Silversea versus others for newcomers

[CalmCruiserNC]

I think so. "Air deviations" are usually possible. SS may want a fee, but we're talking $100 pp not 000s. You may have to do without included transfers. That's no big deal in Barcelona, where a cab runs about 30 Euros. Getting to Southampton will be more expensive. It's about 80-85 miles from central London (65 miles from Heathrow) on congested roads and will take two hours if all goes well. You can take the train (much cheaper and only 90 minutes, running twice an hour from London Waterloo station) to Southampton; this is a short (GBP 5-8) cab ride from the cruise terminal. You will need to check which cruise terminal the ship is at -- most likely City terminal, but there are four. If you do take a car from London, a "black" cab will be very expensive; getting your hotel to arrange a transfer will be a bit cheaper, but there are plenty of pre-bookable options (search online for airport transfers!) and they will be much cheaper.

 

Thank you so much for the information -- definitely adds to the planning requirements!

[jpalbny]

I'm leaning toward the September 9th departure from Southampton to Barcelona aboard the Silver Cloud.

 

... if we want to go into London a couple of days early ...

 

CalmCruiserNC

 

Yes, Southampton is a hike from London as jgibbs points out. We did this 2 years ago and found a nice solution. We hired a tour guide to make a full day out of the transfer from London to Southampton for about 250 pounds.

 

We did some arranging ahead of time from home so that we could visit Stonehenge at 6:30 AM before it opens to the public. They let about 20 people in at that time, and they take down the barrier so you can walk among the stones rather than look at them from a distance with hundreds of others.

 

After Stonehenge, we did some sightseeing in the Woodford Valley and then grabbed a bite before going to Old Sarum (the original site of Salisbury). We then went on to Salisbury Cathedral where we had arranged to do a tour that involved climbing the tower. Great views, neat history. You walk under the roof, above the cathedral ceiling and get to see all of the architectural work that went into supporting such a huge structure.

 

From Salisbury we drove to Southampton, stopping for lunch in a pub along the way. Our guide dropped us off right at the dock for a very easy check-in.

 

I had considered taking the train but our way was easier and much more fun - we felt like we had an extra day of sightseeing rather than just a transfer day. We liked our guide so much that we used him again this past year when we cruised out of Dover.

[Alipius]

"Hobar....might that have been Ian Denton acting as a port lecturer?", was the question asked by Oregon50.

 

If Ian was the Port Lecturer, then Hobar got lucky. Ian is not only knowledgable and pleasant, but he makes sure that if anything you need to know is about to happen, you get to know it - immediately.

 

For instance, his excellent commentary all morning as the Whisper went around Milford Sound was a treat; but, at times, he'd simply say: "I'm going off the air for a while so that you can just look at it all in quiet."

 

That's the way to do it!