Port Power

2 minutes ago, spinnaker2 said:

Keep us posted on the developments. 

6 pm dining affectionately known as “early bird” in the USA. 

6 pm dining means less alcohol consumption in the bars, or maybe the alcohol consumption will be after dinner???

Or have the show times been moved to an earlier time? 

Disco starts earlier? 

Breakfast is earlier? 

Maybe a mandatory quiet time after lunch???

 

 

Several new-to-Silversea cruisers have said they want to dine early.  Even 5:00pm!  If enough cruisers have mentioned earlier dining in their mid-cruise and final surveys, this could be the result.  It puts a lot more strain on the kitchen and serving staff though. Or will they just be able to clock off earlier?  Staff would like that.  I wonder if it will only be Atlantide?

On 9/6/2024 at 12:31 AM, Dolebludger said:

I don’t know about others, but we have always been friendly with the crew. We walk down the hall, they smile and greet me, and I smile and greet them. Maybe it is the environment we come from, but here in the Rocky Mountains, almost everybody deals with all others as equals. I go to our Elks Lodge and multi millionaires treat minimum wage people with respect — usually they were once one of them. And it goes both ways. Last month on the Splendor I accidentally sent some slacks to the laundry, with my wallet still in the back pocket! Got a call from our stewardess. She told me what happened and brought me the wallet — and all the contents were intact — even the $200 in cash. Enough said.

I still do not understand why men carry their wallets around on a ship? You cannot use cash and don’t need anything else from a wallet.  Key card is it!

But your post about being friendly with crew members and relating to any other person is spot on.

53 minutes ago, jollyjones said:

 

I was on the Shadow very recently and this was the case for using the standard, free (well, included in the fare), wifi.

Maybe there is some confusion about the double options to upgrade?

 

Using the standard plan, one can upgrade to a second device per log in for $30 per cruise.

OR one can upgrade to the premium wifi which (very recently anyway) is $20 per day whole cruise or $29 per 24hr slot for up to four devices simultaneously.

 

When setting up the wifi log in it can be a bit confusing - I once upgraded from one device on standard to two when I meant to upgrade from standard to premium - I had to go to reception to sort it which they did very quickly.

 

Looking at the prices quoted by the OP, they seem to be a mangling of both sorts of upgrade?

 

Now, I'm not saying this hasn't changed but no-one else has reported a change - perhaps we must wait for further reports? I'm not back on board till November ...

 

I don’t know why you quoted me, when you were simply expanding on what I had already stated.  I hope the OP is following this thread.

10 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

One of my colleagues stated that the Silversea wifi policy has now changed and there will only be 1 login per suite included at a new "basic" tier (will not support streaming, VoIP, high bandwidth items like photo/video uploading/downloading, etc) and that it can be upgraded to premium for $29/day for duration of cruise.  If a second wifi login is needed/desired it will cost $30/day for basic and $59/day for premium.  No grandfathering of booked guests. 

 

I cannot find anything that supports this, does anyone have information whether this is true or not?  I'd call but their travel agent service desk is just as abysmal these days as the consumer direct service agents are.

I haven’t heard any such plans.  Rumour mill?  Currently there is one device per passenger, but it is only $30 per cruise to add a second device to the standard plan.  Basic never did support streaming, but no problems with downloading/uploading.

19 hours ago, ilovhywd said:

To jjs217 and Port Power:

According to the brochure, some non-US passengers get a post-cruise night in Santiago when there are no possible flights on disembarkation day that they can make.  We received a communication saying that we have a day room at a hotel near Santiago Airport where we can wait for our 10:40 pm flight.

 

We booked the door-to door option because of the multiple transfers and hotels both pre- and post-cruise.  Hoping that it will be an efficient, seamless process.  Keeping our fingers crossed!

Unfortunately there is no “informative” button.  I hope the whole trip goes well, and with no stress now.

On 9/15/2024 at 11:56 PM, Syd58 said:

We are on the Dawn’s world cruise in 2027  I don’t believe it involves a Red Sea transit either.

