Carolfay

Gosh - my opinion exactly. (And you're from Oregon, too; must be something in the water.)

I bet you'll love it. I'm 65 years old, with a husband who has absolutely no interest in cruising, so I go solo. It's great to meet all the interesting and/or "colorful" people onboard - and you've always got your own room as a refuge if they get too colorful. I love having all the closet space to myself for my wardrobe, too!:D Everybody on this discussion board will be rooting for you.

I'm not surprised that more cruise lines and cruise passengers are making use of these services. As I travel solo, it's a real plus to me not to drag a suitcase full of cruise clothes through the airports. Admittedly, the pricing makes it a luxury, but I've found it worth the expense.

I anticipate having several meals at Sushi. It sounds like a wonderful option. To each his/her/their own - and that goes for casinos, too.

I know my legs look better, and I feel more polished, when I'm wearing hosiery. As far as sandals go, there's an option I haven't seen discussed here yet. How about this:

https://en.vogue.me/fashion/stockings-sandals-trend-balenciaga-altuzarra-celine/

Lately, I've been having fun by pairing my colored and/or patterned hose with sandals. The possibilities are endless.

Of course, it's all up to the individual, her comfort zone and her taste. The only fashion police are the ones in our imaginations.

Thanks! This cruise looks to be pretty port-intensive, so if the cabins are identical, I think the price difference would discourage me from springing for a French balcony.

I'm looking at a September Star Breeze cruise and wonder if the price difference between balcony (Deck 6) and ocean view (Deck 6) is worth it. Looks like the square footage of the rooms is the same. Any opinions from cruisers who have experience with either or both categories? Thanks.

My viewpoint, too, Keith. I didn't want to struggle with my big bag through the airport and to my overnight hotel. I carried on the plane what I'd need for the first day and a half, and somebody else got the bulk of my belongings on and off the ship for me -- nice.

I used Luggage Forward on my recent Venice-to-Venice cruise on the Spirit, shipping my large bag with most of my clothes and shoes. The bag was delivered to my suite about an hour after I boarded, everything intact. I shipped the same bag back home. A Luggage Forward representative met me at the ship terminal after we disembarked and took the suitcase off my hands. It arrived at my home not much more than 24 hours after I got home -- good service.

Spinnaker, your wonderful photos are helping me revisit a very enjoyable cruise. If it had been a few degrees cooler, it would have been perfect -- but after all, it's August. What did I expect? Most of the folks I hung out with gave high marks to Ira's lectures; he's also a very approachable guy and fun to swap stories with. Monia, our international hostess, is also a charmer.

I was on this one, too. Very impressed by the ship and its staff, enjoyable itinerary, friendly fellow travelers. I probably won't cruise the Med again in August, as the heat defeated me on occasion.

Burano was one of my favorite stops on my last visit to Venice. I remember beautifully colored houses and a wonderful fish lunch. We also visited Torcello the same day and loved it . . .

I'm staying in the Santa Croce area, so it's not too far away from my hotel.

Well . . . I'll still have one checked bag in addition to my carry-on. (I'm pretty high maintenance and love my wardrobe.)

I booked a smaller hotel on my own for two nights before the cruise. Does it appear that the majority of the passengers will be at the Marriott?

I'd welcome any suggestions and/or comments about visiting Venice's Cannaregio neighborhood. There seem to be a number of walking tours (and even walking/dining tours) offered, and I'm considering my options for seeing this part of the city.

I have to make my major packing decisions today, because the luggage service is coming tomorrow to pick up my big bag. With any luck, my cruise clothes will be in my room when I board. That should spare me from dragging all my luggage through the airport like a pack animal. I'll travel with enough attire to see me through my two pre-cruise days in Venice. It's a challenge for me to make the clothing choices this early - but enforced discipline can be a good thing.

Antiquated? Not at all. It's one of the reasons I chose Silversea. I enjoy dressing up and trying to look my best.

Thanks, ITSally, for the fiction recommendation. I'm all prepared with 3 Donna Leon novels and will get acquainted with Inspector Brunetti during my visit to Venice.

Thanks, WesW. I'll find plenty to keep me occupied, I suspect.

Thanks for the reply. I'll peruse the Silversea Chronicles each evening and plan accordingly!

It appears that fitness classes are available onboard (aerobics, Pilates, circuit and so forth). Is a schedule usually posted beforehand, or do we find out about class schedules once we're under way? Maybe the trainer needs to get a sense of how much interest there is before he/she posts a schedule. Just curious, as I'll pack workout attire if I can get some classes in.

Thanks for the tips. Motoscafi Venezia looks pretty good to me, and I have my round-trip tickets.

I've been eager to see Dubrovnik for many years. I'll be sure to pack my good walking shoes, ample sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat!

I'm all booked to have my large bag picked up and delivered to the Silver Spirit by Luggage Forward. They have performed well for me in the past. At the end of the cruise, I'll let them collect the bag and ship it home to Portland. In this case, convenience outweighs cost for me. Should be one less thing to worry about.

I'm so looking forward to this cruise. It will be exciting to see Venice from this perspective - and meet my fellow Silversea passengers.