Some questions from a potential new Silversea cruiser

[ak1004]

Hello everyone,

 

We are considering to try Silversea and have some questions.

 

On their website, they list all prices, but there is no option to book. There is a button "Request a quote". If I request a quote, are they going to give me different prices? Why there is no option to book directly from the website?

 

Regrading cancellation policy:

 

The port to port option has a non refundable deposit (15% if I understand correctly). This seems a bit strange, especially during Covid uncertainty when most other lines actually make the terms more flexible. The door to door option is refundable, but it's $2,750 CAD more expensive, while economy flights from Toronto can be booked for $1,300.

 

Is my understanding correct? How people book those days with all the uncertainty?

 

I'm really excited to try Silversea, but the booking terms seem a bit unusual compared to other lines.

 

Thank you everyone!

[dawntrdr]

Welcome, Ak1004!  It is not possible to book online with Silversea - but it you contact them, they have a cadre of "cruise consultants" who act as in-house travel agents and are generally well informed.   In my experience, Silversea will charge you exactly the price they show for the class of suite you want, provided it is available (if it's not available, it just says "waitlist" with no price shown).   You can find all of the prices for the suite levels by scrolling down from the screen you copied above.  Some people prefer to use their own travel agent; you will find many different opinions about that here on these boards.

 

Regarding your concerns about cancellation in these covid times, check the cancellation policy shown on the opening page of the website that looks like this:

 

[jollyjones]

The cancellation terms for port to port are not good - it’s not just the deposit, the rest becomes non refundable an awfully long time before the cruise. It’s to make you prefer the door to door option. 

caveat emptor - you might want to get quotes for both d2d and p2p and read the t&cs carefully.

 

But that said, SS is my favourite cruise line by a very long way. I always book on board or through my travel agent so can’t say for sure how it works booking directly, but I encourage you to give it a try. 

Edited January 22, 2022 by jollyjones

[ak1004]

Thank you!

 

The door to door option is $2750 CAD extra, and the business class "upgrade" is an extra $4,000 CAD, on top of the door to door option, so the total cost of the business class is $6,750, while it can be booked independently for ~$4,000 CAD. So much for "Business Class upgrade at reduced rates"..

 

If I book through their "cruise consultants", can I transfer it later to my TA? Is there an advantage to book through either of them?

 

 

[jollyjones]

I hope someone else will chip in and help as I can’t answer your questions. If you’ve got a TA, why not go that route.
 

As I said, I’ve never booked directly with SS, nor used their air as it is not available for Bermuda, I always book air myself and take the ‘non-used air credit’ which is currently US$900 for transatlantic. 

Edited January 22, 2022 by jollyjones

[saminina]

My suggestion would be to not book thru a local travel agency unless they book a lot with SS.   Very few do.    On board, you will have plenty of passengers that will offer guiding advice for travel agents.

For first booking and lacking any solid advice, I'd book with SS.

[dawntrdr]

42 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

f I book through their "cruise consultants", can I transfer it later to my TA? Is there an advantage to book through either of them?

I don't think you can transfer to a TA if you start with an in-house cruise consultant, and vice-versa.  There is an exception if you book onboard with the  SS "Future Cruise Consultant" -  she/he will transfer the booking to your TA of choice...but that of course is not available to you since this is your first cruise.

 

It is a matter of opinion and personal experience as to whether the SS Cruise Consultant or the TA does a better job.  My experience is that the Cruise Consultant is more informed and moreover always gets me some onboard credit to use.   Other people just love their TA''s.  I have even heard of TA's who share their commission with the customer.  Either way, as a first time booker, you should definitely ask about onboard credit because a new customer relationship is very important to the SS in-house people and they will be motivated to win your loyalty for future business.

[A Tucson Guy]

A good travel agent might also give you a nice Bon Voyage present $$$$$$$$$$$.

[WesW]

Strongly recommend booking direct with a Travel Agent they will offer service pre cruise, during your cruise and post cruise.  As others have noted some TA's give you Ship Board Credits, Wine and healthy rebates of your cruise fare(5%, 7.5%, 10% and more).  Many Travel Agents Travel Agencies belong to a Travel Consortium (Signatures, Ensemble, Travel Leaders) and on hosted cruises by these consortiums you will enjoy cocktail parties, special complimentary excursions, and more Ship Board Credit.

