Saturday, April 2, 2022 – Photo of the Day – Suez Canal

SATURDAY, 2 APRIL 2022 SUEZ CANAL TRANSIT EGYPT
TODAY’S WEATHER Partly Cloudy High: 91°F 33°C Low: 66°F 19°C
DRESS CODE: CASUAL
For Ladies: DRESSES OR BLOUSES AND PANTS
For Gentlemen: SPORT SHIRTS AND SLACKS
No shorts or flip flop type footwear after 6:00 PM in indoor venues.

SUEZ CANAL
The Suez Canal gouged through Africa is one of the world’s engineering marvels linking two seas and drastically shortening boat voyages around this huge continent.

Few manmade waterways are so storied and iconic and sailing the length of it is a bucket list item for many explorers.

The construction of the canal started in 1859 and took ten years to complete with the canal officially opening in November 1869. More than a million people worked on the project often in unimaginable conditions. An engineering breakthrough the canal connected the Mediterranean to the Red Sea drastically improving global trade’s efficiency.

The original canal featured a single-lane waterway with passing locations in the Ballah Bypass and the Great Bitter Lake. The Egyptian government launched construction in 2014 to expand and widen the Ballah Bypass by 35 km (22 mi) to speed up the canal’s transit time. The expansion intended to nearly double the capacity of the Suez Canal, from 49 to 97 ships per day.

The Suez Canal Authority officially opened the new side channel in 2016. This side channel, located at the northern side of the east extension of the Suez Canal, serves the East Terminal for berthing and unberthing vessels from the terminal. As the East Container Terminal is located on the Canal itself, before the construction of the new side-channel it was not possible to berth or unberth vessels at the terminal while a convoy was running.

A hugely strategic and precious bottleneck it has inevitably led to conflicts and been vulnerable to scuttling to block its usage. The Six-Day War closed the canal leaving 15 unfortunate ships trapped within for eight years. An amazing story of the crew members of the Yellow Fleet named as their ships slowly gathered desert sand adapted and created a community within the confines of Bitter Lake.

We gathered into a convoy before we entered the Suez Canal. We were fortunate to be the 1st ship in our convoy. We sat back and admired the desert views as we transited the 101 Mile expanse occasionally interrupted by little villages with domed mosques and minarets towering into the sky. Look out for the tiny fishing boats that share the canal’s waterway dwarfed by giant container ships. The plucky fishermen courageously refuse to yield to the massive vessels they sail beside.

Today’s Schedule

GOOD MORNING
7:00 Morning Walk (signup required) with Personal Trainer Nemanja Jogging Track (9)
8:00 Fab Abs Class with Personal Trainer Nemanja Aerobics Room (10)
8:30 Today’s Silver Quiz & Sudoku are available on request. Please ask at reception Reception (5)
9:00 Table Tennis is available for your enjoyment throughout the day Lobby (3)
9:00 Shuffleboard is available for your enjoyment throughout the day 9:30 Knitting Get Together Panorama Lounge (8)
10:00 The Library is open with a selection of books.
10:15 Coffee Chat with Gentlemen Hosts Panorama Lounge (8)
11:00 Enrichment Lecture with World Affairs Lecturer Dr. Mark Elovitz The Show Lounge (6)
Today’s Topic: The Thirst For Water – Water has the power to move millions. And everybody, every day,
everywhere needs it. So, people will & do fight over it!
11:30 The Boutique presents: “Hermes Scarves” Immerse yourself in the unmistakable style of Hermes scarves. The Boutique 1:30 Mileage Pool – Guess how many miles Silver Whisper has sailed since yesterday at noon Pool Deck (8)
GOOD AFTERNOON
12:15 Music by the Pool with Cocktail Pianist Alex (weather permitting) Pool Deck (8)
2:00 Silver Whisper Choir: Come and join our very own Silver Whisper Choir led by some of your Voices of Silversea. The Bar (5)
The session will include a singing warm-up as well as learning some fun songs together. No previous experience required
2:00 Water Aerobics with Personal Trainer Nemanja (weather permitting) Pool Deck (8)
2:00 Duplicate Bridge Play with Bridge Directors RoseAnne and Jerry Conference Room (7)
2:00 Arts and Crafts with instructor Linda Wissler – Today’s Topic: Art “Jerusalem Vista” Card Room (7)
2:00 Dance Class with Gentlemen Hosts Panorama Lounge (8)
2:30 Boutique Event: Join renowned jewelry designer Huber Gesser for this informative chat to learn more about
precious gems, what to look for, and how to buy and value them
2:45 “Holy Sepulchre” An illustrated talk by fellow guest Reverend William Eakins Panorama Lounge (8)
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem: Understanding one of Christendom’s most important and confusing buildings.
3:00 Water Volleyball equipment will be set up for your enjoyment with your fellow guest (weather permitting) Pool Deck (8)
3:45 Enrichment Lecture with Broadcast Journalist Mr. Michael Buerk The Show Lounge (6)
Today’s Topic: The Tyranny of Woke
4:00 Table Tennis Tournament with our International Hostess Cristina Lobby (3)
4:00 Afternoon Teatime: music by Piano Vocalist Remon The Bar (5)
4:00 Prize Points Bingo for fun with International Host Giancarlo Panorama Lounge (8)
4:45 Team Trivia with International Hostess Cristina and Host Giancarlo for fun and prize points. Panorama Lounge (8)
5:00 Pathway to Yoga with Personal Trainer Nemanja Aerobics Room (10)
5:30 Golf Putting Challenge with The Voices of Silversea. Prize points to be won! Lobby (4)
GOOD EVENING – DRESS CODE: CASUAL/ARABIAN
6:30 Cocktail Pianist Alex and Piano Vocalist Remon captivate you with their beautiful music The Bar (5)
6:30 The Whisper Trio entertains you while you enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail Panorama Lounge (8)
6:45 Showtime! Silversea proudly presents “Il Bel Canto” with Giovanni and Rhiannon from The Voices of Silversea
Join them for a wonderful evening of opera classics and a taste of Italy!
7:00 Solo Travellers – Get Together with fellow guests and Gentlemen Hosts Panorama Lounge (8)
7:00 “ARABIAN NIGHTS” Dinner The Restaurant (4)
9:15 The Whisper Trio plays enchanting melodies for your listening and dancing pleasure Panorama Lounge (8)
9:30 Piano Vocalist Remon and Cocktail Pianist Alex play a selection of beautiful music The Bar (5)
9:30 Classic Movie Night: “Some Like It Hot” 1959 | NR | 105min | Musical/Comedy/Romance The Show Lounge (6)
Director: Billy Wilder; Stars: Marilyn Monroe; Tony Curtis; Jack Lemmon; George Raft; Joe E. Brown; Pat O’Brien
10:00 Dance the night away with our DJ Gabor Panorama Lounge