Hi all

Greetings from a sunny but very windy and rough seaday on the Silversea Whisper.

We flew out of Heathrow late on Sunday night with British Airways. As always Gus fell asleep straight after the meal - whereas i stayed awake. I just cannot sleep on planes unless i am completely flat; and in pleb class, that just isn't possible. Still I watched several movies. We landed on time, but immigration took a while. And then we both got stopped by customs...they were very suspicious of our big suit carrier, and questioned why we had so many suits - a tuxedo and 2 suits each. Clearly they've never cruised before!

Then we headed to our airport hotel - the Ramada Plaza. We finally got into our room just after midnight New York time - of course we were on UK time so it was really 5am! First thing we had to do was book a wake up call for 4.30am :eek: I think it would have been cheaper to have booked the room by the hour ;)

So at 5am we took the shuttle back to the airport and checked in for our Song flight to FLL. After security we joined the longest line of the day - Starbucks.......we really needed a caffeine fix. The Song flight was great - i know Delta are closing this airline down, but they should keep some of the onboard stuff - especially the seatback tv which had satellite tv and mp3 facilities!

Boarding the Silver Whisper in FLL was a breeze. We had booked and paid for early embarkation - $100 each, but we were able to walk right on at 11am. The glass of champagne we were handed as we boarded set the tone for the day :lct:

Will post again...got to go now and get ready for the captains party..

Hi guys, Hope your seas even out for you. Other than that, sounds like the beginning of a wonderful cruise. Enjoy!!

I'm curious as to why customs thinks they need an inventory of your clothing. Who cares how many suits you take on a trip?

Ian and Gus, thanks for the seamail and the laughs!! Keep up the good reporting!! I hope your ride gets a little smoother.

Great to hear from you! Keep up the SeaMails...we love 'em! Have a great time and stay healthy!

Hi Ian and Gus,

Wishing that your days become calmer and sunnier. Looking forward to your next report. We are doing the Whisper in March and I can't wait!

Enjoyed reading your report...keep 'em coming! Buy some bonine, it works for seasickness...send us pictures too.

Gus and Ian, I know what you felt that morning of the mal de mer. Todd from this board and I felt it almost simultaneously when we were in Chile. Best thing you can do is ask at the desk for a pill. I promise, it took care of my malady, and I went through an awful crossing in the Bass Straits! OK, perhaps that was enhanced by the wine I had for dinner that night. Who knows. Take whatever you can to avoid it!

Great to hear from you! Sorry you had rough seas and the miserable result of it.

Here's to smoothe sailing and great times ahead!

Gus and Ian, we had a little movement on our cruise as well, but nothing like what it sounds like you are going through. Here is hoping fro seas of glass for the rest of your cruise. BTW, did you find those empty champagne bottles that we left for you? LOL Hope you guys have a great time.

Ciao!

Love the sea mail guys! Hope the seas improve soon ... :)

Masaki

Hi all

Greetings from Belize. Sorry we didn't post yesterday - all the ships computers crashed - including the one they use to check you on & off the ship - so they had no idea who was where! In the end they had to call every cabin, and ask "Are you onboard".......of course, if you answered it was fairly obvious that you were!

Yesterday we did actually get to Cozumel, along with four other cruiseliners - including a Radisson one. It was great to see that they have got the island back up and running -though the level of the devastation is pretty obvious still. We had a great lunch at Panchos Backyard - fantastic fish tacos, and one of their awesome margaritas. The rest of the day is a blur.

Today was Belize. Boy has it been hot. We headed over to Caye Caulker, which is a bit like Key West must have been many years ago, very laid back and uncommercial. A great lobster lunch was washed down with a blue margarita - will Gus never learn? We returned to the ship in time for afternoon tea. The sandwiches, cakes and cookies are to die for.

Food so far has been superb, especially the fish dishes and the appetisers. Service has been patchy; we've quickly learnt which side of the restaurant to avoid!

The terrace cafe still has a different menu every day - tonight we are trying it for the first time - it is a french menu. We wont be trying Le Champagne - the intimate restaurant, as this cruise they have implemented a new cover charge.....depending on which crew member you ask, this charge is either $150 per person or per cabin....either way it is a little steep, and as far as i can see, the food in the general restaurant is good enough for me.

Seas have remained calm for the past two days - any inability to walk in a straight line is now entirely self inflicted :pass:

$150?? Wow.

Masaki

Gus and Ian, I'm enjoying your seamail. Glad the rough sailing has smoothed out. Sea sickness is no fun. I like the way you spend your time onshore...food and margaritas! Looking forward to your next post.

Gus and Ian, love reading your seamail. Wish we were still on there with you. Tell Stefano the Maitre D' in the Terrace Cafe that the Dails said hi! He will also give you the straight scoop on Le Champagne.

