New To SilverSea

[ShotsnCruises]

As you can see from my signature, I have cruised on mainstream lines for many years, but am finally making the wonderful jump to SilverSea next Winter. I have read through these boards as best I can, and done many searches of the threads, but I still feel like Silversea is an unknown for me. I guess the excitement of a new line makes vacation planning even more fun, but I would appreciate any tips or advice.

 

I am going on an 11 night Caribbean aboard the Wind, from San Juan to San Juan.

 

General questions:

 

Can I get on board the ship early enough for lunch the day we board?

Do the excursions through the line generally have fewer people than booking with the mainstream cruise lines? I really don't want to be with 50+ people on the tours, and usually book independent tours. Is this necessary on SilverSea?

 

Any other tips or advice?

Edited February 23, 2016 by ShotsnCruises

[Catlover54]

You can typically get on board with more than enough time for a lunch ( the buffet is often especially nice the first day), while your luggage gets delivered. When done with lunch, the room is then ready, time to unpack and tour the ship.

 

For efficiency, and ease of planning, though they are relatively expensive, we have booked many SS tours and the buses are not crowded, only half full, deliberately. However, you may still want to get a private guide for some ports, for the area you are going to, as it should be affordable there and easy to get you back to the ship on time, and you would have flexibility. You can check out online tours by locals or viator or recommendations on CC.

[wripro]

I agree about private tours. Do as many as you can. That way you set the agenda, not a bushel of other people, and it will cost you less.

[wripro]

That's bus full, not bushel. Though either is appropriate.

[DENNICH]

As you can see from my signature, I have cruised on mainstream lines for many years, but am finally making the wonderful jump to SilverSea next Winter. I have read through these boards as best I can, and done many searches of the threads, but I still feel like Silversea is an unknown for me. I guess the excitement of a new line makes vacation planning even more fun, but I would appreciate any tips or advice.

 

I am going on an 11 night Caribbean aboard the Wind, from San Juan to San Juan.

 

General questions:

 

Can I get on board the ship early enough for lunch the day we board?

Do the excursions through the line generally have fewer people than booking with the mainstream cruise lines? I really don't want to be with 50+ people on the tours, and usually book independent tours. Is this necessary on SilverSea?

 

Any other tips or advice?

 

I think that you are going to fall in love with Silversea. :) I am looking forward to my second cruise with them. I sailed Silversea in 2014, then went back to Royal Caribbean and NCL in 2015, but it just was not the same, even as a suite guest on those lines.

 

One huge difference that you will find is there is no added pressure on Silversea to part with your money by trying to get a passenger to spend $20 on a bingo card, then $5.00 for water when you leave the ship, then $100 for a photo package, etc.

 

Regarding the ship shore excursions, one thing I liked is that Silversea seems to have a staff member accompany each tour. That way they can monitor what happens and attempt to take immediate action if something unexpected happens. On my ship tour to Virgin Gorda, there was a mix up in the land part of the tour with not enough seating for all passengers. The Silversea rep was on the phone and another vehicle arrived in less than 10 minutes. Granted this should not have happened in the first place, but it was corrected immediately.

 

I have a mixture of private and ship tours booked for my upcoming cruise. On Barbados there was only a choice of 2 different ship tours offered, so they almost force you to go private there. Some of the tours offered on other islands are tours typical of other lines, but there are less people, as you asked in your initial post. Some ship tours do seem unique to Silversea in the Caribbean islands. For instance, in Dominica they offer a different snorkeling trip that I do not remember as being an option with Princess, NCL, or Royal Caribbean.

 

Happy sailing with Silversea. :) I hope it turns out to be the trip of a lifetime for you.

 

Denise

[ShotsnCruises]

I think that you are going to fall in love with Silversea. :) I am looking forward to my second cruise with them. I sailed Silversea in 2014, then went back to Royal Caribbean and NCL in 2015, but it just was not the same, even as a suite guest on those lines.

 

One huge difference that you will find is there is no added pressure on Silversea to part with your money by trying to get a passenger to spend $20 on a bingo card, then $5.00 for water when you leave the ship, then $100 for a photo package, etc.

