Mahogany

Interesting. I was on Venture in the spring for a month. Guess I will have a chance to see her again on July 25 when I board Regent Splendor and you board Venture the same day. There may be additions to the excursion options. When we tendered by zodiac, we then could join an excursion (many complimentary) or tour on our own. I certainly would have preferred tendering by Tender. A nuisance to have to don and doff a life jacket and tolerate wind and salt spray; also more difficult to board. But some may prefer "the experience".

1 hour ago, CruiserPK said:

We usually leave something for the crew fund.  If you choose to leave money for your cabin attendant or butler, you are missing those who washed your bed linens, stocked the drinks, etc.  There are so many "below deck" crew who we never see but need the extra money too.  Just my 2 cents.

Does anyone know how the Gratuities Included part of the cruise fare works? Do the behind-the-scenes staff benefit? And I read that the Crew Fund provides parties, not cash.

The videos are thorough. But I think he is particularly invasive to the privacy of the passengers he captures while trying to describe the public spaces. It's possible he asked everyone's permission, but I personally wouldn't want to be photographed. I was looking at the RCY YouTubes, and was surprised at how many "old" (my age)👵 people were on RCY! Of course, I wouldn't have needed to see their faces, just their gait !

On 6/2/2024 at 4:50 PM, TechSurfer said:

I'm well over half-a-century old. That change happened starting in the '60s and '70s, first as we destroyed all of our heroes and then as adults became more bratlike and less responsible than kids have been. And really it was overdue. If your "elders" are abusers, drug addicts, multiply-divorced parents or even just self-absorbed, why should their age garner them respect?

But our (older) generation does get a disproportionate amount of respect, because we have most of the money. 

What??? you are well over 50, but how much "over" to qualify as "our (older)" generation? And who are these elder abusers, drug addicts you mention? Not my family, thank you very much.

5 hours ago, Brad1185 said:

So glad we cancelled our Oct 1 Nova Japan cruise. This and dozens of other negative reviews has confirmed we made the right decision to cancel. 
 

Unless reviews change for the better will eat the $500 future credit we have with SS. 
 

We rebooked the Japan cruise with HAL got a suite with them and it’s about $15,000 cheaper. 
 

Our preferred line is Viking on a midnight sun cruise right now and the ship, service and food is perfect. 

If you think "Viking...right now...ship, service and food is perfect", why would you even consider another line, or a luxury line (Viking is not).

You say you have sailed with Regent and Silversea which also include gratuities. The policy/procedure is the same with Seabourn.

1 hour ago, Pizzasteve said:

Sorry for my typo.  I meant upcharges.  Claim to be younger but haven’t mastered my IPhone autocorrect.

 

Feel free to explain if they ever respond that they may have lost a chance with this frequency luxury cruiser to try their brand this fall.  Thanks again for caring enough to share your experiences.

 

I was at the Greek Theater in Berkeley last night and noted that the average age was quite old (70s), but also dancing and rock and roll attitudes.  Folks in tie dye smoking weed and dancing.  An elderly Wavy Gravy introduced the Tedeshi Trucks Band. These people pay $200 for a

concert and have a lot of money to spend, if cruises are/were fun.
 

I think it hurts the large cruise brands that they are all based in Florida and live in this bubble of assumptions echo chamber where they observe these retirement home Florida retirees who are stuck in some old age home mentality and think these are their customers.

 

It seems to be something like ‘too old to taste the food anyway, so if it looks luxury that’s ok)’, music should be something grandma played, don’t meet active older adults who live in the real world and hike 10miles per day like us, so excursions are designed around people overweight with walkers, etc

 

 

Wow, ageism lives!! I'm too embarrassed as a senior from Florida to itemize where I think you may be mistook!

Has anyone been on RCY, and if so, how does it compare to Regent?

I am considering a TA on Ilma next spring: 13 nights FLL-LIS with only 2 port stops. Has anyone had experience with lack of planned activities on sea days? I have skin cancer and not a pool person, so other than reading and eating, what does one do, since I've heard there are no lectures - nothing - during the day when not in a port.

2 hours ago, agape01 said:

 

1st time SS cruiser and I had no problems making my reservations for Silver Note and any restaurants for my upcoming Nova cruise in September.

Main thing is to find out what time is restaurant reservations open and I got that information from Silversea Customer Service.

The "Specialty Dining Reservations" date is on your confirmation on the itinerary page; mine is August 6 for December 4 Ray cruise.

