canderson

We enjoyed snacks at the Arts Cafe. Never starving at dinner. Cheese plate with a glass of Port always nice.

You might want to start up a roll call for your April '24 cruise here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?type=forums_topic&search_and_or=or&search_in=titles&nodes=2451&q=Apr April

When we booked D2D this last time with SS, it was a year and change ahead of sailing, and same class + same route broke even when we added in the price of our usual car service, so we went with SS since we didn't have to make final payment on D2D until 120 days out. SS was evidently getting a decent deal on the flights and not marking up much. Their D2D package was about $100 more per person than the price I'd have had to pay for the same flights. One way trans-oceanic, in particular, can get expensive. Seems the good old days of easy to find 1 way international consolidator fares are gone forever.

Unless it isn't. Our last cruise was from Denver - Lisbon, and SS routed us in Polaris class DEN to LHR, and business class LHR to LIS, one stop with an appropriate layover in LHR. And you couldn't ask for nicer seats than Polaris on a 787 for a U.S. based airline. Last year was DEN-FRA-BCN (again, major oversea leg DEN-FRA was on a 787 in Polaris) using X's air and my own upgrades stacked on top. It can be a crap shoot, but we've been pretty lucky in recent years.

This is true for spas in cruise ships everywhere. The 'upsell' spiels are a requirement of the company providing the service (Canyon Ranch, Steiner, whoever), though I suspect there are spiffs involved for the employees as well. Would Elemis even be in business if not for cruise lines? Well, yeah, I guess it would, but ... Our overall experience is that the Steiner spas tend to be less expensive for services, but tougher on the upsell side vs. Canyon Ranch.

Perhaps not so much a joke as you might think. Pre-COVID, the difference in dress between Euro and US passengers on European cruises was definitely discernible. Haven't been there enough since COVID to know if that's still the case.

I wonder if X will take that on as well. Then we can all ruminate about how Captain Kate's cat will respond.

FULL Windsor, too, not one of those lopsided subvariants!

What do you mean silly? How else is a person expected to keep the chair warm and comfortable? Have you no respect for the feelings of the furniture? I suppose one could use a beach towel, but I've heard that most chairs prefer to dress for dinner.

Hope they aren't looking forward to any cruise passengers until at least 2030, then. That's when the first 'zero emission' ship MAY launch. Gee, and that launch is planned by the company Hurtigruten Norway. Wonder how that happened? 🤔

Considering our first Oceania cruise this year, and was scrolling through their web site when I ran across some terminology that was a bit unclear. We're wondering what one would expect from a 'reinspiration' vs. a 'refurbishment' so as to set expectations accordingly, and perhaps it will become part of the decision making process. If I were to work through all of the threads, I might be able to discern the meaning, but figured it might be easier to ask those with experience with this brand. From https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006787313-When-were-the-ships-last-refurbished- Our intimate and luxurious ships have been refurbished elevating them to a new level of elegance with completely renewed guest spaces. They were last refurbished on the following dates: Insignia has completed her reinspiration as of: December 2018 Sirena has completed her reinspiration as of: May 2019 Regatta has completed her reinspiration as of: September 2019 Nautica has completed her reinspiration as of: April 2022 Riviera has completed a refurbishment as of: April 2019 Marina has completed a refurbishment as of: April 2020

Wonder why Shadow wasn't in that list?

Just came off the Silversea Dawn and was pleasantly surprised at their facilities. Conveniently located mid-ship. Combination of indoor, partially enclosed outdoor, and outdoor, all nicely appointed, with someone coming through frequently for bar service. Decent cigars and higher end drinks displayed in the indoor area.

And yes. Excursions should be considered very 'fluid' this far out from a 2025 sail date.

I've found the 'stars' and descriptions of what will be required to be fairly accurate, so plan accordingly. The descriptions re mobility for each excursion are some of the best I've seen published by a cruise company and more helpful even than the 'star' ratings, usually describing in detail what is expected. Grab the 'Tour Programme' brochure for the cruise you're considering, and look at each excursion's last paragraph. Examples: LPA-J / Wine & History of Gran Canaria Difficulty OO ... Please note:This tour involves moderate physical activity. Participants must walk a total of 2 km (2200 yards), sometimes over cobblestones and steep areas in the vineyard, stand for some time and negotiate steps at two venues as well as getting on/off the coach.It is not suitable for wheelchair users or guests with very limited mobility. and STC-M / Best of La Palma Island (Wheelchair Accessible) Difficulty OO Price: $149 - Duration: 5.00 hr(s) ... This tour involves a moderate amount of walking and is specially designed for guests who utilise a wheelchair or a scooter. Discover the highlights of lovely La Palma Island during this panoramic, half-day coach excursion that is suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Please note: This tour is specially designed for guests who utilise a wheelchair or a scooter. Full time wheelchair users, are kindly requested to contact shoreconcierge@silversea.comin order to provide further details and determine if the tour is suitable for them.This tour involves a moderate amount of walking for approximately 0.6 miles-0.93 miles (about one-1.5 kilometres), at times over uneven, natural, and cobblestone surfaces, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the adapted coach and at the sites visited. An adapted coach is utilised on this tour, which makes it is suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair.

Ditto for the WB TA on Dawn last month. They were held in the S.A.L.T. restaurant on Dawn, with a 'showing' at the end of the cruise.

9/6 (one could wish) 7/5 or some other payout for J or Better?

Moving back to the topic - Dawn ... it's only 1/2 that price. Wonder how the turn-out has been on Nova at 2x the price?

Guess it depends upon the suite. For the cruises I've looked at, I don't see a lot of difference in pricing between O and SS for anything in the Silver Suite range and above, though O only has a few ships with something close to cabins of that exact size (a few ships with 700+ sq ft Vista). Seems most of O's ships take a big jump between a 'standard' size cabin and the larger ones (400+ sq ft to 1000+ sq ft).

Perfect ensemble for a 'Bliss' cruise! But I don't think SS accepts those charters. 😏

You find the differing visual sensitivities of others to be 'bizarre'. I certainly don't find your position to be so, even though I don't react the same to the same visual stimulus. I wouldn't be rude enough to call it that, even if that was how I felt. The fact that you find it 'bizarre' rather emphasizes my original point. For some others, it clearly is not, and that's the reason that these threads will go on forever.

That. Right there. That lack of understanding of what does and doesn't "impact" others is why these threads will persist.

On Dawn/Atlantide, that fellow I mentioned probably would have required a 52R. They tried on what they had by the closet at the entrance, but didn't have anything that big to fit him, and that's when he left in a huff. They really did expect him to at least wear it into the dining room.

We've heard that about some UK TAs on other line boards as well. When you get your credit card statement, is it the TA or Silversea that shows up? With my TA in the US, it's Silversea and at 120 days. Seems some UK TAs bank the float for 30 days?

On the recent WB Dawn TA, I'd estimate 10-15% of us were in tuxedos on the first 2 formal nights. Higher on the last of the 3 nights.