 

Regarding the ship shore excursions, one thing I liked is that Silversea seems to have a staff member accompany each tour. That way they can monitor what happens and attempt to take immediate action if something unexpected happens. On my ship tour to Virgin Gorda, there was a mix up in the land part of the tour with not enough seating for all passengers. The Silversea rep was on the phone and another vehicle arrived in less than 10 minutes. Granted this should not have happened in the first place, but it was corrected immediately.

 

I have a mixture of private and ship tours booked for my upcoming cruise. On Barbados there was only a choice of 2 different ship tours offered, so they almost force you to go private there. Some of the tours offered on other islands are tours typical of other lines, but there are less people, as you asked in your initial post. Some ship tours do seem unique to Silversea in the Caribbean islands. For instance, in Dominica they offer a different snorkeling trip that I do not remember as being an option with Princess, NCL, or Royal Caribbean.

 

Happy sailing with Silversea. :) I hope it turns out to be the trip of a lifetime for you.

 

Denise

 

Thank you so much for this information. I have used private tours almost exclusively on past cruises, mostly to avoid the large crowds. I wanted to give SilverSea the benefit of the doubt, but I wish they would post prices on the website for the tours.

I am hoping to fall in love with SilverSea!

[gacruisergal]

Tours an tour fees will be available on line once you get closer to the cruise date. you can also pre book restaurant reservations then.

[ShotsnCruises]

I was told I could pre-book, but I cannot pre-pay? I find this odd, as I would not want to have all of the excursions billed all at once on my credit card. Is the SilverSea representative incorrect in giving me this information? He was touting it as a perk, but I don't see it that way.

[carefreecruise]

I was told I could pre-book, but I cannot pre-pay? I find this odd, as I would not want to have all of the excursions billed all at once on my credit card. Is the SilverSea representative incorrect in giving me this information? He was touting it as a perk, but I don't see it that way.

 

Shore excursions can be booked on line (under My Silversea tab), no sooner than 120 days before sailing (pricing will then be shown) and no later than 7 day before getting on the ship. You can also book onboard also. At the end of the cruise you need to settle your account and that's when you would pay for all excursions. If that's a problem with your credit card, I have heard of people making deposits on their credit card so they have a credit when needed, to make big purchases. Seabourn charges your credit card as soon as you select an excursion on their website. Personally I prefer to pay at the end, so no need to ask for credits back if you didn't go on one or more excursions.

[ShotsnCruises]

Shore excursions can be booked on line (under My Silversea tab), no sooner than 120 days before sailing (pricing will then be shown) and no later than 7 day before getting on the ship. You can also book onboard also. At the end of the cruise you need to settle your account and that's when you would pay for all excursions. If that's a problem with your credit card, I have heard of people making deposits on their credit card so they have a credit when needed, to make big purchases. Seabourn charges your credit card as soon as you select an excursion on their website. Personally I prefer to pay at the end, so no need to ask for credits back if you didn't go on one or more excursions.

 

It wouldn't be the need for credit on the card (My God, the limit is insane as it is!!), but I prefer to pay for the cruise as much as possible (excursions included), before we sail.

[57 varieties]

Excursions do suffer alterations or cancellations, so I would be happy not to pay in advance.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Stevanb]

Hi

 

Once you go on Silver Sea or any other luxury all inclusive cruise line you will have a hard time going back to main stream . First time we did Silver Sea and then went back on a Celebrity we where shocked at the difference. We sailed Celebrity 4 months before Silver Seas. Even when we where on Oceania was a big difference to Silver Seas or Seabourn which we have been on also.

 

You will have a great time :)

[ShotsnCruises]

Hi

 

Once you go on Silver Sea or any other luxury all inclusive cruise line you will have a hard time going back to main stream . First time we did Silver Sea and then went back on a Celebrity we where shocked at the difference. We sailed Celebrity 4 months before Silver Seas. Even when we where on Oceania was a big difference to Silver Seas or Seabourn which we have been on also.

