#silvesea cruises

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Captain Martini in the Mediterranean (nearly!)

Monday 21st August 2023 – Satellite issues en-route to Venice!

Jacques and Aloysius were safely packed and our complimentary Black Lane limousines duly arrived; a car for Angie and an SUV for us (we had overpacked – again!).

Aside from a glitch at BA bag-drop (only for Angie of course!) everything went smoothly and we were settled into the new Whispering Angel section of the BA Club Lounge at Terminal 5 by about 10.30 for our flight to Venice at 13.10. So far so good!

The only problem was that you cannot get back to Terminal ‘A’ departures from the ‘B’ satellite gates (where we were) on the mini-train without going back through Security! And where was our gate but A22 of course – which (to avoid going through Security) involves a 10-15 minute hike on foot through the tunnel at level -4 underground! And it was going so well….

Our BA flight to Venice was short but just long enough for drinks and (in Business-class) a complimentary meal. I chose the Prawn Salad, which was really very good while Angie had the Vegetarian Stir-Fry and Rice (which all disappeared, so I guess that was ok!) but unfortunately Andrew’s Chicken Pasta was very dry and overdone.

With less than 2hrs in the air, we landed early, arriving Venice Marco Polo Airport at 4.15pm local time and with a fairly smooth transit through Immigration, we soon had our luggage and were met by our Silversea rep, a drop-dead-gorgeous young man, all full of wit and Italian charm (sighs)!

Until recently, cruise ships used to dock at the main Maritime Port in Venice itself but following the controversial introduction of a ban on ships over 25,000 tons, the piers are now deserted – except that, in true Italian style, you still have to come here first to be ‘processed’ (just the same as if you were boarding the ship here), only to have to get back on another bus (along with all your luggage, thankfully shifted by the porters!) to be transferred back to the mainland, where the ships are now allowed to dock in the old commercial port area. I must say though that everything was organised well and went very smoothly – although having only 13 of us to deal with must have made things much easier; I would not want to be among 2-4,000 passengers joining a much larger ship here all at once!

In any event, our ship Silver Nova was docked about 20 minutes away in Fusina and we finally arrived around 6.30pm. It was hot, by the way; about 34 degrees at this point! Welcome aboard!