Christmas markets in Europe and Caribbean cruise (RTW)

[drron]

The crew that look after the singles on the SilverSea classic fleet are the International hostesses. The coughtail party is the best place to meet the other singles at the beginning of the cruise. We often sit close when it is on to see who they are and who we might invite to dine with us.

Pre Covid it was different. In Atlantide you would nearly always be asked if you wanted to join a shared table. Since Covid it doesn’t happen. On our first 2 cruises after Covid we asked if we could start a share table. Sadly we were often left to dine alone at a table for 8. So it is not always the crew’s fault. The real problem is more that folks now are more about self.

 

[tgh]

We always ask to join a table , sometimes this results in us being the first couple on a big table.
We mostly only get one extra couple and once spent the night alone on an 8 seat table.
I agree that the Camaraderie of old seems to have gone ; folks are now more careful , stand-offish and inclined to eat as couples.
The newish salt kitchens seem to be mostly small tables to accomodate this trend.

 

[Port Power]

I suspect that the passenger mix for Silversea overall has changed , the European vibe has gone along with the dress code.
SS have to fill the ships and whatever it takes is what happens...

It’s probably just because of the location. Caribbean cruises always tend attract many more North Americans, with only a smattering representing far flung countries. Like expedition cruises, Caribbean cruises should also advertise a more realistic warm weather dress code. More relaxed, no tie or jacket required. Slacks and a nice button through shirt still looks very smart.

But just for the tropics! On transoceanic cruises, those multiple sea days are always posted a smart casual anyway.

 

[love_the_life]

After the last QM2 cruise and the somewhat unpleasant table for 8*, I will always go for my own table (though as usually travelling with one other person it will be for 2). May sound selfish but I often can't be bothered chatting to others over a meal.
*Pushka knows all about it - and yes we should have requested a different table in hindsight.

 

[love_the_life]

MrLtL went back to the UK by ship with his family for a trip when he was about 16 (so 1966/67). They went through the Panama Canal and visited several Caribbean islands on the way. I am pretty sure Curacao was in the mix.

On the way home, because of the Suez crisis it was around the Cape. Sea travel was certainly different as he and his father shared a cabin as did his mother and sister, neither with their own bathroom.

 

[Cossie]

I did Sydney to Southampton via Panama in 1976 on the Soviet ship Taras Shevchenko. Six very long weeks, did go to Curacao which was one of the very few highlights, remember very little good about most of the voyage and it put me off cruising for life.
Also, after reading all the posts about dress codes, doubt I'll be going on any soon, blue singlet, footy shorts and sandals are my normal everyday wear.

Great tr and photos, thanks.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yesterday (27th), they moved me to a different cabin. If you don't want to hear me having another whinge, go no further.

Spoiler

Since the first night, I had reported random, moderately loud metallic clanking noises of abt 1/2-1 second coming from a particular spot in my cabin - just inside where a wall joins the ceiling. Anytime day or night. Not one of those deep, banging noises or thuds you hear on ships, but very particularly located in the wall/ceiling join area.

I asked my butler what I should do to try to get it fixed - it was interrupting my sleep, which is light at the best of times. He promised to 'hear out for it' and report it on.

After 3 days, nothing heard by him (it was quite random), so I took it to reception, asking how or who I should speak to about was by now becoming a problem. In spite of me describing both the location and the nature of the sound (by this time I had decided that it sounded like a pipe rattling in a loose bracket, such as when a pump was turned on) she told me not to worry, that it was probably a) a toilet flushing, b) a door closing, c) furniture moving on the balcony. I politely batted those away and asked that someone - maybe engineering - could contact me and I could describe it to them. I was in a forward cabin on deck 5, so close-ish to possible pump stations.

Nothing heard for a day, so I then took a note to reception, with a diagram of where the noise was coming from, and a list of times when I had heard it and a suggestion that engineering or maintenance might see if, maybe it corresponded with a pump action nearby, if such was logged. Or might tell from the location what it might be.

Nothing.

Next day, a bit more forcefully, I asked again. That brought forth 2 guys in khakis who I explained the issue to, pointed where it was and they stood and listened for it for about 20 mins; I thought this was going to be ineffective, as it may not occur then, and it didn't. I asked if they were from engineering - no, they said, they were carpenters. (FFS!) They put a couple of little wedges in the join between the wall and the ceiling. I showed them another note I had made of the location, come times etc. They said if it occurred again, to call reception.

Sure enough a bit later it occurred, so I did. This brought forth 2 new guys, who looked like cleaning people and they asked if there was a problem with noise. Oh, God. I went back to reception and explained I was only doing as asked. They knew nothing about it.

By this time I had just about given up. It was earplugs at night which at least reduced the number of times I was being woken.

A couple more visits from my carpenter mates who dutifully listened and heard nothing.

