DCPIV

I've never noticed much difference between midship and aft, but I must admit that I've stayed in an aft-facing cabin only once (and it was high enough that vibrations weren't an issue). High and forward, though . . . . That can make a real difference in a smaller ship. You won't catch me staying in a high forward cabin on a smaller ship. We were on a fairly forward cabin on deck 8 on Whisper, and it very nearly did me in. I don't mind rocking at all, but the motion wasn't rocking. It was more like getting bumped over and over and over and over. Fifteen nights of that was almost more than I could bare, and that was in the relatively smooth Caribbean. I don't typically have a problem with ship motion, but I can't tell you how relieved I was whenever we would dock or anchor. We were back on board a few months later but in a cabin that was on deck 6. It was noticeably smoother, even though it was more forward and we were in the open North Atlantic.

I would not envy the person who was tasked with telling me that. While I might not be happy about missing a chance to book such an excursion before it no longer was included, but I would go through the roof if they came back an demanded payment for an excursion that was included at the time I booked it. Frankly, I never really understood how the included excursion model could be sustainable, so it's no surprise that fewer are being included. I've seen tour prices skyrocket over the last couple of years.

Just be aware that your flights CAN be ticketed earlier than 60 days out. That's happened to us in the past when we were contemplating doing a pre or post cruise package and were surprised by finding our flights ticketed earlier than expected. We still could change, but it was more expensive to do so.

Yes, you can check on it via the websites or your TA. Myt experience is that you will be booked Business as long as the plane has it.

May you have a wonderful time in Florence and a smooth trip home! Once you've settled back in, could you let us know what whiskies were available on board (especially outside of the Connoisseur's Club)? We'll be on board soon, and I like to be prepared. Cheers!

We do ask for odds and ends but not much. To be honest, we both like to get out of the room for just about everything, and that tends to reduce what a butler can do. That said, they always seem to find a way to anticipate or just read what we might need or want without us even realizing that we need or want it. That's where these butlers really shine. When it comes to canape or coffee or cocktails, we usually take that day by day. We do our best to let them know the day before (or morning before) if we would like something. They typically do know our excursion schedule and often will offer to have something in the room for us if we would be returning at an odd time. That latter bit has been very nice--coming back to the room at 2:30 or 3 PM to find sandwiches or a nice, heavy snack waiting on you (perhaps along with a bottle of a pleasant wine, as well) is luxury that isn't just for the sake of luxury. If we are trying to make or change a dining reservation or excursion, I like to talk to the one who actually makes the change because I like to have that feedback. However, if we are just cancelling something, we often ask our butler to do it. If we know we are going to have a long day off the ship, we may very well ask our butler for dinner in the room (with at least a day's notice). It's not something we do very often, but it can be very nice sometimes to have a quiet, casual dinner in the room after such a day. They'll serve in courses, if you like, and they make sure you are quite set for wine. We've never asked for packing and unpacking. It's not a matter of trust or anything like that. It's more that we just have our own way of going about it. Besides, with what we now pack, it only takes a few minutes. I know some rave about it, so we still may give it a try sometime. You bet the can! We were on our very first formal night on our very first Silversea cruise. I put on my tux jacket and noticed that the button wasn't there (no idea why). I wasn't going to worry about it--things happen. We went out into the hall to head to dinner, and our butler came over to escort us. She asked how we were, and I joked about that button not being there. She immediately brought us back into the room and asked for my jacket. She whisked it away, saying that she would be back in about 10-15 minutes. Sure enough, she was back in about 10 minutes with a new button on the jacket.

We actually did that from our own balcony, and we had a blast doing so. Our favorite part was watching the band and stilt walkers just off the gangway.

Thank you posting all that. What is the cost for the water bottles?

Yes, Equinox has the Retreat Lounge in place, and it's not pleasant. We spent more time in Ensemble.

I also haven't seen those packages in quite a while. There might be something available once you're on the ship, but you just might need to spend that credit on something else.

Hey, you're preaching to the choir. I don't want to lose that level of service, either. I'm just saying that we don't know that we will. The difference may be that instead of getting excellent service from one crew member over the cruise, you may get it from more than one. I know how CC love to get all gloomy and doomy, though, and here we are.

And the beauty is you still are welcome to do so. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if my wife continues to dress up on many nights, as well. She loves it, too.

In fact, we've always had excellent service. That's why I don't care.

