Feb13
Ralph Grizzle
I’ll post a full cruise and ship review in the coming weeks (after Silver Whisper’s drydock in March). In short, the cruise and the ship exceeded expectations. Of the destinations, Ho Chi Minh City certainly was the highlight for many passengers, although for others the pre-cruise night in Bangkok (at The Peninsula) and the post-cruise night in Singapore (at the Ritz-Carlton) ranked high. Brunei was interesting but not captivating. The Malaysian ports of Kuching and Malacca were well worth a day ashore. For a recap of our cruise through video and photos click here.
Asia Cruises, Silversea Cruises
Feb11
Ralph Grizzle
Our last day on what turned out to be a wonderful cruise in the Far East. We ended the journey with time ashore in Malacca, Malaysia, influenced by the Portuguese, Chinese, Dutch, British, Indian and Malay.
Asia Cruises, Silversea Cruises
Feb10
Ralph Grizzle
If you thought Silversea Cruises was all-inclusive, I’ve got news for you. Dining at Silver Whisper’s Le Champagne costs $150 per head. Now before you get put off, let me tell you what you get: the rare opportunity to sample wines that cost as much as $1,000 per bottle. The “celebration of wine” features wines selected by a Relais & Chateux-trained Sommelier paired with menu items. Despite the price tag (or perhaps because of it), some passengers dined here on multiple nights during my cruise. Typically, Le Champagne serves about 60 people during a weeklong cruise. The restaurant’s intimate setting, combined with pairings that feature some of the world’s best wines, make Le Champagne a one-of-a-kind dining experience.
Silversea Cruises
Feb10
Ralph Grizzle
One day of each cruise, Silver Whisper features its popular galley buffet, where you get to go “behind the scenes” for a taste from the galley.
Asia Cruises, Silversea Cruises
Feb09
Ralph Grizzle
Known as “The Cat City,” Kuching, Malaysia, is a sprawling, yet charming, British Colonial/Chinese/Malay town. The city has no more cats than other cities of its size, but the name translates to “City of the Cat,” and indeed, there is a cat museum and cat statues. About 40 minutes by bus from the city center is an extremely well-done cultural village billed as a “living museum.” Sarawak Cultural Village is a 17-acre estate featuring traditional houses and cultural exhibits and shows. Among the favorites: the Penan Hut, where visitors get to try “blowpipe shooting.”
Asia Cruises, Silversea Cruises
Feb07
Ralph Grizzle
We are docked in Brunei. The cruise director just announced that our temperatures would be taken as we disembarked. Anyone showing signs of illness (and also those on a blacklist of countries) would not be allowed to disembark. Recovering from a cold, I worried that I might not be allowed to leave the ship, but the nurses cleared me.
Read more... (138 words, 1 image, estimated 33 secs reading time)
Asia Cruises, Silversea Cruises
Feb05
Ralph Grizzle
Click to Play
I spent more than 30 hours once wheels were up at my hometown airport in Asheville, North Carolina, to touchdown at Bangkok. En route to a Far East Cruise on Silversea Cruises’ Silver Whisper, I flew United Airlines from Asheville to Charlotte to San Francisco to Tokyo to Bangkok. How do you minimize the jetlag and make the most of the trip? Silversea Cruises’ Director of Corporate Communicaitons Brad Ball has some advice. Read more... (83 words, 1 image, estimated 20 secs reading time)
Asia Cruises, Silversea Cruises
Feb05
Ralph Grizzle
Silversea Cruises isn’t noted for low lead-in cruise prices, but the company does offer good value for its all-inclusive product. In fact, if you do the math, you’ll find that Silversea compares reasonably to other cruise lines. I spoke with Silversea Cruises’ Director of Corporate Communications Brad Ball about how to get the absolute best value for your dollar. Two of his tips stand out: Read more... (206 words, estimated 49 secs reading time)
Silversea Cruises
