Cruising the waves

Hi

I have sailed solo on two occasions, both with SS (the Med and Asia).  I had a brilliant time and I agree with everything that Lois and others have said.  I cannot wait for my next cruise and I highly recommend SS, not only for doing an excellent job with solo passengers but for the entire cruise experience.  

I was on deck 4 on the Spirit for a cruise around Asia in January.  No problems at all .. light and airy cabin and hardly any ‘motion’ in the little bit of choppy sea we had.  I would definitely book deck 4 again.  😊

I travelled solo for the first time last year with Silversea on The Whisper, doing a 9 day cruise in the med and I loved every minute of it.  There were pre-dinner cocktails for solo passengers arranged by two of the ships staff who then accompanied the solo travellers to dinner.  Of course you were free to do your own organising (or not) as the mood took you ...   I met some lovely people on my cruise, some of whom I am still in contact with.  Most of my fellow passengers were welcoming and happy to spend some time chatting over the days events etc.  All of the staff were very friendly and helpful and at no time did I feel uncomfortable travelling solo.  There was a good atmsosphere on the ship and I thoroughly enjoyed my cruise.  In fact, I am booked to go solo with Silversea again in January,  only this time to Asia.   I can't comment on the other cruise lines but I highly recommend the Silversea solo experience. 

On 5/22/2019 at 3:45 AM, Tarwood3 said:

Yes, I highly recommend our guide.  I actually had found quite a reviews on him through Cruise Critic before our cruise and everyone raves about him and we were not disappointed.  His name is Xuan Le....his English is excellent...and couldnt be a nicer guy.  He customizes his tours to whatever you want to see, but will happily give you examples of itineraries.  No need for advance deposit.  Just pay him when finished with tour.  His email is tourwithxuan@gmail.com and his name Xuan is pronounced like “Soon”.  He is very used to dealing with luxury clientele .  By the end of our 2 days together, we felt like old friends and still keep in constant contact with him.  We have sent several friends to him and everyone has loved him! I will find a pic....  he will reply via email..but once you firm something up, he prefers to correspond via whatsapp.  

Tell him Gary and Ben recommended you....he loves us! 

 

 

Hi

I am visiting Vietnam in January and have sent an email to Xuan ... I saw his name on another site in cruise critic ... great reviews and hopefully I will tour with him in HCM and An Hoi / Danang.   It's great to see so many people recommending him .. makes me feel more confident in my choice.  

Thank you all for such good advice ... I will continue some research on my ports of call and then I can sit back and relax and look forward to my trip. 😎

26 minutes ago, Silver Spectre said:

When are you travelling and on which ship. With regard to one of your questions about mosquitoes, you might be bitten outside on the ship in port, but it’s pretty unlikely.

Whoops!  In all my excitement I forgot to give the details ... I’m travelling on 4 January 2020 on Silver Spirit. 

I'm travelling on this cruise and getting very excited at the prospect of visiting Asia for the first time.  Please can anyone offer advice regarding ship tours vs private tours in Vietnam.   I've done some research on the Asia section of CC and Tours with Xuan is recommended.   I'm a solo traveller so private tours often work out quite expensive ...   I'm wondering about a private tour for Hoian and Danang which is a 50:50 split full day tour and guaranteed to get me back to the ship before it sails.   All advice is very welcome. 

I've already read up on DEET and mosquito bite avoidance and the suggestions of long sleeves and long trousers ... I had been planning on shorts and tee shirts but again any advice really welcome.    And, what about sitting out on deck whilst the ship is in port in the evening ..... is that also a mosquito haven.   

These are all probably silly questions to experienced Silversea passengers but your help is needed please.    Any other tips, dos or don't will be much appreciated.

Thanking you 

Jill

Hi Clodia

i did my first silversea cruise last year having previously cruised with P & O and Cunard, and like you I was worried about the 5* resort clothing that they refer to ....   For daytime wear I took my usual cruise attire of shorts, casual trousers and tops and there wasn't a problem.   I'm hooked on the smaller ships now.   Enjoy your cruise.

