les37b

Often OBC is given by the booking agent out of their commission, though if it’s able to give so much, there certainly is room for price drops! lol OP, I’d think it unlikely you would be able to do what you request, especially if you are not using the same hotel that SS are using. On my last visit to Reykjavik, we paid for flybus with local bus hotel drop offs (which luckily drops us right outside our hotel. On the morning of boarding (we stayed quite near the opera house) we waited a few minutes at the taxi stand opposite the hotel and the 15 minute or so journey was about £20. However, it is possible to contact the ship and see what can be done. You might be in luck. Your agent should be able to tell you the Hotels they’ve used and see if you are close by. Edit…. Apologies, I’ve noticed you meant from the airport. Try speaking to the ship or your SS agent to see if possible. I suspect it may be possible to travel, but unlikely they would except your OBC…. But unless you ask and press the point, you’ll never know. Have to agree on the usefulness of the OBC. The shops content since Covid has definitely got more expensive. Ours was always used by my wife on Swarovski jewellery which is no longer available. So armed with about $800 and no prices on display, she chose a pair of earrings she liked… until informed the price was $22,000. Obviously one option is the non included excursions or spa.

Have a great cruise SS. Looking forward to your reporting. Out of curiosity, what was the Emirates problem? We just flew out to Bali on Emirates and back from Bangkok with Qatar and vowed we’d never use Qatar again because of our experience in Doha. On our third security check from leaving BKK which was excessive and very unpleasant, leaving all the contents of my carry in a tangled heap. (Probably took about 10mins to get it nicely arranged and able to all fit in the bag again!) I appreciate this wasn’t Qatar directly, but did ask the boarding staff who said this was usual! Hope you have a better weather for the crossing and luck with your Alaskan ports than we did. The time zone changes were pretty challenging to! Fingers crossed.

I was on your sailing. It was mostly enjoyable and without too many gripes, but a few were difficult to ignore. OTOT there wasn’t anything inspiring either. Main pluses obviously the ship and crew. I guess they are a given. Reduction in choices on menus was not good and items running out at bars was poor and something I keep seeing on the past 3 sailings since Covid. It might be a minor thing in the scheme of things, but for first impressions, the lack of that welcome onboard champagne isn’t a good look and makes it very clear there is penny pinching going on. A theme which I noticed a few times. I thought it was rather embarrassing waiting in St Barths for the tender, to reach for a refreshment from the tender stand to find it was for seadream… we had nothing. I suspect the cost cutting no water bottles was to blame, but you don’t need that to pour into your drink bottle or a paper cup so no excuse. Again in the past when asked, I’d always say “it’s the little things that make it special”. I can no longer say that. The reverse is now true for me. This sailing is with regrets my final SS sailing unless there is a big turnaround and I can’t see that happening. On the plus side, my last cruise we just got back from with Viking a couple of weeks ago, has me set to return to Singapore and Malaysia next January. Hotels and flights already booked and know this trip for 21 nights will end up being less expensive than the 12 nights were on Viking with trains planes and automobiles instead of a ship as my taxi service. And completely by chance (not planned or knowledge) find ourselves booked into an executive club run with twin towers view over the Chinese new year and firework display which I will record in full from the room. I will miss the free laundry though! lol

Don’t forget the waffles! 😀

สวัสดี From Bangkok….. Apologies for the late greeting. It’s a great pity the trimming down of menu choices, missing flowers, no welcome drink, shortage of drink supplies etc seem to be echoed by ours and many recent posts. Our Viking cruise ended 4 days ago and happy to say we never experienced any of these issues or cutbacks. Wished it wasn’t the case, but what I’d hinted a while back, I’m certain will be the case that we have taken our final sailing as an “esteemed” guest. Hope the weather at least continues to be favourable (albeit your missed port!). Fingers crossed for the distressed passenger. All the best Spins….

