2024 WORLD CRUISE
2024 WORLD CRUISE – BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS
SILVERSEA Silver Whisperer – January 15 – May 26.
132 Nights. 66 Ports, 15 Countries.
Tag: Cape Town
Thursday, February 24, 2023 – Photo of the Day – Cape Town, South Africa
THURSDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2022 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA All Aboard: 10:30 PM Departure: 11:00 PM
TODAY’S WEATHER Sunny High: 73°F 23°C Low: 61°F 16°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
Stellenbosch & Waterford Wine Tasting – Our morning excursion
We departed the pier and traveled for approximately one hour drive to Stellenbosch. Named after its founder, Governor Simon van der Stel who discovered the broad fertile valley of the Eerste River in 1680, today Stellenbosch is a major university town, characterized by Cape Dutch-style architecture and streets lined with oak trees, some of which have been declared national monuments. We enjoyed a brief orientation drive through Stellenbosch followed by time at leisure to explore the town. We visited the Stellenbosch Museum which comprises four different houses depicting different eras – Schreuder House, 1709; Bletterman House, 1788; Grosvenor House, 1800 to 1830 and the OM Bergh House, 1850.
Following leisurely time in this quaint university town, we embarked on a short transfer to Waterford Wine Estate. We had a curated guided tour of the Estate and enjoyed a premium wine tasting paired with SALT snacks and chocolate. SALT restaurant is run by Craig Cormack and Beau Du Toit and they have designed a SALT Tasting menu to perfectly compliment Waterford’s wines.
That evening we had dinner on board our Sliver Whisper ship at The Restaurant
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 – Photo of the Day – Cape Town
TUESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2022 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Arrival: 8:00 AM Overnight stay
TODAY’S WEATHER Sunny High: 73°F 23°C Low: 61°F 16°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
Cape Town, South Africa Overview
One of the most beautiful cities in the world is Cape Town, South Africa. Along its coastline are brilliant blue waters and stunning mountain scenery that you can explore at your leisure or spend days relaxing on sandy beaches with an ocean view cocktail!
A blend of spectacular natural beauty together with vibrant culture makes this destination truly unforgettable. Whether it’s touring wineries tasting different wines while also taking time out for shopping between tours, going to museums exploring how people lived back when it was still part Dutch colony, or enjoying some seafood feeds along with cervical townships like Fish Hoek & Camps Bay.
The cable car lifts passengers to the top of Table Mountain where they can see another perspective that’s not possible elsewhere. The 360-degree view from 3,563’ is of the best world views we visited.
The adjacent view from Lion’s Head peak which is the top of a popular hiking trail offers breathtaking sunrises. A sharp hike and early start time are both necessary but worth every second when you get to enjoy Cape Town’s natural beauty during such a rewarding moment in life.
This cool water from Table Mountain has upsides like the fact that it’s been known to bring a colony of adorably cute African penguins. The nearby journey to the Cape of Good Hope hosts these tiny penguins. The Cape is where you can stand watching over merging waves from both Atlantic and Indian Oceans!
As a living history lesson, you can sail in the ships that transported prisoners out to Robben Island. A former prisoner tells of the traumas of life in this offshore prison. Your guide will show you the cramped cells and render Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom in visceral clarity.
Today’s Schedule
Sunrise and entering Cape Town between 6 AM and 8 AM.
We enjoyed a magnificent sunrise before getting to Cape Town with our Expedition Guides Rob Caskie and Bruno Carzani.
The by-sea entrance to Cape Town with Table Mountain in the background can only be rivaled by Sydney & the Opera House.
Morning Tour of Table Mountain
Our morning excursion was to Table Mountain via a bus to the base and then a 4-minute cable car ride to the top. Sandy & I visited in 2002. In the last 20 years, we noticed 2 major upgrades. First, the cable car has been expanded from 4 – 6 people to 20+. This was our first cable car that had a revolving floor during the 4-minute ascent. Each person had an opportunity for a great photo thru the two open portals. In 20 years, the trails above have been upgraded from a basic hiking trail to 8 – 10′ wide concrete paths with great signage.
Late afternoon tour of Cape Town’s eastern seaside suburbs
We departed the pier and pass by the Cape Town Fifa World Cup Stadium towards Sea Point.
The promenade of Sea Point, which stretches to Mouille Point is also very popular. It is a jogger’s mile and many people meet here for a walk and a talk. The beaches in Sea Point are not very good for swimming. The surf is too powerful and the coast too rocky. But there is the huge seawater swimming pool. The neighboring suburb of Green Point is famous for its big Sunday market; a flea market with thousands of stalls around the stadium.
Clifton beach has something of a reputation with the trendy set in Cape Town and is a haven for international jet setters. Together with its immaculate white sands and glistening water, their bronzing bodies and designer sunglasses grace Clifton’s 4th beach with sufficient glamour and eco-savvy to deserve not only the ‘see and be seen’ status it has acquired but its blue flag status as well.
We stopped at the Maidens Cove parking area between Camps Bay and Clifton and near the Glen Country Club. Looking up at the cableway station you will see the narrowest view of Table Mountain that can be seen from anywhere in Cape Town.
On our return to Cape Town harbor, we stopped off at Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront to enjoy a pre-dinner drink & canapés. Afterward, we returned to the ship.