At no time did it appear that anyone heard what I had said about the location, nature and possible cause of the noise. They had to hear it from themselves. At no time did anyone say that yes, engineering/maintenance had looked into the issue, the times I had given and any correlation with pump activity (if such could be done). I would have been perfectly happy with "Yes, we have checked everything in that area and possible pump activity (we can't check all) and sorry, we really can't explain it. If you like we can take the panels off your ceiling and have a look, but it will be messy ..."

Then, out of the blue, I was called and offered a new cabin. I never really thought of asking for that before, always believing someone would take the issue seriously and see what could be done. With only 2 nights to go it seemed a bit of a hassle to move (up a deck and more midship), but it would have been churlish not to accept, so here I am.

One funny thing in moving cabins - My butler insisted in taking both my suitcase and carry-on in the move, leaving me to walk in front. He was surprised and a bit horrified that I didn't want him to then unpack my suitcase. Do people really still have the butler unpack their cases? Like we see in The Crown and Downton Abbey? The tuxedo types?

 

[RooFlyer]

Christmas day was a sea-day and quiet - lunch and dinner with the great couple I mentioned before. Special Christmas dinner menu but I can't find the pics now. On the Antarctica cruise (Silver Wind) Christmas day there was a decidedly festive atmosphere over dinner - carol singing by staff in La Terrazza, (including the Captain), lots of mingling. This cruise, except for the menu, it was pretty much like any other dinner.

We arrived at Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao early on the 26th. I was really looking forward to this; the concept of the Netherlands Antilles had always puzzled me. In short, the 6 components of the Netherlands Antilles are countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. They have different levels of autonomy and dependence - sort of like Wales, Scotland an the Channel Islands in the UK. There is a parliament here who looks after all local laws, but defence and foreign policy is looked after by the Netherlands, who also subsidises the Antilles countries. There is a Governor representing the Dutch monarch.

Curaçao - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The three countries in the south Caribbean, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are called the ABC countries, the ones in the north St Maartnn, St Eustatius and Saba are called the SSS countries.



I had booked an excursion on a 'submersive' craft - basically a glass bottomed boat, but you sit well below the waterline.

Picked up by a bus and its lucky it isn't a general sightseeing trip.



Our craft



Seating is on benches of 2.This is people making their way forward.




A couple of pics just to show it happened, but the corals were pretty bland. At one point, the host put on scuba gear and fed the fish, which livened things up. A turtle was seen.







The dock point was at a resort, on the site of a fort, which had an interesting history.

 

[Flashback]

Christmas day was a sea-day and quiet - lunch and dinner with the great couple I mentioned before. Special Christmas dinner menu but I can't find the pics now. On the Antarctica cruise (Silver Wind) Christmas day there was a decidedly festive atmosphere over dinner - carol singing by staff in La Terrazza, (including the Captain), lots of mingling. This cruise, except for the menu, it was pretty much like any other dinner.

We arrived at Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao early on the 26th. I was really looking forward to this; the concept of the Netherlands Antilles had always puzzled me. In short, the 6 components of the Netherlands Antilles are countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. They have different levels of autonomy and dependence - sort of like Wales, Scotland an the Channel Islands in the UK. There is a parliament here who looks after all local laws, but defence and foreign policy is looked after by the Netherlands, who also subsidises the Antilles countries. There is a Governor representing the Dutch monarch.

Curaçao - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The three countries in the south Caribbean, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are called the ABC countries, the ones in the north St Maartnn, St Eustatius and Saba are called the SSS countries.

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I had booked an excursion on a 'submersive' craft - basically a glass bottomed boat, but you sit well below the waterline.

Picked up by a bus and its lucky it isn't a general sightseeing trip.

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Our craft

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Seating is on benches of 2.This is people making their way forward.

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A couple of pics just to show it happened, but the corals were pretty bland. At one point, the host put on scuba gear and fed the fish, which livened things up. A turtle was seen.

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The dock point was at a resort, on the site of a fort, which had an interesting history.

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Interesting that ABC SSS all show on my country list, whereas England, Wales and Scotland don't even though it's a similarish arrangement.

 

[RooFlyer]

Then it was off to a distillery, where they produce the famous 'Blue Curaçao' liqueur.

A quick walk-though, a tasting (tiny sips in those little plastic cups they give you to take pills from) then of course a buying opportunity. Virtually no-one did.







All the same, except for flavouring and colour added.



Drove back to the boat, across the Queen Juliana Bridge



Views to our boat (actually, going the other way), and the others. We certainly had pride of place. Those unfamiliar with the place may ponder how we got in through that pontoon bridge.





The bridge from the boat.

 

[RooFlyer]

Interesting that ABC SSS all show on my country list, whereas England, Wales and Scotland don't even though it's a similarish arrangement.

They are not UN members and as far as I can tell, are not in the Schengen Zone. I was going to count both Curaçao and Aruba but think I will compromise and just count 'Netherlands Antilles'.

I wonder what stamp you get if flying in?

 

[RooFlyer]

Lunch on board, and then out to explore the town.

