3rd

On the sail away from Killybegs, TSH and Diva saw a large group of dolphins around the Silver Spirit. Perhaps not quite as spectacular as seeing orcas.

At the Venetian night on the 4^th and final leg of their cruise, TSH and Diva dropped down the league to 3^rd place. There are about 380 guests on board Silver Spirit, including 204 Venetians, which is a much lower proportion than on most voyages in the past. Dinner was with the Guest Relations Manager and the Reception Manager.

On the way into the cocktail party, Diva reassured Captain Ivo, who greeted her by name and was concerned about her welfare in the light of her failure to take a poncho and an umbrella.

In Galway, they cancelled the planned excursion and walked around the city on their own. The tender journey was a little rough at the end and they were pleased that it was driven by an experienced seaman and it was not an Officer Training Day (as has occasionally happened before).

Perfect Peaches

On the third Venetian night of the cruise, TSH and Diva again came second. On this occasion, their name was, for the first time, pronounced correctly and reference was made to their diligent use of hand sanitisers throughout the ship. They are shocked that this precaution appears to be noteworthy.

Statistics: 478 guests on board. 209 Venetians – a much lower proportion than TSH and Diva are used to.

Whilst waiting for the announcements to begin, Diva received a tap on the shoulder from Captain Ivo. He was checking that all was well with her and assuring her that the seas would be calm overnight. They were also approached by the Food and Beverage manager, who told them that grilled peaches would be available for them at any time they went to Atlantide for breakfast. And this turned out to be true. Perfectly grilled and presented as in the past. Full marks to him and the restaurant staff.

2nd

At the Venetian night on the second leg of their cruise, TSH and Diva were second in the league. They will not do better on the rest of the cruise as the guests with over 2000 days are also staying on to Southampton. The Silver Spirit is not full – only about 350 guests (max is about 580), of which less than half are Venetians (sailed with Silversea before).

They dined that night with Captain Ivo Botica (Dubrovnik), Hotel Director Luis de Sousa Marques (Portuguese but living in Mexico) and four other British guests. They discovered that they had not misheard Captain Botica’s announcements – he really does start with ‘This is your silly captain speaking’!!  The Hotel Director expressed his view that Covid tests are a waste of time, as you can obtain a positive result by dropping orange juice onto the tester. Diva’s view is that the tests are meant for people, not orange juice.

5th

Dinner in Indochine was not looking good when the waiter handed TSH and Diva menu folders which turned out to be empty. No food? Fortunately it was a mistake and Diva was able to order sweet and sour prawns, and TSH a Thai curry.

Venetian night is when anybody who has travelled with Silversea before is invited to a cocktail party where achievements are lauded. Achievements take the form of ‘days spent on board’. On this occasion, TSH and Diva were 5^th in the league table with 685. The ‘winners’ had over 2000 days!! At a dinner table hosted by the Guest Relations Manager, TSH and Diva were able to join with two other British guests to take the opportunity to explain that there was a large market for UK-UK cruises, as many people no longer wish to fly at the beginning or end of a cruise.

The highlight of the short excursion in Kirkwall, Orkney, was the Italian Chapel, built by Italian Prisoners of War during the 2^nd World War. The weather was extremely cold and partly wet – difficult even for the hardy Northern British like TSH and Diva. They were also disappointed in having to tender ashore – on previous occasions they have docked in Kirkwall, which is far more convenient.

From Monaco to the Italian Riviera

The ports in this region mostly require tender operation, which is difficult when the sea has a high swell as a left-over from a recent storm. The weather is good (apart from a sharp shower in Portofino) and there is nothing about the sea which troubles the Silver Spirit. But transfer from ship to tender is difficult and, at Monaco, had to be suspended for a while during the afternoon - fortunately after TSH and Diva were back on board. The visit to Portofino did eventually go ahead but at one point it seemed likely that the day would be spent in Genoa instead.

They have had dinner with the Cruise Director but were appalled that they were not invited to Venetian night (for guests who have cruised with Silversea before). An oversight which as yet no-one has explained or apologised for.

The arrival in Monaco was to the old port, which meant that they decided to go into the old town and view the outside of the royal Palace. Different from central Monte Carlo, where they usually go, but there are still defibrillators at regular intervals to assist the wealthy residents who cannot manage the hills.  There were many helicopters overhead - obviously a standard mode of transport locally.

From Portofino, TSH and Diva boarded a local boat, which took them to visit the picturesque towns of  Santa Margherita & Sestri Levante.

For the first time, TSH and Diva have met a crew member from Kazakhstan - the waitress in Indochine was from there.  
They have an invitation for later to a 'bloody mary and mimosa party' in honour of guests like them who are staying on for the next cruise.