Rare Silver Spectre Posted February 13 #1 Share Posted February 13 Joined in Cape Town on Sunday with gorgeous weather. Unfortunately the ship has a seriously weird vibe onboard. Many Grand Voyagers are not happy about being turfed off in Mahe, with the announcement letter only arriving a couple of days ago. There are also a significant number of very unhappy crew and service levels are pretty awful at times. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jpalbny Posted February 13 #2 Share Posted February 13 Good to have you back, Silver. Sorry the atmosphere is so weird. I can see how these drastic changes could put everyone in a funk - hope that improves over the voyage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare spinnaker2 Posted February 13 #3 Share Posted February 13 Happy sailing!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulaJK Posted February 13 #4 Share Posted February 13 We had already arrived in CPT when notified that we would not be sailing on to Dubai. This reflected poorly on SilverSea. The cancellation is not articulated by senior staff and is an elephant in the room or low lying fog obscuring the horizon. My impression is that many pax are trying to accept the inevitability of the geopolitical situation and the many changes in travel plans. Some crew members are quite upset, worried about their jobs and economics. There is a shortage of merriment, enthusiasm and positive excitement in both groups. For ourselves, we have not suffered poor service so far but the concerns noted above do put a pall over things. The ‘shortfalls’ I have experienced seem more systemic or line inspired..a tedious digital tv program for all/ daily information, a weak hair salon , beautiful but non operational settings for caviar service, a sauced dish that appeared without the sauce. Will follow your posts w interest..and hope for better impressions. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted February 14 Author #5 Share Posted February 14 Valentines Day and we have just arrived in PE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted February 14 Author #6 Share Posted February 14 This morning, at 9:45, we had the express cappuccino delivery in La Terrazza, taking less than 60 seconds. Somewhat of a turn around from 2 days ago when 25 minutes and three requests failed to produce one. Perhaps it’s because almost all the guests are off the ship on safari. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARDXXX Posted February 14 #7 Share Posted February 14 We disembarked on Sunday and this was by far the poorest Silversea Cruise we have ever experienced, we were only on for two weeks and if it had been our first Silversea Cruise we would have great reservations about booking another. Many issues about very limited and poor and repetitive menu in Main restaurant, only three main courses, a couple of starters and one dessert on the daily changing menu. I had a word with Oliver the manager and he said it was to prevent waste! And it was head office that devised the new menu. The service was intermittent in quality, we waited over two and a quarter hours one evening for two courses, which when they arrived were not even what we ordered, it took half an hour to even get the menu and as long for a glass of water. The ship seems a little tired and generally Silversea stating that they provide a six star experience is a bit of a joke. I agree that the communication was very poor and feel very sorry for the way the people on grand voyage have been treated. We were on a group of 23 and the general opinion of many of our group was that it was very poor and not a great experience. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted February 14 Author #8 Share Posted February 14 @ARDXXXsorry to hear that. So far have eaten dinner twice in Indochine, food good and to our liking, service ok, apart the coffee issue, and once on the grill where the service was patchy and looked understaffed. Lunch on the grill was poor, both fish and Camembert overcooked and returned. Better when replaced. The Arts Cafe is good, the bars also good and most wines that I like are onboard. Will be going to Silver Note tonight and will report further observations. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted February 14 Author #9 Share Posted February 14 Atlantide lunch with seafood medley and a veggie leek tart 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jpalbny Posted February 14 #10 Share Posted February 14 That looks far too healthy. Hopefully things are looking up, and the improved coffee service is a sign of better things to come! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GonzoWCS Posted February 14 #11 Share Posted February 14 Following along. We have friends on board with you now! Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty Shield Posted February 15 #12 Share Posted February 15 It is our first cruise with Silversea. Boarded in Cape Town on Sunday. Yes we were disappointed that our back to back cruise from Mahe to Dubai has been cancelled but fully support the decision that had to be made for the safety of all passengers and crew. So far we cannot fault the service we have received . We have dined in La Dame,La Terrazza, Indochine and Atlantide an have found the food to be better than anything that we have experienced on any other cruise line. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted February 15 Author #13 Share Posted February 15 1 hour ago, Liberty Shield said: It is our first cruise with Silversea. Boarded in Cape Town on Sunday. Yes we were disappointed that our back to back cruise from Mahe to Dubai has been cancelled but fully support the decision that had to be made for the safety of all passengers and crew. So far we cannot fault the service we have received . We have dined in La Dame,La Terrazza, Indochine and Atlantide an have found the food to be better than anything that we have experienced on any other cruise line. Interesting to get a different perspective from new SS cruisers. Mine is based on 20 years with SS and a number of cruises since lockdown and the RCL takeover. I also have friends on the Whisper at the moment who experiencing similar issues. