Not quite flying but drron will know..... Musing on Silver Muse over Christmas

[Pushka]

So a bit lax in posting. We ate at Kaiseki last night and it was wonderful. Tonight is The Grill again but it will be chilly I suspect.
It’s been windy and wet for most of the day so we have not been able to enter Doubtful or Milford Sounds. As we have done them before not such a big thing for us but many passengers who had this on their bucket list were very disappointed.
will discuss the ‘gala’ meals later but suffice to say that this was not SS strong point. Felt like being at a wedding reception in some respects. Better now that normal service has been resumed, as they say.

That’s a shame about the sound as it’s something I’d like to see as well. Enjoy the cool. It isn’t in our neck of the woods and we are sending it to you!

 

[love_the_life]

That’s a shame about the sound as it’s something I’d like to see as well. Enjoy the cool. It isn’t in our neck of the woods and we are sending it to you!

Many were disappointed and felt that had the captain waiting around for say an hours, the conditions would have improved enough to get in. People seemed to think he made the call a bit too early. There was a pilot on board who boarded at Oban so we had to get him off as well. One disadvantage with missing the sounds is that we have three sea days in a row effectively. MrLtL is becoming a tad stir crazy!
The Tasman was pretty rough for the first sea day but us quieter now. Tomorrow is Burnie with immigration happening on board before we can get off for the day. It is going to be warmer thankfully. My merino thermal has been getting quite a work out. I checked the forecasts before we left but something went horribly wrong.
We ate at La Terrazza last night (forgot the photos). It was very pleasant - a small pasta entree then a steak. No dessert!

 

[drron]

I am wondering whether you had Lucro as one of the teppanyaki chefs at Kaiseki.A Phillipino we first met on the Explorer where he was the egg cook at breakfast.
A great example of Silversea encouraging the developement of the crew.

 

[tgh]

Aeons ago , we waddled up the coast in perfect nz weather ( rain fog wind) ,
As we turned into MIlford the skies turned blue, the clouds vanished , and the wind dropped.
We had a wonderful cruise in the sound but most overseas guests had no idea how lucky they were.
Heading out we sailed straight into a force 10 gale….

 

[love_the_life]

I am wondering whether you had Lucro as one of the teppanyaki chefs at Kaiseki.A Phillipino we first met on the Explorer where he was the egg cook at breakfast.
A great example of Silversea encouraging the developement of the crew.

I’m not sure who we had. I find it very hard to read the name badges. Certainly it seems there have been quite a few changes in staff since you were on the ship.
the only one we really know is Carolina who works in several of the bars. She was MrLtL’s kayaking partner at Lake Roititi.

 

[love_the_life]

So after in effect 3 sea days we have just left the picturesque town of Burnie where we had for the first time warm weather!

 

[coriander]

Station Pier, Port Melbourne 31-01-2019 ~10:00am:

 

[Guvner]

Rode my bike down to Station Pier this morning just to see her.

 

[Pushka]

So after in effect 3 sea days we have just left the picturesque town of Burnie where we had for the first time warm weather!

Oh dear. How is, umm, MrL_T_L then?

 

[coriander]

The sun burnt off the clouds and the afternoon light captured the Silver Muse nicely - taken from Princes Pier:


The ship departed about 5pm but moored off Point Gellibrand, no doubt to watch the fireworks: seen here at about one hour into 2020:

 

[love_the_life]

I’ll finish the report when we get home.Although the ship was continuing on to Sydney that would have meant another 2 sea days - a bridge too far for MrLtL - so we disembarked in Melb yesterday. About 150 people did that by the look of it as well.
Caught up with sister in law today and flying home tomorrow. Given the smoke haze in CBR not looking forward to it but resume work on Tuesday.

 

[love_the_life]

The sun burnt off the clouds and the afternoon light captured the Silver Muse nicely - taken from Princes Pier:
View attachment 201782

The ship departed about 5pm but moored off Point Gellibrand, no doubt to watch the fireworks: seen here at about one hour into 2020:

View attachment 201783

Lovely photos Coriander. She looks great.

