Chasing the perfect Fuji shot

[stm1sydney]

Still a chick magnet, Dr Ron!

 

[drron]

That afternoon we decided to have afternoon tea because we could and it cost nothing. The menu.






And the food. I had mine with mint tea.


We then decided we better do another walk.

 

[drron]

That didn't stop us from going back for Happy Hour. The nights canapes. no picture though.




A special dish from one of the restaurants. The fellow doing it didn't know it's name. Didn't think it very special.






The next day we had arranged to go to the port for lunch with a couple who are on the World Cruise on the Silver Shadow. So just the hot dish for brekkie. Mrsdrron had the avocado toast again and I had an Okonomiyaki.

 

[love_the_life]

Still a chick magnet, Dr Ron!

But where are those gorgeous shorts from years gone by?

 

[drron]

But where are those gorgeous shorts from years gone by?

I'll get Mrsdrron to take a picture in my new shorts. Not as good IMHO but you can't miss me in them.

 

[drron]

My new shorts worn so that I can't get lost.

 

[love_the_life]

My new shorts worn so that I can't get lost.
View attachment 374908

Nice check but I don't think quite as flamboyant as we have seen before. And the knees are on show too - bonus!

 

[tgh]

He has been pretty quiet, perhaps SS have swamped him with so much kindness that he is rendered mute with amazement...

 

[drron]

Just developed a viral illness just after boarding. running nose,cough, a few aches and pains but no energy . That and 3 sea days has meant I have had a lot of time getting to know my pillow. two days ago I got motivated to start walking and hopefully today begin to post some more.

So here we go. On Sunday we had a lunch invitation from 2 of the World Cruisers on the Silver shadow. Turned out we got on exceptionally well. We had lunch in the main dining room. I only took a photo of my main course a vegetable Biryani. quite tasty. There is always an Indian chef somewhere on board.




We had got a Bali Blue Taxi from the IC. He was just the first in line. A safe driver and the cost was at the bottom of the suggested rate that we were given at the hotel. We knew what time we were leaving the ship so got him to take us back as well arranged for him the next day to take us back to board the Silver Muse.

Dinner was as usual grazing at the IC Club.








And because I have never tried it before I drank Arak Madu and enjoyed it.


The next morning we had truffled scrambled eggs for breakfast.


Then at 1120 a long check out process as they were without electricity for 2 hours. Computers worked but pretty dark.
At 1130 picked up by our taxi driver in cab 007. arrived at the port at 1150.

 

[drron]

When we got there we had to take a seat as check in only opened at Midday. But we were able to do some of the paperwork so pretty much straight through when it opened. We were the second couple to board. We went to the Dolce Vita lounge and i had a gin and tonic or two. We decided not to have lunch.
The lounge and one of the orchids. Lots of them around the ship.




And a lovely sunset before we went to dinner.






In the last picture a little to the left of where the picture above ends are the landing lights to DPS.

 

[Seat0B]

Glad you’re feeling better now @drron

 

[drron]

We went to Atlantide for dinner. Quite a few don't like it but it basically is our favourite restaurant for dinner. Ususlly a decent selection of dishes which change regularly. Always has a menu of the day. As well the last vestiges of Covid behaviour have gone. You are asked when you arrive whether you want to share a table with others. We like to do this but not every night. We shared with another Aussie couple and a couple from Wales.
So the menu. The day's menu photo wasn't any good so the last 3 pages.






The menu has been pruned and a fair bit which was available every day has gone. As well the Soups and Salads section has gone. The made up an intermediate course so now 3 courses rather than 4.
I started with the Seafood chowder. Not a chowder and an extremely small amount of seafood.




Mrsdrron had the Argentinian prawns which were OK.


And I had the beef char sui. Disappointing.


The desserts haven't changed. I have decided not to partake of desserts as my walking distance is less than on the previous cruise.


Mrsdrron had the Pavlova which she enjoys. No picture this time.

