The meals are now being counted down, each approved restaurant is being revisited for the last time and TSH and Diva are both ordering all their favourites. Dinner was taken in the Indochine - Asian soup for both, chicken curry for Diva, red snapper wrapped in banana leaves for TSH. With the day's special cocktail and Indonesian beer.
The next day, the cooking demonstration was British Pub Classics - a good demo as ever. But the 'mushy peas' were crushed and he put cream in the Cornish pasty. Who knew?
Sitting in the lounge, TSH was presented with a signed portrait of himself by a fellow guest who had been studying him intently. He was so astonished that he did not ask whether the artist was famous and the portrait valuable.
The sea is now much calmer, the wind has largely abated, the sun put in a very brief appearance and all the elevators are back on. No word on the vibrations.
All tours for next cruise now booked.
Thursday, 28 June 2018
Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Grey on grey
The weather is very gloomy out at sea, with low visibility. TSH is gloomy because he has now also missed his glacier visit at Olden. The luxury living and eating is still welcome and very relaxing but three days at (moderately) rough sea with no scenery is not how this cruise was meant to be. For the first time ever experienced by TSH and Diva, the elevators have been switched off for safety reasons.
Lunch was taken in the restaurant on deck 4 rather than at the usual buffet on deck 7. A much more stable position!!
The promise is for a more stable ship and working elevators by 20:00.
Lunch was taken in the restaurant on deck 4 rather than at the usual buffet on deck 7. A much more stable position!!
The promise is for a more stable ship and working elevators by 20:00.
Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Tuesday in Tromso
TSH and Diva walked to the University botanic gardens, which are a short walk from the quay. The gardens are beautifully laid out and there are many flowers even so early in the Arctic summer. There is an emphasis on Alpines, which are of particular interest for TSH.
On return to Silver Spirit, a further announcement from the Captain explained that the departure was to be delayed for another 12 hours. The port of Olden was cancelled and the final three days of the cruise would be out at sea and direct to Copenhagen. Some of the journey might be uncomfortably rough. TSH and Diva are less concerned about losing the ports than they are about missing the scenic fjord journeys. TSH is worried whether he is left with suitable clothes for 3 more cold days at sea. His trekking trousers will not now be needed.
But the food is still good and they are enjoying being waited on.
Drama in the theatre
The captain took the stage alone, wearing his working uniform rather than the dress uniform he usually wears for theatre events. He had two pieces of bad news.
All of the controls on the ship are indicating satisfactory measurements. The divers had examined the propellers and the hull. Nothing had been found, so the cause of the vibration was still undiagnosed. The captain thinks that software is probably to blame - he seems to include electrics and instrumentation in his definition. The vibration seems to be associated with particular speeds.
The weather is deteriorating and he, in conjunction with Silversea Head Office, has decided that it is unwise to leave the safety of Tromso harbour at present. So the departure will be delayed for about 24 hours and it will no longer be possible to call at the port of Alesund.
The questions from the guests leavened the drama with unintended humour. One person suggested that as the vibrations only occurred at certain speeds, perhaps this range could be avoided? As if the highly experienced captain had not thought of this! People asked whether, if the Silver Spirit arrived late in Copenhagen, Silversea would make necessary on-going travel re-arrangements. He assured everybody that Silver Spirit would not be late in Copenhagen. Obviously not, as the compensation bill would be horrendous.
Intermission
Not calling at Hammerfest gave a day cruising dramatic fjords which would otherwise have been passed in the dark. So it turned out for the best. There is more snow in this region, but it is high on the mountains.
Dinner in suite - pizza, champagne and 'Darkest Hour' movie.
Morning walk round Tromso. The shuttle bus went through a long tunnel and there was a first for TSH and Diva. An underground roundabout where two tunnels met!!
The afternoon excursion was to the beautiful island of Sommaroy. A group of 4 wild reindeer on the road caused the bus to divert around them. Waffles and hot drinks were much appreciated in the cold weather.
On return to the Silver Spirit, all guests were strongly encouraged to go immediately to the theatre for an announcement from the captain.
Dinner in suite - pizza, champagne and 'Darkest Hour' movie.
Morning walk round Tromso. The shuttle bus went through a long tunnel and there was a first for TSH and Diva. An underground roundabout where two tunnels met!!
