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For the record, the SS covid policy (the one where you could cancel a cruise at the last minute and get a full refund or FCC if you had acquired a case of covid before sailing) has expired effective with cruises starting tomorrow October 1, 2023. SS sent out an email reminding people of its optional travel insurance in the past week. It does not specifically mention covid, but it contains the reminder: "As a reminder, any and all cancellations on voyages departing on or after 1 October 2023, are subject to our cancellation policy." The buttons to access the Covid policy and healthy sailing practices is now missing from the website.

I was interested in the news posted here that the Cloud has been sold. I heard repeatedly on the Wind this past May that the Wind had been sold. They are both still showing as available for booking through summer 2025. Of course, being sold doesn't mean that they are out of service, since SS can just lease them right back for any period they might agree to with the actual owner. Under those circumstances, however, SS is not going to invest a lot in maintenance and is not going to update any internal decor (which the Wind could use, never having been "Musified"). We did have an issue with a leak in the plumbing on the Cloud last year that was resolved, but on the Wind there was indeed a passing whiff of sewage in the bathroom now and then.

Sam Lord's Castle was a Hilton resort back in 1983 when we honeymooned next door at Crane Beach! Other than the historic "castle" building, it looks entirely new, so it must have closed and completely updated. It does look fantastic. Be careful of the beach - the sand is like talcum powder but the water can be treacherous.

Agree! They are even better than the SS brochures.

Thanks, Lois. Silversea is not going to make a good impression with first time singles doing it that way, if not raising legal issues.

Go to the Silversea opening welcome screen at Silversea.com. Scroll down to the section on Exclusive Offers and the third one over is special single fares (see below). Click on "discover more" and it will take you to the page describing the offer. Scroll down and there is a list of all of the cruises that have the 25% single supplement. There are currently 108 cruises showing.

Bacon and eggs? Why, mimosas of course!

Was there a bottle of iced champagne in the bucket on the sofa table of your suite when you arrived?

I did a port to port cruise in January and the days are indeed showing on my Venetian Society statement and are included in my running total toward the next benefit milestone. .

In general, I find that SS's price is more than booking yourself, but it does include the breakfast and transfers. I don't try to break it down by element, though I admire those who can. The hotels they choose are, at least in first world ports, reliable and secure, and often in a good location for touring. If it's my first time in a new city, I trust Silversea's choice. On my second visit, I may choose a different hotel and DIY.

If you book your hotel with SS (up to three nights before your cruise), they will include the transfer from the airport to the hotel and then from the hotel to the ship. Also, SS usually includes breakfast in their hotel package.

Thanks for your updates, Tucson Guy. If you happen to hear about it, let us know if the suites on Deck 6 are getting any noise from the Atrium or the public spaces on 5. Particularly, I see that the piano and combo area in Dolce Vita is directly below several Deluxe Veranda suites. The amplifiers (there are several) are attached to the ceiling. It's hard to believe this wouldn't be heard/felt in the floor on Deck 6.

Wow, I hadn't really thought about suite size (other than I knew that Cloud, Wind and the Expedition ships should be reasonably smaller). Comparing Deluxe Verandas, there is a noticeable range: Cloud: 295 sq. ft. Shadow: 345 sq. ft. Spirit: 376 sq. ft. Dawn: 387 sq. ft. Nova: 357 sq. ft.

Thanks for the view. It looks more narrow to me than a Deluxe Veranda on the Dawn - am I mistaken?

The Shadow was updated in 2019 and it does show an Arts Cafe on Deck 5. The kind of moved all of the retail shop merchandise to the periphery and put tables in the middle. It is more of an "on the avenue" experience rather than the separate room they have on the Moon and Dawn.

Greetings, Lois! I hope you have a a fabulous time. If you are looking into something to do in the walking vicinity of the Conrad St. James, the Churchill Museum and War Rooms is wonderful (but buy tickets in advance online). Also, the Tate Britain is a lovely visit and it has a good cafe on site.

It appeared to me from the video that the Marquee has an uncovered seating area by the starboard rail (full sun), the partially covered "gazebo" area (lovely) and a completely covered area. Smart! I suspect that, just like on the current ships, there will be heaters hung from the roofed areas. I have also been on cruises where they installed glass partitions to blunt the wind across the deck.

Orvis makes a travel blazer too.

Even if you book your evening meal at the first seating (7:00 pm), you will never conflict with a lecture. SS knows to schedule lectures so they end no later than cocktail hour!

Silversea has posted its own 11 minute tour on its website. At silversea.com, click on the top picture for Nova Itineraries or just go to the ship description and scroll down to the "Introducing Silver Nova" video. There is also a one minute video on an email going out today from Barbara M.

I believe that "catapult" is what is known as a slingshot in the US and Canada. Used in, for example, Dorothy Sayers' "Murder Must Advertise."

I did that a few times too! I believe in dressing for comfort, but the comfort I am talking about is this: I am never comfortable if the person waiting on me is dressed better than I am. So, an evening of wearing control-top pantyhose is a small price to pay to really enjoy my dining experience.

I agree this is all from a press release and not someone who was actually on the ship. The Points Guy review of Crystal Serenity was done by someone onboard a promotional cruise, and the gushing review showed it.

Here's the confirmation from Cruise Industry News that the Silver Nova indeed has left on her inaugural voyage: https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/08/silver-nova-departs-on-its-maiden-voyage/

I haven't boarded from Dubai since pre-covid, but at the time, the terminal building was large and airy with a reasonable amount of shops and seating. If you had to wait there for a while, it wouldn't be too bad.