What am I going to Miss?-- If Anything?

All my previous cruising experience has been on RCCL or Celebrity (my preferred line up until this point), but the hubby and I decided on a SilverSea cruise next February. I am looking for responses from people who have sailed the Caribbean on both lines.

We booked SilverSea because of the itinerary and quality of cabin we could get for the money. Originally, we were looking at a 14 night out of FLL, but the itinerary wasn't great (5 sea days), and did not visit any places we hadn't been to many times before. For the price of cabin, and the all inclusiveness (drinks), there wasn't much of a difference, so....we chose SilverSea.

I have always wanted to try the smaller ships. I prefer to vacation without huge crowds, but I always found the Celebrity ships to distribute the passengers very well (shore excursions are another matter). I was never much into the casino, on board activities (usually enjoyed dinner, spirit tastings, and just relaxing), or pool-side activities.

My question is this: What am I going to miss that Celebrity offers that SilverSea doesn't have? This is more to mentally prepare as opposed to deciding to change our minds.

Thank you in advance!

All my previous cruising experience has been on RCCL or Celebrity (my preferred line up until this point), but the hubby and I decided on a SilverSea cruise next February. I have always wanted to try the smaller ships. I prefer to vacation without huge crowds, but I always found the Celebrity ships to distribute the passengers very well (shore excursions are another matter). I was never much into the casino, on board activities (usually enjoyed dinner, spirit tastings, and just relaxing), or pool-side activities. My question is this: What am I going to miss that Celebrity offers that SilverSea doesn't have? This is more to mentally prepare as opposed to deciding to change our minds.

Having done two different (and successful) cruises on the Celebrity Solstice, I can offer a few insights regarding your good questions. Yes, having a smaller-sized ship can be a major plus with Silversea. Since the casino and some other features on a large ship are that important to you, it is clear that you should enjoy Caribbean time with SS. Among the other, biggest pluses with Silversea is having the evening dining time flexibility. None of that early or late dining time!! Dine when you desire!! And still have a good variety of dining locations and options on a Silversea ship. The evening entertainment with SS might not be as varied as a larger ship can offer, but you do fine with what these smaller ship offer.

For your upcoming cruise, what islands are you visiting? Last year, we did 26 days on the Silver Cloud for the Amazon River and doing ten different islands in the Caribbean. There might be other tips, insights and ideas that I and others can offer to help you prepare and enjoy your upcoming adventure.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure on the Celebrity Solstice, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 137,890 views for this posting.

You might miss

* Big shows

* multiple activities to choose from at any time of day

* multiple dining options 24/7 (aside from room service)

* Movie theater

You won't miss:

* The ship's photographer stopping you to take photos

* Constant announcements

* Awkwardness inviting someone to meet you for drinks before dinner (with it being all-inclusive, there's no having to figure out who will pick up the tab.)

* Long lines

Be prepared to entertain yourself (books, podcasts or entertainment loaded on you iPad.)

Be prepared to get little reading done because you end up chatting with people for hours on end

If you choose, be prepared to learn, over drinks or a meal, more about the lecturer's topic. On a small ship, you run into them constantly and most are fascinating.

Have fun!

You won't miss:

* The ship's photographer stopping you to take photos

* Constant announcements

* Awkwardness inviting someone to meet you for drinks before dinner (with it being all-inclusive, there's no having to figure out who will pick up the tab.)

* Long lines

Have fun!

YES, this above is a super excellent summary from CanadianKate! Your points for what will not be missed nails it perfectly. With being prepared to entertain yourself and at times to end up chatting with people for hours are "realities. With Silversea, including for South Africa last month on the Silver Cloud, we learn so much over a meal, and at other times, by being able to connect with the ship's lecturer. It is true that on a small ship, you can run into them constantly and that most of them are very helpful and fascinating.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 36,786 views for these postings.

I have not been on Celebrity but have done Holland America a couple times, in a bigger suite, the Neptune. It was not a "ship within a ship", however, so we shared public areas with everyone else. I understand HA is similar in quality rating to Celebrity.

In addition to the pleasantness of usually having no lines on SS, e.g., embarking, disembarking, and restaurants, there is more public space per passenger, and excursions are less crowded. There is an overall light and airy feel you are paying for.

There are also very few children, who often take over the pool on the bigger and cheaper ships, if the pool matters to you. People drink a lot with the free-flowing liquor but intestingly rarely act drunk .

