lchoi98

I asked our shoreside concierge for our upcoming Summit cruise if it was necessary to upload photos. His response: “Your photo can be taken at the pier.  Beware that it may cause your boarding process to be slowed down.”

 

Lchoi98/Lawrence and Mudhen (if u book) please join NJbelle, Ida and I on the Spirit fall 2018 roll call and please do sign up for the Spirit meet & mingle too:

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/rollcall/entry_cl.cfm?ship=542

 

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Done!

M,

 

Under most circumstances making your own arrangements is probably better all around so long as SS don't make radical changes to the embarkation port and you have flexible arrangements and allow a travel buffer of preferably a couple of days.

 

However this cruise appears to be leaving from Tilbury which can be a b&gger and rather expensive to get to and the palaver of making your own transfer arrangements from Heathrow to a London hotel and then from the London hotel to Tilbury might narrow the gap in favour of taking a packge and avoiding the hassle. That is assuming SS are flexible enough to be sensible about a one way air package. You'd need to budget around £80 from Heathrow to Central London, and aound £120 from Central London to Tilbury.

 

You obviously need to ask them to price it up before you can decide.

Unfortunately there’s no credit for the unused air leg. We are driving back to Philadelphia from NYC and are not getting any credit for the unused air. Amusingly enough, when we booked on board and took the business upgrade, the cruise consultant who is not from the United States and wouldn’t be expected to know its geography booked us for round trip business class air. Easy fix, but that’s when we learned there is no credit for unused air (the base offer is free round trip economy air).

I know this is the place to come for answers before I hit our travel agent with this one. We are considering the fall TA on the Spirit. Since we live in NY we'd only need one way airfare. However, I hate the idea of flying in on what would be embarkation day. Would like to arrive the day before and spend night in London(?). Does SS do any kind of hotel deal that would include the hotel, and hotel to ship transfer? I know that one of "the other" lines does this. Thanking you in advance for answers.

We found that there are better options booking everything separately. For example, on our recently completed Venice to Rome itinerary on Silver Spirit, we ended up making our own pre-cruise hotel arrangements because we were underwhelmed by Silversea’s options. Our TA made all the arrangements including our transfers from airport to hotel and from hotel to the ship.

CruisinPashmina, thanks for sharing your cruise style with us--a keeper.

 

We sail both Regent and Silversea about at least once per year and find Silversea free one hour/pp (vs Regent's free unlimited) internet policy more useful.

 

On the Silver Wind in this July, quickly learned how to husband wife's and my one hour to post here on the Silversea cruise critic board often (words/pix--hundreds of posts on our 2017 Silver Wind Norway thread).

 

Conversely, Regent's free internet is useless during peak hours on board (9am-9pm) as many of (700 pax x2 devices) device (tablet, laptop, phone) are on the available bandwidth. Thus, making our free internet almost useless during this time. Trying to download pictures using the Tapatalk app during the day is very, very slow/difficult.

 

When on board Regent's Voyager for nearly six weeks early this year, learned best time to have bandwidth/internet available for posting on cruise critic/checking personal emails was between 5-6am and 10-11pm otherwise your device is almost a paperweight.

I agree with this assessment. Another great time for better bandwidth on Regent is when multiple excursions overlap. I thought premium Internet was ok but not great on Silversea. Oddly enough, I thought Seabourn had the best Internet bandwidth although it was quite expensive. I recall it being more than double what Silversea premium is, but that is also from 2013 so things could be different now.

hi guys,

 

I'm a bit younger than the average SS cruiser and dress a little brighter. On formal nights is wearing a dark dinner jacket with colored pants like orange, salmon or light blue appropriate? Or just stick to basic dark suit pants?

I saw “Bermuda Red” and dark green pants on formal night with dark dinner jackets. I also saw people wearing ivory dinner jackets although it is not in season. Or is it ok when on a cruise? That was never clear to me.

I am Gold on Regent and have sailed with them way back when it was just the Song of Flower and the Diamond. I am currently on my first Silversea cruise (Silver Spirit), and I respectfully disagree. I have found that Silversea exceeds what I have experienced on Regent EXCEPT for when it was Song of Flower with Captain Dag as master of the vessel. But I don’t think any cruise line today can replicate those halcyon days. Silversea comes closest. Regent is a shell of what it was when it was Radisson Seven Seas Cruises.

Hi Lawrence,

 

As mentioned in another thread, happy to hear Laura and you are booked the Spirit and are joining us on the Spirit London to NY cross next September. We are also Gold on Regent but also sail (more about 200 days) on Silversea. For Ida and I the itinerary is the winner (e.g. Regent SoAm on Mariner in Jan, and Shanghai to Tokyo in Mar 2019).

