TheRoadie

YIPEE!

Thank you. I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know "FOC"

• is that "for a charge"? How much is the charge?

So excited about boarding the Reflection on Nov 18. Does it have a sauna on board? Is there a charge

for using it?

Do the staterooms have Bibles?

Thank you everyone. I'm feeling a bit less anxious and since we aren't in a hurry, I think we will play it by ear.... if only I could read music!

We are going to a hotel in Manhattan and I don't think they would like us arriving too early or I would do self-disembark. Does anyone remember what time the PG guest usually disembark?

I'm thinking of ordering a car service to take us to Manhattan since we once got off and there we no taxis or cars with a long line waiting. Questions:

1. Has anyone recently been able to walk off the QM2 and get into a car?

2. How does UBER work at Red Hook?

3. If I order a car service, what time should I tell them to pick us up?

I'm sure all these questions have been asked before, but I couldn't find them.

There are three of us arriving on July28. So excited and want to begin packing!

Roger McGuinn will be lecturing on the May 5 QM2 to England. 

Is there someplace I can download a luggage tag for the Jan 3 Sun Voyage?

Does Viking have Bibles in the staterooms?

Thanks for takeing the time to report about your trip. It was great to read as we are going on Muse for two weeks in March, I was getting ready for a poor experence after reading other reports here. You had the trip I was expecting!

 

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I was once asked "What should I do on a cruise."

My reply, " The first thing to do is to decide to like it." Abraham Lincoln said, " I guess people are about as happy as they want to be.". Maybe I got the quote right but if I didn't the sentiment is the key.

I'm glad I was able to help you. Enjoy everything on board and say hi to the cruise director and her staff from the loud Bingo winner who wanted to stay on board.:halo:

The Muse is a beautiful ship! It felt so good just walking down the fresh halls.

We ate at all the venues. Indochine was our favorite. The lobster dishes were always cooked perfectly.

We would wait after the shows to just see Vickie deliver her act and the patience and handliing she had with the trivia crowd was delightful!

The bar staff, waiters and wine sommeliers were attentive and fun! Watching Albert demonstrate cocktails was a show in itself.

The duo in the Silver Note and the opera singer were miles above most ships’ entertainment.

The trip from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires was way too short. The last night saying goodbye to new friends, both guest and crew, brought tears to many eyes. The suitcases lined up in the halls made us realize, the voyage was over.

I have read a lot of complaints about the Muse, but we didn’t experience any of the problems others have had.

One last note....5 years ago we flew out of the airport in Buenos Aires and it was a 3 hour line through security. This year we left earlier, found a small restaurant that had a good Argentine wine, sat happily for an hour and half, the walked to the departure hall with no wait at all. So maybe the key was not caring about going earlier to the airport. Sitting and sipping is a comfortable way to avoid the lines.

Hope to see you all on the Muse someday!

PS. It is probably a good idea to have private transportation from the cruise terminal. We were in our hotel eating brunch hours before the bus transport arrived.

Typically you can plan for warm to hot weather the further North you are such as Valparaiso and Buenos Aires as it is summer there.

 

As you go south it becomes windy and cold with highs often in the 50's/60's but lows 40's and with the wind chill it will seem ever colder.

 

This is a trip where you need clothes for warm/hot weather and for cold/windy/rainy weather.

 

Layering is key.

 

A waterproof jacket is ideal and then layer below that.

 

Depending on excursions you do footwear can get wet/muddy so try to take two sets of footwear for the outdoors.

 

If you have hiking shoes (low cut) that would be one of two types I would take. If not you can be fine without it but it is a plus to have.

 

A hat and scarf will be good too.

 

I realize being in Florida you might not have all of this but having proper clothes will make those days off the ship and for that matter those days viewing scenery from the ship very nice.

 

Best way to view excursions is to book one or more excursions that include Penguin viewing.

 

If you are prone to getting sea sick bring something for that as going around the horn can be rough. I have done this itinerary several times and each time it is different. Going around the horn can range from being very round to actually very calm. You just never know and history means nothing because of the wide range of weather.

 

Keith

Thanks Keith! You are a wonderful source of cruise knowledge!

We met on Crystal years ago. Roger was lecturing. Besides concerts, his cruise lectures are his favorite adventures! This will be the third time for lectures on Silversea, our first on the Muse.

Hope to see you again!

Camilla

We’re on the Muse in January 2018 going from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires. Just wondering how the weather will be and what to pack.Anyone know the best way to view the penguins?

Anyone know what Pier the Odyssey on Nov 23 will leave from?

Some answers.

 

I usually board around noon, There lunch served int the Colonnade where you can relax until your suite is ready.

 

There are formal optional nights which means you can dress in a gown and tuxedo or a short dress and jacket with or without tie. Up to you. How many of these there will be depends on the length of your cruise. Whatever you do don't stress over this. Wear what makes you comfortable within Seabourn's guidelines.

 

Taxi or Uber? Up to you. If you fell guilt about a txt take the Uber.

 

There is trivia usually on sea days at noon and sometimes on port days later in the afternoon. It's always fun imo but some do treat it as a blood sport. I ignore them.

 

Caviar is served when and where you want it.

 

House champagnes Nicolas Feuillate. It's not bad but a drop of cassis or peach schnapps makes it better.

Thank you. It's knowing the little things that take the stress out of those first moments...often stress gets confused with total excitement!

SECRETS.....As a first time sailor with Seabourn you are eligible for $400 onboard credit with a referral coupon. If you look at the "sticky" thread at the top of this board, you will find someone with a referral coupon to give away.

