bitob

Depends who you ask!

I really don't think of it as a "selling point" I would not cruise a line just because laundry is included - or if there were clergy on board or whatever (duplicate bridge yes) It is just one of many factors -- and it is a wonderful convenience IMO

That what I would sort of expect. I have not rushed to book a Viking cruise.

I meet so many people on luxury lines who love Viking. But the more I read the less it seems luxury enough for us at this stage in our lives. Twenty years ago yes

With laundry included no need to strategize. Or run to make sure someone else doesn’t take yourstuff out of washer or dryer. You can be at the pool, a lecture, playing bridge or off the ship. No one said doing laundry was a problem. It’s just way better when you can do other enjoyable things instead

Maybe the next crystal promo should be: no free laundry but the best laundry rooms at sea —with comfy couches. hope the marketing folks are reading

When we did the end of cruise evaluation for our recent seabourn cruise our biggest complaint was the in suite dining menu. So few choices. so glad to read they are improving the menu

Can’t disagree. When you live in tucson non stop is rarely an option. Lax. Las Vegas. Denver. we ship our luggage to pre cruise hotel so connections don’t bother us.

I will likely fly nonstop from Phoenix to Anchorage on Alaska Flight gets in 11:45 pm Cannot book yet. I will check 1 stop flights from Tucson. Tradeoff for us. Non stop vs no drive to Phoenix. Going to phx for departure no big deal. Facing the hour and half drive back to Tucson when we come home is never fun.

Ask them to get the recipes from their sister line Oceania. Best bread and pastry at sea. I don't sail them anymore but that would be a reason to go back.

On our recent Regent cruise that went from CapeTown to Buenos Aires (via Brazil), the staff made announcements alerting passengers to make purchases before the additional tax had to be collected and announced when the tax would disappear. Very nice of them.

The only time I witnessed a fight on a cruise ship was on Celebrity -- and it was at the buffet!

My TA checked on it -- if I book the hotel through Silversea i get airport pickup. I am purchasing transfers to ship and back separately. Interestingly when they quoted the pp amount for the hotel I laughed so hard as it seemed to be ridiculous price gouging. Then when I checked on line it was only 100 more than I could have paid if I booked myself. Worth it for the airport pickup in the middle of the night.

We don't live as far away as you but we have decided to do our own first class air because SS not offering it. All the flights get in at an ungodly hour. We booked 2 nights at the hotel through SS - paying for the extra night. As long as book the hotel through them you will get picked up at the airport.

Apparently some think it is better for the ship not to include complimentary laundry service. So that's a plus for Crystal and a negative for Regent. I never cease to be amazed.

My husband was a military guy. The Army teaches you lots of things but laundry is not one of them. He can fly a helicopter, jump out of airplanes, but he has no idea how to wash clothes.

then why bother commenting on it if you don't care I would ignore

We need to teach then both!! Should be a hoot

My husband is not allowed to do laundry. Long story. LOLOL I am always amazed when I see all the men in the laundry room who know what they are doing.

If choose only to only cruise a line with 2 ships you are not likely to get a large variety of itineraries, much less those you really want. When we cruised Crystal as our preferred line, we had difficult sticking only to Crystal because of those limitations. It's not likely change unless there are some new builds.

Not my point at all -- but feel free to read it that way. I believe your good friend Keith is always in a top suite (was once next door to him) --as are many others. You get old you spend down. I used to stay in cabins without balconies. I am happily bouncing my last check. Large suites help me meet that goal. SS does not provide free laundry to all passengers which I why I mentioned the suite category. In fact, the laundry room on deck 11 of the larger ships (which is composed of all silver suites) is tiny. I peeked in. Naturally, it gets almost no use at all. I really don't understand the snide remarks about a suite and a butler Some want casinos (don't care) Some want a great gym (dont care) Some want pickleball (don't care) Some want great entertainment (a factor) Some want great lecturers (a factor) Some want newer ships (I care) Some want larger cabins (I care) Some don't care as long as its Crystal I want a butler. Nice to have choices. I will add -- as you get older and less active you spend a lot more time in the suite. We used to tour for 8-10 hours a day when we were younger. I could have been in an inside cabin and enjoyed it. Now we spend a lot more time on the ship. We don't tour for more than 4-5 hours if we tour at all. Some ports we don't even get off. We look for cruises with sea days. That's why a larger suite with a butler suits us. Decades ago it would have been a waste of money. And one more thing -- my husband has some mobility issues -- i might get off and he stays on board. I want him to be comfortable with plenty of space. It's great that he doesn't have to go foraging around the ship on his own to get a snack or anything else. the butler takes good care of him. In fact, one day on Silversea the butler noticed I left the ship and he was concerned my husband might not go to lunch without me (which he can). The butler just brought him some lunch. No one asked.. Before you criticize -- know the facts.

We did that Crystal cruise. Silversea has an amazing cruise to the Hawaiian Islands LA to Vancouver in 2025. We booked early to get the cabin we want Tons of sea days.

BTW - even Oceania (not a luxury line) gives 3 free bags of Laundry to everyone in Concierge class and above. Those are NOT all suites. Not one day turn around but saves you from being a laundress on board. And I have seen their fabulous laundry rooms on the newer ships. Spacious with plenty of machines.

Have you done the analysis too? Anxious to hear! I always booked PHS on Crystal (comparable to Silver suite) and never got free laundry. That's why I needed the suite with the laundry facilities.

you have taken one ss cruise i believe Tours on Regent are awful. Tours on SS are quite good, and we are private tour people. The other aspect of SS tours we love is that they have many tours with minimal activity. At this point in our lives we are not trekking around or doing anything very high energy. I always have an option to do private. I never did a ship tour on Crystal I guess you haven't been on too many mass market lines if you think Silversea is like a mass market line.