MJN1

Silversea is clearly not what SS was 15 or 20 years ago. We were so fed up with the constant cost cutting and dropping what made SS so special, that we moved over to SB in 2014 and truly enjoyed our cruises there. We risked trying the SDawn last September for a Baltic cruise, which was wonderful. So we are currently back on the Dawn, chasing the Northern lights along the Norwegian coast. The ship is still great, we love the ArtsCafe, the Salt Bar, the Salt Restaurant and Silver Note. Atlantide is open for breakfast and lunch every day. They have not (yet, we are just over the mid cruise point) run out of berries. The plates are hot. The cabin attendant and butler are not from India, but from Nepal and Bangladesh, and the suite is always serviced when we com back from breakfast. The food is not Michelin, but OK and varied. The Japanese government should sue SS for misusing the name "Kaiseki" and serving very low quality "Japanese" food. If we don't like today's wine selection, we find a wine we like. ALL the staff is helpful, friendly and smiling. The same cannot be said for all passengers... Laundry is still free and comes back the same day.The current cost per diem is about 10% higher than 10+ years ago ($607 vs avg 560). Don't tell the beancounters what the cumulative inflation rate is for this period. Could some things be better/improved/upgraded/reinstated? Yes! Are some folks complaining? Yes (and I would do the same if I would have been on the "Huskies in the mud" tour). Did they just cancel the 2nd port because of too strong winds, unfortunately yes. So we are now enjoying 8 days on Sea and 6 in port (vs 6 and 8). Life is too short to type up daily and more detailed reviews of this cruise on the smartphone. It is probably not long enough to find the 100% perfect cruise lline. Thus just a one snap-shot perspective.

We boarded SDawn yesterday. There is free WiFi for one device for each passenger for basic (so 2 per suite). If you want to use an additional device, you need to log out of the 1st and log in to the second one. If you want to use both devices simultaneously (eg phone and Ipad), you need to upgrade and pay. Streaming with basic does work with some pauses, but probably not good enough for a live NFL game or a movie. No problems with What's App voice calls, still need to try video calls

Have you considered leaving the ship for one night, getting a rental car in Cadiz, driving to Sevilla, staying overnight there and then dropping the car off in Malaga? Total driving time would be <4h and you could have a relaxing day incl dinner in Sevilla. Yes, there are downsides like driving yourself, extra cost, risk missing the ship (plan for more than ample time to Malaga), but it beats 8hrs bus rides... Just a thought!

We did this tour several years ago. First, no helmets were provided.... The leader took off and we basically followed as well as we could initially weaving in, out and across heavy traffic on city roads until we got into the country side. Not for the faint hearted!

Jeff, here are the current Rankings: https://www.falstaff.com/at/die-besten/streetfood-guide-oesterreich-2024-die-besten-wuerstelstaende-in-wien

Just a question: does anyone know how the Port Authorities see fake 'service dogs'? I read that in some countries one cannot take food off the ship? On others, one is supposed to carry ones passport around? What about taking a dog on/off board?

"I've noticed that the people who are negative about gratuities are the people who choose not to give them" No, we are not negative about gratuities. We do give to the Crew fund and usually bring some small present from home for the suite attendant. Yes, we are negative about folks, who don't know how to adjust their (primarily USA) tipping pattern in other countries/cultures and thus raise expectations and inflate the local tipping levels. Feel free to tip your 20% plus in the USA. Don't tip in Japan. Round up, or tip 5 to 10% depending on the country on Europe. And feel free to give to the Crew fund when it says "gratuities are included".

OK, got it... Thanks to everyone for confirming my initial sequence of options. Tickets are fully refundable so that is not the issue. We didn't (and don't) like the afternoon flights as they add 3hours hanging around at CPH after disembaraktion and then another 3h in FRA. So we decided to take the 9:40 a.m. flight the next day and will stay overnight. Copenhagen is always an enjoyable city! TIAABOTSMM (There is always a better option to spend more money)

With the S Dawn scheduled to arrive at 7:00 on a Thursday morning, our best flight connection would be a 9:40 a.m. departure (LH to FRA in Business). Is this a) stupid/forget it, b) possible with a stress factor of 8 on a 10pt scale or c) manageable (take the bags yourself, pre-order a taxi)?

