Leaving Port Everglades

Monday, 9 January 2012 on board M/V Silver Whisper, 350 nm northwest of Tortula, British Virgin Islands

Arrival  Friday, 6 January 2012

After a 12 hour flight from Kona via Los Angeles (LAX), we arrived in Miami (MIA) about 3:00 pm local time on 6 January.  The American Airlines flights were uneventful.  At MIA, we were met by the Silversea greeter who helped us with the checked luggage and got us in a chauffered car for the 45-minute drive to Port Everglades where the Silver Whisper was docked at Pier 29.

Pier 29 Cruise Terminal

Port Everglades, Florida

Then came the usual boarding chaos and check-in, with the confiscation of passports and the issuance of ship's ID cards.  Believe it or not, there in our suite were the four bags that we had FedExed from Kona.  See, miracles do happen.  Howerver, not to be seen were the two bags that we had checked on AA from Kona and had arrived at the ship with us!

That evening we were invited to a reception and dinner hosted by the Captain, and all the planned garb and essential personal items were in the now-missing bags.  So, Plan B was improvised on the spot with items taken from the four FedExed bags, while the search began for the missing.  The bags were eventually delivered to our suite, but not until after we had left for the reception and dinner.  Dinner was excellent, although we were at the "Cat's Table."


In port, Port Everglades, Saturday, 7 January 2012

Since we were not sailing until 6:00pm, the ship provided a shuttle to the Galaria Mall in Ft. Lauderdale.  However, J&E slept in and made no effort to do anything other than lounge about.  We have sailed with many of the 65 World Cruise passengers, or maybe 80 (no one seems to know for sure), so we did a great deal of meeting and greeting as well as "talk story."

Port Everglades is probably the major cruise port in the southeastern US.  From where we were docked at Pier 29, you could count 8 other cruise ships in port.  The small, white cruise ship in the center of the photo is the M/V Silver Cloud.  She is the smaller sister ship of the M/V Silver Whisper.  Most other cruise ships are much larger hulled, belonging to Princess and Carnival Cruise lines.

Cruise Ships at Rest

Port Everglades, Florida

Pier 29 is adjecent to the Intercoastal Waterway.  All day, we were treated to a parade of vessels from small, private fishing boats to seagoing yachts.  It was great fun to watch.

About 4:00 pm, the cruise ships began departing, one at a time.  Since Silver Whisper was not to sail until 6:00 pm, we were treated to a parade of giant ships.  As they sailed through the passage between the Intercoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, some of them actually appeared taller than the apartment buildings in the background.  The behemouths are really floating cities!

A Floating City Underway

When we sailed shortly after 6:00pm, it was already dark, but who can resist a sunset photo, especially over the container storage yard?

Sunset Over the Container Yard

At Sea, North Atlantic off the Bahamas and Santo Domingo, Sunday, 8 January 2012

Our first sea day of the voyage, and luckily the sea is calm so everyone can get their sea egs.

There are many activities aboard ship, but J&E have decided to learn to play "better" bride.  After breakfast, we attend two bridge lectures. and after lunch, duplicate bridge play.  Maybe the lectures helped; at least we didn't finish last!

This evening is a formal night (Captain's Reception and Dinner), so it is the "Full Monty" with E in a black evening dress and J in his tuxedo!  No pictures please.   A rare event at dinner -- we were at a table with five men and three women.  In our entire Silversea experience, this is a first -- more men at a table than women.  An observation  -- men in tuxedoes are more gregarious and talkative than when they are in business suits.  J thinks this so because if you look like a penguin, you have to say something to distract those around you!