 

[love_the_life]

Ok so I can get back to this abridged TR.
We were impressed with the new building in Christchurch - the design of the new buildings seems to be interesting and not the stock standard box style. We didn't do a lot - I needed some warm clothes and then we visited the Art Gallery which was lovely.
The next day was Stewart Island. MrLtL was intending to do a longish walk and I a shorter one. He ended up with one of about 13 km up and down hills, though mine was a lot shorter. I hadn't packed hiking shoes so was a little hesitant to get stuck into a decent walk. A little retail therapy as well and the day was very successful.

The second photo is Trail Park, the football field. Luckily they only play one (social) match a year here as it is made up of sphagnum moss so must be hellish to run on; it was bouncy enough to walk across!

 

[love_the_life]

As I said, the Sounds were missed because of bad weather so the next port was Burnie and a lovely little town it is too.
We didn't bother with any tours and just walked around = visiting the Museum was was very good and the Art Gallery
The information centre gives a nod to the paper making history of the town with a number of paper sculptures. And of course a little fellow poking his head of his burrow on the way back to the shuttle bus,
A scallop pie made a tasty lunch.

 

[Pushka]

Are scallop pies fishy? I can eat them when they have caramelisation and are buttery.

 

[love_the_life]

Are scallop pies fishy? I can eat them when they have caramelisation and are buttery.

Wasn't a fishy flavour at all - just the scallop and a little curry. MrLtL did not partake as he does not like the roe and doesn't eat it. He had a need pie instead and reported t was very tasty as well. This was at the bakery in Burnie.

 

[love_the_life]

For the amusement of readers, we had a little lie out on the deck chairs while crossing the Tasman. I felt it was a tad chilly (though there were some hardy souls in bathers around the pool). MrLtL sent the photo to daughter who replied with "Is she alive?".

 

[Pushka]

Wasn't a fishy flavour at all - just the scallop and a little curry. MrLtL did not partake as he does not like the roe and doesn't eat it. He had a need pie instead and reported t was very tasty as well. This was at the bakery in Burnie.

I did wonder about the roe also.

 

[love_the_life]

Anyway, we reached Melbourne and disembarked on 31 Jan. The ship was continuing on to Sydney and there was to be another 'gala dinner' that night for NYE. It looked like about 30% of the passengers left in Melbourne. As I said we could have done the extra leg for $200 pp but as it turned out it would have been another 2 sea days and MrLtL just wouldn't have made it!
I'll make some general comments about the ship and the itinerary soon.

 

[love_the_life]

Oops, I am very slack. Didn't get back to this at all in a timely manner.
Anyway some comments:

1. Silver Muse is indeed lovely - cabins. are spacious (I'm comparing a balcony cabin with the like on the mainstream lines - Celebrity, RC, Princess and even Cunard, especially Ponant where this. was almost twice the size. Separate shower plus bath and walk in robe plus couch and easy chair.
2. Having no 'main' restaurant was a real plus for us as MrLtL loathes the barns on other ships and we spend all meals in specialty restaurants. Also the large number of tables for 2 was great for us.
3, All inklusive is just that and makes things very easy
4. Staff were generally excellent - except for a couple of situations where the service recovery just didn't happen (the fact that bookings made online for restaurants just disappeared and no one seemed to be able to do anything - until one enterprising waiter at the Grill fixed it in 2 minutes!). People we were supposed to hear back from seemed to go MIA.
5. Entertainment was so so - the Silver Singers (or whatever they are) tried but didn't quite cut it, One evening had a classical pianist who was very good, and a couple of shows had the band backing them rather than pre recorded music which was much better. I don't care if it was the London Phil it was still taped!
6. Trivia seemed very popular though we are not joiners for things like that - but others seemed to be having fun.
7. Other daytime activities for sea days were a bit thin - a cooking demo but not much else.
8. Food overall was fantastic but they didn't do the gala nights well - Christmas Eve and Night - a lot of miscommunication about the need to book - the daily chronicle said one thing (only if a group over 4) and the word around was everyone had to book (which was correct!). That's pretty sloppy.
9. The space to passenger ratio is huge - this ship is 20% larger than Azamara for those who know them but has 100 pax less,

Overall we were very impressed.