The other day I was walking beside the River Thames when I saw the Silver Cloud, one of the Silversea cruise ships, moored alongside HMS Belfast near Tower Bridge. My mind flashed back to when I stood on the top deck of the Silver Shadow (one of the groups smaller ships), sipping a glass of champagne, and watched Falmouth’s picturesque harbour slowly fade into the distance as we set sail for France. All the stress I had been carrying around with me began to float away like the bubbles in my champagne flute.
I knew I was definitely going to enjoy living in the lap of luxury for the next five days.
The Silver Shadow was extremely welcoming and so spacious that I felt as if I was on my own private yacht with the crew ready to wait on me hand and foot.
I knew I was definitely going to enjoy living in the lap of luxury for the next five days.
The Silver Shadow was extremely welcoming and so spacious that I felt as if I was on my own private yacht with the crew ready to wait on me hand and foot.
The attention to detail – fresh flowers and a bottle of bubbly greeted me on arrival in my suite – was superb. There was even a choice of toiletries.
You are certainly not going to starve on board. In fact, I was more worried about disembarking with excess baggage as the food was so amazing. As soon as I had finished one meal, it seemed it was time for the next. And in case I got peckish, there was always 24-hour room service. To prevent me having to buy a whole new wardrobe when I got home, I chose the delicious low-calorie "Wellness Options" at lunch time and indulged at dinner. The chocolate desserts were to die for.
There were no nasty shocks on my credit card at the end of the trip, as all drinks including champagne and wines were complimentary (fine wines were extra). The staff were not allowed to accept tips so it avoided the palaver of spending the last day filling up envelopes as you do on most cruises.
To keep fit, I always took the stairs and never used the lift. A power walk around the decks before breakfast set me up for the day. There is a fitness centre on board and there are also exercise classes, both of which I never managed to fit into my itinerary. My idea of exercise was soaking in the hot tub by the swimming pool and relaxing on deck watching the world go by. Although dancing after dinner helped burn up some calories – there is something magical about dancing under the stars.
There were no nasty shocks on my credit card at the end of the trip, as all drinks including champagne and wines were complimentary (fine wines were extra). The staff were not allowed to accept tips so it avoided the palaver of spending the last day filling up envelopes as you do on most cruises.
To keep fit, I always took the stairs and never used the lift. A power walk around the decks before breakfast set me up for the day. There is a fitness centre on board and there are also exercise classes, both of which I never managed to fit into my itinerary. My idea of exercise was soaking in the hot tub by the swimming pool and relaxing on deck watching the world go by. Although dancing after dinner helped burn up some calories – there is something magical about dancing under the stars.
Laughter is the best medicine for destressing and Muriel, a 60-something divorcée from Ireland provided plenty of that. When Muriel met Harry, also a 60-something divorcé, we all started to hear the sound of wedding bells and planning the wedding became part of our daily schedule. After the cruise, she emailed me to tell me that the wedding was off. Life at sea is a world apart from reality. But, after seeing the Silver Cloud, there is something inside me that is hankering after another taste of the glamour of shipboard life.
By Daralyn Danns
For further information visit Silversea Cruises (www.silversea.com)
For further information visit Silversea Cruises (www.silversea.com)
