ikelmay

To be honest, I'm slightly paranoid right now as I'm about to try Silversea for the first time, having come from Regent's slightly more laid back dress code.  The last thing I want is for a bunch of seasoned cruisers onboard giving me the eyeball for misinterpreting the dress standards.

We've only just considered SS as we are happy with less formal requirements, so I want to make sure that I can manage with a jacket on formal optional and a dress shirt on other nights.  I'm pretty sure I'm reading the new conditions accurately, so here's hoping!!

1 hour ago, Tudorcruisers said:

On Silversea website it shows the information that LAL cruiser posted though on the post here it isn’t showing the informal casual evenings where it states men must wear a jacket in the indoor venues after 6 pm.   I’m not sure how this is missing from the post on here but just incase someone thinks they won’t require a jacket.   Everything else was the same ie coming into effect from 21st April 2024.   For clarification just go to the Silversea website.  

Not wanting to turn this into yet another endless dress code thread, but the website clearly states that Elegant Casual nights " a jacket is optional".  The paragraph covering Formal Optional nights states: alternatively, adhering to Elegant Casual dress code is welcomed, but a jacket is still required for gentlemen in all indoor spaces. 

Common sense would tell me that on 'jacket optional' nights it wouldn't make sense for men to have to run back to the cabin to get a jacket to wander around the ship  Ergo, elegant casual = jacket optional / Formal Optional = jacket required.

I suspect it's completely arbitrary depending on numbers but our GTY for Muse ex-Seward 16 May cleared two weeks before departure.

2 hours ago, mchell810 said:

 

For the distilled water I email: specialservices@silversea.com

 

You may not get a response but the water should be in your room when you arrive; if not, just ask your butler and it will be provided quickly. 

 

As for baggage tags: I believe final info is emailed about 15 days before the cruise but I've never checked if baggage tags are included.  I get them at the pier or from from the SS rep for the transfer.

Thanks so much for the email, just what I wanted. 

I wonder if seasoned Silversea passengers could help me?  Is there a phone number for support for booked passengers or do I use the reservations number?  I'd like to request a bottle of distilled water for our room.  On our previous Regent trips I've just connected for a 'chat' with the online support team.

Also, is there a rough timeline for receiving (online I presume?) final paperwork such as baggage tags etc?  We have a coach transfer included to get from Seward to Anchorage but all I have so far is the initial system booking acknowledgement on the 'My Silversea" page.  I'm a bit of an obsessive planner, our cruise is still 5 weeks away for goodness sake.

6 hours ago, PhD-iva said:

Thanks for posting this. I am on board Voyager now. We are still in Code red, the primary impacts are slow service in the restaurant. I should say slower than usual.

Yesterday at the captains welcome I sat next to the Bridge instructors, and they said that they are not allowed to touch cards. So basically, all they can do is lecture, and they cannot provide any practice play, no duplicate play.

Also, restaurant staff are shifted to the La Veranda buffet line as passengers are not allowed to serve themselves. I view this as an enhanced service. On Oceania passengers are not supposed to serve themselves.

well, there might be a few other impacts, but nothing comes to mind. Everything is wonderful, especially now that I’ve gotten over yesterday’s seasickness. I changed my patch and now I’m feeling better.
 

thanks for the update - as we are on the next leg, can you confirm if the library remains closed? I'm happy with my tablet, but my OH still loves real books!

Our schedules have aligned and I would now be able to book a possible Voyager trip for later this year.  The cruise I'm looking at is quite heavily booked, but one of the categories that popped up a few days ago was the Cat. C Penthouse.  It all looked very interesting but I was slightly unnerved to see every cabin in this category (C aft Penthouse) was showing available when I started looking.  I recall seeing threads a while ago about the vibration issues in this category and area of the ship, and I'm hesitant to book if Regent has been keeping these cabins out of inventory until now.  Even with a potential issue of vibration, this should still be a prime real estate location on any vessel.

Can any recent cruisers give me any current feedback on potential noise and vibration issues?  I'm blowing hot and cold on this one and I can't make my mind up.

A great quebecois word used by canadians for a tight beanie hat.  As a kid back in england we'd have called them bobble hats.  I still haven't acquired the knack to putting the dratted thing on and off without my hair ending up like Albert Einstein's.

Thanks so much for the input, layers seems to be the answer!!  My toque and gloves will be packed.

Hello experienced cruisers - we are taking a bucket list trip from Santiago to Buenos Aires this coming Feb/Mar.  Can anyone give me an idea of what weather fluctuations to expect between Chile and BUE via the Antarctic Peninsula?  I was somewhat surprised to see most ports of call register temps in the mid teens (C) / low 60's (F) for late February.  Does it get much colder as we pass the Drake Passage and down to the Antarctic peninsula?  I'd be happier not to be bringing too many outer layers if possible!  Many thanks.

We're on the returning loop out of Santiago that starts on the 19th.  I'll wave at you as we board.

21 hours ago, PhD-iva said:

Ikelmay, which itinerary are you booked? I’m on the February 2, 2024 Voyager out of BsAs. We have a rollcall, I hope you will join us!

 

Thanks for the replies.  Yes, a destination-based trip would be amazing but it wasn't possible this time.  I'm really hoping we'll have some excellent speakers and guides on board   I'm also looking forward to some relaxing sea days for a change!