Begging is not a good sign. In the history of cruising has a 6 star all inclusive live remotely dipped a begging cap to its “esteemed” guests? Silversea are making themselves a laughing stock? Who is the idiot that is coming up with this nonsense (I include the outrageous you’ve missed your flight because you are not esteemed guests debacle?) I do wish they’d make themselves known. I suspect I know, but if it’s not, it would be nice not to be pointing fingers within. The silence from the photoshoot thing was deafening. What next? Door to door in your own car? Pay for food that used to be included? Drinks packages? Photographers on every corner? Its insulting and Silversea appear to want to self destruct… on actually want to get rid of their loyal customers and hope to replace with people non the wiser? Things won’t change…. My backside. Im currently on Viking. Welcome champagne not a problem (with refills if you want.)… lo and behold… nothing has run out. I feel so sad how far things are being degraded. Im glad I experienced how good it was and certainly consider myself as loyal to the brand…. But I guess I have to accept there are superior products who don’t treat “esteemed guests” (what a joke that’s become) with complete contempt. Cant believe I’m on a Viking ship on what’s been an exemplary cruise venting anger. It’s upsetting even if it appears not to be.

You've missed your flight home..... "what's all the fuss about". Actually we were subjected to one of these "esteemed guests" letters 10 months ago, which was sent on the day of boarding (to our TA who I had to chase for the news) telling us our Alaskan train ride was cancelled "due to logistics", but travelling on the coach, you will arrive in Ackorage sooner. Well we didn't because they messed that up to. We missed 3 ports and excursions and the highlight of the cruise..... Yup..... money saved by SS and kept.

Better still ….. confine everyone to quarters! Don’t want those pesky esteemed guests spoiling things….. though each balcony donning a banner draped over the side saying “Last Silversea Cruise ever - beep your photoshoot”, might be photoshopped out - but at least the contempt is returned.

Have to admit, that was something I was wondering about. Obviously SS dress code is something that’s never ending on here, but during the day, shorts and Polo shirt is pretty standard. Not sure why during the day, Raffles should be anything different. I’m certainly not going to carry with me a change of clothes to go in and as it was a “time permitting” visit, maybe I’ll just have that sling from the rooftop bar in Level33 and enjoy the views of the Marina Bay Area.

Nail on head. My next 2 trips I’m looking at might not have free laundry, but with the money saved it will not be a deal breaker! I still find it astonishing the notion guests on board should be happy and now knowing that’s not the case, instead of holding their hands up and apologise and admit they’ve made a huge misjudgement, it seems the only utterance allegedly is “I don’t see what all the fuss is about.” .

I got the song wrong… but found a short video I took and uploaded to YT

Jeffrey fell off the stage on our Japan Muse cruse during the crew talent show. He really took the "break a leg" thing too far. He was an OTT "Tina Turner" - and was miming "Simply the best". He attempted to jump off the stage and do the splits, but twisted his ankle on landing. It was a show stopper and eventually stretchered away. Luckily no serious injury and he was back in Dolce Vita 2 days after. Ok, have caught up Terry. A belated thanks for your usual great sharing Terry. Great narrative and photos i think we all come to expect! During my YT research for my trip next week, For a future trip we had pencilled in flights to KL, then on to Langkowi, Phucket and Phi Phi for a return trip next year. KL especially has so much to offer and I know we'll get the frustration you had from Port Klang when our ship arrives. I think we've decided not to take the included KL highlights tour and just get a taxi, then using taxis to get around for the short time there. Funnily I was there in 1984 - and hated it. The sky line wasn't there then and the thing I remembered was the sewage stench everywhere - which I learned later was Durian fruit! I remember very well the the cricket pitch and railway station. (I back packed from Singapore to Chang Mai, stopping in numerous places inc Penang and Koh Samui (No airport then - and braved the night ferry and risk of pirates!) Has it whetted your appetite to return and explore a bit more? I've 2 in the planning pipeline land trips for Malaysia and Japan.

Hey there Terry. Not sure how, but completely missed your Live thread until today. (I think I must have glanced over thinking it was your finance thread!) 😵‍💫 Anyhoo....... Just had a quick glance for now. We are off to Bali and a cruise to Bangkok in a few days and looking forward to a Singapore revisit. Annoyingly we depart at 5pm - and have an overnight in the container port in Jakarta instead! So will remain in the Marina Bay area only - but may venture to Raffles again and this time have an OTT priced Sling this time! Went to Japan last year and fully intend to do an overland Shinkansen tour. Missed the blossom in the south (too late) and in the Hakaido (too early!) Maybe next time. Will have a read through and further comment in a bit. 🖕

It’s often referred to as “Doing a Ratner”.

The term clueless springs to mind!