Silver Spirit versus RSSC Voyageur

[meow!]

The following is obtained (or calculated) from the cruise lines' websites:

 

Property .... Voyageur .... Spirit .... Comment

Tonnage .... 42,363 .... 36,000 .... the smaller the better

Passengers .... 700 .... 540 .... the fewer the better

Space ratio .... 60.5 .... 66.7 .... the higher the better (by 10%)

Staff .... 447 .... 376

Passenger:Staff ratio .... 1.56 .... 1.44 .... the lower the better (by 8%)

Standard (interior+balcony) cabin size .... 306+50 .... 311+65 .... the larger the better (by 6%)

Crusing speed .... 20.0 .... 20.3 (practically equal)

Both ships are Bahamas registered, the Spirit is much newer than the Voyageur

Restaurants .... "four dining venues" .... "six restaurants"

 

So now let us compare one "typical fare", a ten day Caribbean Fort Lauderdale round trip in late November, 2010 (this is the Thanksgiving voyage many posters took several months ago) for illustration. Both include airfare and tips, Voyageur includes drinks except alcohol in-suite (for regular suites) while Spirit includes that too. Voyageur includes shore excursions while Spirit does not. Both are on "special offer" fare. The Voyageur minimum category H (balconied) costs $4,765 while the Spirit basic balconied costs $4,182 (at "55% off" at present, used to be 60% off), a difference of $583. You need to take quite a few shore excursions to make up the difference.

 

Of course, there are intangible factors not obvious from the numbers. These include formal nights and smoking policies, which involve individual choices and health concerns. So the above comparison may not be complete, and may not apply to other voyages. However, in this present example (reasonably typical), the Spirit is apparently the better deal !

[freddie]

Meow! - Interesting comparison. You are certainly correct that certain other factors, such as dress code and smoking policies, should also be considered when choosing a cruise. By the way, the name of the Regent ship is "Voyager", which should have been fairly obvious on the Regent website. Perhaps you are confusing the word with "Voyeur"??

[WesW]

Very nice comparison of Sprit vs Voyager via metrics Meow!'

 

Having sailed on both the Spirit and Voyager our opinion is that you will have a truly wonderful luxury cruise experience on either ship. However, our favorite from a hardware (design/facilities) perspective, is the Voyager due to deluxe suite poor design on the Spirit (vanity location, suite is too narrow) and the Spirit's tiny unisex spa, and microscopic fitness room. The inadequate size of the fitness room on the Spirit means the fitness instructor cannot conduct a fitness class that is larger than 5-6 people. The result is for Pilates, etc, the fitness instructor must take the class to the pay spa's outside deck (class fits around the pay spa jacuzzi). However, do prefer the variety, number and models of Lifefitness treadmills, elipticals found on the Spirit. The Voyager has two complimentary sauna/steam rooms one for men and one for women with two showers available in each men's/women's sauna/steam room. The Spirit 's unisex spa has only one shower for both men/women. Unisex locker room (w/one shower for men, one for women) is separate from the Spirit's unisex spa room. Prefer the length of the Voyager's full circle jogging track vs. the smaller size of the Spirit's jogging track. Also, (since I swim laps) prefer the pool length on the Voyager (about four strokes longer) than the pool length on the Spirit (8 to 9 strokes).

 

For evening productions shows, daytime enrichment lectures; prefer the theater design (2 deck)/size on the Voyager, but prefer the variety of entertainment offered on the Spirit (production shows like the Voyager but u also get Stars supper club) Yes there are more dining choices on the Spirit, but for all inclusive fare (dining venues with no fees) both the Voyager and Spirit have the same number of inclusive dining venues--four. Also, for early am coffee/juice, we prefer the Voyager's 24 hour coffee corner vs. morning coffee in the Spirit's panorama lounge. Moreover, much prefer the Voyager's separate computer room/internet cafe/club.com (at least two dozen computers) vs the Spirit's shared space with the library and the internet cafe on the Spirit has just a measly seven computers. (note: with just 21 days sailed on the Voyager you get free internet--for some of us this is a $500+ value vs $250-500 charge for 250-500 min on the Spirit). For pre dinner drinks prefer the Voyager's Observation lounge on deck 11 (larger size, has bathrooms) vs. the Spirit's Observation Lounge (smaller size, has no bathrooms). One feature we like on the Spirit's OL is access to an outside deck to view sunsets/sail aways on deck 11. But, a serious design (esp after a few cocktails) flaw for the Spirit's OL--u need to go to deck 9 (pool deck) for closest common use bathrooms)). On the Spirit (every cabin category) you get Butler service vs only Penthouse suites and above on the Voyager. Prefer the Spirit's deluxe suite shower size w/rain shower head, but like the Voyager deluxe suite dual sink vanity vs the Spirit's (non functional, can't stop up large on top of vanity sink--also leaves inadequate counter space on bathroom counter top). Prefer the connoisseur's corner on the Voyager (better ventilation and it has windows vs the Spirit's connoisseur/humidor (has no windows, just adequate ventilation)