We have booked a bucket list cruise with Regent that takes in the southern countries of South America.  Can any experienced cruisers give any details of what "cruising the Antarctic Peninsula" involves?  It comprises three days of traversing the region between Ushuaia and Stanley, but I'm struggling to get any information about what we might possibly see or whether there is any detail given on board as to what to expect.

We booked mainly for the interesting ports of call and this cruising time is an added bonus.  I'd like to know what to expect before we get there!  I know it's a cruising pass-by rather than a stop, but that's about it.

Many thanks

1 hour ago, alcpa1 said:

Sorry to hear of your plight but dang, if you TA can't get it worked out, it's on him.

Don't take it out on the crew and staff.

 

Sorry, what?  I don't think you can dump the blame for this IT catastrophe on the end-user.  I have every sympathy for the travel industry professionals trying to get a handle on what seems to be an endlessly changing litany of issues and problems.

If I was a Travel Agent I'd be steering well clear of Azamara for the time being.  I think the poster was making the point that even the excellent on board service will not compensate for the shoreside fiasco over the last months.

On 8/22/2023 at 6:32 PM, walkingsoon said:

If you're happy enough to wheel your own luggage a block and a half, the Skytrain might be your quickest option. It's my favorite choice, anyway.

 

Walk up and out of Canada Place, pass by the subway entrance on Howe and turn left onto Cordova. Waterfront station is between Granville and Seymour, probably a five minute walk after you exit Canada Place. The ticket kiosks will take a credit card (buy a two segment ticket) and should only be can$5 or $6 for that direction It's easy and efficient, even if you haven't done it before and have a lot of luggage.

 

No matter how good your private transfer operator is, they'll likely still be stuck in traffic on Granville while you're checking in with your airline.

 

You ought to make that 11:50 flight. 

 

walkingsoon

hi, just to clarify so no-one goes adrift!  It's the Canada Line direct from Waterfront to YVR NOT the Skytrain.  The train itself is ridiculously quick and take less than half an hour from Waterfront to YVR and most time the service runs about every 10 minutes.  Also, when buying a ticket at the kiosk, get a 2-Zone ticket (2 segment suggests its two journeys).  YVR lies in zone 2.  If you are OK with wheeling bags for a few minutes, this is the most reliable and straightforward option.

3 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Deckplangenius.com ?

Thank you so much - that's the site!

1 hour ago, wrk2cruise said:

www.cruisedeckplans.com?

 

thanks for the reply - yes, i've seen that one, it helps.  The site I used had an overview of the decks and then reported on the best and worst  of the cabins.  It was always an obscure site to google but it was so useful!

Hi all, we are returning to cruising after a break and we are looking at possibly reserving on the Splendor.  Currently only forward cabins on decks 8 and 9 are available.  Any thoughts from experts about cabin 908 - we are fine with pitch and being forward but I'm wondering about it being under the entrance to the bridge.  It's either this one or 806

Would this create location on deck 9 create extra noise or am I being oversensitive?

Many thanks.

Hi all, we are coming back to cruising after a break.  I used to have a great website that reviewed every deck plan and cabin location and rated it as better or worse for the ship.  For the life of me I can't recall or find the site.  Anyone have any ideas which one it might be?  I know lots of websites have generic advice but this site gave specifics for the worst cabins and best cabins on each deck.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Was the printout from the Guest Services Desk?  We're on the Navigator soon and it would be really useful to have a list as soon as we board.

6 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

I think we all realise, expert or not (me the latter) that IT transfers don't always go to plan. But what is just not right is the terrible time one has in actually communicating with Azamara. And this is not a recent thing. It's been going on for months. 

 

Phil 

This is the part I find just jaw-dropping.  I've been around long enough to see a good few IT fiascos, product recalls etc., and it seems to me that successful companies get ahead of the bad news by being proactive and communicating honestly and promptly with their customers.

I really don't think giving the impression that your management team has gone to ground is helping right now.

13 hours ago, laurieb said:

Excursions always go up in price the closer you get to your sail date, on all cruise lines, especially for tours that are popular.  

I think you're rather missing the point here which is that numerous posters have reported not being able to book tours in advance with OBC because of the IT meltdown, thus being forced to wait until on board to reserve.

It strikes me as a little underhanded to then inflate tour prices excessively, especially when the company has created the problem of not being able to advance book in the first place.. 

Hi there, we're taking a first Regent cruise later this year and I'm seeing different information about in suite options for drinks.  We are in a standard verandah suite, so once on board are we able to request alcohol other that the stated water/soft drinks/beer in the fridge?  I was thinking either having a bottle of wine available in-cabin for sailaway or something like a bottle of rum to go with a soft drink.  The website mentions replenishing the fridge contents, but doesn't tell me anything else.  I've been trying to find a 'newbie' first time cruiser thread but without much luck.

Thanks in advance for any input.

I just received the notification this morning.  I see passport details may have been obtained.  I've only just had an Equifax comped subscription expire because of an MGM data breach in June 2020.

Not impressed.

I can see the logic of cutting over the loyalty programme when the sale completes.  As at that point, anyone with just Celebrity cruises is part of a separate entity; Azamara have talked about doing this for years.