 

Please don't just focus on the Silversea cruise cost but consider the service you get after your booking (e.g., you can bet almost all Crystal Cruisers are now calling their Travel Agents for advice on future bookings since Crystal's bankruptcy announcement)

 

I was stuck on the Silver Cloud for five days off Capetown in March 2020 due to the government of South Africa preventing us from docking due to Covid concerns.  Even tho I had paid for Business class return air, Silversea Silver Air was swamped with getting World Cruisers home from Australia and Shadow cruisers home from Brazil. So Silver Air had to wait until the last day on board to serve Silver cloud Guests.  Our TA bought me Business Class tickets home from Capetown to Atlanta on the first day of our five day hold and kept in touch with me every day until I landed in Atlanta.  This is Travel Agents going above and beyond after your booking.
 

And on many Silversea cruises I have booked (e.g. the Silver Cloud 2021 Holiday Antarctica cruise) we have been given VIP upgrade by our TA and Silversea in Miami. (e.g. fine champagne, free laundry and pressing)

 

Good luck and your will love Silversea.

Edited January 22, 2022 by WesW

[ak1004]

Thank you everyone for responding.

 

We do have a TA which we have been using for years, but she is not a specialist in a luxury cruising. However, she is very dedicated and I can always rely on her if there is any issue.

 

Her agency works with Virtuoso, and they have $600 USD per stateroom credit for this specific cruise, which translates to about ~7% of the total cost for our category. The Silversea consultant mentioned that the booking can be transferred to the TA within 30 days. When I asked about any incentives, he said "maybe 2.5-3%" discount.

 

He also mentioned that there is currently only 1 Vista cabin available (which is the lowest priced category). We are planning to book with 3 more couples, and he says he can book a guaranteed cabin at the same price for all of us, so if there are no cancellations of Vista, then some of us will actually get an upgrade. Is it a common practice? I know that on most other lines, if a category is waitlisted, they allow booking guaranteed cabin only for the next category at higher price.   

[Focused1]

1 hour ago, dawntrdr said:

I don't think you can transfer to a TA if you start with an in-house cruise consultant, and vice-versa.  There is an exception if you book onboard with the  SS "Future Cruise Consultant" -  she/he will transfer the booking to your TA of choice...but that of course is not available to you since this is your first cruise.

 

It is a matter of opinion and personal experience as to whether the SS Cruise Consultant or the TA does a better job.  My experience is that the Cruise Consultant is more informed and moreover always gets me some onboard credit to use.   Other people just love their TA''s.  I have even heard of TA's who share their commission with the customer.  Either way, as a first time booker, you should definitely ask about onboard credit because a new customer relationship is very important to the SS in-house people and they will be motivated to win your loyalty for future business.

You can book with a travel agent even after you booked through a Silversea agent as long as you transfer the booking within 30 days. You are much better off working with a travel agent who knows Silversea and will give you an OBC and other amenities, plus act on your behalf.  If you work with an internal rep, they are working on behalf of Silversea who has layers of bureaucracy to go through if you need anything out of the ordinary. 

[Senga]

We just booked our first SS for Alaska May 2023.  Their travel consultant was very helpful, the price in CDN was less than we expected and we transferred the booking to our TA.  We NEVER get perks from her but we do get good service and she knows her stuff.  We too were shocked at how expensive the upgrade to business class was on AC so we are just going with economy fare.

[Catlover54]

My Virtuoso TA , pre-Covid, would have special excellent high end excursions with a lunch  on our cruises (one exception where the hosts were not good).  Since Covid, I have gotten either free laundry (on the Moon cruise recently, which was important in humid climate), or an OBC.

[Stumblefoot]

55 minutes ago, Senga said:

We just booked our first SS for Alaska May 2023.  Their travel consultant was very helpful, the price in CDN was less than we expected and we transferred the booking to our TA.  We NEVER get perks from her but we do get good service and she knows her stuff.

Your TA didn’t even have to lift a finger for your booking and will make at least a cool 15% of your fare and doesn’t even provide you a single perk. Okay, I have to ask, what makes this TA’s service so great that you didn’t even bother to book with her?

[ak1004]

11 hours ago, Stumblefoot said:

Your TA didn’t even have to lift a finger for your booking and will make at least a cool 15% of your fare and doesn’t even provide you a single perk. Okay, I have to ask, what makes this TA’s service so great that you didn’t even bother to book with her?

 

I can answer this question.

 

In our case, it is true that we usually do all the homework and then ask our TA to book for us. It is also true that she doesn't provide any perks except for what Virtuoso provides (which is usually equal to 4-6% of the booking value).

 

But if and when there is a problem, we can rely on her to do all the communication with the cruise line. If she needs to call 5 times a day and stay on hold an hour each time, she will do it. If she needs to go all the way to the supervisor, she will do it. If I need to reach her on the weekend, I just pick up the phone and call.

 

So why not? Booking with her doesn't cost me anything, and can potentially save me a lot of time and hassle.