Fantastic place - completely different vibe to all the other places we have been to, and the only place I'd want to return to if I had the chance. Besides the pretty buildings etc, the place is clean; the footpaths don't have gaping holes; traffic sort of flows and people obey the give-ways and traffic lights; I didn't experience any touts. I could walk around, admire the sights and enjoy myself - which was a blessing for the previous day's issue.

I'm afraid this will be more-or-less a photo montage. I've done a lot of culling, but I went ashore three times and the light changed, and then there was the fireworks and departure. So stand by.

Around where we berthed the areas are Otrobanda (the opposite side to the blue dot) and the other side Punda, the city centre.



I walked along the Otrobanda shore towards the pontoon bridge.







This was very uplifting



Crossing the pontoon bridge. It opens sideways to allow traffic through. The inner port is very large and takes a lot of shipping. I wonder why the Brits didn't try harder to snag it.



They raise flags at one end - orange means the next opening will be brief (I think 10-15 mins); it doesn't open all the way, just enough to let a small vessel pop through, and white IIRC if the next opening will be long - 45 mins or so, for large vessels. When its open, a free ferry plies between the shores.

An alarm goes off as its about to open. People can stay on it while moving and open (not sure if its strictly allowed) and at the pivot end you can even step on and off when its partly open. Gates are closed though. The start or opening only.





Its on floating pontoons, so it moves around a bit. Not unlike the Millennium Bridge initially.






View towards the inner port and the Silver Moon

 

[RooFlyer]

A walk around the town. Many souvenir shops, restaurants and bars.









This lady is called Chichi. During the pandemic, an arts co-op crowdfunded itself and you could pay to decorate a sq cm of Chichi.





I guess that explains the generous proportions - more revenue acreage !

Main street





Parliament

 

[RooFlyer]

Went back to the Orobanda side and just followed my nose. Amazed that even random back streets still had lovely houses and even the less lovely ones still brightly painted.

 

[RooFlyer]

Then a real gem. I stumbled across a little arty/cafe neighbourhood called Bon Bini. The wider area was originally settled in 1707, it grew as a prosperous neighbourhood, but when the access ramp for the Queen Juliana bridge divided the area in the 1970s, it declined into drugs and prostitution. It was revived from 2000 and is now thriving.

You'll see in these pics that there is hardly anyone there. Three large cruise ships in port. Go off the beaten track for some really good stuff.





@VPS - the chocolate shop was closed

 

[VPS]

Then a real gem. I stumbled across a little arty/cafe neighbourhood called Bon Bini. The wider area was originally settled in 1707, it grew as a prosperous neighbourhood, but when the access ramp for the Queen Juliana bridge divided the area in the 1970s, it declined into drugs and prostitution. It was revived from 2000 and is now thriving.

You'll see in these pics that there is hardly anyone there. Three large cruise ships in port. Go off the beaten track for some really good stuff.

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@VPS - the chocolate shop was closed

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Absolutely stunning photos. No chocolate. Ok gin or rum will have to do

 

[RooFlyer]

On the way back to the ship for a reviving G&T. The weather was quite good - maybe 30 degrees. humid, but a sea breeze came in.







the pontoon bridge is called 'the swinging old lady'



______________________________

And I found the Christmas menu. Foie gras terrine, cream of porcini and grilled lobster tail were pretty good.





I should mention here for those that don't know it, SilverSeas' puzzling (and frankly, embarrassing) wine policy. You can always buy very good wines but the regulars are pretty good and I've not deviated from them on either SS cruise I've done.

With each meal the waiter will come around with two wines - the offering for the day; a red and white. You can choose any of the approx 8 wines they rotate that way (may be 10?), but you have to ask - not offered. Usually the bottles are not too far away. You cannot obtain a list of the wines available for love nor money - I tried (but I know then that someone will say they did, sometime). Eventually I got one of the sommeliers to list them verbally, and I wrote them down. By half way through the cruise, my preferred waiters in SALT and La Terrazza got to know me and always poured the German Riesling soon after I sat down and didn't sully the evening with the merlot or chardonnay or whatever they had 'rotated' for the night. . The Aussie Cab Sav was excellent too. Shiraz was the Aussie Billi Billi, not bad.

 

[RooFlyer]

Over dinner on the outside deck of La Terrazza (my earlier seating problems having been overcome with a gentle word to two of the maître d' s ), a magnificent view of the pontoon bridge opening fully and a ship transiting out.










Another walk in the warm evening; the place was really bopping.







That sign again ...



Back on board, I heard some bangs and found there was a fireworks show; fortunately my cabin was on the right side. It went for about 15 mins. All from one point, but a very good effort. Capped off a really good day.

 

[RooFlyer]

A last look at Willemstad, as we departed late in the evening. Backing out



















19,000 steps and I slept well!

Another Formal-optional night tonight; night before I disembark at Cartagena. I'm going to join the 'slobs' (reference cruising dress code thread) and subversives at the grill on the pool deck shortly.

I may have transit an inside bar or two on the way.

 

[Port Power]

Willemstad looks so beautiful, day and night. Christmas lighting certainly enhanced the photos. Definitely worth another visit.