Thank you. Because of this board I did find someone with a coupon! yipee! We're sailing Nov 23 on the Odessey

I'm sorry if my questions are redundant, but I haven't been able to find the answers yet. This is our first Seabourn Voyage and we got a stateroom at the last minute, so I haven't done all my normal research. We're sure looking forward to this experience!

Embarkation in Miami-What time does it begin. Is there lunch available in a restaurant when you board?

Spa- Do they have yoga classes or exercise classes?

Dining- Dress? I'm not sure I have a clear picture. Is there formal nights? We're on the Nov 23 voyage of Odessey to the Caribbean.

Disembarkation- Miami. Uber or taxi? Where do you have Uber pick you up. Our hotel isn't far and I feel guilty using a taxi that has been waiting for hours.

Trivia- Is there trivia? Is it fun or serious?

Caviar- Where is it served and how often?

Champagne- Anyone know the house brand?

Any secrets we should know:halo:

The most important thing to do before you board is to decide you will like it! Being grumpy because of a preconceived idea isn't happening can taint a beautiful experience. Have fun! Let go! Enjoy!

We're joining the Silver Whisper on March 11 in Hong Kong. Is there a ATM at the Ocean Terminal

Tsimshatsui pier? Anyone know what the weather will be?

Beginning to think about packing for the voyage from

Hong Kong to Singapore on the Silver Whisper in March.

Anyone know how many formal nights?

In our marriage, we've decided to take the attitude that every day is special. Therefore, my birthday, Valentine's Day and our anniversary are no different from an ordinary day. My dh is to treat me like a Queen, EVERYDAY! And I try to treat him as my lord and master, everyday.

 

This has two advantages: 1. no gift giving is required on a certain date and 2. he has permission to work on my birthday and anniversary.

 

On our 30th anniversary, he may literally be on the other side of the world, while I work madly to get our home of 24 years packed up so we can move. That doesn't sound romantic at all. But our reasoning is 1) he's off working hard to earn the money for more trips and 2) I'm working double hard at home in order to free him up so he can earn money for our travel.

 

On the other hand, we just got back from a 42 day trip, including 31 on SS. Sure, SS didn't do anything special for our anniversary (since it hasn't happened yet) but we still had a rather good time.

 

Like you, on our semi-retirement income, we are not rich enough to take SS trips every year (unless my dh has a particularly good contract that adds sufficiently to our coffers.) So, if I was you, I'd look carefully at the difference in price and decide that switching my trip to a date off my anniversary equals 3 - 4 extra days on SS (we tend to cheap out on tours plus our TA gives us a nice shipboard credit to work with) and make the switch to SS rather than Regent.

 

There's another wrinkle in this. If you are cheap/frugal/canny as I am, you'll find yourself doing every tour on Regent 'because I paid for it.' I love sea days and find too many port days overwhelming so we'll often just walk a port or even go to a grocery store in order to get a feel for the culture, rather than take a formal tour. Otherwise, I get too cranky and overtired.

Our favorite way to explore a port is to find the local grocery stores and farmers markets too!

Maybe I'm too OCD, but I never asked the butlers (on any cruise line) to unpack anymore, even if they were so eager to help. I like to know where things are. When they unpacked for us, I either found quite a few things set out on the bathroom counter still and/or hidden somewhere in the closet/drawers and/or placed somewhere I didn't find convenient. Of course, that's only my opinion. You might like that service very much, as some others do. :)

 

Didn't your Queens Grill butler offer unpacking your belongings?

 

We are probably biased, as we like small ships. Those big ships aren't the same to us, as nice as they are. Because of the smaller passenger load, we get to see the same passengers day after day, the staff really get to know us, and if there's any interesting event, there wouldn't be 1000 other guests showing up at the same time. I guess it's that intangible feeling of exclusivity that makes small ships attractive to so many of us.

 

To me, Silversea (Seabourn too) is like flying first class in the air - personal service and exclusive. There aren't that many of us, most of the staff know me within a short while. The big luxury ships like Crystal are similar to flying SQ's all business flight - good service, good food, good everything, but there are quite a few passengers... Unless I really try to get them know me, otherwise I'm seat 2A to them.

You're description of the differences is great! We love ships because we feel like we're in a nice neighborhood. The Silverseas neighborhood is an experience we're looking forward to!

On our last cruise we finally realized the fun in trivia, but we know so little about pop culture that we felt sorry for the folks who invited us to join them. Since this cruise is part of the world cruise, I imagine the teams are set. Will there be room for new comers or should we just be happy as a two person team ... We've been happy that way for almost 36 years:)

1. Informal dress means cocktail on Silversea.

 

3. There is a delightful fitness instructor on board who offers daily (or at least daily when at sea) yoga and pilates classes.

Thank you! Now I know how to pack. I'm so excited I want to pack now, but we don't leave for another 4 days.

My husband and I are excited to be boarding the Silver Whisper in Shanghai and leaving in Singapore. I would love some advice. This is our first Silverseas voyage.

1. What is the "informal" dress. Is it like business casual or cocktail dress?

2. I'm not sure what to do at the different ports of call. We aren't big "tour" folks, but we do like to walk a lot. Any recommendations?

3. Are there any yoga or exercise classes on board.

I'm fascinated that a butler will unpack for you! Has anyone used this service? I might have to buy new clothes:)

We have been on Chrystal & the Cunard Queens. Will there be some interesting differences. I have always wanted to be on the Silverseas.... Dreams do come true!