Breakfast prices at the Hotel were outrageous and so we
found a little cafe serving croissants and a ‘cuppa’ before joining one of
the open top tour buses which ply around Barcelona. After about twenty minutes
we got off and walked around the old part of town shopping area and stopped for
a coffee in a place which was most interesting.
We walked for about an hour then headed back to the bus
and continued the trip around town and getting back to the Hotel area about
1300hrs. We then went back to the Las Ramblas de Mer for a light sandwich lunch
and then back to the Hotel to collect our bags from the Hotel.
The two minute walk to the Cruise check complete we were
checked in and an on board the Silverwing Silver Wind within ten minutes and
our baggage arrived soon after. The ship is not large and holds about 285
passengers and it had the usual complement of bars and restaurants etc. We wandered
around the ship for a while and then a mid afternoon snack before heading back
to the room to meet ‘The Butler?
The Butler in his nice black tie explained the contents
of the cabin (oops suite) and the choices for dinner and anything we want he
could arrange. He had explained that there was one restaurant which provided a
hot rock where you could cook steak and fish yourself for a little fun and we
said then please book a table for two at 1900 hrs. We had also discovered the cost
of internet access is very high and so we decided to go incommunicado for a
while unless we can get free wifi on shore somewhere
By now we had read the additional information left in the
cabin about dressing for dinner, in the documents sent to us in advance it
stated that if you were on a four night cruise that one night would be a formal
night and so we had brought our best bib and tucker. The paperwork in the cabin
mentioned nothing of a formal night only informal and casual nights. Well that
was a waste of time bringing a suit and all the other bits.
We did not get any news from the Butler about the
restaurant booking and so at 1830 I chased to see what was happening and was
told that the restaurant in question would not be open tonight as it was being
cleaned???, gee thanks. Didn't they have all day to clean it?
So after a drink in the bar we headed for the main
restaurant and proceeded to order. Noel had a New York cut steak which arrived
on a cold plate with the meat luke warm and the accompanying vegetables even
colder. So a complaint took place and soon after they brought a new steak with
a hot plate with a steak which was pretty tasteless and tough to eat. Not what
I expect from a so called good restaurant and so another complaint which they
said they would notify the Executive Chef of my complaints and comments and
that he would contact me.
And so to bed
whilst we sailed overnight to Monaco.