 

As Freddie mentions dress code and smoking policy are considerations prior to booking.

We prefer the Silversea dress code but prefer the Regent smoking policy.

 

Also, Meow even in the Voyager deluxe suites, u can get your favorite libation stocked (Bombay, Absolute) all u have to do is ask your stewardess. Bottom line for us; unless at a future dry dock Silversea enlarges the unisex spa and fitness room size, when we book Silversea--will be only on the Shadow or Whisper.

[meow!]

Thank you both kindly for your replies. We have never been on any RSSC ship or the newbuild Spirit. To freddie, sorry that we read the Voyager's spelling wrong from the beginning, and the additional "u" became a systematic mistake. RSSC-Oceania ships do have some confusing names, like the Mariner versus Marina within the same company!

 

As we have not been on either ship, we mentioned from the beginning that the numbers are taken/calculated from their respective websites. As the good Colonel pointed out, the actual on board experience can be quite different from the numbers published by their owners. His feeling that Voyager is more desirable than the Spirit despite the latter's more favourable numbers sounds like the result of the latter's less efficient use of space, reflecting upon the ability of this ship's marine architect. These "hardware" designs are difficult to change after construction, and Silversea should take note of this for the future.

 

As for "software" differences on the two ships, they can be fine tuned. Hopefully, both lines will do so, for the benefit of the passengers and also for their own competitive desirability.

[PebmarshPete]

As Freddie mentions dress code and smoking policy are considerations prior to booking.

We prefer the Silversea dress code but prefer the Regent smoking policy.

 

Also, Meow even in the Voyager deluxe suites, u can get your favorite libation stocked (Bombay, Absolute) all u have to do is ask your stewardess.

 

What exactly are the differences in dress code and smoking policy please anyone?

Also I thought that Silversea also provided chosen liquors - hope I'm not wrong - Tanqueray rules! ;)

[DebbieH103]

Very nice comparison of Sprit vs Voyager via metrics Meow!'

 

Having sailed on both the Spirit and Voyager our opinion is that you will have a truly wonderful luxury cruise experience on either ship. However, our favorite from a hardware (design/facilities) perspective, is the Voyager due to deluxe suite poor design on the Spirit (vanity location, suite is too narrow) and the Spirit's tiny unisex spa, and microscopic fitness room. The inadequate size of the fitness room on the Spirit means the fitness instructor cannot conduct a fitness class that is larger than 5-6 people. The result is for Pilates, etc, the fitness instructor must take the class to the pay spa's outside deck (class fits around the pay spa jacuzzi). However, do prefer the variety, number and models of Lifefitness treadmills, elipticals found on the Spirit. The Voyager has two complimentary sauna/steam rooms one for men and one for women with two showers available in each men's/women's sauna/steam room. The Spirit 's unisex spa has only one shower for both men/women. Unisex locker room (w/one shower for men, one for women) is separate from the Spirit's unisex spa room. Prefer the length of the Voyager's full circle jogging track vs. the smaller size of the Spirit's jogging track. Also, (since I swim laps) prefer the pool length on the Voyager (about four strokes longer) than the pool length on the Spirit (8 to 9 strokes).

 

