rkacruiser

Safe travel and I hope you will comment on your Auto Train journey. Dining for dinner and breakfast: if you have used the Auto Train in the past, is it the same or different? Is the Lounge Car staffed?

Thanks for posting this information. Without trying this Class of ships, I know that I would dislike that type of stateroom very, very much.

In your opinion, is the position of the window shades during take-off or landing a potential safety issue?

I must emphasize this posters comments. Excellent, abbreviated opera presentations that I have never experienced on any other cruise line with the male and female leads having excellent opera quality voices. Staging matched the story line very well. I felt the shows in the main theater of Meraviglia to be the best that a I have seen and reminded me of the kinds of stage productions that were the norm years ago. Individual music groups in the various lounges were all good to very good. The one music group that I grew "weary" of hearing was the performers in the YC Top Sail Lounge, They lacked any "wow" factor in their performances.

Agree. When the buffet's are done well, they are a joy to behold and from which to dine. Cruise lines, once upon a time, could do this well until the long arms of USPH became involved. I would like to have the opportunity to try this. Some cruises on which I have sailed has offered special gourmet dinners/wine pairings that began with hors d'oeuvres in the Galley with glasses of Champagne. A different way to begin a special dinner and perfectly acceptable to me.

Your experience reinforces my opinion. Pricing has to improve for such losses to cease. Not in a cruise line. Yet, the data that I have seen indicate that there is significant amounts of income sitting in some people's bank accounts that could be used. Another poster on a different Forum of CC provided some surprising news. Former Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald has resigned from his position as a member of CCL's Board of Directors. (No reason was given in the news release.) He hasn't been retired from CCL for very long.

Silverseas is among other cruise lines that are afflicted by this situation. Consistent inconsistency of one's cruise experience is now, unfortunately, to be expected. And, it was present pre-Covid.

I have flown on several Business Class flights with both aisle and seats in the center of the plane. Aisle seats (single seats) are what I prefer and I have control of the window shades. If the plane's configuration is 2-2-2, than the second seat on the aisle is dependent on what the window seat's occupant does regarding the shades. (This seating configuration is not one I like and try to avoid flights that have that.) If the seating configuration is 1-2-1, the 2 seats in the middle section are dependent on whether the passengers in the aisle seats keep their shades up or down. Even if they are up, the view from the two middle seats is limited.

Thank you very much for this explanation. It makes sense. I don't fly as often as Zach1213, but, my most recent experiences have been such as OnTheJourney's. I have never observed a Flight Attendant ask a passenger to raise their window shade before take-off or before landing.

While I also preferred ordering from a menu, when I do dine at a buffet, on land or at sea, before I get a plate, I survey the offerings and get an idea as to what I am going to choose. On ships that are very large, such as Princess' Royal Class ships, their Lido Restaurant is so large with so many serving lines, I can become frustrated because I forget where what I wanted was in which line.

Park at the Port is my recommendation.

A world cruise is just an extended shorter cruise for me as a solo cruiser. The longer one is on the ship, the more people one meets and interact with--and maybe even become friends. The crew will get to know you and you will get to know the crew and that can improve the already good service. The society on a world cruise is much like society on land. When one is around the same people for an extended time, expect to find some that you care not to associate. That is not difficult to do. Seated at a fixed dining table where your tablemates are not people you care to dine with for 100+ days, get your table changed. This can be done in a non-embarrassing manner for both your tablemates and yourself. "I have made some friends who have invited me to join them for dinner." Doing something like that leaves no "hard feelings".

Maybe form a trivia team and play a few games of trivia. It's hard not to talk during trivia!

OP, I agree with your desire to have some daylight in the plane's cabin and to be able to look out the window--even on both sides of the plane. In case of an accident, having as much interior light as possible would be desirable and also, in case of a fire on one side of the plane, with the window shades down, that would hinder the passengers information as to which side is safer to try to leave the plane. Something that I have never understood is why the cabin lights are turned off when the plane takes off and lands. What's the point of that?

You did what I had considered doing before I retired for a very long time. I subscribed to a newsletter that morphed into a small magazine made a travel agency that specialized in this type of cruising. They would publish reports of their members and that only made me more interested. But, then, when I retired, I was so hooked on non-freighter cruising, that I gave up on that idea. I do think I missed a travel adventure.

I have become aware that the Maitre d' for the Lido Restaurant and the MDR did rotate from cruise to cruise, but not aware that such extended to the PG. That's a negative, I think. The Stewards need consistent management and directions to provide the quality of experience that PG guests expect. Maybe that is why my PG experiences have varied so much.

Not inexpensive to do, but very convenient with an excellent connection: use the phone in your stateroom to make a ship to shore phone call. I have done this 3 times and have been pleased with the convenience and the connection quality.

An excellent and balanced review! Thanks for posting it. Have not sailed on the Seaside Class ships, but, I liked the way the Top Sail Lounge and the YC Restaurant was arranged. I was able to engage in conversation with other guests next to my table for one when music might have interfered with our conversations. Gained some friends during my cruise by being able to have those conversations. Prosecco on ice was waiting on me when I embarked and my Butler kept the ice bucket filled with more when I finished a bottle. Among many others, I have praised the service/attention of the crews of HAL. MSC's crew's service was as good as HAL. When a bartender or Steward outside the YC enclave saw that I was a YC guest, the service/pours were even better. I don't think this was a change from January, 2020. (Go Bucks as well as the Bengals.) I had a Bahama Mama and "Mama" skimped on the Rum. Breakfast in the Restaurant is excellent with very good choices on the menu. Learned late in the cruise that I really liked their Ranchero Potatoes with my eggs. On the Sun Deck for lunch (and breakfast), I was disappointed in the selection of cold meats, cheeses, and cracker/bread selections for a European type style of ship. Barely adequate in my opinion. Tall blonde? The name is familiar and I think she may have been the YC Director when I sailed on Meraviglia.

That is quite a job! And, one that a possible customer ought not have to do! My hat is off to you for making such an effort!

Yes. I think Fairsky was sailing Alaska itineraries at that time. Fair Majesty? I think she was sailing, but, I don't remember where. I remember seeing a picture of her decorated in the new Sitmar exterior color scheme and funnel logo. (Or maybe what I remember was a concept illustration of the vessel prior to her entering service,) My Sitmar cruise was an outstanding experience and increased my interest in sailing on an Italian influenced ship. Home Lines was my first experience with that. Fairwind was showing some renovation needs, but, service, cuisine, and entertainment was outstanding. My first experience with Pub Night and that was nothing short of hilarious. No comedy on the seven seas today equals that!

That sounds good. I like Cranberries. One of the things that I do shop for on some cruises--particularly in ports that I have not visited or rarely do--is local food products that I can easily and safely get home. Almost always return from the Caribbean with a Rum Cake, but, more recently, I will directly order from the company that makes them. One less item to pack/carry! 🤣 That would likely last me the rest of my life and into eternity! A different Alaskan company produces a delicious Wild Blueberry Jam that they absolutely will not sell individual jars that are requested. I have tried repeatedly to order this and the order is refused. Really don't understand their reasoning.

It would be difficult to do unless you had a rental car and planned an overnight in Seward. There is some distance between Whittier and Seward, plus, one needs time for the Kenai Fjords Tour.

I support this suggestion and would recommend that the OP select a hotel that is on and near/at a stop for the Hop On/Off buses. The Marriott is the one that I stayed at and the buses were right there.

Park at the Port is the best and safest option.

No. May I suggest you Google Port of Miami parking for more information.