Fort_Worth

30 minutes ago, Silver Spectre said:

I cannot see a difference. If you download the policy its still dated 1st Dec 2021

Agree. I cannot discern any changes to the guidelines published Dec 1, 2021. 

We're tired of worrying about everything. Have decided to cancel our fully-paid 22-nt May 30, 2022 Iceland/Norway b2b sailing on the Silver Moon. A big factor in our decision is that we have ZERO faith in Silversea to handle an unforeseen situation. The Ft Lauderdale disembarkation fiasco and les37b's ongoing situation are too disturbing to overlook.   

Here's a link to a post on the Viking Ocean board that should make you feel better ...

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2768896-in-search-of-northern-lights-viking-venus-january-12-2022/page/11/

Apparently Viking has a process to obtain digital vaccine cards that are acceptable to Norway. This is a long thread but go to Post #255 for the key info. Later in the thread, passengers report that they are receiving their digital card.

I'm optimistic that, whatever Viking is doing, the other cruise lines can mimic. Good luck!

Forgive the pun but we're in a similar boat but with a different cruise line. We're booked on the Silversea Silver Moon departing Iceland May 30, 2022 and doing a B2B which, after Iceland, goes to Norway and ends in Copenhagen. Iceland and Denmark  recognize the CDC vaccine card but, as the OP pointed out, Norway does not. 

I've been continuously pestering our TA on what Silversea's process is for getting approval to enter Norway. No plan yet offered. Our cruise is 100% paid for but I can get essentially a 100% refund if I cancel before Jan 29, 2022.

My wife and I have had COVID and 3 shots. I'm not worried about dying from COVID but I'm sure as hell worried about a 24-day overseas trip being disrupted by a logistical snafu completely out of my control. I want to believe the world will be sorted out by May but I just don't know. Truth is, if I were starting from scratch today,  there's no way I would schedule a multi-country international trip for May.

I probably should quit kidding myself and pull the plug while the cash is still on the table to be picked up and put back into my pocket. 

9 minutes ago, pamyc said:

Can anyone help us.  We are staying at a hotel not thru Silver Sea.  Which pier is the Silver Moon on?

Not sure which one to go to.

Looks like Pier 19

Have sailed both. Neither will disappoint. Good luck!

30 minutes ago, A Tucson Guy said:

I thought La Dame was $60 per person.

You’re correct. My bad.

My wife and I are aboard this sailing. I won’t repeat what’s been posted but perhaps add some “flavoring”.

Based on the tour group I saw, I would estimate 60 of the 280 passengers are travel agents. I can’t imagine that SS is very pleased with the lukewarm customer response to these sailings. 
 

We were at Indochine last night for the first time. Can’t fathom the connection between an Asian-themed restaurant and an entree of Osso Buco. But hey, everything in the world is upside down. We both had the fantastic Creme Brûlée for desert. 
 

We thought La Dame was excellent. In the grand scheme, $60/couple seems reasonable.

Ship is beautiful. Our closet comparison point is the Seabourn Quest and there is no comparison. 
 

Not too impressed with shipboard entertainment. Seabourn was much better.

We’re happy to be sailing again. But if I had known I’d be required to wear a mask onboard, I would have never booked the cruise. We’re booked on a 22-night Iceland/Norway btb cruise on the Moon in May 2022. I have until mid-Jan to cancel and will do so if things don’t stabilize by then. 

1 hour ago, A Tucson Guy said:

I went to the AT&T website and many SS ships show up. The Silver Muse shows up but the Silver Moon does not show up. I am hoping that AT&T just hasn't update their website and they are similar ships.

Yes and No. Here's a link to the AT&T website....

https://www.att.com/ecms/dam/att/consumer/upperfunnel/2018/pdf/Cruise-Ship-Guide.pdf

You'll notice AT&T doesn't offer their discounted packages on the Silversea ships. They do offer pay-per-use voice at $3 per minute. That's not much of a deal.

If I'm reading the Silversea docs correctly, they offer satellite voice at $1.50 per minute though their onboard handsets. That's a reasonable rate. 

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

On previous cruises we have purchased a Cellular at Sea phone package from AT&T. We have 3 Silversea cruises upcoming but it appears AT&T doesn't offer this package for any of the Silversea ships. Am I mistaken and, if not, how is the community arranging for this service? Thanks. 

3 hours ago, Lois R said:

Thanks for all the replies🙂 The window will be just fine for me if nothing changes. I agree with Terry, the ships are small enough it is not a big deal (especially on this itinerary).  Normally I always book a basic balcony, which is not so basic on SS👍........and I know I will receive all the same amenities even in the basic window cabin.😃

I have a differing opinion. We're booked on the Sept 9 sailing. 

The allure of Alaska is its vistas and wildlife. On our previous cruise to Alaska in 2009, weather permitting, we enjoyed being outside on our balcony with binoculars in hand. And, when the ship sails up Tracy Arm Fjord, we plan to be on our balcony drinking champagne and either having brunch or snacking on treats. 

Sure, you can do this from the public decks but it's so much more special and convenient to enjoy the sites from your stateroom balcony. Good luck! 

It will show up on its own. Might take a week or so. If you get anxious, have your TA call Silversea.

Life evolves. I'm not ancient but I have cruised long enough to remember Formal Nights, Midnight Buffets, Desert Buffets, Fettuccine Alfredo and Cherries Jubilee prepared table side, visits to the bridge, shooting shotguns off the fantail, and so on and so on. We're booked on the Silver Moon for 22-nts departing Reykjavik May 30, 2022. I'm hopefully optimistic of the ship sailing and plan to have a great time regardless of the protocols in place. 

On 2/11/2021 at 1:15 PM, Fort_Worth said:

Thanks for the feedback. We're booked on the Silver Moon.

