Tothesunset

Ditto

I always said I thought their steaks were a bit tough.

So that's why the ships seem less full towards the end.

Isn't it wonderful that nobody has got ill-tempered on this thread (yet!)? Clearly, different people have different needs/views/opinions and it's good to hear them expressed without rancour. Our cruise experience is quite limited but comprises: 212 days SS. It is changing in small increments away from the unique experiences in the last decade. It's just too expensive (with the occasional bargain through certain TAs). One 14 day Seabourn in 2013 on their Spirit (no longer sailing under the SB flag). We loved it. Looking at them again. One QM2 TA which was OK, just not our scene. 30 days on Saga in past 2 years. Maybe we've been lucky but we thought it was excellent value. So there are clearly travellers with greater experience or who have different needs/tolerances. So now the Order of Battle is: 1. Saga; 2. Seabourn; 3. SS but only at rates offered by certain TAs. Might also look at Regent, Viking, Ponant and Tui's Mein Schiff (we are French and German speakers so language not an issue). No matter how hard I try I just can't justify spending the SS per diems for what is becoming a higher-end mass-market line. Edit to add: The preceeding post was made while I was typing. Makes a bit of a dent on my first paragraph!

Yep. They've released the program early to draw in the custom then planned it properly. Strange way to do things.

Laundry on Saga works out at about 60% of the price per item on SS. The on board self-service laundries are quiet during port days and overwhelmed on sea days. The included excursions are uninspiring generally comprising a 2-hr coach tour in the company of geriatrics who spend most of that time getting on and off (and insist on being first on and off, the better to hold everyone up). In our experience the food is streets ahead of SS and the menus accurately describe the food rather than strangle the descriptions with superfluous adjectives. It arrives hot, as described and in a timely manner. The suites are smaller. That's an issue if that's an important factor. For us it isn't. I'm told the entertainment is excellent often featuring people you've actually heard of, singers that can sing etc. They also provide transport to/from the ship from anywhere in UK which they organise (forget the stupid Blacklane 50 mile radius, arrange yourself nonsense). For overseas guests they will arrange transport from your arrival and to your departure point. So if you wanted to do a tour of, say, Scotland they could arrange for your travel from Edinburgh-ship-Edinburgh. The biggest downside is the "God's waiting room" vibe at times (if you're under 80 I think they class you as a juvenile!) For us, we love the ebikes which are f-o-c and can be reserved the previous day. Much rather tootle around the town/countryside on our own rather than take the hearse-in-waiting to see the same things but s l o w e r. Their included wines and spirits are fine. 10 year Lahphroaig, for example, is on the included list. And they don't pretend to be some sort of floating Elysium hiding inadequacies under grandiloquent prose. Edit to add: Included excursions don't seem to book up too quickly. They become bookable about 2 months out (and thereafter remain unchanged) and can be booked online.We avoid them. The paid-for excursions are about 50% of the cost of SS for broadly similar things. We only book excursions advertised as "strenuous" - they aren't but it puts off the barely-with-us which expedites the off-the-bus events. Mostly, though, we DIY with the ebikes or take the shuttle into town.

To be fair, on some occasions that could be seen as an upgrade.

When Silversea was Silversea we were quite dedicated to the line. Now that RCCL have control we see many small examples of changes (and one big example). Bear with... The following seem to be reported more frequently on here: Reported problems with air scheduling Bottled water Customer service issues Food issues Internet throttling Poor compensation for deleted itineraries (I know it's not their fault that human tribes can't live in peace but 15% towards a replacement that's way more expensive per diem? Come on) Patchy on board service And any others I've missed. And the big change? Pricing. Some of the pricing is ambitious to the point of being nonsensical. D2D where the "included" elements over P2P have 100%+ mark-up. What's that all about? (Yes, I know, simple profiteering.) Now I shall put the case for the changes that have improved the line: Er... No, I'm out. I notice several posters who have declared dissatisfaction yet have further voyages booked. But for us the cachet has gone. In fact, the most glowing reports seem to be from new guests who might, perhaps, not realise that the line is Silversea in name only? And I guess that suits the new owners just fine. Incidentally, there is absolutely no point to this post other than as a eulogy to what was and a hope for what might be again. In the meanwhile we are enjoying Saga cruises: 95% of the experience for 50%of the cost.

Bit harsh

I doubt it. The mark up on the D2D elements is immense. RCCL wouldn't pass up the opportunity of screwing more bottom line from their esteemed clients.

A Dickie Bow?

They never really leave us...

I agree. As naturists we find the dress codes restricting and unnecessary. I'm sure you would agree that our freedom of choice should apply when cruising.

I have no words. 🥹

Some excursions - the sightseeing variety - are included. Any worth actually doing are charged. Just under 1000 pax. Food excels SS in all areas. No free champagne but premium spirits included. Average age of pax is palaeolithic.

Saga. 95% as good as SS but half the price. Why wouldn't you?

Yep. We did a good bike ride. There was a moped rally in town. 4000 50cc machines buzzing the place up. Great fun.

We were there only 3 days ago on a cruise. We really liked Skagen. Not much there, really, but a charming place nonetheless.

No. Saga. Always nice to be amongst the youngest aboard!

We've just returned today from a 12 day cruise to Scandinavia. Each day was sunny with temps up to 29c. According to the locals, that weather is unprecedented at this time of year. I'm not complaining..

Of course. I'm not sure that fairness forms any part in the decision-making process.

I think they are keener to get people across to SS. The flow in the other direction would be, I posit, minimal.

It's little to do with loyalty and a lot to do with filling expensive SS cabins.

One tip re shoe cleaning: If you have good leather shoes that you polish in the old-fashioned way (good polish applied, cleaned with cloth then buffed with a soft shoe-brush) then beware that they use some sort of polish/cleaner that dulls the shine, gets on the laces (they don't take them out) and really isn't proper polishing. So ends this lesson from Downton Abbey! 😉

Agreed.