Well I am in Montevideo right now and tomorrow we board the Silver Cloud. Really looking forward to seeing the ship. This is a Silversea hosted event for travel agents and travel writers. So many of them are really excited about getting on the zodiacs as they have never done an expedition ship before.

We sail two nights on the Silver Cloud just enough time to get a little familiar with the ship before our escorted group trip around the U.K. In 2019.

Then two nights in Buenos Aires while we wait for the Silver Muse to arrive. The we sail on the Silver Muse for two nights. The event lasts until Rio, but we are getting off early and flying home.

We are home for about a week and then fly to Europe. We are going to visit Captain Felice's home town and then onto to Europe. Linda and Ron will join us and we are going to check out the new Crystal river boats. Ending up for a couple of nights in Bruges as we have never been there before.

So these are the check out the new products trips. Got to keep up with what is out there.

You are one busy couple !! I can't wait to hear how you like these ships & the Crystal riverboats.

Had a great day in Montevideo today. We went by an old steam train to a winery for lunch. Really good wines and more food than a person could ever eat. Sunny, light breeze and perfect temperature. Outstanding. We saw the Silver Cloud sailing in on our way back to the hotel. We board tomorrow. Can't wait to see the ship.

Yet another barbecue tonight. Food, food and more food and fortunately for me nothing spicy so far so I am in heaven. Lots of meats and vegetables.

Have no time everyday has been jam packed. Just back to hotel and have to get a bit organized and dressed for this evening. But in a nutshell the Silver Cloud is a GAME CHANGER. A beautiful ship and I cannot wrap my head around it being an adventure ship!! The mud room is HUGE not fighting for space on this ship and the zodiac loading area is so spacious. The brand new zodicas have like a bench seat where you rear end slips down and the knees are a little raised. Will stop most bumping. Seem to be easier to get in and out as well. The rooms are wonderful, lots of space - a three person couch and two chairs, drawers, nice raised TV that swings, counter space, nice walk in closet with drawers. Bathroom is one person at a time but the shower is a good size and they have some bathroom cabins for those that prefer a bathtub.

The ship itself is really nice. Lots of space, great theater with good sight lines. Nice bar/lounge. Super main dining room. plus a casual Italian at night and the fancy La Dame French restaurant plus hot rocks. Muted colors just an all around super little ship. I would go on this ship in a heartbeat. Offers a new expedition experience. The same great experiences with the expedition team and landings but a much more comfortable and luxurious ship to come back to. The food may have been upgraded for our visit but it was terrific.

22 expedition staff on this ship. We knew a lot of them, Willy, Bruno, Stefan ( the Stefan who took us around the RED ISLAND on Walrus) to name just a few.

I don't get excited about something new that often but this ship has me very enthusiastic. It would change the experience in so many destinations. I am even contemplating doing a Antarctica/South Georgia 2020. Cannot do anything in 2018 or 2019 I am too booked up. Just fun to have this wonderful new option on the horizon.

Wow! That report on the Silver Cloud is so exciting! I'm so glad Alice and I are booked on it for the first part of the 2019 British Isles cruise!

Silver Cloud sounds fantastic! We sailed on her in 2006. She was our first cruise on a small ship and we were thrilled to sail right under the Tower Bridge.

Kim, we are on the back to back in 2019. Can't wait , but see you and Alice on Hippo first.
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Helen

I'm so happy to hear such great things about Silver Cloud. We've never been on her before but booked for the 2nd leg of the back to back (bummer that Kim and Alice are on the first leg!) I'm happy we're in a cabin with a bathtub...I like options.

Ngaire, when you go on the Crystal Debussy, please find out what in the tweet the big white space is next door to #215.

Will do that is my next trip. Most likely a closet for room steward storage but I will find out.

New Zodiacs on the Cloud:

Tomorrow we debark the Silver Muse and fly home. This ship has turned out to be better than I expected. The cabin is excellent and very spacious 322 sq. ft in the cabin and a nice size balcony. A little larger than the Voyager cabin that has a interior dimension of 306 sq. ft. This cabin just is laid out better. There are two TV's located in the mirrors. One above the long cabinet in the living area in front of the couch, and one in front of the bed. That frees up space but cant imagine how they will fix a problem with a TV located in a mirror.

