An Unforgettable Journey
Dear SeyVillas team,
For our milestone anniversary, we wanted to take a special trip. It brought us to the Seychelles and included this cruise. Thank you so very much for the unforgettable moments we experienced on this ‘sailing’ cruise. The Seychelles are a dream. We will never forget these impressions. We do not wish to review the itinerary or the natural beauty of the islands we visited here.
You can read about these on other websites and in travel guides, as what is described there really can be seen and experienced. We would instead like to tell you more about the ‘Sea Bird’, operated by Silhouette Cruises, and its crew. The captain had everything under control, although setting the sails did not seem to be on his mind. And so, for 7 days, we ‘sailed’ between the islands under engine power. WHAT A SHAME – it certainly was not due to a lack of wind. He looked after his guests during the morning ‘devotion’ and the evening ‘prayer’ for the following day.
The crew, on the other hand, were in better form. From the small galley, they conjured up delicious dishes including chicken, pork, fish and salads. They could easily have left out the pork and prepared more fish instead. Still, it is impossible to accommodate every individual guest’s personal preferences. We understand that. The deckhands were kept very busy every day, and they deserve our recognition for this.
They took us in the small tender to the islands’ landing points, beaches, and snorkelling and diving sites. On the penultimate day, they prepared an excellent barbecue for us on the beach at Curieuse (Curieuse Marine National Park ). As for the ship itself: the description refers to a modern, individually designed vessel with spacious cabins. We were impressed by the photographs of this ‘sailing ship’.
Unfortunately, our own impressions were rather different. Perhaps it could be described as follows: a more or less comfortably equipped small motor vessel with 3 sailing masts (for appearance’s sake), and 10 double cabins comparable to a basic hotel offering full board. Customers should be given clearer information so that they know what to expect. The cabins are small, with a partitioned-off corner containing a shower and washbasin. The peculiarities of the ‘loo’ should also be mentioned, albeit perhaps in more tactful terms.
Silhouette Cruises is based at a rather inconspicuous location near the ferry port on Mahé – a small jetty with a boathouse, whose entrance first has to be found. However, the Seychellois are helpful and will point you in the right direction. ‘Seating’ is available for arriving guests. On departure, an environmental and landing fee, as well as a tourist tax, must be paid on board in euros. This is mentioned when booking. However, what is this money used for? In many places, we did not see a single bin where guests and island residents could dispose of their rubbish, and where bins were available, they were overflowing. Plastic bottles, empty takeaway containers and similar waste are simply discarded without a second thought. Our guide did not even consider it necessary to say anything to an acquaintance who threw his cola bottle and plastic cup into the forest. This does not leave a good impression. Although these lines may sound negative, the impressions we gained, the beauty and individuality of the different islands and their inhabitants, the natural surroundings, wildlife and underwater world transported us to another world, where these negative memories seemed rather secondary. We WILL RETURN.
Ronald & Ute