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted February 16 Author #14 Share Posted February 16 Today’s cappuccino at breakfast was produced in 4 minutes and the staff are significantly more attentive, so things are looking up. Today is our second day at sea and the weather has improved. The swell is down and we have sun again. All is good apart from Trivia, where we are being thrashed by the Grand voyage teams. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted February 17 Author #15 Share Posted February 17 Along with the retrograde dancers (remember the days of Jean Anne Ryan) SS has now tipped their corporate toe back into the cesspit that is the art market and allowed the Spirit to be adorned with many series of expensive prints. Oh, and there is an art curator too! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayflower1 Posted February 17 #16 Share Posted February 17 Good Morning Mr Silver from a dull and wet UK . Surely SS are not going down the Art Auction Route !!!! - If so it merely shows how far standards have fallen recently - Food, Entertainment, Communication - where next ? I hope you have a great Cruise and look forward to your further Reports. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted February 17 Author #17 Share Posted February 17 3 minutes ago, Mayflower1 said: Good Morning Mr Silver from a dull and wet UK . Surely SS are not going down the Art Auction Route !!!! - If so it merely shows how far standards have fallen recently - Food, Entertainment, Communication - where next ? I hope you have a great Cruise and look forward to your further Reports. No, it’s not the Art Auction Route, it’s the same stuff that used to be on here 12 years ago with the Andrew Weiss Gallery in LA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayflower1 Posted February 17 #18 Share Posted February 17 Thank you for the update which is a slight relief. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlyerTalker Posted February 17 #19 Share Posted February 17 5 hours ago, Silver Spectre said: Along with the retrograde dancers (remember the days of Jean Anne Ryan) I had almost successfully forgotten the JAR entertainment (which was quite "jarring"). No thanks to you for reminding me - will probably take years to get that out of my brain again. 5 hours ago, Silver Spectre said: allowed the Spirit to be adorned with many series of expensive prints. Oh, and there is an art curator too! Of course, you have to note "the egg" in Terrazza, and the one-legged woman painting at the central staircase on 7. Plus the Chagall print of "Moses Blessing over Joshua", where Moses looks like a crazed rabbit. Inside word is that the "curator" (who implies this is his personal collection) is not the most well-liked by the crew. Plus, his daily caviar intake must be bankrupting someone. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jpalbny Posted February 17 #20 Share Posted February 17 I think JAR was in charge of the entertainment on our very first cruise (The Norway, January 1993), IIRC. No unlimited drinks on that cruise, so my memory may be intact. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Silver Spectre Posted February 18 Author #21 Share Posted February 18 Very rough last night and when we reached Tolagnaro this morning the Authorities told the ship that the port is closed due to adverse weather conditions, so now we have sea days 4 and 5 on our way to Reunion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgh Posted February 18 #22 Share Posted February 18 Good Luck ; weather map for the next few days around Reunion looks positively pregnant with portent 😰 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulaJK Posted February 18 #23 Share Posted February 18 Other than possibly sharing SS’s waiter one breakfast, our dining service has been very good in all venues, as has bar ( aka salvation) service. Cuisine has varied from very good to some unchewable meat entreesThere just is no fizz to this cruise /JMO/ Entertainment seems a bit spotty w on site performers appearing on stage frequently..a movie at 9:30 last night and staff show tonight. We do not see ourselves on Spirit again. Perhaps Silversea will not see us again either as their cash grab of notifying us of the cancellation on Friday pre Sunday embarkation…plus their very expedient cancellation of the Middle East leg to support their cruise schedule in the Med has cost us thousands of dollars. Now I hear that they are not refunding thr invoiced fare for the cancelled segment but are pro rating it and we can except to receive close to 50%. Hope this is not accurate…how can you prorate a cancelled cruise on a back to back w 2 invoices?? Hard to feel abused and happy simultaneously. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsWaldo Posted February 18 #24 Share Posted February 18 (edited) I’m definitely not doing an onboard booking on my next cruise. In reality I got 15% off, a cruise that was ok for dates, but not a preferred option and a lot of last minute organising for other things I truly think they should have honoured my onboard booking for the cancelled cruise and kept up the whopping $100 OBC The only future cruise I will book will need to be heavily discounted and last minute Edited February 18 by MrsWaldo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labrasett Posted February 18 #25 Share Posted February 18 On 2/15/2024 at 11:42 AM, Silver Spectre said: Interesting to get a different perspective from new SS cruisers. Mine is based on 20 years with SS and a number of cruises since lockdown and the RCL takeover. I also have friends on the Whisper at the moment who experiencing similar issues. I am sorry to hear that I also have friends (two lots) on the Whisper and they are having a wonderful time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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