News from Newcastle

The second visit to Newcastle took place on a warm sunny day. TSH and Diva were pleased to welcome a family member onboard for lunch. Fortunately she arrived after the crew drill, when there were several announcements about fires and assembling at the lifeboat stations. They were surprised that she managed to eat only two desserts!

There is an art curator on the Silver Spirit. He organises guided tours of the art onboard so that he can then sell them to the unwary. There is a current emphasis on photographs of Marilyn Monroe, as it is her birthday month. (For our younger readers: she was an American film star who reputedly had affairs with many influential men and died of a drugs overdose in 1962)

TSH was disturbed when a fellow guest assumed from his accent that he was from Newcastle rather than Cumbria. However, he was pleased that his comments to the cruise director about inadequate and contradictory information about shuttle bus arrangements on the previous visit resulted in a much better level of information this time.

Diva was pleased to return to the port where port security, as well as a fellow guest, admired her dress on the first visit, even though she was dressed differently this time. She has also been repeating her regular role of washing machine consultant. She is entitled to complimentary laundry service but occasionally visits the guest launderette, where she gives advice to those who cannot operate unfamiliar machines.

Although there will not be much requirement for clock changes on the current Silver Spirit cruise, some guests are confused. A woman was observed outside the theatre shouting loudly about why there was no lecture starting. A crew member explained politely that her watch was wrong, that she was an hour early and that such mistakes were easily made.

On all the days TSH and Diva have spent on Silversea ships, there have been very few children on board. They are not banned but, unlike on large ships, there is no provision for their entertainment. On this cruise, there are several young children and the presence of high chairs, push chairs and feeding bottles seems very unusual, whilst not being unwelcome.

The new butler is doing well but has supplied Chardonnay instead of Merlot as requested!!