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Live from the Silver Whisper #63419 04/09/04 08:26 AM
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cruisinsince75 Offline OP
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We are having a great time. From the time that we arrived on the ship yesterday till now everything has been truly fantastic.

Easy check-in. Dropped off the bags at the pier, champagne waiting for us as we boarded the ship, took our carry ons and gave us our room card, took our pictures, and took us to the room. No lines, no hassles, nothing.

Champagne was already chilled and waiting for us in our room. We got one of the Vista Suites that had the shared balconies and it is beautiful. We went outside last night with our friends and watched as we sailed away from Antigua. Dragged a couple of chairs out from our room and watched the stars and the moon until about 1Pm. Nobody else out. It was very romantic.

Have been out at the pool today as we circled around Monserrat. You could still see the smoke billowing from the volcano. Had BBC's brought out to us while we soaked up the sun, and we just got back from having a wonderful lunch on the Terrace.

All I can say is wow!!! We are getting spoiled.

Will try to post more later.

Heading for Martinique tomorrow, where we are going to do a catamaran sailing and some shopping.

Ciao,


Don
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63420 04/09/04 08:33 AM
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KarenS Offline
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Don, Your report makes me wish I was on the ship with you! I hope the rest of your cruise is just as wonderful.


Karen

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Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63421 04/09/04 09:00 AM
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southernlady Offline
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Don, sounds like a fabulous time. So hard to read when I'm on land with no cruise in sight!


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63422 04/09/04 11:11 AM
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jhp Offline
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Don, I'm glad your turn has finally come, but not that mine has come and gone. Glad you are enjoying the Whisper, and not at all surprised! It just doesn't get any better than SS and RSSC!

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63423 04/09/04 11:31 AM
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ITravelNow Offline
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I'm getting greener by the minute - need a cure for envy - I want to book a cruise NOW (one that sooner than this November).

Thanks for posting Don - it sounds wonderful!


Margo
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63424 04/09/04 11:39 AM
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sundial Offline
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It sounds lovely Don!

Sue


Sue
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63425 04/10/04 12:20 AM
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Masaki Offline
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Don - sounds great! Please keep us posted if possible with your observations!

Masaki

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63426 04/10/04 12:55 PM
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cruisinsince75 Offline OP
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Day Two, we are in Martinique today. What a lovely island. We took a cab to downtown for some shopping $10 US each way and got back to the ship for an afternoon catamaran sail. Had a fabulous time.

Formal night was last night and the food is absolutely fantastic. It is easy to not notice how much you have had to drink, because they keep refilling your glass every time you turn your head. Our friends had some problem with the AC in their room which could not get fixed, so they upgraded them yesterday to a Verandah Suite. I should have broken mine. LOL Ours is great though we have that shared Verandah thing and nobody is ever out there. So I guess you would say we have a 287 sq ft suite with a 1000 sq ft Verandah!!! LOL

Tonight we are having a BBQ out on the deck provided that it doesn't rain. It is getting a little cloudy, but we have been blessed so far.

Will try to post more later.


Don
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63427 04/11/04 12:46 AM
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Masaki Offline
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Don - yes, you should have taken a hammer to your AC unit - maybe you might have gotten an Owner's or Grand Suite! :) 287 sq. feet ain't shabby though. What kind of food did they serve for the BBQ?

Masaki

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63428 04/11/04 12:52 AM
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ITravelNow Offline
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Don...keep those reports coming! We love to hear from you.


Margo
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63429 04/11/04 12:48 PM
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cruisinsince75 Offline OP
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Oh my gosh!!! The BBQ last night was great!!! You could not believe all the food. They had grilled lobster tails, they had a whole pig (and I am not referring to anybody in particular), BBQ ribs, steaks, it went on for ever!!! I have never, ever seen such a lavish spread. Wine, champagne, and drinks were flowing freely. They had tables set up all around the pool with the fountains spraying. Music, a show featuring the Martinique Ballet, followed by a night of disco out by the pool, and then later had Big Band in the Panorama Lounge during sail away.

Today we were in Bequia. We missed taking the catamaran to Mustique. Some of our group did that and said that Mick Jagger was doing a benefit concert on the beach!!! We had a great time going into this quaint little island and exploring and then having some quite time on Princess Margaret Beach. It was one of the most picturesque spots that I have ever seen.

Tonight we dine at Le Champagne and can't wait. A word of advice for future SS bookers. Book the Le Champagne AS SOON AS YOU BOARD, because it fills up really fast. You also want to book your spa treatments right away, because those go fast also. Met some people that have been onboard since February!!! Wish I could do that.

