mrscrab

Covers medical only.

I have just had to cancel my June cruise around Iceland due to me having a very sudden cardiac arrest early in May whilst in the UK. It was a door to door cruise and would have allowed me to pass my 200th day on SS. The cruise gave a discounted business class airfare from Australia to join the cruise.

I have now received via my TA a SS a/c for $2500, the difference between the normal airfare and the special cruise airfare. It's what we would call nit picking but because they are running a business I partly understand. Where has all the goodwill SS used to have gone? always looking after the passenger first. 

I don't want to cancel my next paid for Door to Door (Doctor willing) cruise but it is forethought in my mind.

We once, a few years ago had the suite next to the launderette. Only noise was from passengers talking to others in the corridor waiting for their load to finish its cycle. The launderette was locked from 8pm until the next morning so problems with noise after that time were zero.

Does anyone know if the Shadow still has a CD player in the suite. I have always loved to take a few CDs of my own music.

I'm glad to report that my cruise " withdrawal symptoms " seem to be less since the hope of cruising next year.!!

😊

Wish they would let us know ASAP. It looks like the "waitlisted" cruises will continue on to be cancelled at some stage. Was looking forward to 24 days of being pampered. I am thinking I shall wait, instead of jumping in and booking another cruise if cancellation happens. This will be the second cancelled cruise with SS and one with Seabourn. 

Received an email today from Josh Leibowitz (President of Seabourn) saying my Christmas cruise from Sydney to Auckland this December has been cancelled. This is obviously due to Covid and the Australian Government not having a policy regarding cruise ships coming into Australian waters. All well and good but my booking has been transfered forward in 18 months time to another Christmas cruise from Auckland to Sydney. I have not been consulted regarding this new booking and feel very cheated and am more than upset that Seabourn had the audacity to presume I would be available to cruise with them over Christmas 2022.

The one thing you cannot do with your OBC is donate it to the crew welfare fund. SS does not allow this and are very firm about it.

I agree with Jolly Jones on the solo supplement - I have paid only 25% more of the advertised price. Silversea have every evening a special spot in one of the lounges,. meeting at 7pm solo travellers are invited to join others for a drink before dinner. I have met several interesting guests at this meeting. If this is not for you there are several areas on the ship where you can join others or dine alone. The whole voyage is up to the individual - hope you enjoy it.

You will probably find that the form asking questions about quarantine items are as important as the customs questions.

Australia is very strict regarding items of food, fruit and where you have been in the last week. We have never had  an outbreak of foot and mouth disease and other nasties that can be brought into Australia from overseas. There is a bin as you leave the aircraft to dump things not allowed as stated on the form.  People can be fined  for bringing in items not allowed. If there are items in your suitcase which may be suspicious don't worry,  the sniffer dog ( a friendly beagle) will have found it before your case hits the luggage carousel.

CARE AND BEWARE is a slogan used for anyone arriving at an Australian port or airport. Enjoy your cruise. 

I have just left the Whisper. On the final but one night the crew did the usual parade with all passengers cheering. Then came the certificates which were given to the crew who had excelled in their duties, this was more cheering from the passengers who always appreciate their hard work.

I'm beginning to think we could be doing this crossing in a washing machine!! Deck 8 almost in the bow and I've been thrown every which way. Food very good, good company at the solo's meetings, ship very clean, hopefully the seas will calm down "SOON" 

They always have sugarfree desserts at the lunch time buffet AND icecream that they call zero zero icecream. I'm on insulin so always go for the buffet at lunchtime to get my "fix".

Does anyone know if building has commenced on this new cruise port about 8 miles down river from Central London. Silversea has several cruises booked to leave from here later this year. Due to it being a no- go last year we had to leave from Tilbury instead.

It was Ned Kelly, a famous Australian bush ranger - he was hung by the neck and they were his last words.

Jolly, hoping you invite me to your Trivia team, we have sailed together before but can't remember which cruise.???

