Silversea Transatlantic Cruise - May 2015 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Southampton, UK

May 1, 2015

I drove from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale to board the Silversea Silver Whisper.  The ship is larger then the Silver Cloud, home to my last four cruises.  While similar in design, it is definitely newer and the cabins are bigger.

We sailed along the coast of Florida.  I even had phone reception until 10:00 pm.  I met with three of the singers and will have dinner with two of them in a few days.  There was no entertainment tonight so it was an early evening.

May 2-3, 2015 - At Sea

I felt right at home and back in my routine.  I walked in the morning, had Bloody Mary's at 11:00 am, a gourmet lunch, a nap, tea time, trivia and putting.  (This is repeated for every at sea day.)

I had dinner with some nice people then watched the show.  This cast was definitely sub par compared to the last cast.

May 4, 2015 - New York, NY

At 6:00 am I was wide awake and ready to enter New York harbor for the first time.  I joined my fellow passengers on the observation deck.  The sun was just rising and the moon was on the opposite horizon.  In the distance was the Verrazano Narrows bridge, which connects Staten Island to Brooklyn.  On the right was Coney Island and the parachute jump.  On the left was New Jersey.  We gracefully sailed under the bridge.  In the distance was the new Freedom Tower.  But the most impressive sight was Miss Liberty herself.  The torch was bright gold under the morning sun.  As we got closer, I tried to imagine how my great grandparents felt seeing the new world for the first time.  After the Statue of Liberty was Ellis Island, where the millions of immigrants set foot in their new home.  We sailed up the Hudson River to pier 90.  The pier, at least on the outside, was old and decrepit.  We docked and waited to disembark to see the Big Apple.

Sunrise entering NY Harbor

Early morning on deck entering NYC

Statue of Liberty

And me

NYC

Empire State Building leaving NYC

Goodbye Miss Liberty

I got off the ship and was on my way to Central Park.  After getting there I decided I wanted some Lavane chocolate chip cookies.  Google the bakery and you'll understand why.  With cookies in hand I walked back to the ship, stopping to get some NY pumpernickel bagels.

My sister, Evelyn, and my brother-in-law, Steve, joined me for the afternoon.  They got to see first hand why I love Silversea.  We had an elegant lunch then relaxed by the pool.

We set sail at 9:00 pm for Halifax, Nova Scotia.

May 5, 2015 - At Sea

May 6, 2015 - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

We arrived around 11:00 am, cutting into my Bloody Mary time.  I got off the ship and walked along the boardwalk.  My goal was a lobster lunch.  I found the recommended restaurant and had my first lobster of the day - yes, there was more to come.  After lunch I took the ferry to Dartmouth.  After I returned I walked to the grocery store and bought two more live lobsters to have on board.  That evening I had another amazing lobster meal.  My fellow passengers were envious.

My first lobster dinner

Ferry

May 7-12, 2015 - At Sea

Due to rough seas, strong winds and icebergs, yes icebergs, our St. John, Newfoundland port of call was canceled.  Instead we left Halifax at 8:00 am for an extra at sea day.

I am on a great trivia team.  Out of six days, we have won five times.

The crossing was one of the roughest ever.  We rolled and bounced for two straight days.  Again we had to cancel our first port of call in Ireland.  I've lost count of the sea days.  We're scheduled to land late tomorrow afternoon.

May 13-14, 2015 - Cobh and Cork, Ireland

We arrived at four in the afternoon.  It was a strange feeling walking on land after a week at sea.  The day was sunny but chilly.  I did my daily walk through the port town of Cobh.  This was the last land many of the Titanic passengers saw.  I visited the Titanic memorial garden.

The following morning I took the shuttle bus to Cork.  My goal was to eat corned beef and cabbage.  I did find a pub with a cold corned beef salad, so I settled for that.  I later found out that corned beef and cabbage is an American Irish dish.

Colorful houses on the hill

Boats in the harbor

The Silversea Silver Whisper

Rooftop art

The last port for the Titanic

The English Market in Cork, Ireland

May 15, 2015 - Fowey, UK

The town is pronounced foy.  After passport control I walked my 4.5 miles in this beautiful seaside village.  It was amazing our ship fit into the small narrow harbour. 

May 16-17, 2015 - Southampton and Elstree, England

It is always sad when a cruise ends.  I said farewell to my new friends and disembarked.  I took the train to London and the tube to Edgeware, where my friend Norman came to pick me up.

On Sunday I wanted to see a show but most shows are dark on Sunday, so I stayed in Elstree.  For dinner, all I wanted was crispy duck, but The East, my favorite restaurant in Elstree went out of business.  We went to neighboring Borhamwood where I had ten pancakes overstuffed with duck, cucumber and spring onions.  I probably gained five pounds.

May 18, 2018 - London, Heathrow to Orlando

I slept the entire way home.

My picture was taken and may be in next year's brochure