Invader Danger

Unusually loud crashing and banging from the ship’s innards was interrupted by the ping of the PA system and ‘the Captain speaking from the bridge’ at the unprecedented time of 6am. He wanted all deckhands for a ‘rescue’ and the doctor to stand by in the hospital. Guests assumed that something had happened to a crew member or guest and everybody worried about what was happening and if everybody was OK.

The captain spoke on the PA system several times over the next hour. The noises had been caused by the manoeuvring of the Silver Spirit. The ship’s crew had spotted a small fishing boat – the Invader - with two occupants on board, drifting without power. Attempts were made to cast a rope to it, to tow it to safety and then to take the two people onto the Silver Spirit. During this process, the boat scraped along the side of Silver Spirit – more painting for the crew!! But the fishermen were understandably reluctant to abandon the means of their livelihood, so the captain called the coastguard to attend the situation. They were slow to attend but ‘in the interests of human safety at sea’ Captain Arma refused to move until they did arrive. So it all ended well, with the professionalism of the Silversea crew demonstrated once again.

TSH and Diva walked along the shore at Bequia, St Vincent and Grenadine. This is a holiday resort which offers water sports and little else. But a very pretty bay for Silver Spirit to anchor in.

Silver Spirit is full for this leg of the cruise. The Circlers are overwhelmed by strangers. There are also lots of new waiters and service is slower.

Invader

The next island

Silver Whisper anchored in a beautiful bay off Bequia island which is part of the Grenadines. After a light breakfast, TSH and Diva took the shuttle boat ashore and spent an hour walking along the shore.

The island is only about 16 square miles with 5,000 inhabitants. Local fisherman are active - one tried to sell lobster to people on the shuttle and a group of them were seen unloading large fish from a little boat. Many of the children travel the 9 miles by boat to St Vincent every day to go to school, giving them a very long day.

TSH and Diva went back to the ship for lunch which in this case was a sandwich because of the quick turn round – its all go! The ‘a la carte’ sandwich took thirty minutes to make but was very good.

The trip round the island was on the back of an eight seater variation of a wildlife park vehicle. Some very steep and narrow roads were negotiated in a convoy of said vehicles – the brakes are said to be checked twice a year. On the steepest parts, passengers were asked to hang on to overhead bars to prevent them sliding off the back. It was as near a white knuckle ride as Diva ever wishes to get. The tour visited a couple of view points (everybody photographed the ship), with views of other islands, before going to a turtle sanctuary to see hornbill turtles of all sizes.

There was a brief stop for refreshments – rum punch (Diva is developing a taste for this) and local beer.

In view of the light lunch, afternoon tea was essential after arrival back on the ship.

TSH and Diva seem to have acquired their next trainee butler. A very charming Chinese man, who is trying very hard and sometimes missing the point. He keeps begging for shoes to clean (yes, really) but does not always remember things requested. TSH and Diva told him they drink a lot of water so he turned up with an industrial sized container of distilled water, which is probably intended for the engine.

Wildlife spotted today:  boobies, frigate birds, crabs, lizards, large fish, goats, cows

No tigers yet.