Desperate to Sail

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/age-2006-2019.htm

I responded to the survey. Told them they need to focus on running their business rather than pretending they are CapitalOne.

Last year our bus left the Tivoli hotel at 2 pm. We’re back on the Silver Dawn May 2. When our TA checked with SS, he was told the bus could leave as early as noon. Who knows.

Got notice this morning that a new dress code is rolling out to the fleet April 21. (Silver Shadow effective date delayed slightly.) https://www.silversea.com/travel-informations/what-to-pack.html I never minded the old guidelines. My only gripe was that the guidelines were not enforced. This update should help eliminate the controversy.

I'm wondering what happens if the weather is bad on the day of the planned photo shoot?

I recognize they're a different cruise line but Silversea has us on an 11:35 am departure back to DFW via ATL in mid-May. For months I begged them to put us on one of the later direct flights on AA to DFW but SS refused because of the additional cost. My TA says we'll make the flight. Assuming a 7 am disembarkation from the ship at Southampton, we should be to LHR by 8:30 am. No margin for error and all we can do is try to make it happen. Good luck with your flight.

Just explain to the counter agent what you want when they check the bags and they'll tag the bags accordingly. We stayed overnight in MIA on our DFW to BGI trip on AA. No problem. Have a great trip.

Fwiw...4-29-24 we're flying United from EWR direct to Lisbon to catch the May 2 Silver Dawn sailing to Southampton. Good luck with your flights.

Seas were calm when we were on last September. I don't think you'll have any issues with the ship pitching up and down. On general principles I try to avoid public areas. Good luck.

We're flying LHR to DFW in May. Rather than put us on one of the direct flights to DFW (there are more than 1), they are routing us through ATL with a 4-1/2 hr layover. Won't budge. Clearly, flying is the worst part of cruising.

Well, at least you're heading north on the first leg.

If Regent is going to promote their cruises as all-inclusive then they should make a reasonable effort to ensure there are enough excursions available to meet the demand. It may be buried in the fare but, one way or another, passengers are paying for the excursions. How would you react if they told you "Sorry, I know you paid for a Category D but all those cabins with beds are sold out. Here's a folding cot you can use instead." If all the exclusions are sold out, there needs to be a reimbursement in cash.

Terry, I'm going to respectfully disagree with your premise that the Silver Endeavor is "priced at a significantly-higher level" than the Silver Wind. We recently booked the Jan 6, 2025 15-nt sailing on the Silver Endeavor to Antarctica. Currently quoted as $32,100 pp for a Dlx Veranda. We did consider the Silver Wind, which offers an 18-nt sailing departing Jan 25. Dlx Veranda for it is currently quoted at $32,600 pp; $500 pp more than the Silver Endeavor rate. Now before anyone cries "Apples and Oranges", let me point out the Jan 6 Silver Endeavor sailing utilizes the Antarctica Bridge option for the embarkation leg of the trip. If you look carefully look at the AP, South Georgia, and Falklands itineraries for both trips, the actual "on station" time for both is almost identical. That's because the Antarctica Bridge option saves 2 days by flying over rather than sailing through the Drake Passage. So like everything in life, the devil is in the details. GOOD LUCK!

Sorry for the confusion. July 2022.

We're considering a New York to Montreal cruise for the Fall of 2025. We've been on all 3 Muse-class ships and loved them. We're fine with the smaller size of the Silver Shadow. Have been on similar-sized ships with Regent and Seabourn. But I am concerned about the age and condition of the Silver Shadow. I am aware of the issues the ship experienced last July in Alaska. Looking for some feedback from the community. Thanks in advance.

Based on our experiences, this review is spot on. Good job.

I ask for Glenlivet and it has always been provided.

We were at La Dame last night on the Silver Moon. It was a nice meal and we thought the service and attention were clearly superior to Atlantide. Whether the cover charge is “worth it”, only you can decide. We do not regret the investment. Good luck.

Update: Flight to CDG was 1 hour late departing DFW and 20 min late arriving. Left with 1 hour to connect. AF crew told us don’t goof off and move as quickly as we could. Lisbon flight was already boarding when we got to gate. But it was 30 min late departing because of delays in bussing passengers out to the plane on the tarmac. We and our baggage made the flight but it was very stressful. Lisbon is a wonderful city and the weather fantastic. The Tivoli is a very nice hotel. Easily the best SS hotel we’ve experienced. Heading to Fatima today. Board the Silver Moon tomorrow. Wishing everyone pleasant travels.

We're connecting in CDG on Air France Saturday morning on our way to Lisbon and the Silver Moon. 85 minute connection. I'm not too worried about us making the connection. But I am worried that any protest or slowdown by the baggage folks may affect our baggage. There are 3 flights to Lisbon later in the day. So even if there are problems, hopefully they get sorted out fairly quickly. Not anything I can do about it now.

We're also on the Mar 28 Moon sailing. One of 3 couples from Texas. We haven't received anything other than what was populated in MySilversea. According to my TA, additional info is coming.

Until it can't, debt and interest must be repaid. All the cruise lines have been doing is refinancing maturing debt with new longer-dated debt but at higher interest rates. The US Fed is doing them no favors at the moment. At some point, they have to start actually paying off the debt. So either they raise cash by issuing new equity, which dilutes the current shareholders' value, or they cut expenses. Muckerman isn't taking a pay cut. The crew isn't even paid peanuts to begin with. So who do you really think is going to pay the bar bill? The cruise lines will continue to raise prices and cut services until the teeter totter tips and people decide cruising isn't worth it. We're personally getting very close to that point. When that happens, and the cruise lines can no longer finesse the debt, they go belly up and the debt holders take the loss. It's a grim forecast but I don't see any other viable outcome. Have a great day.

Same thing happened on our March 2023 Silver Moon cruise. Our TA asked for a clarification and within a day or two the start time was corrected. Based on the before and after times, I think the programmer entered "PM" when the correct input should have "AM". 12 hours difference. You or your TA need to confirm with SS but my guess is the actual start time is 11:30 am. Good luck!

I truthfully don't understand this supposed issue regarding extra pre- and post-cruise stays and D2D bookings. On a recent Rome to Venice cruise on the Dawn, we arrived in Rome 2 days early and stayed an extra 3 nights in Venice. We booked the hotels through Silversea and they handled all the transfers between airport, hotel and pier. Same situation with an upcoming Lisbon to Barcelona cruise on the Moon. 3 nights pre-cruise in Lisbon and 2-nights post-cruise in Barcelona. What am I failing to appreciate? Now, whether it's a fair value to book the trip in this manner is another discussion. For us, it's a convenience for which we're willing to pay. Smooth seas everyone.

I respectfully will offer a differing opinion. By launching now, A&K avoided the 2+ years of massive debt accumulation while the cruise industry was shut down. They're starting with a clean slate.