We are thinking of booking onboard for next year to get that additional 5% onboard discount. We are leaning toward doing at least 10 days though. 7 is just going by too quickly.

More later.


Don
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63430 04/11/04 01:10 PM
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Don, thanks for sharing and keep the reports coming. Although, who wants to sit at a computer when you are having such wonderful experiences? The barbecue by the pool must have been so much fun, especially the dancing :banana: .


Donna

I write about active travel for baby boomers: www.myitchytravelfeet.com
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63431 04/11/04 01:15 PM
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ITravelNow Offline
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Don...your report has started me shopping for a Silverseas cruise - it sounds fabulous!


Margo
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63432 04/12/04 12:55 AM
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Don - please keep us posted - the BBQ sounded fabulous! Now I'm thinking about a SS cruise too ...

Masaki

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63433 04/12/04 02:31 PM
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cruisinsince75 Offline OP
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Just getting ready to head in for dinner and thought I would get in a quick post. Spent the day in Grenada today. Went to Grand Anse Beach which was beautiful. This is a wonderful town (St. Georges). Kind of reminds me of Portofino, the way the city goes up the hillside. Spices galore here, but unfortunately (at least for my wife) all the stores were closed for Easter Monday. Still did some shopping next to the pier. Tomorrow we are in Isla Margarita, Venezuela.

Last night, we ate at Le Champagne and it was well worth spending the extra dollars for some of the premium wines.

I did run across a deal, that we are also looking at. Silversea just put on this week, 50% off Athens to Lisbon on a 7 day cruise at the end of August. We would also get another 10% off that for being Venetian Society Memmbers and another 5% off for booking onboard.

Ngaire, looks like I may be calling you as soon as I get back home. I think that came to about $1700 including port charges for a Vista with the shared balcony.

Talk later,


Don
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63434 04/12/04 03:20 PM
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Ngaire Online
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Great posts Don. I am really getting addicted to these posts from a ship. They are really great and make you feel like you are aboard.

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63435 04/12/04 08:00 PM
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sedona Offline
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Gee, Maybe we'll think of traveling SilverSea. SOunds like a great deal.

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63436 04/12/04 08:06 PM
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mp8shnt Offline
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Oh I do want to try this line.

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63437 04/13/04 04:23 AM
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C
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How I wish I could do more than one cruise per year! I need to be on a ship somewhere!

Thanks for your posts Don - it's almost as good as being there!


Sue
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63438 04/13/04 05:50 AM
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Quote
Originally posted by cruisinsince75:
I did run across a deal, that we are also looking at. Silversea just put on this week, 50% off Athens to Lisbon on a 7 day cruise at the end of August. We would also get another 10% off that for being Venetian Society Memmbers and another 5% off for booking onboard.

Ngaire, looks like I may be calling you as soon as I get back home. I think that came to about $1700 including port charges for a Vista with the shared balcony.
This is really quite interesting news! Thanks for keeping us in the loop - definitely an itinerary worth considering, especially at that price.

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63439 04/13/04 05:54 AM
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jhp Offline
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I, too, love getting posts from the ships, so thank you, Don! It lets us experience cruising vicariously, at least. I hope all will in the future take a little time to do this from the ship. It really only costs what time it takes to get on lct. While you write, it doesn't cost a penny. Stay in touch, Don!

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63440 04/13/04 07:30 AM
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Don - fabulous posts!!!! Though reading about your bbq'd lobster tail et al, while I am sloshing through tuna salad just doesn't seem fair!!!! ;)
What I am curious about though are your fellow passengers. Are they a lively group? Mixed ages? Sedate? Would appreciate the feedback.
Thanks!


Bobbi
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63441 04/13/04 07:50 AM
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I, too, am addicted to these onboard postings!

Don, you can't give us too many details!!


Suzanne
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63442 04/13/04 03:29 PM
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Bobbi, I can't speak for Don's passenger mix in the Caribbean, but I can for mine in Asia. We Americans were only 95 or so on a cruise with 330 or so aboard. The age group I would say on an average was late 50's, early 60's. This group liked the late night stuff far more than I have ever seen on a Radisson ship, where most passengers were mostly Americans. I think Europeans, who eat dinner later (at least when I visit their countries) enjoy the entertainment later into the night! Those Aussies were a great group, and I think I may have posted my experience with the guy from Scotland who was wearing his kilt! I had a great time meeting people who are in a great mood, have no issues with Americans, and are just out to have a great time "on holiday"! Don, please keep posting!

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63443 04/14/04 12:13 PM
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cruisinsince75 Offline OP
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Tried to post yesterday, but got timed out. Only complaint is the internet onboard is so slow!!!!!