It doesn't bother me in the least. At least half the time we call our Butler, they are on break, off hours, or in the middle of helping someone else. Much of the rest of the time, we'd have to leave a message. Either they would have to stop in order to get someone to cover for them, or we would have to wait for them to get free. If it is, indeed, a dispatcher sort of system, then I can just leave the request with them. In almost every case, I couldn't care less who actually handles the request, just so long as it gets done.

When you get to higher suites, the Butlers have far fewer assignments and, as best as I can tell anecdotally, a good deal more time to attend to the passengers. They have their flexibility built in. The higher suite folks also appreciate the relationship. As several already have said in this thread (and countless others), they barely see their Butler while in an SS, much less call upon them often (or at all). There are exceptions, of course. I imagine the SS Butlers now are the Retreat Team, but I'm not so naive to trust that the number of them has remained the same. My point was and still is that it's a bit early to build the gallows. If this change results in poor service for the SS passengers, then I'm all for raising hell about it, demanding compensation, etc. We're not there, yet.

I gotta tell you. I was pretty taken aback when I first heard about this. However, it sounds as if it's more of a reorganization than a reduction. I can see how workload among Butlers can get pretty out of whack from one cruise to the next when a Butler has several suites assigned to them. It likely was not at all unusual for one to have to cover for another or something like that. It would be like a restaurant server having a very demanding section while another has little going on. It makes some sense to have a "team" handle the whole load on a somewhat ad hoc basis rather than cabin assignments. I imagine a situation where a SS passenger likely will be greeted by a Retreat Team Member (even if it's via a note in the room). You'll have a number to call when you want something that a Butler would have taken care of. However, instead of talking to your Butler, you'll speak to someone who is more a dispatcher. It's different, but it's not necessarily bad. It could just be something of a "concierge team," but X has to use its language. That doesn't mean X will do a good job of implementing it, of course. It could very well be a big, danmned mess. Still, I say this change deserves a true "wait-and-see" as to whether it's ultimately good for the passengers.

I don't mind at all talking about those subjects, but I certainly don't lead with one of those or initiate conversation with a stranger in the hopes of getting there. I won't be terribly charmed, either, should someone open with such a subject or should I get the feeling that's why someone started talking to be in the first place.

Only if you must discuss the price.

I don't know the extent to which it applies to y'all or anyone else, but something I like about the Amazon ones is that they come in 29" inseam (which tends to be my size). UA and many others don't come shorter than 30", and I'd just as soon not have to get something altered if I don't have to. Haggar also makes some great no-iron, breathable trousers with a bit of stretch and a 29" inseam (usually around $25-45/pair). I had a glass of red wine spilled on a pair of those--stone colored, nonethess--and all it took to clean that up was a napkin. That was on the first night of a two-week trip, and I was able to wear them a good 3-4 times more on that trip. I survived something similar with the Amazon ones, too. It's a kind of magic. ETA: I completely agree that these sort of trousers pack so much more easily than jeans, even lightweight jeans. Frankly, they also are more comfortable, and that's coming from someone who would've laughed at such a thought about five years ago.

In the past and on other ships, when it came to formal nights, a tie was not required in any public areas outside the MDR and La Dame. However, a jacket always was required in all indoor spaces. I suspect (and I only suspect) that still will be the case on formal optional nights. We are dealing with a new animal, though, so there's no telling. To the extent that anyone gives a flip, I'm happy with it either way. I don't at all mind the jacket (and actually enjoy the pockets), but I don't care to wear a tie for the rest of my life if I can manage that. This new dress code is a breath of fresh air.

We'll miss you by about a month, Lois. Shoot! We hope all is well with you!

Converse as you like, but the post to which I responded suggested surreptitiously eliciting beneficial information. You can recharacterize that post as much as you like, but that is the post to which I responded. You, now, are ignoring that context and arguing a different point. Go right ahead and do so until you are blue in the face, if that pleases you, but you will be doing so with someone else (or, perhaps, yourself).

If one needs to explain, then no explanation will do.

You don't get the lower deposit, but you do get the additional OBC.

It sounds like you can schedule your time. If so, I'd definitely schedule your time while in for for all the reasons stated above. Keep in mind that, no matter what, you're relying on a satellite connection. Quality can vary for all sorts of reasons, including weather. I hope it all works out and you enjoy your cruise!