I have booked that cruise as well.  With the on/off problems in various countries that might yet be on again in 2027, I would never book a Suez Canal transit future cruise of any sort.  This thread and a similar one shows the angst of cruisers waiting for information. Also how late that information is given!  Refunds never cover an alternative cruise, either. 

On 9/16/2024 at 6:42 PM, ilovhywd said:

We booked the door to door package for our upcoming cruise.

 

They KNOW our cruise ends in the morning at Puerto Williams, at the tip of South America,  and they put us on a 10:00 am flight from Santiago to Miami.  The charter flight from Puerto Williams to Santiago takes about 5 hours so how could we possibly make this Miami flight?

 

it took 5 phone calls to Silversea to get them to change to a later flight.  Haven’t they done this hundreds of times before with passengers ending their Antarctica cruises?

As @jjs217 states, the Antarctica package usually includes a post cruise night in Santiago.  Is that not included in your D2D booking?

This is how we reached that area from Perpignan.

I saw this sign today during lunch today at a local restaurant in Saint Martin Lys.

5 hours ago, Lois R said:

Beautiful photos...😃 I think any food photos are welcomed. The only one I posted recently were the BBQ ribs......I think your picture is much more elegant but the ribs were tasty!

Presentation is important, but taste and flavour trumps all.  And these dishes were very much as tasty as they looked.

I finally have been served and eaten food that is worthy of being shown in The Cooler.  Last night we had dinner at the Portmeirion Hotel (or The Hotel in Portmeirion).  We thought the meal was Michelin star worthy!

The cold entrée was various coloured cherry tomatoes.  Peeled!  The whole dish was absolutely delicious.  Dessert was a soft mousse with strawberry purée centre, encased in very thin tempered white chocolate.

View of the estuary, and the view from my window.

7 hours ago, goofysmom99 said:

Since I'm new to Silversea, just curious if that's a usual lunch menu?  Would you happen to know if they have a Main protein available for someone who needs gluten-free?  That's slim pickings for a celiac.  TIA

I have sailed many times on Silversea and never had a problem with being served gluten free food.  There are several GF options on every menu. Nearly all soups and sauces are gluten free, with the obvious exceptions. Sandwiches, burgers and wraps can be made with gluten free bread.  At the Grill/Marque there are GF buns for the burgers, or just go without.  In the restaurants, the waiter will bring a menu that has been marked up. You can also ask for something to be made for you with 24-hours notice.  Arts Cafe is my least favourite place for breakfast or lunch, but there is always a gluten free biscuit or macaroon.

15 minutes ago, TLCOhio said:

 

Any other Jeffrey fans out there?

 

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 57,398 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

You bet!  Jeffrey is a favourite of many regular Silversea customers.  Love him!

14 hours ago, alithecat said:

We bought Uniqlo Heattech underwear. Inexpensive and quite good.

I bought all my thermals from Uniqlo, too.  At end of season, so many bargains!  Good quality, too.  Plus their fleece pants.

4 hours ago, bsugar said:

The Doha to Athens segment was cancelled several months ago.  But now it looks as if the third segment will be cancelled too. We are supposed to be on the Grand Voyage, but it looks as if it will not be so grand.

It does seem that the continuing Middle East problems are affecting Spirit’s itinerary.  As was the story earlier in the year, Silversea will probably prioritise getting the ship to Venice for the Mediterranean season.

What did Silversea tell you or your travel agent when contacted after that first cancellation?

I have seen it listed as cruising Mahe to Doha, then Doha to Athens.  Following that is Athens to Venice, where it homeports in Fusina for quite awhile.

22 minutes ago, TLCOhio said:

 

Great background for Mr. Henry.  Roxie and later Rudy were both pure-bred English Labs.  Both wonderful!!  But, Lizzie being a "mix" has its advantage, too.  As we were told, Lizzie has not just Aussie, Lab and Doodle in the mix, plus three other DNA connections.  Doing such skilled breeding brings out some very good qualities.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

“Bitzers”, “Heinz 57”, or “mixed breed” goes towards a strong, healthy dog. When I was a kid, no one had a purebred dog.  Most were called a fox terrier cross no matter what, and made wonderful family pets.

