Hermione60

Hello! We have done 3 cruises on Silversea, so I guess I'm qualified to answer. So:

1. Dress code is usually more like business casual than anything else (if I understand the meaning well - I'm from Switzerland and France, where dress codes are much less important than in the US), with about one formal night a week, but even then you can escape it if you wish by going to the less fancy restaurants (Grill or pizzeria).

2. Yes, all the excursions we've been on are good, and very varied. Of course, the really best ones are not free, but even the free ones are nice.

3. Some entertainment: daily trivia, some very nice shows (good singers usually). But be aware that Silversea is not entertainment-driven like the really big lines.

4. Excellent food. My only gripe is that it is "international" food, with one restaurant geared more towards Asian, one European, one (expensive) French, one (for a fee at dinner, but lunch is free) Japanese, one grill and one pizzeria (if it still exists, I don't remember I must say), and I really would like to have food sourced from the traveled area - but they are introducing it on some ships, with the S.A.L.T. concept.

5. Tipping is included. 

We are on this May cruise. Considered canceling, but there are many of the places in Greece which we do not know, so in the end we are staying. We are using the OBC for some of the paying excursions (I'm looking forward to the concert in the Ephesus ruins!), and I guess I'll get a few spa treatments as well 😋

Yes, I need to talk to my SS cruise consultant. I was kind of waiting to see how it is going with this COVID thing - actually, travel within Europe seems to be resuming much earlier than I thought!

I live in Switzerland too, and have a December 2020 Sydney-Auckland cruise booked (with flights and a pre-cruise hotel in Sydney for 3 nights). I think with all that's being said about Australia and New Zealand not accepting intercontinental travelers before 2021 at least, I will not be able to cruise alas... Like the OP, I made the booking through the Silversea UK office, and have not yet asked my SS cruise consultant what is going to happen. I'll be very interested about this ABTA thing, if you get any answers.

On a wonderful Silversea Baltic cruise, there was this older couple - she was very nice, he was Mr Grumpy all the time. Once we were seated at a nearby table from them, he was yelling at the poor waiter because OMG, he had the nerve to ask them if he wanted some more wine, so "Leave us in peace"! I was really feeling it for the waiter (service was stellar throughout the cruise) who stoically and silently endured him.

You don't need a visa if you book directly with an official tour operator. We did it in Summer 17, I highly recommend it. For a price lower than a Silversea tour, you can get your own private tour, with a private car, and of course if you want no stairs etc. you arrange that, it certainly is possible!

I was on the Spirit last Novembre/December and I must say, I enjoyed Indochine very much. However, you are right, they should change at least some items on the menu more often.

The fish in Seishin was top grade, but the sushi rice was awful. Pasty, tasteless, ugh. I am no Sushi master but the sushi rice I make is way better. And yes, only sushi/sashimi at lunch is *very* restrictive (especially as my SO doesn't like it...).

OK, thanks!

Thanks. Is there something one can do against sand flies (spray, precautions, ...)?

I have another question about the Caribbean: Mosquitoes?

Yes, someone told me about reef walkers, and a colleague lent me a pair she had bought in Greece. Now I have to find a pair for my SO - here or in Miami, we'll see. Thank you for the reminder!

Well, if you are on the same cruise, maybe we'll meet on board!

Thank you both for the advice!

Yes, we live in Switzerland, so the Caribbean is really far for us, hence the fact that it's the first time.

I plan to buy high-grade sunscreen in Miami (where we will be staying for a few days prior to the cruise), you Americans sell much stronger sunscreen than what we can find here.  And hats are already planned - I can't survive Summer without a hat in Switzerland, imagine the Caribbean!

There are 2 sea days on that cruise (I always look for a cruise with at least one, preferably two sea days, I love having a few) and the rest of the time we won't be too stressed, the excusrions are usually rather short ones - we indeed plan to relax and just enjoy being there.

Hi everybody,

This will be our first Caribbean experience - the Spirit leaves Ft Lauderdale on Nov 28 and gets back there on Dec 11. We have booked a slew of excursions with Silversea - some snorkeling, some horseriding, etc. Being new to this part of the world, and not knowing exactly what Silversea provides, I'm wondering if there are any special items I should bring. Other than the obvious (clothes, Kindle, toiletries, etc.), on my list I already have :

- 2 snorkeling masks (the big all-in-one ones)

- 2 bathing suits each

- 2 sports shorts each (for excursions, easy to slip over the bathing suit and easy to take off)

- 1 pair of hiking trousers each (light ones, mostly for the riding excursions)

Do I need to bring beach towels or does Silversea provide them? What about fins? Anything else?

