Celtic Cool

In Belfast, TSH and Diva went into the city on the shuttle bus and had a short walk around the shopping area. In the evening, a local group of musicians and dancers entertained the US guests, whilst being vey lukewarm in their welcome to the English. Maybe times have not changed as much as everybody hoped. Dinner was taken in the outdoor (but covered and heated) pizza restaurant. The pizzas were excellent as usual but TSH and Diva had under-estimated quite how cold and windy it was and they were glad to be back indoors. Non-UK guests are divided. Some think that British summers are always like this and others are totally shocked at the cold and wet. The seas remain smooth.

Silversea IT systems are as bad as ever. TSH and Diva always check the TV in their suite for any messages about dinner reservations etc. So far, there had been none. Until 17 messages, some of them days old, all appeared at once.

TSH and Diva received a letter from the hotel Director in response to their mid-cruise questionnaire. It was both apologetic and constructive, so full marks to him for that one.

There was never any plan to go ashore in Greenock and the grey drizzly weather confirmed this as the right choice. Tai Chi ‘under the life boats’ was going well until Diva spotted a pair of dolphins. By the time TSH had prepared his camera and the dolphins had vanished, they had both lost their place in the sequence and the session was abandoned.

 

Life ashore

 

TSH and Diva walked around Falmouth but did not go ashore in Fishguard, because there was a long tender which was not properly available until 11:00. It seems to have been a good decision as there is very little there, many shops are boarded up and there was only limited access to the tapestry which is the main ‘attraction’ of the town.

In Belfast they visited the Titanic museum – their second visit, but still very much worth doing. There were limited numbers of visitors and so no problems with social distancing. In Oban, they went on their first excursion – to a nearby garden run by National Trust of Scotland. The garden was moving into its autumn state but there were pleasant walks and excellent viewpoints. It was a first to see a dog being pushed along in a child’s buggy with no actual child in sight. The sail-away from Oban was extremely scenic and comparable with a Norwegian fjord.

In Stornoway, the plan was for anchor and tender but TSH and Diva knew it was all cancelled when Captain Arma’s voice could be heard at 8:00. Due to the heavy swell, tendering would not be safe. The cruise director then announced an exciting new programme for the day. When TSH and Diva were movers and shakers at work, no-one would have guessed that their retirement excitement would involve napkin folding. They will not be attending this event.

Wildlife sightings: A few gannets (on and off the ship), white horses on the sea and llamas in a field.

Butlers and more Belfast

There have been some issues with the butler, who is young, keen, new and totally ignorant of how things should be done.  TSH and Diva had a chat with the housekeeper, to say he needed more training and help. They must have noticed the Anniversary cards. After dinner, TSH thought he was in the wrong suite because it had halved in size. The butler had closed the curtain between the sitting and sleeping areas. Behind the curtain were balloons, candles, champagne on ice and an Anniversary cake.More candles in the bathroom. This was all just after a good dinner!!  A knock on the door brought the butler with the butler manager, who delivered a red rose.  They have apologised in style.

The bonus morning in Belfast gave an opportunity to go into St Ann’s cathedral and glance into St Peter’s, where a service was in progress. A look inside City Hall, which is lined with light coloured marble. A shuttle bus back to the ship for lunch and sail at 14:00.

The scary bit is that the orchid is in the wastebin (to stop it falling over) and the cushions are in the glasses and drinks cupboard (to stop things breaking). Projected height of waves: 15 feet. But we are going in the opposite direction to the storm so we should be coming out of it.

Itinerary Change

La Terrazza is back to its old self – calm and relaxing. During dinner there was an announcement from the captain. A massive storm – hurricane level – was forecast and would make the journey to Stornoway ‘uncomfortable’.  And then it would be impossible to go ashore safely. So…. The Whisper would sail to Belfast for the planned stop but then stay overnight to shelter from the worst of the storm. Then it would set off direct for Iceland, through the tail end of the storm and then out of it. So no Stornoway and no stone circle.

Two of the people on board told TSH and Diva that two years ago they did a similar voyage which was supposed to take 4 days at sea to cross to Canada. A storm meant that this missed all the ports except the disembarkation and were at sea for almost 8 days continuously. Please, no.

The Belfast Titanic exhibition is one of the best. Exhibits of the social history of Belfast, building up to the design, build, launch and fit of the Titanic. The voyage detail until that night.  And then the aftermath – search for bodies and the inquiries in UK and US. A 2 to 3 hour unmissable experience, in which you learn quite a bit about Belfast generally.

The extended stay meant there was time to take the shuttle bus into the city and walk around the centre, looking at City Hall, the Opera House and the Waterfront.

Its TSH and Diva’s 12^th wedding anniversary and they are storm –bound in Belfast. As unpredictable as the wedding day when they were clamped.