There is only one constant in life – change.
So, this post was supposed to be about the Silversea baggage valet service. Part of the service for signing up for the entire 2022 South America Grand Voyage was you can ship two pieces of luggage, up to 50 pounds (23 kg) each, to your cabin a week before you arrive. Therefore, you are not expected to carry four months’ worth of stuff with you as you arrive to the port. It’s a great service, for no other reason than it forces you to think about packing.
However, this morning – just hours before FedEx was supposed to take my suitcases – I received notice from Silversea that Brazil was removed from our itinerary, as well as French Guiana and St. George’s, Grenada. Which not only removed many ports from my trip, it moved the end date for the Grand Voyage earlier by seven days. Remember, I was transferring from the Silver Moon to the Silver Dawn at the end of the Grand Voyage to cross the Atlantic and spend time with my sister’s family in Barcelona, Spain. I’d have to spend seven days in Fort Lauderdale waiting for the Silver Dawn‘s departure.
Recall that last week Peru was removed for our itinerary. Because of all this, I will move my cruise back a year. Silversea kindly offered a 15% savings on the 2023 South America Grand Voyage, and that is my current plan. I am working with my sister on joining her family for their week-long Easter break directly, rather than at the end of a cruise.
There was always a chance of this happening, and Silversea is handling everything wonderfully. If I force myself to craft a silver lining, now I have even more time to continue losing weight before the January, 2023 cruise start. However, for the next few days I will wash away my cancelled-cruise-sorrows with pizza and cookies. Salad days begin again next week.
I hope everyone is staying safe this holiday season. I am not sure when I will update this blog again before another 12 months. Maybe I will squeeze in a trip to Las Vegas next month to make up for this disappointment.
Take care.