[calliopecruiser]

20 hours ago, saminina said:

My suggestion would be to not book thru a local travel agency unless they book a lot with SS

Why?  What do you think a local travel agent who doesn't book a lot with SS will get wrong?

[Stumblefoot]

2 hours ago, ak1004 said:

In our case, it is true that we usually do all the homework and then ask our TA to book for us. It is also true that she doesn't provide any perks except for what Virtuoso provides (which is usually equal to 4-6% of the booking value).

Hence why I didn’t ask you, because you are getting perks that are worth 4% to 6% of the booking value AND you have your TA actually book your voyage.

 

As someone who uses a TA myself, I’m trying to understand what it is about Senga’s TA’s service that is so exceptional that Senga is willing to make the booking themselves via a SS Cruise Consultant and then transfer it to their TA for no perks, no rebates, no nothing, other than the service itself which the TA never provided in this particular booking.  As such, I want to understand what I am missing in Senga’s case and how I may utilize my own TA.

Edited January 23, 2022 by Stumblefoot

[ak1004]

1 minute ago, Stumblefoot said:

Hence why I didn’t ask you, because you are getting perks that are worth 4% to 6% of the booking value AND you have your TA actually book your voyage.

 

As someone who uses a TA myself, I’m trying to understand what it is about Senga’s TA’s service that is so exceptional that Senga is willing to make the booking themselves and then transfer it to their TA for no perks, no rebates, no nothing, other than the service itself which the TA never provided in this particular booking.  As such, I want to understand what I am missing in Senga’s case and how I may utilize my own TA.

 

In my case, the TA herself doesn't provide any perks, it's from Virtuoso and not on every cruise.

 

I see your point, but my question is not why to transfer to TA, but why not? Isn't it usually better to have someone who can call the cruise line on your behalf if there is any issue?

[dawntrdr]

40 minutes ago, calliopecruiser said:

Why?  What do you think a local travel agent who doesn't book a lot with SS will get wrong?

In my case, and I know this is not the case with many posters, the TA did most of his bookings with RC and the mass market lines.  He did not inquire about OBC or any other benefits available and was genuinely surprised when SS added OBC to my booking.  It actually takes more of my time to convey my questions to him to ask SS and get back to me when I could call SS directly and ask the same questions plus my own follow-up questions, if any.  But that's just my experience and if you have a TA who works well with you, it sounds like a relationship to cherish.

[calliopecruiser]

Ah, thanks.  Both travel agents I'm talking with are used to booking luxury cruises, but I think SS is just one of several. 

[Stumblefoot]

54 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

I see your point, but my question is not why to transfer to TA, but why not? Isn't it usually better to have someone who can call the cruise line on your behalf if there is any issue?

I don’t know if you realize it, but you’re preaching to the choir.  I get why people use TAs.  I use a TA myself.

[Senga]

I use this TA for a few very simple reasons. I read on CC about the problems they have trying to contact the cruise line or their MASSIVE travel agency.  As mentioned above, I can contact her 24/7 and KNOW she’ll do what’s needed.  Also mentioned above, SS answered all my initial questions so felt he deserved some credit.  I know what I want and going back and forth just doesn’t work for me.  Also, to be protected against bankruptcy etc. (not likely with a major cruise line) in Ontario we have to book with an agency recognized by TICO.  I’d love something “free” but quality service that gives me peace of mind is more valuable.

[Senga]

Just read that Crystal Cruises has filed for bankruptcy so my reliance on a TICO agent makes even more sense! 

[saminina]

6 hours ago, calliopecruiser said:

Why?  What do you think a local travel agent who doesn't book a lot with SS will get wrong?

 

Few local TAs will have experience in the so called luxury market.  They will be happy to book your cruise just like they would for NCL or RCL.  Take your money and maybe say "thanks."   They do not know the difference other than the commission check is probably larger.  They will be useless if you encounter problems.    If you have good rapport and experience with the local agent and you want to be generous, sure give them the booking.

 

Once on board, listen to fellow passengers.   It took a long time for me to learn the game.  

[ak1004]

34 minutes ago, saminina said:

 

Few local TAs will have experience in the so called luxury market.  They will be happy to book your cruise just like they would for NCL or RCL.  Take your money and maybe say "thanks."   They do not know the difference other than the commission check is probably larger.  They will be useless if you encounter problems.    If you have good rapport and experience with the local agent and you want to be generous, sure give them the booking.

 

Once on board, listen to fellow passengers.   It took a long time for me to learn the game.  

I keep hearing that you need a TA that specializes in luxury market, but i’m still not clear how booking Celebrity or Princess is different from booking Silversea. Each line has its specifics in terms of perks, inclusions etc. but what is special in booking and dealing with luxury lines?