Thanks in advance!

Also keep in mind that airlines do NOT allow anyone to discount their published fares. In other words, if you find a particular flight that you like in terms of times and prices anywhere, whether its with an online aggregator or a travel agent, you will find the EXACT same price on the airline's website. If you see a flight that is cheaper than that, I would give that site/person/place wide berth.

From my experience, that is false. Through an online TA, I got tickets for Zürich-Miami and return, business class, about 40% lower than published by the airline. It's an airline on whose site I have an account, and the tickets can be found in my account, totally legit.

Thanks for the recommendation. We haven't booked any excusrion in Key West (thought we would tour on our own), so I very much welcome your suggestion!

I was on the Wind last year, and we made one reservation for La Dame, one for La Terrazza and one for Hot Rocks, thinking if we really loved any one of them we would make more while onboard. Well, honestly, our favorite by far was the MDR, delicious food, nice relaxed ambience, open seating, we just loved it.

It's called mal de débarquement. Happened to me for the first time 9 years ago, after a 6 days stay in Venice involving lots of vaporetto rides, and lasted 2 weeks. Had it happen a few years later after a 4 day cruise in Greece, lasted 2 or 3 weeks. I looked up all I could read on it - it seems it happens mostly to people who are not seasick (I 've never been seasick in my life) and mostly after short stays on the water (les than a week). Nothing much helsp - it passes with time. My solution is to book only "long" cruises (more than 10 days).

On a very comfortable barge for a 5 day cruise on the side channel of the Loire, 20 passengers, wonderful food and wines, 21 years ago. Can't remember the name of the cruise line though. I had managed to secure the only cabin with a double bed (instead of twins).

I still remember crossing the Briare aqueduct, at sunset, the barge going even slower than a man on foot, with a glass of Champagne in our hands. Glorious.

Ditto!

Well, I had a wonderful surprise. My TA came back from vacation, read my messages and promptly called me to tell me that I was entitled to all the new niceties, i.e. OBC, compensation for not using the offered air and cabin upgrade (or more accurately, paying my already-booked veranda suite the price of an ocean-view one). She had computed it all and I got 1000$ OBC plus more than 500 euros of refund on my credit card. I must say, I was impressed! (and very happy, obviously).

That OBC will go a long way paying for our excursions (it's our first time in the Caribbean so we booked one at each port, except Key West). <happy dance>

Friday, I got another mailing list email from Silversea, with another offer saying "You will benefit from one-category suite upgrade and an onboard credit of $1,000 per suite", and again the cruise I'm booked on was listed. I emailed asking if I could benefit from *that*. No answer. So, I finally phoned today. Turns out my SS TA is away, she left a recorded message on her phone but no automatic answer from her email. I spoke to another TA, very nice, and she did the math but it still was more expensive than the price I have payed (with a 10% rebate for early booking). So that's it (unless they have even better offers in the future!).

Thanks for the replies. I'll update this thread when I have an answer from my TA.

Hello everybody,

I booked a cruise with SS (directly, London office) many months ago (Caribbean, end of November). I also, a few months later, booked us airfare (independently, a very good price for a direct Zürich-Miami in business class, with Flight Guru). Two days ago, I received a newsletter from Silversea offering free air on selected cruises, including the one I booked. I know that Silversea guarantees that you get the benefit of the best offer, even if you already booked and paid. So I wrote this to the Silversea rep:

"I see that Silversea is now offering free airfare for several cruises later this year, including the one I booked. We already bought our plane tickets, but would it be possible to benefit from another gesture on your part instead, such as online board credit for instance?"

No answer yet (but it's been only 2 days). Do you think I have a chance? Anything else I should be asking?

Yup. Short cruises do it - any cruise longer than approx. 10 days does not lead to it, but shorter, yes (I read that it's pretty usual). I'm never seasick though (apparently, mal de débarquement strikes people who are not seasick). With me, it lasts for 2 to 4 weeks. I hate it, but it's not going to stop me from cruising - I'll just go on long cruises ! :')

You should ask Silversea directly. What your TA told you seems weird, especially about the diet tonic water (no non-alcoholic beverage is ever at extra cost on SS).