On 5/26/2024 at 10:33 AM, papaflamingo said:

We had friends in the suite next to us, the one with the TV on the wall.  We never heard them and they never heard us. I only heard our neighbors when sitting on the sofa and it sounded like he was sitting on his sofa, presumably we were back to back with only about 6 inches and a wall separating us.  Then again.... I have hearing aids too....so who knows HOW loud anyone was. 😜

Well, I would hope "your friends" wouldn't bother you ! 😉

1 minute ago, Mahogany said:

Your booking confirmation will have the date. On mine, it's below the itinerary. Depends on your Regent level; I believe for first-time passengers, it's 75 days, but a quick look (or call) will inform you.

Sorry, that info was for Regent. I don't know what ship you are on: no dining rez for expedition, and only for Solis on classic ships.

4 hours ago, scottie920 said:

Thanks to all for your response. Is there a list to choose from similar to Regent?

Also any idea when i will be able to book dining?

Thanks in advance.

Your booking confirmation will have the date. On mine, it's below the itinerary. Depends on your Regent level; I believe for first-time passengers, it's 75 days, but a quick look (or call) will inform you.

On 5/24/2024 at 5:15 AM, Harters said:

Most probably wear them for polo, as well. 

Embroidered with your polo team's logo! 😄

18 hours ago, Pcardad said:

I didn't accuse you of anything nor did I post any opinion at all.. I asked you to clarify your original post so I could better understand what happened.

I also was confused, but in your original post, you said you had to pack a bag and move and reverse the process the following morning. So, though you didn't answer Pcardad's question, it does look like you had use of a Seven Seas suite AND a concierge suite. Am I wrong?

Might be a good value for 4 people, less so for 2.

On 12/24/2022 at 4:30 PM, jimdee3636 said:

@arlingtonva

Thank you for your comprehensive, insightful, and well-written review. I think we'll stick with Silversea for now when we want to book a so-called luxury line, but you've piqued my curiosity about Seabourn. Our only Seabourn cruise was 22 years ago, on the old "Pride" (now a Windstar ship, I believe), so of course much has changed since then. As for the Evrima (I hate that name), I got the sense from RC's first marketing promotions that they were promising more than they could deliver. To a certain extent, you've verified that impression.

Evrima is Greek for "discovery". Why Greek reference? Who knows?

7 hours ago, Harters said:

I was drawn to this thread as we're at an early stage of considering a Regent cruise (as a change from Oceania). Seems to me that Regent has a very straightforward and easily understood dress code, with which I'll have no problem complying, wearing chinos and polo shirt. That's my standard wear for a "nice restaurant" at home and has worked for Oceania. I have no problem with any business setting whatever dress code it wishes and, so long as it's clear (as it is here), I can then decide if I want to give them my custom. For example, I do not go to restaurants at home that require/request jackets. Fortunately, these are very few and none are in my home region (not even the Michelin 3* place). 

When you say, "polo shirt", do you mean the knit short-sleeve shirt most wear for golf or tennis? Yes, it is collared.

I hope you meant "norovirus" unless this is a new Silver Nova virus! 🤧

1 hour ago, Stormingsal said:

We sailed on Silver Nova on Feb 24 and metal water bottles were waiting in our suite for us - no more plastic bottles 😃

Is it up to passenger to wash bottles? I read somewhere staff would do this - but who knows the previous "imbiber?🤢

I think the illustration is the same for all the restaurants requiring reservations. If you choose "early" 7-8 for Silver Note it will be confirmed, but you won't be able to enter until 8. And if door doesn't open until 8, you can't sit at the bar for a drink either (before 8). IIRC

OTOH posters have remarked, "Oh, if I'd only known about the Crew 
Welfare Fund, I'd have contributed". Well, maybe.

7 hours ago, wineasmusic said:

I got 127k Bonvoy points for an 11 day cruise.

Wow! I know you used to get 10 points/US$ but thought it was only 1:1 now. Tell me your 11-day cruise wasn't $127,000!

1 hour ago, Silver Spectre said:

Interestingly a sports bar in downtown Kodiak has a much better choice of complimentary wines than the SS Shadow and their scallops are way off the chart better.

Well I would expect the scallops to be better. But I want the name of this sports bar with complimentary wines!

7 hours ago, Salbags58 said:

 

I'm confused. Is this your review or someone elses?