labrasett

Wonderful narratives from TLCOhio, thank you. So wonderful to see how you embraced India and the issues prior to boarding. Have a wonderful trip and please keep posting.

I am sorry to hear that I also have friends (two lots) on the Whisper and they are having a wonderful time.

Yes it did blow my skirt up a bit, sorry I failed to read between the lines. But, of course, we all knew that the future itineraries would be foreshortened, there was really no point in asking. World cruising is in such turmoil, I have sympathy with the people who are doing the forward planning, no sooner does one area of the world settle (a bit) then another blows up. Its all a bit of a lottery at the moment.

I have to say I get particularly cross about complaints about missed ports. The reasons are almost always pretty obvious at the time and are way outside the control of Silversea. Changes to itineraries are generally brought about because of changes in berthing and on shore arrangements which again are things that Silversea cant control. It is disappointing but the crew on SSC seem to do their utmost to make the best of what they have got. We were on Whisper the cruise before Host Jazzbeau and I would tend to agree with his comments although we didnt go to trivia or bingo! I did enjoy Dover Sole and two styles of lobster in the MDR but mostly I dont enjoy the style of cooking at dinner on SSC generally but I am perfectly happy to pick and choose and eat only those items from the menu which I fancy. I thoroughly enjoy the lunch buffets and always find something delicious and breakfast is perfect for me as I only wish for fresh fruit and yoghourt. I am very fortunate to come home only slightly heavier than I go away due to being so picky but I fear the weight I do gain is more related to wines and champagne than food. Onwards and upwards, it will be the Endeavour for us next.

I absolutely cannot reconcile "the Captain looked at me like a cow looking at a passing train". The current captain on the Whisper is the epitome of a gentleman and he is charming. I am glad you have noted that the crew will suffer much more than passengers. There is so much "me" amongst disappointed passengers at the moment. Stuff happens and SSC are having to make the best of a bad job.

I absolutely hate comments which compare like for like in the same place at much the same time. Who can whether Ponant have a better expedition team it is in the perception of the passengers at the time with no like for like comparison (who wouldnt be possible). Just get on with your cruise and enjoy what YOU. This is very personal what is great for one person is less so for another.

Sorry Jaco2 but if you didnt ask to cancel and have a refund then you have a cruise coming up for which you have paid and which, apparently Silversea is going to provide. This isnt a game or maybe you have been playing it as a game, who knows?

Nonsense no problem I dont have a LBD but I do have a couple of very pretty floaty tops which constitute "formal" wear worn over black trousers, little opportunity to wear this type of clothing elsewhere but just occasionally it is lovely to "dress up" so even if it usually only cruises then I will continue to do so.

I am not sure what assistance you thought you should get. Silversea personnel would not be able to offer "porterage" assistance at most airport in the world. This would not be a cut back it would be a matter of local regulation. I would imagine the best they can do is to help guests getting off a bus and collecting their bags to find trolleys and then to send them on their way to find a local porter if they can. As for not paying commission on flight segments I imagining the airlines are cutting back on fare "deals" meaning there is no "spare" to offer a cut to independent TAs. Flight prices are going through the roof and it does seem as if Silversea are finding it increasingly difficult to secure blocks of tickets, particularly business class, at discounted prices. I despair at people so regularly talking about cut backs and how it used to be better in the past, everything, but everything is going up in cost nearly every week, cruises are often booked and prices fixed way in advance and recent inflation rates are having to be absorbed by cruise companies where they and clients have committed a price which may have been set two or even nearly three years in advance of actual travel.

Very sad post, how anyone could not be blown away by Galapagos I cannot imagine. Personally I wasnt keen on the food as we are not great fish lovers but we never went hungry. We thought the ship was amazing and the crew delightful. The expedition team were amazing providing really informative lectures without being long winded or indeed too lengthy. It would have been disappointing not to go ashore in some places but most of what you see can be seen from the ship or the zodiacs. The avian flu epidemic is a tragedy which as "adventure" travellers we all accept may affect our trips and future plans. As for ship motion, well its a relatively small ship so it is to be expected. "Boring" personally I am never bored and even though I found the snorkelling a little challenging I participated in all the zodiac trips out and mainly stayed on the zodiac shadowing the snorkellers. I had a fabulous trip and I am sorry if other peoples expectations are not being met, horses for courses.