Jill 

Thank you both so much for your informative and balanced views about transoceanic cruising. You have confirmed my own thoughts ... cruising in the Med is a safer option for me! The idea of cruising across to New York seems great but not such a good idea if the weather or rough seas compromise my enjoyment of the holiday. And as a solo traveller I don't want to spend all the time in my cabin. Back to the drawing board as they say. :)

Jill

I am thinking of booking a transoceanic cruise from Barcelona to New York in September 2020 on Silver Whisper.

I am prone to a certain amount of motion sickness and realise that the weather/sea may be rough across the Atlantic. I just wonder how a smaller ship like The Whisper compares to a much bigger liner, like for example QM2.

I have previously sailed on The Whisper in the Med and other cruise lines as far as Madeira without any problems, but never across the Atlantic.

Any thoughts please.

Im 61 and just back from my first solo cruise ... I had a brilliant time. I was nervous about being alone but everything turned out really well. I joined some of the organised trips and other times went ashore on my own. During the day, I got chatting to other passengers, had dinner with some of them and met lots of new people. I will definitely cruise solo again.

Cruising is a good option for solo travellers.

Good morning, glad my review has eased your mind:)…...they are very good about how they treat everyone...…solos as well as not solo

 

Make a note for me, if you can remember...…...if you see Ebru and Soroya, tell them Lois says thank you and a big hello...…:D……..I had dinner with them a few different times...….just wonderful people.:)

 

 

Hi Lois

 

I had a wonderful solo cruise, met loads of lovely people and I said "hello" to both the hostesses for you. I sat with them at dinner a couple of times.

 

The advice I received from you and this forum on suite location, clothing (haha) and speciality restaurants was all invaluable.

 

I had no complaints with the level of service ... my butler was brilliant despite being busy and generally I found everyone to be incredibly helpful.

 

The ports of call were great, the weather was very HOT and all my tours, apart from a slight 'hiccup' on one, were all good.

 

Looking forward to booking my next trip !!

Thank you all for the advice and feedback on this suite ... I'm travelling solo so the bathroom light won't be an issue and I like the idea of the opening French windows. Only 2 days to go ... feeling excited!

Hello, I would very much appreciate the guidance of Silverea regulars. I am looking to book my first cruise with Silversea a back to back Monte Carlo to Rome commencing 15 August. The only cabin available is 733, could anyone advise me on any benefits or drawbacks of this cabin. Kind Regards

Hi

I've just been offered this as a last minute upgrade from my vista suite on deck 4. Did you experience any problems with this connecting cabin ... I'm told it has French windows instead of a regular size window.

Jill

Hi Brian

I have enjoyed your reports and as a first time Silversea passenger ... I embark Whisper on 28th August ... I feel even more excited for my cruise and ports of call.

Jill

I'm travelling solo on 28th August on SS for the first time. I was planning on making enquiries whilst on board regarding future cruises offering solo discounts. I'll report back with any news.

Good morning, glad my review has eased your mind:)…...they are very good about how they treat everyone...…solos as well as not solo;)

 

As for the cocktail dress, you will be just fine. I am not a "dress" gal and wore some wide leg pants (black, of course LOL) they have a lovely floral print going down the leg out the outside and a black lace top. I felt totally appropriate. Yes, there were women in long dresses/gowns and men in tuxes but there were others in suits and cocktail dresses.

 

Make a note for me, if you can remember...…...if you see Ebru and Soroya, tell them Lois says thank you and a big hello...…:D……..I had dinner with them a few different times...….just wonderful people.:)

 

Have a great cruise...…….what is your itinerary?