The afternoon excursion was to the beautiful island of Sommaroy. A group of 4 wild reindeer on the road caused the bus to divert around them. Waffles and hot drinks were much appreciated in the cold weather.
On return to the Silver Spirit, all guests were strongly encouraged to go immediately to the theatre for an announcement from the captain.
Sunday, 24 June 2018
Good Vibrations?
At the small port near North Cape, TSH and Diva took an unguided walk around the few streets. They went out 20 minutes too early and got totally drenched, although the weather did partially clear later. Mist drifted around for most of the day, sometimes coming to very low levels and at other time retreating to the high mountain tops.
Dinner was taken with the Hotel Director, who was keen to gather views about the changes to the restaurants and the menus. Mostly favourable.
Many guests stayed up for the 22:00 cruise around North Cape - the weather was clear by then and there were excellent views of the sheer cliffs. At this latitude and time of year it is light for 24 hours. No sunset and no sunrise.
The captain (along with the guests!!) is concerned about intermittent vibrations through the ship. Very intrusive and totally different from movement due to the wind and waves. Apparently they caused the piano in Silver Note to move across the floor!! An announcement was made at 23:00 advising people not to worry because all was under control. Divers will examine the propellers at the next port. Wherever that is.
Silver Spirit will not be calling at Hammerfest, the next scheduled port, because the swell is too high for safe tender operations and there is no place to dock. So there is an extra sea day before Tromso and TSH and Diva will miss the Meridian monument (to the scientists who measured the earth in 1852) and the possibility of becoming members of the Royal Polar Bear Club.
Dinner was taken with the Hotel Director, who was keen to gather views about the changes to the restaurants and the menus. Mostly favourable.
Many guests stayed up for the 22:00 cruise around North Cape - the weather was clear by then and there were excellent views of the sheer cliffs. At this latitude and time of year it is light for 24 hours. No sunset and no sunrise.
The captain (along with the guests!!) is concerned about intermittent vibrations through the ship. Very intrusive and totally different from movement due to the wind and waves. Apparently they caused the piano in Silver Note to move across the floor!! An announcement was made at 23:00 advising people not to worry because all was under control. Divers will examine the propellers at the next port. Wherever that is.
Silver Spirit will not be calling at Hammerfest, the next scheduled port, because the swell is too high for safe tender operations and there is no place to dock. So there is an extra sea day before Tromso and TSH and Diva will miss the Meridian monument (to the scientists who measured the earth in 1852) and the possibility of becoming members of the Royal Polar Bear Club.
Saturday, 23 June 2018
Another Captain
The first Captain, Captain Portillo, left the ship in Copenhagen and the second Captain took over. So naturally he also wanted to meet TSH and Diva by inviting them to dine with him. He presented them with their 'free' 7-day cruise certificate (for reaching 350 days sailing with Silversea) and a photograph was taken at the Venetian Society cocktail party.
Most captains give wind speed and wave height during their weather update over the ship's communication system. But this one informed the guests that the wind and sea were 'grumpy'. A bit like camera-less TSH. A sympathetic Danish fellow photographer patted his shoulder and said 'I feel your pain'.
Every day, a Hurtigruten ship leaves Bergen for the traditional 12 day round trip around the Norwegian coast. Although there are 12 of them around, Harstad was the first place where the Silver Spirit encountered one. Because it was docked when they arrived, docking was delayed.
There are no snow-capped mountains but there is snow to be seen in north-facing gullies. Unless the cloud cover is down to less than 1000 feet.
Angela Grace and Alex performed 'Hallelujah' by special request of TSH and Diva.
Most captains give wind speed and wave height during their weather update over the ship's communication system. But this one informed the guests that the wind and sea were 'grumpy'. A bit like camera-less TSH. A sympathetic Danish fellow photographer patted his shoulder and said 'I feel your pain'.
Every day, a Hurtigruten ship leaves Bergen for the traditional 12 day round trip around the Norwegian coast. Although there are 12 of them around, Harstad was the first place where the Silver Spirit encountered one. Because it was docked when they arrived, docking was delayed.
There are no snow-capped mountains but there is snow to be seen in north-facing gullies. Unless the cloud cover is down to less than 1000 feet.
Angela Grace and Alex performed 'Hallelujah' by special request of TSH and Diva.
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