Potential negatives not already mentioned:

1. In a storm, a smaller ship is more likely to make you seasick, even with stabilizers. If you are vulnerable, make sure you have a suite that is low and center.

2. The clientele is different, which can be a positive or a negative depending on what you like.

There are many Brits.

Though there is a spectrum, SS pax are financially richer, as even the base suites cost a lot unless you get a keen deal. The regulars seem to be primarily of the financially upper middle class (doctors and their spouses, lawyers and their spouses, engineers and their spouses, company managers and their spouses, executives of well-paying "non-profits" with their retired military/ goverment contractor spouses, retired pilots and their spouses, and various permutations) and the lower upper class ( CEOs or higher management of various small and middle-sized companies who are well-off but not likely super-rich or they would probably have their own yacht with private chefs instead of dealing with SS food and beverage concerns; widows of people who had made a lot of money but had no high-earning career of their own; people who had no high-earning career of their own but had inherited money from relatives, etc., we have met many people like this, it is surprising how gregarious people become after a bit of wine. Less common are a few people of more modest income doing just one special cruise, those who got a cruise as a gift from relatives, or who cruise rarely and/or on deals, and travel agents doing business or networking or bonus cruises. On the other extreme, there are some obviously very rich people who have not bothered to buy their own yacht even though they could easily afford a few, and have no problem dropping tens of thousands of dollars on a painting sale and talking about it at dinner ( however, there are also people who talk about how to get frequent flyer miles deals -- my ears always perk up there -- and how to save on ship laundry and internet charges, sometimes while wearing jewelry expensive enough to pay for a world cruise).

There are also some "snobs" ( financial and cultural) though fortunately they are in the minority.

The conversations and people and stories at communal tables on SS were usually interesting ( we almost always join tables, to meet people) and at a minimum are amusing for memories even if it was clear we were sometimes on different wavelengths and income and political strata from some of our seatmates. DH and I especially enjoyed talking to people who had started out with nothing and built up their own companies ( these people were never snobs), of which there are many on SS, and learning about people's many travels, places to stay and eat all over the world ( I take mental or iphone notes for future reference) funny travel incidents, etc. DH had the best time at the Monaco Grand Prix cruise dinner where every male and one female at the table including a German computer software entrepreneur was a hardcore gearhead and spent the evening oblivious to the so-so food and instead talked about the trials and tribulations of securing enough garage space at home, the latest Formula One tire rules, etc. The all-inclusive wine flow was quite nice in such a circumstance, no interruptions needed to resign a drink chit! :)

People on HA ( and likely Celebrity) seemed to me to be overall more down to earth in their apparent budgets and background, perspective, and experiences, and and when we travel on SS and other luxury lines, DH I sometimes miss having more of a mix and more diversity ( but not enough to go back to cheaper, very nice but more crowded cruise lines, at least not for routine cruising).

I wish you a terrific cruise on SS! With a positive attitude, and not expecting perfection even on a luxury line, you should be fine, even with the smaller and less polished shows and other differences.

Potential positives:

There are far fewer Yanks.

I have sailed Celebrity. Each person is different so it's hard to know what you will miss.

I would have to say that you might miss the much more elaborate entertainment that can be offered on larger ships and possibly the number of public venues.

Of course you will be able to enjoy many of the attributed that you will find on a luxury line from more personal service to finer dining.

Keith

Potential positives:

 

There are far fewer Yanks.

Well, such dedicatedly class conscious ones as in a previous post. Aren't us Brits meant to be stifled by social class while the US is the land of the free?

Anyway to the OP - you'll love small ship cruising if you prefer to feel pampered as an individual person, not just served as one of a crowd.

Potential positives: There are far fewer Yanks.

Appreciate this cute and interesting comment about getting the "right balance" of Americans versus those from the UK. This is always a good and important question and challenge!! My opinion is that it is about having the "best quality Americans" on board, not in their numbers, large or small. On our just-completed South Africa cruise on the Silver Cloud, it was about a half and half mix of those from the UK versus the USA. Things worked very well.

We always enjoy sailing with and meeting those from the UK with their wonderful life experiences, ways of expressing themselves, etc. It is very nice to sail on Silversea as they have a good number of those great folks from the UK and/or their former colonies, current Commonwealth members, etc.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 195,672 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Many of the staff will know and therefore call you by name on Silversea than on mainstream lines. It never ceases to amaze us how so many crew members know who we are when on board.

Many of the staff will know and therefore call you by name on Silversea than on mainstream lines. It never ceases to amaze us how so many crew members know who we are when on board.