Yesterday we were in Grenada and had a great time. Went to Grand Anse Beach and it was one of the most beautiful beaches that we have ever been to.

Last night we had dinner with the Captain. It was very exciting. He was the first employee hired with Silversea.

Today we were in Trinidad, where we were met by our friends and taken all around the island. We went to Maracas Beach and we had a very specatacular view. They had a very nice condo right on the water, where we had lunch before heading back to the ship. When we got back onboard, we were very disappointed to find our luggage laying on our bed and ready to pack. We were already starting to show symptoms of PCD (Post Cruise Depression) and did the only thing we could think of that would cure it. We booked another cruise while onboard. I have several pictures that we took of the ship and the facilities, which I intend to post on webshots as soon as we get back home.

We disembark tomorrow in Barabados and then head home the following day. So I will post more info when we return.


Don
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63444 04/14/04 12:35 PM
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Don, nice to hear from you again. I hate coming back to the cabin and finding that plastic thing and my suitcase on the bed. It is like a big thud! Can't wait to hear your review when you return! Where is your next cruise?

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63445 04/15/04 04:27 PM
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cruisinsince75 Offline OP
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Well we are off the ship and in Barbados. Disembarkation was the smoothest ever. We will post more later.

Don


Don
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63446 04/15/04 05:30 PM
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Can't wait to hear more Don!

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63447 04/15/04 06:08 PM
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Between this and Olivia's post, I am getting more and more interested in Silversea...especially since they go to some smaller ports than RSSC.


Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends ~~M. Angelou~~
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63448 04/16/04 01:13 AM
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One of our friends just came back from Silversea cruise (the one before Don's) They didn't think it was a nice as Crystal - which amazed me. They said the food was "so-so".

My husband was so cute though - he didn't skip a beat - he said "Well you HAVE to try Radisson - it's better than either of those lines!"


Margo
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63449 04/16/04 04:56 AM
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jhp Offline
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Margo, I always hear great things about Crystal's food, and you wonder how they do it with a capacity of 900-1000 pax. By the way, in 2 conversations with others on the Shadow, the people I was talking with said they heard that Radisson was even better than Silversea.

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63450 04/16/04 06:51 AM
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ITravelNow Offline
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Olivia...it's amazing isn't it. But as so often happens, you can ask ten passengers what they like or dislike and it's rare that they all agree.

I have no desire to cruise with Crystal because of their size and extra charges. And I've never found any problems with the food on Radisson so we have probably found the right cruise line for us. But the attraction of having everything included and a slightly smaller ship might tip us over to favor Silversea. We just got to try it!

Ultimately, the itinerary and the balancing of all of these other considerations is what determines our choice. Sometimes everything combines to make it just right!


Margo
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63451 04/16/04 08:06 PM
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cruisinsince75 Offline OP
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Margo, I agree with you 100%. I have no desire to sail on Crystal because of the size of the ships. We had 374 passengers on our ship, and the capacity was 382. One of the passengers said that this was his 4th SS cruise and he had never seen the ship so crowded.

However, we never had difficulty at all finding a deck chair. We never had to wait in any lines for anything!!! EVER!!! Whenever we called room service, it was prompt!!!

You might say that I am forever sold on smaller ships.

Will post more later. Just got back home and exhausted right now. On top of that, both of us have to work tomorrow.


Don
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63452 04/17/04 12:47 AM
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Masaki Offline
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Welcome back Don!

Masaki

Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63453 04/17/04 02:43 AM
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ITravelNow Offline
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Don...Welcome home. It's hard to come back to reality isn't it?

We're looking forward to more details! So once you get back to normal, we'll look forward to hearing from you.


Margo
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63454 04/17/04 05:54 PM
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cruisinsince75 Offline OP
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It is hard coming back to reality. I had to work today and all I could think about was should I fly into Zurich or London for a pre-cruise stay before boarding the Whisper in Athens. Is that sick or what???

I think this is an obsession!!! Maybe I should go to see the doctor about it. As a matter of fact, I think they had a very good one onboard!!! LOL


Don
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63455 04/17/04 06:00 PM
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It is hard coming back to reality. I had to work today and all I could think about was should I fly into Zurich or London for a pre-cruise stay before boarding the Whisper in Athens. Is that sick or what???

I think this is an obsession!!! Maybe I should go to see the doctor about it. As a matter of fact, I think they had a very good one onboard!!! LOL


Don
Re: Live from the Silver Whisper #63456 04/17/04 06:27 PM
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Don
I think most of us suffer from the same sickness you have. I know I certainly do. My doctor would just tell me to get a life - but I have one. The travel, travel, travel life or while at home, my latest addiction - this board.


Betty

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