1 hour ago, sea bright said:

We're on the Endeavour now, in a Silver Suite, with almost 400 actual days on Silversea and we did not get upgraded champagne. Consider yourself fortunate!!

Are you going to ask for it?  You certainly should.

On 9/6/2024 at 11:09 AM, Hign n Dry said:

Thank you @highplanesdrifters appreciated, just for clarification did you wear your wellies on all walks? South Georgia, Tristan, Nightingale, Gough? Just had a squizz at the boot rental $148.00 Oz Dollars, it is what it is I guess.

 

Really appreciate the advice.

I bought my own Bogs boots on line from Bogs Australia, snagging a special at only AU$125.  However, I was going on two separate expedition cruises, so it was good value over renting.  Buy one size larger than your usual shoe size.  I stuffed them full of socks and things when packing.

On 9/7/2024 at 1:54 AM, Observer said:

I had thought that homeporting was a situation in which the ship returned regularly (every week or every 10 days) to the same port to do similar itineraries.  Is it correct to say that Silver Ray is homeporting in Venice?   

I agree.  Homeport is where a ship is based for an extended period during the season. Some ships travel to Australia and base themselves in Sydney for our summer season, doing several Australia and NZ round trips.  That is their homeport.  Is Silver Ray doing multiple Mediterranean cruises from Fusina over two or three months?

As mentioned before, the “status match” was designed to encourage X and RCCL passengers to stay in-house and book Silversea rather than go to the competitors.  It is definitely not an equal status match.  It really would not have cost RCI to give more appropriate and equal matching on the other lines. And they would not have offended existing SS cruisers, sending them to the competitors,

4 hours ago, TourTripper said:

thank you all... sorry I didn't check out this site before; and now I'm sorry I'll miss South Georgia.

Regarding the pants, I've bought a lightweight and mid weight base layer, and I ordered a fleece lined Hiking pants, which I'll top with waterproof pants ( either rent or buy).  I'm wondering if a about a different mid level.  Based on some of  comments  I'm not sure about the fleece lined pants? is that too much?

 

I'm also taking a pair of sketcher "go walk"  pants for on the ship, or a possible base layer.  Does that sound right?  Trying hard not to overpack. 

 

thank you all again.

Only you know if you particularly feel the cold. I did have one pair of fleece lined pants, but never wore them.  Track pants were so much easier for the same result.

Around the ship you don’t need thermals.  Jeans or slacks are fine, even thick-fabric pants, with lightweight long sleeved tops.  You can always add on a gilet, pullover or cardigan, etc, or a cami or t-shirt underneath.  Even a normal button through shirt and a jacket.

7 hours ago, HawaiianSpirit said:

As you browse through the upcoming cruise offerings, choose one you like and as you progress through the booking procedure you will be prompted to indicate how many will be in the suite.  You can choose 1 and the solo supplement will be automatically displayed in the total price for the cruise.  I have found this feature on all cruises I have in which I have been interested.  Wailua

Yes, that is how we do it.  However, SS also periodically emails out a list of cruises where there are 0%, 25% and 50% solo supplements.

3 hours ago, Hign n Dry said:

We did the peninsular in 2018 with Seabourn and they provided a Puffer as Well as the Parker.

 

PP did I read that you did Cape to Cape earlier this year on the Wind? 

No, I did Silver Wind Alaska, Falklands and South Georgia in December/ January. IMHO, I don’t think it’s worth going down there if you don’t include South Georgia.   @highplanesdrifters did the Cape to Cape.

My TA also emails and posts me the boarding pass.  I always take the printed page with me, just in case.  Unlike @jollyjones, I have actually been asked to show it.  Only once though.  And yes, the porters do label your luggage when you arrive to board the ship.