You can find out by putting in a "phantom booking" which will show up available cabins in each category. But, why bother, either you are going to book and pay or you arent. Pricing on most travel offerings is dynamic and whilst it varies it mostly goes up over time. I believe you can negotiate some discounts via travel agents but personally I dont, I just book if I think I can afford it in the time span for payment, not forgetting the potential add on of airfare as we usually do our own flights.

What a very ill informed comment. There are and always have been fairly extensive bio security measures around Falklands and South Georgia for cruise passengers and the simple fact is that Avian flu has reached the area (and Antarctica) having been brought to these remote places by migrating birds which makes it very difficult to exclude the carriage and transmission of this devastating disease.

Sadly the visits to Philip Island seem to have been cancelled for the whole of this next season. I was watching a programme on TV last night and they showed the evening "show" which is put on for visitors, everyone sitting on the slope above the beach with some soft lighting picking out the penguins on the beach below. If you havent seen penguins "in the wild" then it would be lovely to see but I am not so sure that Silversea guests, particularly those who have seen penguins elsewhere, would be very impressed with the arrangement. There is also now the risk to the penguins created by avian flu so it is probably best if visits to Philip Island are tailed off or perhaps stopped for the forseeable future. Disappointing? Yes a bit but personally I am looking forward to seeing the other wonderful creates Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand have to offer.

She will have a wonderful time.

I never cease to be amazed by people. For those who care I am told that last night was a "F" night and the maitre d' handed out ties and jackets! Long may that continue, this isnt necessarily about a tux but it is about good manners and respect for others.

Sorry but I think this is all ridiculous. People who can afford to travel on Silversea are almost by definition comfortable off financially and with that status goes a certain level of sophistication which would suggest sufficient nous that if travelling on a luxury cruise there will be a dress code and it will be printed somewhere so for goodness sake pack a variety of clothes and make of it what you will at the time. Its not rocket science folks, you have choices, make them and make a bit of an effort to conform for the sake of your fellow guests if not as a matter of just plain good manners.

Re read what has been said, the Whisper (and others) will probably stay in service until 2030 or 2032. The Whisper has no scheduled cruises during April next year. Current passengers say she is still lovely, shabby chic is perhaps a good description. I am looking forward to sailing on her very soon.

But your glass is so often half empty MBP&amp

Love the bobble hat in the pool!!!

I hope you know you wont "visit" Elephant Island, it is extremely rare for a landing on the island but you should be able to do a zodiac tour very close to the shore which gives you a really good idea of what it must have been like to be stuck on there. As for skuas taking baby penguins, this is not too much of an issue, the skuas hang around the edge of the colony and only usually get a chance to snatch an occasional poorly chick, there are lots of chicks which hatch but dont actually live and the skuas gorge on easy meals when they can. There are so many penguins in the rookeries that an occasional raid by a skua is easily missed even by the keenest young eyes! Just book it and go your young folk will remember it forever (and so will you).

I have been three times with Silversea and always got into Stanley plus several landings on other islands. It is an absolutely magical place, very unusual lifestyle, delightful people, amazing wildlife but very desolate. If you love wild places and birds and animals it will be perfect.

The key is in the terms and conditions of the agent through whom you signed up ie who is your contract with?

Never the case on our trips, the boots have been in our suites along with the parkas.

Just to throw in a curve ball on our flight to P. Williams in March we had to divert to Punta Arenas due to bad landing conditions in P. Williams. We were advised of the diversion about 45 minutes before we were due to land in P. Williams. We landed and within 45 minutes we were on buses to a hotel where they already had our information and just handed out room keys, they advised us dinner would be served in an hour and it was. We ate a pleasant supper with wine included, had a good nights sleep, good breakfast then went back to the air field around mid day and flew on to P. Williams. I have no idea what happened to the incoming cruise pax. We left P. Williams within an hour or so of boarding and were able to enjoy a daylight trip down the Beagle Channel where there was an amazing array of wildlife both in the water and in the air.

I recently had issues with MySilversea but moved to a different browser and asked to reset my password and lo and behold it all worked.