Also keep in mind that the Terrace Cafe has fixed five course menus that they are doing each evening. It is also much more intimate than The Restaurant, with dinner by candlelight. You need to get your reservations in early. It is limited to 60 people. Stefano will put you on a waitlist if they are full and can usually get you in.

Have a great cruise.

$150 cover charge!!! :eek: . So much for it being a "nominal fee". Regardless if it's per person or per cabin it sure is outrageous. Interesting that they can't tell you straight which is it. I don't think we'll be trying it either.

Thanks for writing!

Hi all

Greetings from Guatemala

Those of you who have seen the film "The Birdcage" may well remember the phrase - "Guatemalan heat". Well today that is exactly what we have experienced...hot, hot, hot. We had a quiet day - we went ashore to the tourist market, where the major activity was bargaining down the price of t shirts. The vendors starting price was $25 ....needless to say that is not what we paid. I wonder if the same strategy would work with Silversea on Le Champagne, where we can confirm that the cover charge is indeed $150 per person. Last night there were only 2 guests and they were ships officers. So no rush for reservations.

We ate in the Terrace cafe - it was a French menu. A set 5 course meal, and all the diners are served at the same time. So you eat at the pace of the slowest eater in the room. The food was exquisite - fantastic rack of lamb - and i know how much you Radisson fans like your rack of lamb - and a superb apple tart to finish.

Can't comment on the late night entertainment; so far we haven't stayed up past 11pm. I'm blaming the sea air........it just doesn't mix well with champagne.

One of the great things about a small ship is that there is no problem getting a sun lounger by the pool - even after lunch today, when we really needed to lie down for a while, we were able to find a perfect spot. Now that would not happen on a mega ship.

Tomorrow is Roatan. Hope this sunshine continues.

Enjoying your sailmail...I will be on an identical itinerary in Jan. on the Navigator and I might add I hate rack of lamb :p

Gus and Ian, glad the seas have calmed. You're like me, no reason to try out the other restaurant at that cost. What they already provide is perfect for me!

Hi Gus & Ian, thanks so much for taking the time to post Seamail! $150 in Le Champagne is totally ridiculous. I don't see many partaking of this "privilege" (note the quotes)...and I am glad we did try it a couple weeks ago (just before the change went into effect). We spent $77 on a gorgeous (as you Brits might call it :) ) bottle of red and felt that, along with all our delicious courses, was worth it. But this $150pp charge will render the place empty, no doubt.

I meant to conclude my post with --- do enjoy the rest of your cruise, and please post more Seamail! :)

Hi all

Its another sea day on the Whisper. Yesterday was Roatan. What a delightful island. We got off early and took a cab to the beach at West Bay - crystal clear water and white sand - picture postcard perfect. The taxi driver waited for us and after two hours we headed into the one street town of West End. We bought the obligatory t shirts and then went for lunch in Half Moon Bay - a great lobster lunch. Then back to the ship for more lying by the pool thinking of the poor people back home who are getting snow........

We are really enjoying our Silversea cruise, and i would sail with them again. However the service continues to be patchy. I spoke to the hotel director about it this morning - our dinner last night took way too long. He mentioned that he reads the internet message boards so i gave him the name of LCT and told him to take a look, as there are a lot of potential Silversea passengers out there.

We've just come back from a cooking demo - delicious pasta and a "fantastico chocolate cake" The best thing was that we got to taste the results - it filled in that gap between breakfast and lunch! Otherwise we could have gone over 2 hours without eating........oh the horror!

Hi Gus and Ian,

Really enjoying your reports. Sounds like you're both having a fab time! Two hours without eating on a cruise? Unheard of!

Please continue to post and, of course, have a smashing time!

Hi Gus and Ian, I'm really enjoying your posts and can't wait for the next installment. continue having a great time.

Nancy

Last night's dinner was excellent - we sat with another English couple (there are over 80 Brits on this ship) and had very good service. And yet again the food was superb. Silversea have produced consistently good food - last night i had shrimp cake, followed by fettucine alfredo and then lemon sole. Their pastas are tempting me away from any low carb intentions i may have had. For dessert Gus had a chocolate truffle cake - and i knew from the silence whilst he was devouring it that it must have been goos. His verdict - probably the best dessert he has ever had; and for once, his chocolate craving was satiated!

A bit more info about the terrace cafe - the ship is going into dry dock at the end of the next cruise. The dry dock is in Curacao, and the ship will be there for a week. In that time, they will put in a new kitchen for the terrace cafe and turn it into an authentic itialian restaurant. Given the italian ownership of the ship, and the current excellent pasta, this should be a great place to eat.

Today we were in Jamaica - not much more to say. Wouldn't come here again.

