Posting for the first time, I think. Wanted to give myself a few days to get acclimated to the ship and the itinerary. It's been HOT! Today was a nice relaxing sea day before our two day adventure to Luxor tomorrow, followed by a long excursion to Petra on our return. Luggage tags already delivered, baggage out the door by 11:30 p.m., and meet tomorrow 7:30 a.m. Special dinner for the CAMEL group tonight in La Terrazza (like La Veranda) tonight at 8:30.

Yesterday's 1/2 day tour to Jeddah was a disappointment, the tour guide on our bus did not speak understandable English, and had just begun with the company and obviously had not be instructed as to what to do. As we departed the bus (after the bus driver obviously became lost trying to get us to the old part of the city) he seemed ready to let us loose to wander and shop for 10 minutes, no, 20 minutes if you want longer, just go up the street and turn around and come back. The Silversea rep aboard with us, the lovely Kiwi Nikki, was having nothing of it. I heard her tell him he had to go with us. "You have to go with them and talk to them and tell them what is going on, otherwise they get nervous!" It was just too loosey goosey, especially with all of us women in those abayas and head coverings in a strange land on a HOT day! Finally, he started to lead the way, never looking back to herd us as we are used to, and had I been not with a familiar group, I'm sure I would have lost the way! CAMEL ladies being what they are, we made the best of it, and after Ngaire's lead of stripping that hot scarf from her head, at least it got a little cooler. Ping, up popped a shop with all sorts of dresses hanging, which grabbed the attention of several of us, since there were surely no sights of historical interest that we had been told about. Negotiations led to the purchase of several dresses made in India to be worn on Arabian night. Now that's a fashion show Ken will have to cover!

Finally, since there seem to be nothing more to buy, some of us wanted to get back to the a/c on the bus, and they sent a goup of us "straightaway" to the bus, express group, no more shopping. Got back to the bus parking place to meet the bus, and no bus! After roaming around a bit, maybe 1/2, they finally let us on another bus to cool off. Sparing more details, we finally boarded our own #3 bus and were on our way to the fish market. Couldn't let the ones who wanted to go back to the ship on another bus, and combine the people who wanted to go to the fish market. Manifest is strict, have to stay on your own bus. So off to the fish market even with the unwilling aboard. Zing, fish market won't open for another 20 minutes, men are at prayers. So we were a bit late getting back to the ship after a lot of waiting, in either the hot sun or the bus, and with no commentary whatsoever from our driver. Dear Nikki from SS at least got an English speaking guide from another bus to come and talk to us for a bit. Those in his bus must have had a great excursion. It was just our particular bus out of about 7 of them, and I'm sure Silversea will tweak these missteps as they become more experienced with the port. Opposite to our experience, Fred and Pat reported a wonderful day, as they were on the all day excursion on another bus.

The ship is wonderful, service personnel I have run into have been attentive, friendly (not formal at all for the most part). Food is not perfect at every turn, nor is it on Regent, but I leave the DR every night a happy camper. Linda's Ron and I tasted the Maryland crab cake app last night that would have made a good sub for a hockey puck, but my soup and tenderloin roast were superb. Unlike most BK cruises, there is a considerable contingent that actually enjoys going "downstairs" for lunch, and we've had a lot of 2 hour lunches enjoying the quieter atmosphere very much like the CR.

Just like my last cruise on the Shadow, I really feel the two lines are so similar that it would be easy in the future to swing to either, given the right price and itinerary. I do miss my free internet, free pressing and laundry, the newspaper, but it wouldn't keep me away.

If I could change a thing, it would be to have trivia follow tea in the same venue, where there is beverage service available. On the Whisper, Trivia and Bingo are in The Bar, but the bar is closed!

Looking forward to my first night in LaTerrazza this evening. Should be fun with all of us seated as a group.

One more small note, by about the 3rd night, they began to anticipate our group gathering for drinks for dinner in Panorama every night, and now arrange the furniture before we even get there so that we are all together in facing rows, so we don't need to move the furniture around as the group grows.

It's been a fantastic cruise so far, and I look forward to the next three days of a busy busy touring schedule!