 

You will have a great time :)

 

I am planning on it being the vacation of a life time. :D

[Randyk47]

Hi

 

Once you go on Silver Sea or any other luxury all inclusive cruise line you will have a hard time going back to main stream . First time we did Silver Sea and then went back on a Celebrity we where shocked at the difference. We sailed Celebrity 4 months before Silver Seas. Even when we where on Oceania was a big difference to Silver Seas or Seabourn which we have been on also.

 

You will have a great time :)

 

Have to second that. A few years ago we were looking for a Med cruise. As 17-year Holland America cruisers our natural tendency was to look at their Med cruises. We actually had decided to book a 12-day cruise on HAL's Prinsendam when a friend of ours, a local TA who needed "head count" at her agencies annual cruise fair, talked us into attending the fair. Silversea had a rep at the fair and we stopped to chat. After a bit she offered us a 14-day Med cruise on the Silver Wind for less than the Prinsendam cruise in a comparable cabin. Four years and sixty cruise days later we are now sure we'll never go back to a mainstream line.

[carefreecruise]

I am planning on it being the vacation of a life time. :D

 

Be careful of over expectations...

[Capri73]

Have to second that. A few years ago we were looking for a Med cruise. As 17-year Holland America cruisers our natural tendency was to look at their Med cruises. We actually had decided to book a 12-day cruise on HAL's Prinsendam when a friend of ours, a local TA who needed "head count" at her agencies annual cruise fair, talked us into attending the fair. Silversea had a rep at the fair and we stopped to chat. After a bit she offered us a 14-day Med cruise on the Silver Wind for less than the Prinsendam cruise in a comparable cabin. Four years and sixty cruise days later we are now sure we'll never go back to a mainstream line.

 

A little off topic.When were you on the Wind last?We are booked for late summer.We have been hearing very negative things about the condition of the ship.We were on her a few years ago.

Thanks

[Randyk47]

A little off topic.When were you on the Wind last?We are booked for late summer.We have been hearing very negative things about the condition of the ship.We were on her a few years ago.

Thanks

 

We've cruised on the Wind twice, the latest was May 2014. We loved her so much that we'll be on her again in two weeks. Altogether this will give us 50+ days on the Wind. We liked the Spirit last year, especially the extra restaurants and larger outdoor areas, but missed the friendly and warm close contact with the staff.

[Capri73]

Thanks so much.Would you mind posting after your trip?Air conditioning seems to have been a problem.

[Randyk47]

Thanks so much.Would you mind posting after your trip?Air conditioning seems to have been a problem.

 

Absolutely will get back to you. We've had no issues with the AC on the Wind.

[Capri73]

Thanks so much.

[brimary]

Reassuring news re Wind as we have upcoming cruises on the ship.Concerned to read the last few Reviews on the CC Members Review section which were awful.

[duct tape]

I consider it an interest free float!

[ShotsnCruises]

Reassuring news re Wind as we have upcoming cruises on the ship.Concerned to read the last few Reviews on the CC Members Review section which were awful.

 

I was reading these last night, and they are terrible. It sounds like they forgot the ship was refurbished in 2013??

[Randyk47]

I was reading these last night, and they are terrible. It sounds like they forgot the ship was refurbished in 2013??

 

Some of the reviews seem a bit harsh but then again Silversea and the smaller ships of the fleet are not everybody's ideal. We met a great couple from Hawaii on our last Wind cruise and they could hardly wait to get off while we thought it was maybe our best cruise ever. They wanted more. More restaurants, a bigger casino, more bars, a more modern interior, and more entertainment options. They missed not having the big rotunda and sweeping staircases. And so on and so on. OK. While I personally disagree I get that and understand. It's not a right or wrong in the absolute sense, what is right for us is wrong for them.

[ShotsnCruises]

Okay, so another random question I thought of while reading through the booking information...

What toiletries are included? Do I still need toothpaste, floss, mouthwash? I know to expect shampoo, conditioner, and lotion, but what else is included?