The more I cruise, the more I seem to love sea days. Our days at sea on the Silversea Silver Shadow Far East cruise were filled with dining, playing bridge, reading, and visiting the Mandara Spa for a facial and a massage. We also tried out the fitness center and walked the decks for exercise. As usual, the crew quietly and efficiently made our sea days memorable, relaxing, and special. The area of service and individual attention is where a small luxury ship like the Silver Shadow really shines.
Some cruisers who usually sail on larger ships have asked me if there is "enough to do" on a small cruise ship. If you constantly like to be entertained by someone or something or are looking for a party atmosphere with lots of games, maybe not. However, a calmer atmosphere such as the one on the Silver Shadow is a great way for cruisers of all ages to relax after a port-intensive cruise. It also gives a cruise passenger the time to enjoy quiet time and companionship with a spouse or to socialize with new cruise friends. I think there are plenty of things to do, but most of them aren't charged with the excitement you would find on a larger cruise ship.
Small ships usually have interesting speakers who enlighten the passengers about the sights or history of the cruise area. The Silver Shadow had noted Asian expert Dr. Ned O'Malia onboard, and his lectures showed his passion and excitement for the Far East. The Silver Shadow also featured Howard Goldman, a renowned author and consultant to Fortune 500 companies and high tech start-ups on improving performance. He spoke on the development of winning strategies and new ways of managing change. The cruise director on this cruise, Fernando, was exceptional and very knowledgeable about cruising and world travel. I think he spoke half-a-dozen or more languages, and was very fun and knowledgeable. In the afternoon, Fernando sometimes gave short educational presentations on different famous luxury liners of the past or gave language lessons for beginners.
The Silver Shadow had board games, puzzles, and traditional cruise ship games such as table tennis and shuffleboard. Mother and I took time to improve our bridge skills. We went to the bridge lecture and played bridge every morning we were at sea. The bridge leaders were patient and well-versed in the game. It was quite fun to play with people from around the world, and Mother and I "held our own" against the other pairs. I also really enjoyed playing trivia each afternoon with my team, which consisted of a mixture of people from England, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. We would meet at afternoon tea for stomach reinforcement and then go off to our spirited game.
Many cruisers used their time onboard to improve their fitness level. The Silver Shadow had an excellent fitness instructor who was qualified to teach yoga and pilates and to provide personal training. She had several classes each day of yoga, aerobics, and exercise. Some passengers took advantage of the small classes and personal instruction that might not be available on a larger cruise ship. She also had classes on weight management, which I wish I had attended after eating my way across China and Japan!
For those seeking less physical fare, the library has a good selection of movies and books, and each cabin has a VCR or DVD player. The ship also occasionally showed movies on the "big screen" in the theater.
Although the Silver Shadow did not have Las Vegas style "glitzy" shows, we did have nightly entertainment in the lounge, which consisted of a mixture of singers and comedians. We especially enjoyed hearing the beautiful voice of Christine Teague, the delightful Silver Shadow Social Hostess. Anyone who likes Nat King Cole music would have enjoyed listening to Donny Ray Evins. He had a great baritone voice reminiscent of the famous crooner.
In conclusion, days at sea on a small ship can be fun, rewarding, and enriching. Time flies for me when I am cruising, and I never find it boring. The Silver Shadow at sea was not too busy, and it was not too quiet--it was just right!
Cruising China on the Silversea Silver Shadow
