JME415

And it's crazy you had to go to such lengths to get that DtD experience! Glad it all is working out!

That is indeed the point of the discussion.

Just to get back to the topic -- there's an expectation with D2D! SS has agreements with selected airlines, so there may be issues with trying to transfer one flight to another. I don't think it's as cut and dry as you suggest. And I do worry about the folks -- perhaps older folks -- who expect they will be "white gloved" to their destination.

Thank you so much for sharing this with me! It sounds like a stressful trip, but that SS stepped up and did the right thing...which is unlike my friends' experience. I'm just not convinced that D2D really gets you anything of great value. Obviously if you like to just hand over the reins and have someone plan it all and take care of you, it's great. But then they really need to take care of you! Thanks again for chiming in. Happy sailing to you!

I agree on all the above! I've only done the P2P and prefer to handle my own logistics. Before the three cruise levels were introduced, I had an experience that reminds me why I want to be in control. My first SS cruise, they forgot to pick up the charter group in Tromso! It took them quite awhile to get a bus. Apparently, it was a local holiday and nothing was scheduled.

I agree! SS has three levels of service, billing their top-tier as a a swaddled experience. I imagine there are older travelers who select this because they don't want to deal with any hassle. They want the knowledge that they will be cared for. In the example I gave, I was able to get on my computer and make some arrangements for my friends because doing it on their phone was difficult. For elderly travelers, even more so. So when SS says I'll get you to the port late at night but then you're on your own seems like they aren't living up to their bargain.

The expectation -- and what they claim to offer -- is "white glove" service from your home to the ship. This includes the flight. So if the flight is delayed and the connections missed, they re-route the flights. If those flights make it impossible to get you to the ship before it leaves, the expectation is they will get you to the next port and provide the needed transportation and arrangements. I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation given how they market it.

What can one expect if Silversea doesn't actually deliver D2D service? Friends left yesterday and their flight was delayed, causing them to miss the embarkation port. Silversea tacked on another two flights so they could meet the ship in the second port. But they are not being picked up at the airport (late at night) and no hotel is being coordinated for them. They are also not being picked up at the hotel and taken to the port after the overnight. So there are three segments of this "Door-to-Door" package where they've been left to fend for themselves. Since they were in a panic, I coordinated the airport pick-up and hotel. But as a Silversea customer myself, I want to know what they might expect from Silversea given they did not receive the "white glove" D2D experience. Any thoughts?