 

[zig]

We went to Atlantide for dinner. Quite a few don't like it but it basically is our favourite restaurant for dinner. Ususlly a decent selection of dishes which change regularly. Always has a menu of the day. As well the last vestiges of Covid behaviour have gone. You are asked when you arrive whether you want to share a table with others. We like to do this but not every night. We shared with another Aussie couple and a couple from Wales.
So the menu. The day's menu photo wasn't any good so the last 3 pages.
View attachment 374958

View attachment 374959

View attachment 374960

The menu has been pruned and a fair bit which was available every day has gone. As well the Soups and Salads section has gone. The made up an intermediate course so now 3 courses rather than 4.
I started with the Seafood chowder. Not a chowder and an extremely small amount of seafood.
View attachment 374961

View attachment 374962

Mrsdrron had the Argentinian prawns which were OK.
View attachment 374963

And I had the beef char sui. Disappointing.
View attachment 374964

The desserts haven't changed. I have decided not to partake of desserts as my walking distance is less than on the previous cruise.
View attachment 374965

Mrsdrron had the Pavlova which she enjoys. No picture this time.

Disappointing looking menu and selected dishes. I board Silver Cloud tomorrow so am resetting my expectations.

 

[tgh]

I board Silver Cloud tomorrow so am resetting my expectations.

There is no need Zig , the ship will be staffed and stocked to the gills with the best of everything.
This cruise is a "Conrad Special " and all the in folks are attending… just watch out for the coal dust...
There will probably be lots of onboard commentary posted by cheerleaders about how wonderful SS remains
in an effort to offset the continuing avalanche of on line negativity .
We were lucky enough to be aboard another Conrad cruise and the whole ship went up several notches.. have fun..Zig... enjoy….

 

[drron]

We start off with 3 sea days. Great for relaxing but can get a little boring. Great moment when a ship passes by.


Lunch in Atlantide. Always quiet at lunch with most eating in La Terraza for the buffet or up by the pool. We prefer the much more relaxed atmosphere and smaller serves so easy to keep your intake of calories down.
So to the menu. It changes every day.




I had the Cajun chicken wrap and the sea bass on a vegetable ragout. I liked both.




Though the vegetable ragout was basically one vegetable.


But I enjoyed it. The fish was cooked to perfection. Mrsdrron had the penne and the crumble. I continued to decline desserts.

 

[drron]

Silversea are actively promoting the Facebook Silversea passengers group. A private group and any negative discussion quickly shut down unlike on Cruise Critic and the Silversea Cruise Passenger Facebook group. Here is the promotion in the Chronicles.


But in between lunch and dinner was trivia where we again have a great team. No Americans this time but a very knowledgeable Canadian. In fact we won the first 3 days though on the 4th hit rock bottom. Then there was the Captain's welcome introducing th Senior officers.




So to dinner once more in Atlantide. This time shared with two Australians. A much more lively and enjoyable evening. So to the menu changes.


Mrsdrron had the shrimps and then the salmon.


I ordered the beef tartare but got the artichoke and beef carpaccio. No problem for me as I like both. Some though would be very upset. Of course it shouldn't happen. I then had the beef. Much better than what I saw being served on the first night. Cooked just as I ordered and tender, juicy and tasty.

 

[zig]

I board Silver Cloud tomorrow so am resetting my expectations.

There is no need Zig , the ship will be staffed and stocked to the gills with the best of everything.
This cruise is a "Conrad Special " and all the in folks are attending… just watch out for the coal dust...
There will probably be lots of onboard commentary posted by cheerleaders about how wonderful SS remains
in an effort to offset the continuing avalanche of on line negativity .
We were lucky enough to be aboard another Conrad cruise and the whole ship went up several notches.. have fun..Zig... enjoy….

I’m hoping that Conrad’s presence will be enough to save the expedition from the erosion RCL seems to be having in Silversea.
Any how , back to drron’s report.

 

[drron]

We went to La Terazza last night. They have taken a chain saw to the menu and the dishes we like were gone. The Maître’D came to talk to us and we expressed our disappointment. I told him that the problem could be explained in 3 letters - RCL. He agreed with that and said that they have sent that feedback to corporate and so far no change.

Basically the same at Atlantide at lunch where my food was well below par. The mention of RCL received the same response.

 

[Pushka]

We went to La Terazza last night. They have taken a chain saw to the menu and the dishes we like were gone. The Maître’D came to talk to us and we expressed our disappointment. I told him that the problem could be explained in 3 letters - RCL. He agreed with that and said that they have sent that feedback to corporate and so far no change.

Basically the same at Atlantide at lunch where my food was well below par. The mention of RCL received the same response.

That's unacceptable given I'm assuming the price structure has not likewise been degraded.

 

[tgh]

That's unacceptable given I'm assuming the price structure has not likewise been degraded

As I understand it, prices have just escalated considerably..
This all presents as a classic example of a big corp shelling out for the loyalty and then trashing the brand.
I thought they may have been smarter but it seems not.