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, Silversea Cruises, Video
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, Silversea Cruises, Video
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, Video
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, Silversea Cruises, Video
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, Silversea Cruises, Video
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.
We received a wonderful welcome, from boys and girls dressed in traditional costumes, and a band playing traditional music. Our tour took us to several sites in the city, about 30 minutes drive from the port where we docked. Among the highlights was the Sultan’s Palace, with more than 1,700 rooms. We were allowed only to view the palace of one of the world’s richest men from the outside.
Asia, Silversea Cruises, Video