Maybe book and ask Natalya directly! See the latest SB e-mail: "Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to sail with our leadership executives and experience luxury at sea. Toast to the inaugural season of Solis with Natalya Leahy on her President's Cruise as you explore the enchanting charm of Turkey and the captivating islands of Greece in unparalleled style and comfort. 7-Day Turkey & Greek Isle Gems » Istanbul to Piraeus (Athens) | Seabourn Encore Oct 27, 2024

Dr Ron, can we get this thread back to its' topic? 😘 Today, no editing 🥰

"At least I had a window seat this time" WHY - on a Boeing 737 Max??? 😱🫣😳

There should be a bank ATM within 5min from the Port gate

"Usually" SS has two types of airport transfers you can book on board and which are listed on the disembarkation form you receive a few days before the end of the cruise: a) a (big) bus transfer to the airport, usually more expensive than a local taxi (which are sometimes hard to get and I would not bet on in Italy...), b) a private car at a ridiculous price. If you can book (and if needed also can cancel with 48h or so notice) your own private transfer, you can decide later on board as Gourmet Girl suggested. Your TA should also be able to check if SS does offer the bus transfer.

The ports you mentioned are lovely ports you would usually not visit. Cruising without unpacking is a very relaxed way to travel. As you live in the USA you will have to fly into London anyway (not sure where you cruise begins/ends). So why don't make the best of two worlds and add several days in London before the cruise (and forget the other big cities) and then enjoy a wonderful cruise?

It also depends in which country you book/pay. In the socalled DACH countries (i.e.Germany, Austria, Switzerland) final payment for our next P2P cruise is 7 weeks and the deposit was only 20%. Also prices do vary by currency and so do the liabilities/responsibilities (and dsciounts/OBC) of the cruiseline and the TA.

Pepilachat, congratulations and enjoy your cruise! Yes, there will be people rolling their eyes and/or making "smart" (ass) remarks, but you will find those also at any hotel and on every airplane... At the risk of making an obvious comment: a key driver of your enjoyment (or stress) will be the daily rythm your baby has developed by that age, which then allows you to plan around it. So think of it as a luxury hotel vacation and do bring a baby monitor: You then can put the princess to sleep for her daytime naps/in the evening, set up one mobile in front of the baby monitor, connect to the ships internet, make a WhatsApp video call to the 2nd mobile, put the don't disturb sign out, and voila you can go with the 2nd phone and enjoy a break, trivia or dinner on board and can rush back to the cabin once she wakes up. (Just wait, someone here will object on safety grounds...). And/or check if some of the staff can (and is permitted) to babysit.

Lisa, yes, we once forgot the box with the studs for the formal shirt on board. They found it, duly mailed it and charge me something like Euro 80 at that time. They do ship the stuff with Fedex or DHL and that does cost. So the question is, what is the mirror worth to you? The credit card you can get replaced with the same number as mentioned above

Any cellular network plan will be on the expensive side, especially if you are away from land and in the satellite network. Making calls using WhatsApp and the (free) WiFi on board (or a public WiFi system on land) is much better and cheaper.

Another interesting Feature is that you can message other passengers on board via the App. You simply type in the name, even first name alone works (e.g. if there are two Anne on board both will show up with their last names on the screen).

DrRon, if you are still in Yokohama and want to 'fly' an Airbus 320 there is an inexpensive flight simulator within walking distance from your hotel. https://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?bbid=804 I does not move, but is still very realistic! If you are more into railways: https://www.yokohamajapan.com/things-to-do/detail.php?bbid=773

Thanks for reconfirming. Now, the deposit in Euro (for Germany, Austria and Switzerland) is only 20%, thus I could only transfer 5%. Also learned from Paul's copy and paste, that my final payment is due only 45 days before cruise, instead of 150. As Paul said, only trust what you have in writing. SS's response via my TA was basically "Our Future Cruise Consultant explained everything correctly, you simply misunderstood...". 🥴

PaulMCO, many thanks for finally bringing clarity to this question! Thread closed...

Dolcevita Diva, any new insights from your Future Cruise Consultant? I went with mine line by line through the differences between P2P and D2D fares: - the 5% on board savings you get for both. The 5% Venitian Society Sailings and 5% for 100days you only get with D2D. - the % amount for the deposit differs. However, she stated (several times as I wanted to be 100% sure) that "you can transfer the deposit to another crusie 150 days prior" applies for both D2D and P2P. I simply want to have a clear and final answer given that also the repsonses above do differ.

carefreecruise and mchell810, many thanks for your posts. Unfortunately, the Future Cruise Consultant never mentioned the open booking option, despite me asking if there is a SS equivalent to SB's future cruise credit. Yes, the SS way is twice the price of SB and only gives you six months to plan, but it still a reasonable option to avoid the "stress" of planning while on board. Yes, we now have a Voyage confirmation. However, I still can't find the "small print" which confirms that a) we have up to 151 days prior to your Dawn voyage to transfer the voyage to a different date or itinerary and b) that if we make a change, the 5% discount will be applied to the new voyage price. Where is this stated, which would also answer DolceVita Diva's similar question a few weeks ago?