jollyjones

Airfares are very high, that's the way it currently seems to be. No sign of it changing any time soon. For a cruise in February, you are already rather late to book flights, there's absolutely no guarantee you'll find any cheaper flights going forward - you might but you shouldn't hold your breath. You need to decide if you want to go on the cruise or not - if you do, then find flights that are the least expensive, book them and don't look at flights again, you'll just distress yourself. You might try looking at connecting rather than non-stops, but flights into FLL in February are peak cruising season, bound to be expensive.

Even though it'd take you to a day earlier to Christmas, if most of the flights available are very early, you might want to consider staying near FLL overnight after disembarkation and flying on the 22nd. No idea if that's possible for you, but might be worth looking at. You definitely can't make such early flights straight from the ship. Particularly at such a busy time, the airport will be crowded.

30 years is the age of Silversea.

Your ticket is not on my Silversea, it will come from your TA. Or as a direct email from SS I suppose if you deal directly with them. Usually about four weeks out.

Welcome to the SS boards though, even if semantics are getting in the way.

You’re joking, right? They will take your laundry bag away and subsequently deliver the clean clothes, but they don’t actually do it themselves.

I use the MarineTraffic app - I find it invaluable to show me exactly where my ship is, never leave my pre-cruise hotel without checking. Useful for all sorts of information, whether cruising or not, definitely useful in ports of call where there are a number of possible piers, always helpful to know where one is.

Is that the Spirit out of Southampton on Sep 10th? If so, I have the great pleasure of cruising with you and rojann again - that's our trivia team half sorted! PS I've pretty much given up on 'excursions' whether paid or included - I haven't the patience any more to stand around doing the nodding dog thing as the guide drones on, I just go out and about on my own.

No, not just you, I keep getting the "can't connect, try again" message, it's extremely irritating. But trying again ... and again ... usually gets there. Hope they can fix it.

For sure I will not be participating - I choose the suite I want at booking - I don't get the concept of having my suite 'assigned' to me - and that's the suite I intend to sail in. Being moved to another suite that may not be in the location I want - and to have to pay for it! - isn't lucking out, it's absurd. I only clicked on the email to see how it worked and was a bit surprised to see that nothing was available altho' the cruise is not showing sold out on the SS website. Total waste of time. I don't do hoping for upgrades - paid or free - on ships or planes or wherever, if a facet of service is important to me, then that's what I buy at the outset.

When I clicked around on my email, there was nothing available in any category so either this is a massive waste of time, or maybe solos aren't their target demographic? PS - digging the email out of the bin and checking - the offer is per suite so I guess this is just a massive waste of time.

Interesting. On my view of the website, there is nothing showing for Jan 5th - 16th, and still blank for Feb 2nd - 12th. Both these blanks start at Bridgetown and end at Lauderdale so now I’d guess it’s all about itinerary changes.

That's if you find throwing your money away to be entertaining. Give me a sea day with a good book and watching the ocean go by to give me pleasure. Each to their own.

Perhaps something temporary? Maybe a charter - the Spirit Caribbeans are all showing available now except nothing between Feb 2nd and 12th - could well be that there is a charter or big group and SS was waiting to see how it finalised. You may want to check on that to see if either your Feb 2nd booking is still viable, or even if you want to sail with possibly a big group onboard.

I received the email and clicked on some of the links to see how it works and every time got the screen that said there were no offers available. This for the upcoming Cairns - Sydney Nova. I suppose it's just an automatic computer generated thing but it was a complete waste of time. Only thing of interest was that there was a cc on the email to a TA here in Bermuda, who is not my Travel Agent and works at another, not my Travel Agency - I've never dealt with her so dunno why. No matter for me, I always book the cabin I want to sail in - I am very fussy about cabin location - now I know about it, all future similar emails will go straight in the bin. Where they belong.

Never did see the benefit of that - with hand luggage in one hand and credit card+ cabin keycard in the other, it was at best very awkward to cope with. So much better to take a quick elevator hop up to the pool deck, put everything down, and sit back and enjoy as much champagne as you want.

I appreciate that that is what you feel. However, I have flown a few times in rear facing seats and absolutely hate them - I feel travel sick in them (never in forward facing seats) and am uncomfortably aware of the slight nose up of the plane, it feels like you are sliding out of the seat. So each to their own but other pax should be aware that there may be issues. It is unfortunately true that it can - fairly rarely - happen that the seat configuration can be different from that which you booked, until you are on the plane and seated you cannot be 100% certain.

So far I'm still getting the old website - I hope the new 'improved' site as you describe is just being trialled and isn't going to be foisted on us. But OTOH, why would they pay to design a new site if they don't plan to use it ... sigh ...

Yep, all mine for a number of cruises have changed to Request Sent. I agree this is most likely just a change in terminology ... at least, I hope so ...

Except there's nothing to keep your pillows on the bed. They will fall off.

It's not difficult but it is irritating. Usually best to aim for Miami or possibly DFW or ATL then a short flight to SJU. I'm not sure if there are many, if any, good long haul options directly into SJU. In San Juan it is likely that you will embark at Pier 4 in downtown but it might be the Pan American dock which is miles away altho' it's mostly the big ships at the PanAm.

I was recently on the Shadow and the little jars of goodies appeared after I mentioned their absence to my butler.

Usually the Cruise Terminal at Pier 4 right in downtown. Docking location can never be guaranteed but SS ships are usually at Pier 4.

Caveat Emptor. The prevalence of these rip off places such as Diamonds International and Colombian Emeralds - not to mention art auctions - must mean there are many pax foolish enough to buy from them but I find it almost unbelievable. I understand the enjoyment of pottering around the shops while travelling and buying this and that but I'd never buy anything involving serious money.

Same for the Spirit TA Mar '26, moved up from 23rd to 2nd. The original date had disembarkation on Easter weekend which is not a great time to travel so the new date is much better for me - I'm actually very pleased.