruise.....

 

 

From the walk to the Grotto.....

 

Tomorrow we will be in Hilo, Hawaii.  The port has been changed.  The Shore Concierge staff are scurrying to provide options for this new port.

Nice photos.  What was your original port if not Hilo?

[MuseCruiser]

1 minute ago, Gourmet Gal said:

Nice photos.  What was your original port if not Hilo?

Kailua (Kona).

[MuseCruiser]

Sunday night was our 24th anniversary. We asked the kitchen if they could make a special Indian meal for us. They did so and it was terrific. Today I saw the Indian chef and thanked him for the great work. He was very appreciative. I’d say it has been our favorite meal so far though the food has been quite good everywhere (this is our 26th Silversea cruise and 32nd cruise overall).  
Here are some pics. The menu was: 

Onion Bhalji
Vegetable Samosa
Raita
Chutney
-
Chicken curry
Lamb curry
Pilau (rice)
Cauliflower something
Dal (lentil curry)
Papadum
Naan

[mysty]

2 hours ago, Gourmet Gal said:

Nice photos.  What was your original port if not Hilo?

 

Original port was Kailua Kona.   Apparently swells there would not work for tenders.

[Gourmet Gal]

Surf has been incredibly high this week.  Enjoy Hilo.

[Gourmet Gal]

Apparently there is the replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall on display in Hilo.  It’s been on tour nationwide and just arrived this week.

[mysty]

29 minutes ago, Gourmet Gal said:

Apparently there is the replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall on display in Hilo.  It’s been on tour nationwide and just arrived this week.

 

Thank you @Gourmet Gal !

[mysty]

Beautiful day here in Hilo.  We took the shuttle to the Market Area downtown.   The shuttle drove past the replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall.   We walked through the market and I headed back to the ship.  Myster struck out to see the Wall.  If he comes back with pictures I'll post them.

[mysty]

Myster's photo of the replica Vietnam Memorial Wall.....

[profpeabody]

the north shore tour was one of the worst we have been on.  comprised of stops at tourist traps selling junk and t-shirts, the temple was to have provided a guided tour but nope, just told us to walk on in and be back on the bus like school kids. 

 

you were too kind - lunch was at that dump in unsanitary conditions (chicken poop abounds), so-called food was disgusting served in styrofoam boxes and sodibar sodas,a scoop of dry rice and foul chicken (pun intended) or frozen farmed shrimp with no taste. 

 

this was well below the standards of silversea and a waste of time and money. partial refund was issued today which is a nice gesture but the tour was a major disappointment for many of us excited to explore the north shore.

 

mysty, please post a photo of you & myster so we can say hello onboard! will bring forks and spoons and a bib next time you order indian dinner!

[mysty]

18 minutes ago, profpeabody said:

the north shore tour was one of the worst we have been on.  comprised of stops at tourist traps selling junk and t-shirts, the temple was to have provided a guided tour but nope, just told us to walk on in and be back on the bus like school kids. 

 

you were too kind - lunch was at that dump in unsanitary conditions (chicken poop abounds), so-called food was disgusting served in styrofoam boxes and sodibar sodas,a scoop of dry rice and foul chicken (pun intended) or frozen farmed shrimp with no taste. 

 

this was well below the standards of silversea and a waste of time and money. partial refund was issued today which is a nice gesture but the tour was a major disappointment for many of us excited to explore the north shore.

 

mysty, please post a photo of you & myster so we can say hello onboard! will bring forks and spoons and a bib next time you order indian dinner!

 

@profpeabody, I don't post pics of us on Social Media.  It's just something I'm not comfortable with.  Nothing personal!  If you'd like to meet up we could arrange a venue, a date and a time.  We have many sea days ahead. 😁

 

We agree about the excursion you mentioned.  This was in no way typical of the usual Silversea offering.  There was another "included" excursion by that name originally posted for Honolulu which was canceled due to "operational reasons".  I suspect that the price for that one was over budget and the one in place for us was a better financial fit with a fee.  An error in judgment on Silversea’s part I'm afraid.  If you were on the bus where the guide kept yelling at the driver it was even more painful.