 

Alas, (after 8 Spirit cruises) strongly concur with your brief Spirit Gym assessment, not only barely adequate aerobic equipment (at least there are 3-4 Life Fitness ellipitcal's/treadmills) but the gym exercise room space (indoor) is poor. Stretch classes can accommodate max 4-5 students with fitness instructor. The spirit indoor fitness room is used more for the fitness instructor to give private training and fitness evaluations (at a cost).

 

A few years ago during a Spirit refurb, they took over one half of the aft veranda from the Spirit spa for an outdoor exercise space (pilates, yoga). However, strongly dislike that the male guests have no dedicated shower (we get a unisex shower) located where free Sauna and Steam room are. Hope this area gets some attention during the refurb/lengthening next year.

 

Lawrence, to give you a rough idea of temps at some of our crossing ports, pls see link from Onetravelbug's posts below. She visited this year during September (Falmouth, Ireland, et. al). Onetravelbug does indicate how the weather is at some of these ports. Am guessing we will have temps in 50/60's in Europe and as we cross the North Atlantic. Believe it will warm up a bit for our Canada ports and temps will climb in 70/80/'s for our New England/NY ports.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search.php?searchid=115541737

Thanks Wes. Very helpful. The level of service on Silversea exceeds what I have ever experienced so even if the weather was 100% rain at 40 degrees Fahrenheit we still would have booked!

Thanks very much for the information Keith. Can I just clarify if the wine is the same as that served in what would have been the main restaurant or is it an enhanced offering?

My wife and I dined at Le Champagne last night. We are onboard the Silver Spirit. From what I could tell, the complimentary selection of wines in Le Champagne is broader than the selections readily available in the MDR. For example, they had Sauternes available for the foie gras menu items. In the MDR, they’d have to go get Sauternes for you because it looks like the only wines on hand are the sommelier selections of red and white wine for the evening. Agree with Keith that the cuisine and ambiance are well worth the supplemental charge. My only criticism of Le Champagne is that the portion sizes are too large. I was full after the second course and felt bad that I couldn’t finish each subsequent course.

Hi Wes, just working with the complimentary 1 hour a day. There are no computers as per the Wind, just a couple of staff workstations near reception and the tour desk in Dolce Vita.

 

 

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Trying to understand Dolce Vita. Is it supposed to be like Seabourn Square?

So, now the Spirit Fall 2018 cross (London to NY) has the following cruise critics booked or intent to booK:

 

EnglishUsa

Jolleyjones

Monty

Sara

Spinnaker2

Vintners

WesW

 

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Laura and I are booking this crossing. Spoke with the onboard Cruise Consultant today.

No, he is not our esteemed former literature professor at Princeton. He is a young, interesting travel destination lecturer.

Glad to hear the John Fleming on board is a great destination lecturer. But what an amazing series lectures that would be if John Fleming *63 were giving them especially on the medieval monastic tradition.

Is the lecturer John V. Fleming professor emeritus of Princeton University?

There's plenty of bottled water available in the gym on the Spirit in addition to the larger bottle with plastic cups. Quality of gym equipment is very mediocre. The "exercise bikes" are particularly lame.

Keith, you are spot on concerning hydration. And bottled water is the only practical solution while using exercise equipment. Water in a plastic cup, as on Silver Spirit, is not practical while using a treadmill or any other piece of exercise equipment. Why Silversea does not see nor care about this is a mystery to me.

Agree 100%. Will use the gym tomorrow. Hopefully this situation had been addressed. Will report back.

Good Thursday Eve (here in ATL) Lawrence, happy to hear y'all are safely on board the terrific warm Silver Spirit embrace. Moreover, would be fantastic if y'all booked the Amplified spirit fall crossing.

 

Tho, we were on Kiwi with your TA this Feb, and will be on Incas in Jan 2018, and again on the Mariner with her group in March 2019, we now have used another TA since 2011. Have kept cordial relations with one of your TA's super staff. Our TA even took Susan W to a Rolling Stones concert in Dallas.

 

Long story shorter, your TA is now planning a Silver Muse group cruise (paired with a Crystal river cruise) maybe u can convince her, or to have her task one of her staff to host the Spirit fall 2018 crossing.

 

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Hi Wes,

Laura and I are loving every second on the Spirit. Will post some thoughts here when I get a chance. Seriously reconsidering shifting from Regent to Silversea although it is hard to give up Gold benefits especially the laundry and free unlimited premium wifi.