Hi

Sorry for late reply.... my itinerary is Monte Carlo, Sorrento, Taormina, Valletta, Dubrovnik and Venice. I will certainly say hello to Ebro and Soroya if I see them. I'm just beginning to think about what to pack ... excited but somewhat anxious too. Domestic flights booked so not much more to do now, other than count down the days to my much awaited holiday 😀

I'm new to Silversea and would appreciate some advice... I initially made enquiries with the SS London office but later transferred my enquiry and booked with a travel agent. The SS representative has since priced me cruises for 2020 with early booking discount etc but no flights included. My questions are (1) is it better to book direct with SS who seem to have information that is not always on their webpage, like solo discounts, (2) book with travel agent who may give some discount and (3) is it better to book in advance without flight and hotel offers and source them separately or wait and get everything linked with SS. Confused cruiser.

You sound just like me! I'm 62, and took my first solo cruise last November - a TA from Barcelona. It was therapeutic and I loved every minute of it (once my bags showed up!) . I've taken 3 so far this year, going on the Snowbird Migration in October, and have 7 lined up for next year.

Life is short and you can't take it with you!

Nancy

Wow, 7 cruises for next year ... I hope you thoroughly enjoy them. I'm looking at 2 cruises ... Panama Canal half or full transit and Northern Europe including St Petersburg. Both still in the early planning stages...:)

I had a cabin on deck 6...….good location and love the size of it:)…...had a nice butler although I am very low maintenance and don't need much......a clean cabin is about it and it was always that way:D

 

Overall, I had a wonderful cruise...…..I love the interaction with Silversea folks......they had 2 International hostesses who were lovely and I had dinner with them both multiple times. For any of you going on Whisper, both Soraya and Ebru are 2 of the most terrific people! Soraya has been working for SS for 9 years and Ebru was on her first contract. If you have a chance to say hello to them, it will be well worth it.:)

Oh...I also saw a bartender who was on my Spirit cruise last year! Victoria from Ukrane…...we saw each other early in the cruise and realized we remembered each other. It was pretty cool!!

 

Overall, I will give this cruise a 9 out of 10......nothing is ever perfect but it came pretty close!

 

If you have any questions I will try to answer them.

Hi Lois

Your review has made me feel less anxious about my first solo cruise ... I embark SS Whisper on 28 August .... I'll try and prepare myself for some very hot weather!! There's one formal night on my cruise, do you think a black cocktail dress will be OK? I'm trying to pack sensibly and limit my clothes, shoes to what I need rather than taking extras 'just in case' ....

Just returned home from another solo cruise ( I don't remember which number but after cruising solo for 15 years I still love it:D), Sailed from Venice to Nice with stops in Dubrovnik and multiple places in Italy......Sicily was wonderful:D...this was a 10 night cruise with many ports (8 I think)……..

 

Now I don't have anything booked:eek:….I have been trying to decide on something.....I better get researching

again:D

Hi Lois

I'm doing this trip solo in August .... can you recommend any of the SS excursions. Panicking a little about the heat but fingers crossed I'll find somewhere shaded and cool.

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Thanks for the advice everyone ... I'll get it booked in the next week or so but might be travelling solo so will have to check out the single supplement first.

I'm considering the 35 night cruise on Ventura in 2020 with half Panama Canal transit .... worried that the sea will be rough all the way to the Caribbean or does it get better after the first port of call (Madeira). Trying to weigh up the pros and cons of rough seas v lengthy flights. Look forward to any information from previous passengers on similar cruises.

I'm 61 and going on my first solo cruise in August ... really out of my comfort zone as it's a fly cruise and I've never flown for over 15 years. Decided I'm not getting any younger so might as well just get on with it and enjoy the experience !!

30 days till my next cruise (solo of course):D……..flying to Venice and sailing all around Italy with the cruise ending in Nice. It is very port intensive and all the ports except 2 are new to me:)……...first time to Venice!

Getting excited:D

Hi Lois

I'm doing pretty much the same cruise as you but in reverse in August .. I will look forward to your review and any comments on shore excursions .... it's going to be hot!!