Will be on the Spirit when it arrives into Tilbury and then doing the TA ending in New York.

Who said "Such is Life" a good trivia question...

One cruise I was on most of the crew were given DVD players for their cabins and these were bought via the Crew Welfare Fund. One night in port there was a crew party held ashore and this too was paid for by the fund. Apparently the party ended quite early because most of crew (who work so hard) wanted an early night and daren't have a hangover the next day.

My opinion the Crew Welfare Fund is the way to go.

The first SS cruise we did many many moons ago - a fellow passenger in the MDR sent his Osso Buco back because it had a bone in it!! I can still see the waiters face but he was admiral and did as was requested.

That veranda makes me feel at home, everyone in the world should have one with that view and glasses filled with whatever one feels like at the time.:)

My Husband and I (I'm not Her Majesty) loved the deal- pay a fee for boarding early and could pay an extra fee for disembarking later. This meant that we could go direct to the Airport a couple of hours before our flight home AND embark the ship rather than hang around waiting for the time to board. There must be a reason why but we were never told why the new arrangements of "You are Off" or don't arrive until "we are ready"

So many changes that so many of us wonder is the Silversea we used to know ever be like it was a few years ago

To change the subject, had lunch today with a friend who sails on Silversea I thinkmust have been tied up next to the Belfast at Tower Bridge. Passengers were treated to lunch and a tour of the Royal Geographic Society Headquarters in London. More than impressed to say the least - thats a plus for a lot of negatives re SS lately.

Vietnam Visa. I have done the HCM several times and the ship has always done the paperwork for passengers visa's. I think one time we had to pay and it went onto our shipboard a/c but other visits there was no charge to passengers. With the "goings on" with SS who knows if there will be a charge. Things aren't like they used to be!!

Keep on batting Daveywavey- you need to keep on going on this one- stressful as it is.

When the a/c packed up on our cruise Tower Bridge to Barbados we were given $2000 towards the next cruise. I don't know the Italian for REFUND but its not in the Italian dictionary. Very naughty on Silverseas part and they always look forward to repeat passengers but the loyalty is getting ???

I am 25 days August 31st Stockholm to London and a T/A ending in New York. I am hoping I don't get the treatment that you experienced. PLUS worried re the menus if they don't change as often as they used to.

I wish you luck in your campaign, do keep us informed.

From Mrs Crab in a very wet and cold Western Australia

No they just refused to return the monies paid for his fare using the Rest Assured programme. I did get the money returned from our travel insurance but there was a lot of ill feeling to say the least. When on board I have told everyone about this to be aware of the Rest Assured programme that it is not always as promised.

Keep batting on with this major episode, what you went through was enough to turn you against SS forever!!

:rolleyes:I often wonder why SS are so brilliant on board the vessel BUT are pretty useless when one needs to solve important problems on shore. I got no help at all with them when we had the "rest assured" programme and during the time waiting to sail my husband passed away and they refused to return his payment. My TA and the Australian office fought for this but to no avail. SS really need to up their game re ashore communications and realize that most of us are return passengers and should be recognised and treated as such.

I am on the Spirit to St Petersburg and a back to back London to New York so am hoping that "enough glue" was used for fittings both aboard and the join as we sail the North Atlantic mid September.

Keep at it Daveywavey, you can't let them beat you on this one!!

I think the "Rule Britannia" was a special request organised by Colin Brown - Cruise Director at the time of our first cruise from Tower Bridge. It was around 7pm and the crowds waiting on land for the ship to sail sang along with passengers and crew. A memorable moment to say the least!!

On another cruise, the sail up the River didn't have the "buzz" that leaving did, I suppose a lot of the people who would have loved to be there were still at work, the time of the arrival and departure obviously depends on the time and the tides.

I'm on the Spirit for the cruise Sept 10th and nobody has advised me that the departure is now from Tilbury, maybe later to the date Silversea will officially advise me.

Usually 9.45pm. after the show some go to bed and some congregate in one of the bars. Enjoy yourself.