Quick question. What do you think the weather will be like on the London to NYC crossing? Laura is worried that it might be too cold to enjoy the outdoor areas on deck and of course the suite balcony. I know the weather can be unpredictable on that route but any "rule of thumb" guesstimate would be enormously helpful. Would use onboard booking and Venetian Society if available on this sailing.

Thanks!

Lawrence

Yes Lawrence we booked today. Ida and I relished this crossing itinerary (we have only been to Cobh) vs the typical Lisbon/Barcelona to FLL crossing itineraries (which we have done more than a half dozen times).

 

Lawrence, the thread started by etual324 asking about the Muse cruise sales led to a few posters talking about doing another cruise critic group crossing together. In November 2013 our TA sponsored a lunch (I coordinated with the Spirit XChef, F&B Mgr, and Head Sommelier) for about 20+ clients. Our TA generously paid for over $2500 of fine wine pairings and needless to say we all had a terrific time. Now, spinnaker2 (Candy and Larry), EnglishUSA (David--u probably remember from the other board, he is now a client with our TA), and a few others are booked on this crossing. Please consider joining us, u can make an on boardThe booking when you board the Spirit later this month and join us on this Spirit, September 2018 crossing or do u have this voyage already booked.

 

 

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Wes, Sorry for the delayed response. Have been in Venice since Monday with minimal connectivity (my wife has it because of work and I deliberately don't have it because of work). We are seriously looking at this itinerary. I wonder if we can get critical mass so our TA can make it a hosted cruise.

Btw, love Silversea. I am a Regent guy going back to Diamond/Song of Flower, but Silversea really does capture that essence Radisson Seven Seas used to have even on a ship as big as the Spirit. Embarked today and the staff already knows our preferrred cocktails even though they are esoteric.

Lawrence

Wes,

Are you and Ida on the London to New York crossing?

Lawrence

Lawrence, Keith is the fittest cruiser and fittest landlubber I know on cruise critic. He is a truly exceptional role model for staying active once you are retired, and now through his teaching (indoor cyling) he is making a strong positive difference in the fitness lives of others.

 

pss. a shout out to Keith who back in early 2010 gently urged me to try indoor cycling/spinning. Keith's recommendation has led Ida and I to becoming spin "addicts."

Keith, that is so great! Major kudos for helping others reach their fitness potential.

ps..we are doing INCAS with the TA's group on the Mariner in Jan/Feb and we absolutely look forward to spinning as often as the fitness instructor offers classes.

That is a great itinerary and even better group of people on INCAS. Looked into it, but just couldn't make the timing work.

This Spirit itinerary actually marks my return to cruising after a 3 year hiatus. It's also my first time on Silversea so I'm very curious to compare it to Regent and Seabourn. Given that I found Regent and Seabourn to be virtually identical (e.g., kept referring to the Colonnade as La Veranda), I expect the same great experience on Silversea.

 

Keith, you remember correctly; Spirit just has a water cooler type device that dispenses cups of water (hot or cold). Work around we used was to always bring a bottle water from our suite fridge or borrowed one from the outdoor jogging track water cooler prior to heading for the fitness room.

 

Lawrence, since the Spirit fitness room does get crowded after 7am and late afternoon (4-6pm) we also would go early (between 5:30 -7am),and then again after 6pm (when most guests are changing/getting ready for dinner) we enjoy having dinner after 8pm.

This is great advice! Thank you!

Thanks Keith. This is very helpful information. Much appreciated!

Lawrence

Good point! But I have seen a noticeable difference in ambiance across itineraries.

The bulk of my cruises have been as a solo (remember when single supplements were as low as 15% on Radisson Seven Seas back in the early 2000s?). I was also always guaranteed to be the youngest paying passenger on board by at least 35 years. I've always found my fellow passengers to be very congenial and very interesting people. If you like the combination of great food, wine, and conversation, you'll find it on any of the "luxury cruise lines." Age is a state of mind.

However, I will caution that Caribbean itineraries do tend to be harder for younger solo passengers because those itineraries tend to attract a more "sedate" and "cranky" passenger base. The European and Asian itineraries generally attract passengers who are more active and curious about the world.

Thanks Col. Wes!

That is somewhat disappointing news, but elliptical cross trainers are a reasonable substitute (I'll go out on a limb and assume that those are in the fitness center). I also hope the jogging track is rubberized. I once slipped on the Mariner's jogging track while jogging and twisted my ankle quite badly so I am now somewhat squeamish about running laps on cruise ships.