You only live once. In the final booking we tacked-on the 12-night Reykjavik to Copenhagen cruise through  Norway. 22-nights in total aboard the beautiful Silver Moon. Hope it happens.

Thanks for the feedback. We're booked on the Silver Moon.

We're contemplating an Icelandic cruise for the summer of 2022. Looking at 4 itineraries.

May 30 10-nt Silver Moon

Jun 24  11-nt Silver Whisper

Aug 10  14-nt  Silver Whisper

Aug 15  12-nt  Silver Cloud

The Silver Moon is obviously a new ship. Its itinerary is a circumnavigation with a side trip out to the Faroe Islands. We like the size of the Silver Moon at roughly 600 passengers.

The Silver Whisper is older and smaller (400 passengers). The Jun 24 departure is from Edinburgh and she stops in the Orkney and Faroe Islands before focusing on the north shore of Iceland. The Aug 10 departure is from Troso and hits the Norwegian Fjordland, Shetland and Faroe Islands, and then 2 stops along the southern coast of Iceland.

Finally, the Aug 15 itinerary for the Silver Cloud, oldest and smallest (300 passengers) ship among these options. It departs Reykjavik and makes 2 stops along th souther coast of Iceland. It then proceeds down the west coast of Scotland and ends up in Dublin.

We've generally sailed on the big Celebrity ships and have done the British Isles a couple of times. In 2018 we did the St Lawrence out of Montreal on the Seabourn Quest (450 passengers) and absolutely loved the small ship experience. My wife and I are mid 60s and reasonable fit. 

I'm looking for feedback from the community as to which ship/itineray might be the best option for us. Initially I was attracted to the 12-nt Silver Cloud itinerary but it's coverage of Iceland is limited. The 10-nt cruise on the Silver Moon would give the most intense exposure to Iceland but is it too much of the same thing? The big attraction on this itinerary would obviously be the new ship. The 14-nt Silver Whisper gives exposure to both Norway and Iceland and size-wise fits in between the Silver Moon and Silver Cloud.

Thank you in advance for and guidance you may offer.    

Nobody knows. It's your responsibility to protect yourself and your interests.  

My guess? There's no cruising until the 2H-2021. Good luck!

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

Were the links to travel agents sites?

 

You may want to check the guidelines  to see if you broke any CC rules

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/guidelines/

No. They were articles posted by various cruise industry news sites. Doesn't matter. Just do the google search and you'll find 'em. 

Do a google on "are cruise lines honoring commissions". As soon as I saw GeorgesGal's question, I responded (Post #51) with several links but it appears to be hidden for some reason. Don't understand. 

Regardless, I stand by my original statement.

6 minutes ago, GeorgesGal said:

I asked my TA directly:  Did you get paid your commission on our fully paid Sirena cruise this past April which O cancelled about 7 days prior to sailing?  His answer was absolutely NO!  So feeling sorry, when we booked our December cruise, we turned it over to him in order to 'make him whole' for all his work (however inept he is).  

Fort_Worth's post above makes me wonder is our TA was outright lying to me.  Anyone know which version of commission pay/not pay is correct?  Inquiring mind wants to know.

https://www.cruisetradenews.com/coronavirus-cruise-travel-agent-commissions-protect/

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/travel-leaders-group-thanks-cruise-industry-for-protecting-travel-advisor-commissions-during-coronavirus-outbreak-301023115.html

https://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/Cruise-Lines-Protect-Commissions-on-Canceled-Sailings-and-Future-Cruise-Credits

https://www.*****.com/2020/03/10/royal-caribbean-promises-protect-travel-agent-commissions-deferred-cruises-coronavirus

Google "are cruise lines honoring commissions" if you wish to dig deeper.

1 hour ago, Ladys Mom said:

It used to be that my agent would always call me before they charge my account.  Since COVID-19 they have assigned me to three different agents so I have difficulty reaching them for any reason.  Everything has been automated.  I am looking around for a smaller agency where I have a chance of talking to a real person when I have an issue.

The reason the TA processed final payment was to lock-in their commission. Even if the cruise is cancelled, the cruise line will still pay the commission. But if you cancel before final payment, the TA gets nothing. Now you know the rest of the story. 

25 minutes ago, curtdesilets said:

We were booked on Regatta Sept 22 and just made final payment this week as I was assured by Oceania that the cruise was happening. Sucker punched!  Anyways, it seems reasonable to keep the money in Oceania's hands as they will give us 125% credit.  What do you all think? 

With respect, you aren't serious are you?

You just admitted Oceania mislead you about the sailing so that you would make the final payment. In what universe would that deception make you feel comfortable with them holding a large sum of cash? Take the money. Let the dust settle. Once cruising returns and we all understand what's what, I guarantee you'll be more likely to make a smarter choice. That's my opinion and course of action. Good luck!  

https://www.azamara.com/cruising-suspension

Sailings between May 12 and June 30 must make FCC/refund election prior to Dec 31,  2020 while the earlier sailings have until Dec 31, 2021? Doesn't make sense.

The 2016 Dreamforce conference is September 20-23. The new Canal sailing leaves the 24th from San Fran. October 4th, 7th, and 17th are scratched. The original Canal sailing of 9/18 now leaves the 27th and is now 16 nights. Infinity wraps up Alaska from Vancouver on 9/11. So there are 9-10 days before ship is to be in San Fran. Perhaps the pacific sailing on 9/11 is going to be extended. Might add days to 10/24 cause doubtful X would do 3 nighter. This seems to be how things are shaping unless more dates are affected by charters.

Appreciate the update but I'm missing something in your post. Does the PC trip leave September 24 or Sept 27? 16-nights instead of the original 15 nights makes sense because of the extra distance from SF instead of SD.

I'm happy to leave from SF. Always wanted to sail under the GG bridge.