For evening productions shows, daytime enrichment lectures; prefer the theater design (2 deck)/size on the Voyager, but prefer the variety of entertainment offered on the Spirit (production shows like the Voyager but u also get Stars supper club) Yes there are more dining choices on the Spirit, but for all inclusive fare (dining venues with no fees) both the Voyager and Spirit have the same number of inclusive dining venues--four. Also, for early am coffee/juice, we prefer the Voyager's 24 hour coffee corner vs. morning coffee in the Spirit's panorama lounge. Moreover, much prefer the Voyager's separate computer room/internet cafe/club.com (at least two dozen computers) vs the Spirit's shared space with the library and the internet cafe on the Spirit has just a measly seven computers. (note: with just 21 days sailed on the Voyager you get free internet--for some of us this is a $500+ value vs $250-500 charge for 250-500 min on the Spirit). For pre dinner drinks prefer the Voyager's Observation lounge on deck 11 (larger size, has bathrooms) vs. the Spirit's Observation Lounge (smaller size, has no bathrooms). One feature we like on the Spirit's OL is access to an outside deck to view sunsets/sail aways on deck 11. But, a serious design (esp after a few cocktails) flaw for the Spirit's OL--u need to go to deck 9 (pool deck) for closest common use bathrooms)). On the Spirit (every cabin category) you get Butler service vs only Penthouse suites and above on the Voyager. Prefer the Spirit's deluxe suite shower size w/rain shower head, but like the Voyager deluxe suite dual sink vanity vs the Spirit's (non functional, can't stop up large on top of vanity sink--also leaves inadequate counter space on bathroom counter top). Prefer the connoisseur's corner on the Voyager (better ventilation and it has windows vs the Spirit's connoisseur/humidor (has no windows, just adequate ventilation)

 

As Freddie mentions dress code and smoking policy are considerations prior to booking.

We prefer the Silversea dress code but prefer the Regent smoking policy.

 

Also, Meow even in the Voyager deluxe suites, u can get your favorite libation stocked (Bombay, Absolute) all u have to do is ask your stewardess. Bottom line for us; unless at a future dry dock Silversea enlarges the unisex spa and fitness room size, when we book Silversea--will be only on the Shadow or Whisper.

 

The ships are really two different experiences, but they should appeal to similar clientele.

 

I know Wes and Ida had encountered some smoking smells and such on the crossing, but we did not except twice in the hall on deck 7 and not severe - this is Spirit. They were leaving the door open up at the cigar bar, but there was never more than 2 people there, and they allowed smoking on one side of the pool deck and outside some restaurants, but I see similar on Voyager. The only difference is the cabins or the main difference. In fact, the main bar on Spirit is smoke free, and the Voyager lounge is half smoking at minimum. Of course, panorama on Spirit has a smoking area.

 

Dress code on Voyager has gone more casual. I haven't been on in a year, but I expect many will dress like they like and dress above the dress code. My review on the member review page here CC describes the Spirit dress code.

 

I like that the restaurants are all included on Voyager. Silversea has been including some credit this year, but not so many of those deals are out so far for 2011. Also, we spent $524 on internet on Spirit, and at 21 nights, it is free on Regent, at least for now.

 

I like the Spirit cabins more than the Regent ones or the other Silversea cabinets. I was not bothered by the skinny path and loved the true sliding drapes in the Spirit cabin and the two TVs. I find all the cabins nice on both, so it is not a big deal.

 

I like the 3 hot tubs on Spirit, also.

 

Silversea is more lenient or has been to us on included in-room liquor. For instance, you can get a bottle of Grey Goose and a bottle of Jack Daniels on Silversea, and they would bring another of either if you ran out. On Voyager, we had to sign for it (no cost), and they would not bring Grey Goose and Jack Daniels. We had to take Myers Rum or something of that caliber as a 2nd or just get one high end. It was not a big deal. You can easily get wine or sparkling wine daily on either with some difficulty on the first and last nights.

 

Although it was too cold and rocky to spend more than a few minutes on our Spirit balcony, we really liked the chairs and table on Spirit more than Voyager.

 

I generally like the variety of entertainment better on Silversea than Regent, but on our last voyage, the offerings were reduced more down to the similarity of Regent - no cooking demo, etc.

[meow!]

Thank you kindly, DebbieH103, for another perspective. These two ship are of similar class, and it is interesting to discuss the pros and cons, especially by those with first hand experience!

[cruiseerf]

Strictly from a structural point of view, the Voyager is a ship that was designed with passengers in mind and it works amazingly well. The bars are filled with windows and you view the ocean from everywhere. light colored woods and well designed cabins, excellent fitness center and fabulous flow of people really put voyager ahead of the Spirit. My opinion, the Spirit is a brand new ship.

 

Also the Voyager is longer then the Spirit which made for a significantly larger pool area. I am not discussing food and frequent traveler benefits here. Voyager was not perfect but I liked it far far better then my short time on the Spirit.

 

Unfortunately, Regent does most of their trips in 7-9 day blocks and that is just too short for us. When you back to back the prices rise far above Silversea as the credit they give is minimal.