They now have two open seating dining rooms so that problem is solved. The Atlantide has an extensive menu. Low ceilings everywhere which I do not like even though I am short. I do like the muted colors and the light wood. Very restful decor. The layout of the ship takes a bit of getting used to I really prefer Regent where all the public rooms are basically on two floors. The European influence is here in the later opening of the dining rooms and entertainment. Tonight a show starts at 11.00 pm. I will be sound asleep by then.

I think this ship is a real cut above the other Silversea Ships although they are undergoing a bit refurbishing and hopefully will bring the rest of the fleet up to these standards.

So we had an adventure today.

It took a long time for Brazil to clear the ship for those disembarking. Our flight was at 11.30 am. We were supposed to arrive at 8.00 am but we're a little late. At 10.15 am they cleared us and we raced off the ship. Our transfer was waiting but a bunch of confusion we could not understand. The driver kept getting out of the car and talking to another man. The Silversea rep came over and told them to get moving. Finally we were off now about 10.30 am.

The driver spoke zero English but he kept taking to us not that it helped.

We go a very short way and then ended up in a line of stopped cars. Cars were whizzing by us then I saw we were in line for a ferry. I thought well that's it we will miss the flight for sure now. They were unloading the ferry that had just arrived. We had to wait for the ferry to fill up with cars probably about 15 minutes. The ride was short and I decided not to look at my watch again. There was more than one flight a day.

So finally we are on the road and on our way. Then the driver pulls into a gas station. I thought "really now we need gas". He needed directions not sure of where the airport was located. Off we go again.

We finally get to the airport. A long line. There was a supervisor so I tried to o scommunicate how soon our flight was by pointing to the time. He just pointed to the line. We got in line. Figured our bags were toast but no problem we were going home. Line moved pretty quick with two agents. But just when it was our turn to check in one of them left. The other check in person was having a heated discussion with a passenger. At this point it was almost comical.

Finally he took our bags we could not send the bags to DFW. We would have to collect them in São Paulo. Security was pretty fast. We made it to the gate and paid for upgraded service so we were the first to board. WE MADE IT

Uneventful flight and we had our bags when we arrived at baggage claim. Then we started walking. It was a LONG way and we were pulling bags as there were no trolleys. From one end of the terminal to the far end. I was whipped by the time we got to the area hat American uses. Our check in will not be opening until 6.00 pm it was now 2.30 pm. There was a TGI Friday's right across from the American check in gates. Never been so happy to see a TGI Fridays. A large Diet Coke and a chicken and vegetable dish later "life was good again"

One thing we are both able to do is not stress out and handle the days when things do not go according to plan. It always comes right in the end and this was actually quite funny with all the little things that were working against us.

That certainly was an adventure. I would be crazy even knowing there was nothing I could do. Definitely admire your ability to "go with the flow" and let what will happen, happen. Glad you made it and are home. Can't wait to hear about the Crystal River boats.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Not home yet, in São Paulo. Been TGI FridAys since about 2.30 pm. Check in opens at 6.00 pm our flight is at 11.00 pm. So tomorrow morning we will be in DFW. We leave again for Europe on Sunday. With thanksgiving and the weekend not much work time in between.

Wow, tough day! Was that a taxi or private car that did not know where the airport was?! I think I would have been hyperventilating and Jerry would have been having a screaming fit when the guy pulled into the gas station.
Happy thanksgiving 🦃
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Helen

Your account of the trip to the airport was giving me anxiety just reading it. George would have been freaking out. Cloud sounds like it could be our favorite ship--combination of luxury and expedition.

Itajai, Brazil is where we were. I think it was a "technical stop" really to allow those of us that wanted to get home earlier off the ship. They are not used to cruise ships. The transfer was arranged by Silversea not a taxi but a organized transfer but as I say NOT A TOURIST town. Not a very attractive place for sure. Other and Myanmar one of the smallest airports we have seen.