Silverseas Athens to Dubai

[Myron krupp]

Silverseas Athens to Dubai disaster cruise- have  cruised with Silverseas in the past with no problems. #1we were going to be sent to wrong port., until Silverseas air was notified. #2- the employees were all brand new and untrained leaving us to think it was a training ship. Ship was totally unprepared for Saudi visa requirements causing massive chaos at reservation  desk and a charge of of $ 120.00 per person for a half day itinerary of which 1hour was spent standing in long lines and ,being finger printed and causing and returning to ship after lackluster tour.  All restaurants ,but one required reservation but you couldn’t get confirmation until the afternoon. Some that were allegedly full were really only half full. We had very sporadic service ,sometimes waiting for over an hour on 3 occassions. On 2 occassions the main course was inedible after being sent back to the kitchen for review by the chef and one one occassion recieved wrong main course.  The wait staff wasn’t to blame as this was a management problem as untrained staff were not ready for the job. Again, this was a training ship.  We also ran out of fresh butter and capers half way thru the 28 days. Initially we were going to be parked at air port for 15  hours ,at end of cruise,, but it was taken care of after complaining to travel agent. Many of the itineraries were embellished and weren’t as advertised. Surprisingly we had a pirate security alert at mid cruise which was never advertised until it was announced. It sounds funny in this day and time, but some were truly afraid when they saw crew members with binoculars fore and aft. After 15 6 star cruises on 3 different lines rest assured this wasn’t a 6 star cruise. Perhaps it is a function of new ownership and will not bode well with those used to 6 star service.. 

[highplanesdrifters]

Oh my!

[bayonejoe]

What ship are you on?

 Thanks 

[Mr Luxury]

1 hour ago, bayonejoe said:

What ship are you on?

 Thanks 

Poseidon 

Edited December 25, 2022 by Mr Luxury

[bayonejoe]

Funny

[WesW]

The Silver Spirit did Athens to Dubai in December, had good friends on this voyage.  The enjoyed the cuisine, service, but found the Conniessuer wine list offered too many young vintages.  Having been to dozens and dozens of Bedouin villages as dual Israeli and US Citizens, they said the Silversea Bedouin visit to a Bedouin Village was awful and in no way reflected a traditional Bedouin village.

[boccenana]

12 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

Poseidon 

The ship was the Silver Spirit.

Itinerary left us rushed, no time for photos or to enjoy the scenery. Very stressful long days. Most ports were industrial,  noisy and smelly. Thank God for a few wonderful seasoned staff. Ship had buckets catching leaks in different locations.  Thankfully we had a wonderful butler this cruise. Food not the great Silversea food we have had in the past. Very disappointed.  Definitely feel the change and not for the better. Sure hope they get their act together, we have another coming up in October. 

[ak1004]

I don't really understand why people like to exaggerate and be so dramatic. A disaster cruise? Really? Because the ship ran out of butter for one day? We had no issues to get reservations for all restaurants except Silver Note where we got confirmed on the same day - the rest, no issues at all. And we were a group of 10.  

 

The food was between very good and excellent most of the time, with very few exceptions.

[Mr Luxury]

5 hours ago, ak1004 said:

I don't really understand why people like to exaggerate and be so dramatic. A disaster cruise? Really? Because the ship ran out of butter for one day? We had no issues to get reservations for all restaurants except Silver Note where we got confirmed on the same day - the rest, no issues at all. And we were a group of 10.  

 

The food was between very good and excellent most of the time, with very few exceptions.

Butter may not be important to you but to some its a matter of life or death.

I do love the extremes that you get on these boards for the same cruise.