Tomorrow Grand Cayman for just half a day. Can't believe this cruise is almost over :(

Thanks for the update guys! Gus's chocolate truffle cake sounds fantastic!! YUM!

Thanks for the notations on your lobster lunches; I'm on Navigator when Suzie is, and I want to follow in your footsteps for lunch!

Great news about the change to italian for La Terraza! It'll be difficult to stay away from those carbs!

Thanks for the update,

Gus and Ian, it sounds as if you are having a brilliant time!

It's the last of our wonderful days on the Silver Whisper, and i've decided to miss the ice cream social and to post on LCT instead. I really don't think i can fit another calorie inside. Today was the galley lunch - the galley was opened up and lunch was served buffet style on all the cooking equipment. The spread was awesome; we picked the fresh lobster, cold shrimp, wonderful chicken terriaki, coconut shrimp; followed by lots of French cheese and then ice cream for me, more choc cake for Gus.

Yesterday was Grand Cayman; we decided to stay on board and take advantage of the spa's offer of buy one get one half price. We both had massages - a round the world massage, where the therapist used four different techniques - swedish, shiatsu, lomi lomi and hot stone. We both agreed it was the best massage we've ever had. And no attempt to sell you stuff afterwards.

Last night we were invited to dine with the international hostess Madri. Her husband Michael was also at the table - he is normally the cruise director, but this week he is training Anna, who has the role pro tem. Apparently next week's cruise has been chartered by a group of plumbers.........now you know why it costs so much to fix that dripping faucet.....


Only a few more hours to go. What a great cruise this has been. Food has been exquisite; and i would definitely sail Silversea again........just have to retrain as a plumber first.....

Bravo! Love reading your seamails. I know that sinking feeling when such a wonderful vacation is winding down. Your posts make me hungry!! Have a safe trip back to London!

I loved reading your seamails and glad you had a great trip - my plumber drives a Mercedes and he and his wife are always off cruising!! I don't think he has visited our house for less than $200 on any visit -

Now that I've retired, maybe I should take up plumbing as a second career. I'm with you Joanna, they have enough of our money to pay for several cruises, single supplement and all!!!!

Gus & Ian,
Have really enjoyed your seamails. Now don't stop posting just because you're home.

Now that I've retired, maybe I should take up plumbing as a second career. I'm with you Joanna, they have enough of our money to pay for several cruises, single supplement and all!!!!

Betty and Joanna roto rooters?????

When you can't eat another bite, you know it's time for the cruise to end. I've enojoyed your seamail, Ian and Gus. Plumbers huh?

Hey Joanna, why not? I'll supply the snake & tools. You bring the overalls. I prefer Big Smith's. I think we should have matching outfits. One small glitch - I need go to plumbing school first.

Gus & Ian, thanks again for the Seamail - I hope your trip home was safe and without incident. I can definitely relate to your "can't fit another calorie in" statement - we felt the exact same way when we got off the Whisper (actually, probably 3 days before disembarking!). I had forgotten to pack my tennis shoes - what a mistake!

Gus & Ian - thanks for the seamail! I've lived your trip vicariously through your descriptions!

Masaki

Hi all

Got home this morning about 8.30am.

I always think the last night of a cruise is a bitter sweet experience - sad because the cruise is ending, but there's also the pleasure of realising just how many great people you met, as everyone stops to chat and say their goodbyes.

The ship wasn't cleared for disembarkation until 9.15, but we were soon off. Immigration and customes were very fast, and then i called the driver i had hired to collect us. Our flight home wasn't until 5.30pm so we decided to do our bit to reflate the florida economy. We headed off to Aventura Mall.......Gus was in shopping heaven, especially in our first stop - Abercrombie & Fitch. I realised that i was probably not their target customer when i found the instore music way too loud!

I am more of a Banana Republic person - and found a great merino wool sweater in the sale!

And then to the apple shop where we bought "i-trips" - a nifty little accessory that plugs into your ipod and plays through your car or home stereo. We can't buy them in the UK as they use the FM frequency and the government likes to sell those to the highest bidder. Hopefully we wont be arrested and thrown into jail!

The flight home was full....quite a few Silversea cruisers - the BA lounge felt like the bar on the ship!

I've been home for a few hours now; the mail has been opened, the large no's of emails dealt with, and the second wash load is on.

Oh...and several cruise brochures arrived in the post, and there were a lot of special offers in my inbox.....these next few days are a dangerous time......

Gus & Ian, guess it's time to book the next! :)

Thanks for helping the Florida economy, we appreciate it! Come on back anytime!!!

thanks for your wonderful sea mails..........i just love those!!! Welcome home.
Cindy

Great job!! I think you've converted me to a new phase to describe "coach" class on the airlines...I used to call it roach coach but I just loved your "pleb" class...Brill!!

As for Guatemalan Heat...he he (I'm Guatemalan)