They have copies of the photos taken when you boarded the ship.

Potential positives:

 

There are far fewer Yanks.

I truly cannot believe that you said that!

Jackie, think Mr. Silver's comment was made with his tongue firmly in his cheek. We have sailed with Mr. and Mrs. Silver and they did not ask to see our passport before having dinners with us :)

Hi Ho Silver! I resemble that remark![emoji6]

One more comment from me.

When you are on Silversea, put Celebrity out of your mind.

Do not think about anything you are missing.

Just enjoy the cruise.

When you get home reflect on your experience and then compare it to Celebrity.

We don't know you so we really don't know what you might miss and what you might like.

Just enjoy the cruise.

It will be a different experience.

Keith

Jackie, think Mr. Silver's comment was made with his tongue firmly in his cheek. We have sailed with Mr. and Mrs. Silver and they did not ask to see our passport before having dinners with us :)

Where is that 'like' button when you need it. Appreciate the support Wes:)

I truly cannot believe that you said that!

Read the 5th post above.:D

I truly cannot believe that you said that!

I can not believe what you said Less common are a few people of more modest income doing just one special cruise. Well I have a modest income and I would rather take 1 on Silver Seas per year than do 2 on the mass market which is about the same when you figure in the total cost .

How do you know how much someone has.

One more comment from me.

 

When you are on Silversea, put Celebrity out of your mind.

 

Do not think about anything you are missing.

 

Just enjoy the cruise.

 

 

Just enjoy the cruise.

 

It will be a different experience.

 

Keith

Best advice yet!

Most of my cruising experience for the past few years has been with Celebrity, with some Crystal and Regent thrown in, and I'm pretty sure you won't miss anything. I enjoy each ship for its own personality and offerings. My favorite ship is whichever one I am on at the moment. Every cruise on every line is different, as the mix of people constantly changes. There are pros and cons to larger, more mainstream cruises....and the same goes for the smaller, more exclusive ships, which is why we go back and forth. We are also doing our first Silversea cruise in June 2017. I have no doubt you'll have a great time on your trip.

Michael

Most of my cruising experience for the past few years has been with Celebrity, with some Crystal and Regent thrown in, and I'm pretty sure you won't miss anything. I enjoy each ship for its own personality and offerings. My favorite ship is whichever one I am on at the moment. Every cruise on every line is different, as the mix of people constantly changes. There are pros and cons to larger, more mainstream cruises....and the same goes for the smaller, more exclusive ships, which is why we go back and forth. We are also doing our first Silversea cruise in June 2017. I have no doubt you'll have a great time on your trip. Michael

Appreciate this excellent above point by Michael for how each cruise can be different, even on the same ship and cruise line. Example? Prove it!! A year ago when we did the Silver Cloud for a total of 26 days, it was actually two different cruises. First was 17 days from Barbados up the Amazon River for a thousand miles and back to Barbados. Then, we had a nine-day cruise in the Caribbean. All of the details are reflected below in my live/blog. Although it was the exact same ship and crew for the entire period, it was clearly like two totally different "experiences" because of the very different mixes of passengers on the two cruises. The longer cruise had many more sea days and a different "pace". The shorter cruise had a mix of passengers seeking to "get more done" in short timer period, etc.

Excellent point on the "favorite ship" being the one you are on at the time.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 36,860 views for these postings.

You might miss

 

* Big shows

* multiple activities to choose from at any time of day

* multiple dining options 24/7 (aside from room service)

* Movie theater

 

 

You won't miss:

 

* The ship's photographer stopping you to take photos

* Constant announcements

* Awkwardness inviting someone to meet you for drinks before dinner (with it being all-inclusive, there's no having to figure out who will pick up the tab.)

* Long lines

 

Be prepared to entertain yourself (books, podcasts or entertainment loaded on you iPad.)

 

Be prepared to get little reading done because you end up chatting with people for hours on end

 

If you choose, be prepared to learn, over drinks or a meal, more about the lecturer's topic. On a small ship, you run into them constantly and most are fascinating.

 

Have fun!

Interestingly, on all of my past Celebrity cruises, there was one announcement each day, usually at noon. On my one and only Silversea cruise so far, there were at least three announcements every day. I think that might have been unusual, based on comments I have read here, but I just wanted to point out that Celebrity doesn't overwhelm their passengers with frequent announcements.

Cunard and Seabourn do NOT have announcements, except the Captain. Oh I wish![emoji4]