OctoberKat

Exceptionally well-written account of remarkable naval history:

The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty

by Caroline Alexander

Link: http://amzn.com/067003133X

In any case the upsell etc. discussions are all over the Regent forum so some modicum of such knowledge gets around to be sure.

We're flying SFO-BGI via MIA Monday, First flight at 6:40am (ouch) so we'll go up Sunday evening to overnight in an airport hotel so as to minimize the pre-dawn trauma. We'll have three full days on a beach in Barbados ahead of the cruise.

I now am sorting, doing laundry, organizing dry cleaning, ferreting out the must-haves (e.g., binocs, bird guides, CDs, books, toiletries and meds, etc.). I get most slacks (mine and Jim's) and shirts/blouses done at the French laundry where they fold everything nicely and sheath in plastic -- this facilitates packing and saves space. Important because, given this is Silversea, we're packing a bit fancier than the norm. Also, bringing a ton of sunscreen and insect repellent. Assume the ship will have one or two chess sets available.

Saturday we drive Sparky (given name Spartacus) to the cat spa where he will luxuriate whilst we cruise. He gets his own "villa" plus a brush-out every day as well as nail clip and panty shave. Six hours of playtime in tricked out rooms and so on. He's a staff favorite so sometimes he hangs out in the office for easy- access petting.

This gearing up for a cruise is intense!

We've been in a Royal but not on the Whisper. Quite frankly you're not gaining much in the higher cabins if the difference is like on the Shadow.

I'm still sitting on it, Randy.

We'll have six sea days on the 17-day voyage so I may as well pay for the change but I'll sit on it for a few more days.

Billy Budd and Other Stories (Penguin Classics)

by Herman Melville et al.

Link: https://amzn.com/0140390537

Understand. We went through some of the same analysis for our June cruise opinion the Med on the Spirit. We were in the category below Silver Suite and were actually doing a 9 and 7-day cruise so the increase to a Silver Suite wasn't quite as reasonable as your situation. Since we were on a port intensive itinerary, only one sea day in 16 days, and wouldn't be in the cabin that much we stayed put. I'm really not complaining. If it is standard or generally typical Silversea holds the fare line then that's good by me. I know on the line we cruised for 15+ years before coming to Silversea was and still is all over the place with guarantees, up sells, and upgrades sometimes to the chagrin of early bookers who get stuck with their originally booked fare. That line has not low fare guarantee program.

I agree. I prefer it when most everyone gets the same fair(ish) shake. Our first cruise was aboard Regent and that forum often discusses all sorts of maneuvering including up sells and upgrades so I guess I assumed that approach was common amongst the luxe lines.

We've only been cruising on Silversea for four year so we're still relatively newbies to Silversea but my impression, and I've actually been told this by line personnel, is that Silversea doesn't generally do discounted up sells or free upgrades. I have told by a PCC and a ship's senior staff member that this was Silversea's general policy so as to not offend other passengers who may have paid full fare for a specific cabin category. Furthermore, that the Silver Fare Guarantee Program was reflective of this policy. ?????

That could well be but this is my first cruise on the line and I'd not found any discussion of the topic which, of course, could bolster your view.

We are booked currently into a royal suite and I am considering changing to a grand suite which the website shows as yet available. At list price that would be an extra $2K. That sum seems not much when compared to the cost of the royal suite for two, round-trip 1st-class airfare from SFO, six nights lodging on Barbados and the assorted host of incidental expenses.

Other than Vista suites, your sailing appears to be pretty full with only 1 or 2,suites still available in any category. At this point, though, I doubt they will sell many more. Like ronrick said, it couldn't hurt to ask.

Thank you, that's useful.

Whisper, 20 Nov., Barbados-Manaus-Barbados.

In a little less than two weeks, the cruise on which i am booked will sail. The Silversea website is showing availability in all but the tippy-top category (owner's suite). Does this indicate the cruise is unlikely to be fully booked? Would there be up-sells?

This novel is a terrific read, setting is New England seaboard.

The Season of Open Water: A Novel

by Dawn Tripp

Link: http://amzn.com/1400061873

In the past I have asked the hotel for a late checkout. So long as you stay over only a couple of hours, this request often is granted.

This one is very good indeed:

The Season of Open Water: A Novel

by Dawn Tripp

Link: http://amzn.com/1400061873

Hello Michael. We're embarking on our first SS cruise later this month. I appreciate seeing the 2017 itineraries early, as well. We've naught booked after July 2016 ... So we could be shopping, all else being equal.

Hmmm, portofinoitaly, did you say May of 2017?

There's inconsistency in attitudes that eschew "two-class cruising" yet are dismayed by mainstream (e.g., NCL) cruisers.

The posts here and elsethread give me pause. Jim and I, regardless of venue (unless we're dining al fresco), intend to wear what we wear to the opera and symphony in San Francisco:

Jim -- navy blue blazer, dress shirt, linen or cotton twill trousers, tie, decent shoes

Kat -- linen slacks, silk or linen shell, fancy jacket or shawl, flats on my feet (must be steady at sea).

Nigella....one has to be tough to negotiate these boards......most folk are helpful and nice....others have their own agenda and that's fine....we all define 'luxury' in our own way.

Ain't that the truth!

Our first Silversea cruise is aboard Whisper sailing on 20 Nov. Very excited. This Silversea forum has been mostly copacetic.

Sea Queens

by Jane Yolen et al.

Link: http://amzn.com/1580891322

I'd definitely opt for the colonial tour of the Casco Viejo; lots of culture, colorful, fun and a few markets with crafts. I was born and raised in Psnama and that's what I'd do,

Use an umbrella when in the sun. Don't drink a lot of alcohol, do drink water, lemonade, seltzer, etc. The transit takes about ten hours or so. Nip into your cabin every now and then for a cool shower. Put on clean clothes, not the sweaty ones worn earlier. Buy and use those moist towelettes, very refreshing. Take a neckerchief, soak in cold water and tie around neck, repeat as needed.

Born and raised in Panama.

Why would anything Rio said about his sister line, NCL, be any more or less relevant than

the frequent chatter about his Oceania brand on the Regent board? What's up with that? I'm interested.

There is that, too, fizzy. But the salient point for me was Mr. Del Rio's comment about upping the luxury ante in The Havens which surely could be construed as interesting to Regent passengers.

To close the loop on this flower business, a Bon Voyage Gift Form must be completed and emailed 14 days (at least) ahead of sailing. The link to the form is reproduced below. It includes a mini-catalog of items available for order.

http://www.silversea.com/bon-voyage-gift/

The email addy is specialservices at silversea dot com

Cheers.

Kat

Quoted from the link above:

"A signature of Norwegian ships, The Haven boasts its own pool, sun deck, restaurant and bar, and it comes with personal butler and concierge service. But Del Rio suggests it wasn't quite living up to its billing as the ultimate in luxury at sea.

"If you're going to play in the luxury game, you don't cut corners. You give it all you got," he says. "We're going to elevate The Haven. The bones are here to have a heck of a product, and we're going to fill it in with the level of service, the cuisine at the restaurant and the attention to detail."

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This is interesting.

English colonists sailing to Tasmania in the 19th century:

English Passengers: A Novel

by Matthew Kneale

Link: http://amzn.com/0385497431