We're Booked! Whisper 12/6/04

I went ahead and booked yesterday. Just a little advice in case anyone is contemplating this cruise. There are no standard Veranda Suites left, only the Midship Veranda, and only 8 or 10 of those. I double checked directly with SS as I thought the TA might have been upselling me. None available there either.

Planing on staying in Aruba on 12/5. Anyone have any advice on a hotel there? The Hotel/Air plan that SS offers on this cruise has you staying in Miami the night before the cruise. I didn't book air through them although I'll also have to stay in Miami on the way. Only 1 or 2 flights I found that would get us from home to Aruba in 1 day, and they were very pricey. It's much cheaper to spend the night in Miami.

Time to start planning the particulars now. The wife & I are pretty stoked for this.

we are also looking at this one...would you know if there is Vista left?

Hi Orv, we'll be shipmates. I'm on a group cruise with 7 other ladies and we have been waiting and looking forward to this cruise for over a year now. It's exciting to finally see the departure date getting closer. Most of us are flying in on either the 4 or 5 of December and after lots of research we all decided to stay at the Radisson Aruba Beach Casino on Palm Beach. We just liked all the positive reivews this place received. Sued, the Vistas were the first category to be booked up as they were such a bargain. You may still be lucky and be able to get a vista guarantee with a good TA so why don't you phone around and see. Doesn't hurt to check. Come join the party............can't wait to feel the sand between my toes.

Silversea's special sales for this year end seem to be doing quite well. We booked our Shadow voyage in May, by June all vistas were gone, leaving only midship verandas. By mid July, the whole ship was sold out. Now it seems to be happening to your Whisper voyage as well. At such deep discounts, I am quite sure so many curious folks like ourselves would want to give it a try!

By the way, one way to see if an itinerary (be it single or double occupancy) is filling up without asking is to see its single supplement percentages (on its website): if it is 110% for both vista and veranda, it is close to being empty, if it is 110% and 125% respectively, it is not doing so well. If it becomes 125% and 150%, its cabins are filling up, and if it is 200% for both, then you've guessed it -- no need to try! (This applies nomatter you are single or double: the rationale is that Silversea would especially lure singles only when they have lots of cabins left). Am I right? Thank you.

Your logic is good, however I have found that Silversea does not always follow the single supplement increases you have suggested. At any rate, 110% for a single is an excellent value; very few other cruises have such a low single supplement.

Villas at the Marriott Aruba Surf Club on Palm Beach are very nice: full kitchen, living room, balcony overlooking ocean, connecting walk to main hotel and casino.

I am one of the 7 other ladies going on your cruise.

It was interesting that the cheapest way to get to Aruba is going on Saturday. The cheapest airfare from NYC I could find was $900 but with 2 nights deluxe hotel it was $700. Go figure. So for $200 less I get to stay on the beach for two days.

It's interesting how those package deals can save you a bunch on airfare. We're all set now. I booked airfare through Orbitz and our rooms through Hotwire. I've always had good luck with rooms through Hotwire and saved quite a chunk of change.

All told we're saving about $700 over what SS would have charged to book our flight with a one night stay, but we have two nights in hotels before the cruise. On the Aruba trip the one night they book for you is in Miami. We, like some of you others will be leaving Saturday and having an overnight layover in Miami. We're staying at the Embassy Suites right by the Airport, then we'll be staying at the Wyndham in Aruba on Sunday. Looking forward to finding some good seafood.

The only part I've still yet to secure is the transfer from the airport to the hotel in Aruba. Seems pretty easy to do on the internet ahead of time. From what I gather that is standard operating procedure in Aruba to not have courtesy shuttles at the hotels. I'll bet the transfer operators have to give a pretty good kickback to the hotels to keep them happy.

Ah, time to start putting a wardrobe together and planning our excursions.

I'm sure I've read it somewhere but does anyone know off the top of their head what time you can board the ship? Without doing the early embarkation?

I'm sure SS will get a chance to get that other 700 off of me in their casino. :o

Thanks, ORV

As one of the other 8 ladies raring to go on this cruise, we look forward to meeting you! We will be the rowdy table for 8 in the dining room..........

Just for your info, I guess it depends on where you are in the Country as far as getting to Aruba in one day is concerned. I will be taking Continental Airlines to Houston from LAX, then after less than 2 hrs., on to Aruba.......

And yes, our group was actually booked with another cruiseline when the SS website popped up with this cruise at bargain prices, plus only the 10% Single Supplement. Our original cruise left on the same day, same period of time, but would have amounted to several hundred dollars more for most people - a lot of this due to a much higher Single Supplement.

Happy Cruising!

Glenda

Easy, Luxlady you don't want to scare Orv and his wife..........honestly we are quite subdued and mind our P's and Q's but we do like to have fun.

There were straight through flights but it worked out considerably cheaper to spend the night in Miami and get a room there.

We're definitely looking forward to spending time on this cruise and meeting people. My wife went shopping last night for new clothes. I had to remind her it's still 90 days away. LOL. :)

As another one of the 8 ladies cruising, I too welcome you to the Whisper cruise Orv! We will be the 8 ladies with never ending grins on our faces, and where the laughter will be coming from. While we arent rowdy per se, Canadagal is right - we all do love to have a good time. Lets just hope that Ivan spares all the wonderful places we are all going to, but I am afraid most of our ports are right in the path....

Lets all keep our fingers crossed!

We have been curious as to what effect the recent hurricanes will have on the scheduled port calls for this cruise. If I read right about 90% of the buildings in Grenada were damaged and there was extensive damage in Barbados and St Lucia.

I'm sure the local economies now, more than ever, need the tourist dollars. But I'm wondering if they will have time to rebuild the essential areas before Dec.

Hello Orv...

I would guess that our stop in Grenada is cancelled. I have heard that all of the others islands, while suffering damage, would be ready to receive ships by the time we all set sail.

I do feel horrible for the folks on some of these islands. It has not been a good hurricane season for many people... both here in the US and in the Caribbean.

Thanks

Just booked as well...Welcome all cruise mates!! We booked the last two mid-ship verandas. Very few cabins are left at this point and it will probably be a full ship. The more the merrier. Wifey and I are bringing the in-laws (her parents). Asked about a "steerage rate" but none were available :D

All of us are arriving a day early because the flight connections were a little close for comfort. Have not booked the room yet in Aruba but will do so soon.

Our return flight on the 13th does not leave until 4:00pm so we will probably take advantage of the late disembarkation program.

Looking forward to the cruise and to meeting some of you

So far:

ORV

LovesCruisin

canadagal

luxlady

Phylhering

drdcl (Doug)

Hey that's great, we should start a roll call thread soon. I think there's a few more that post here that are going on this cruise.

My wife & I booked the Silver Moon catamaran on Dec 9th in Barbados.

Thus far, there are only 4 confirmed PAX. They take a total of 12 PAX.

There are several rave reviews under the Barbados section of this message board.

Anybody else from Silversea thinking about it??

http://www.oceanadventures.bb

10 days & counting!

oops wrong thread! Sorry!

Hi, Yes my sister and I are signed up for that trip!!:) We signed up a long time ago, so I'm sure we are the other two people. I know I read such marvelous reviews about it under the Barbados ports-of-call thread, that we just had to do it. The staff sounds wonderful, and for so many people to chime in I'm sure it'll be great fun! Anybody else interested should join us!

I booked this cruise back in May, a couple of weeks after getting off of Holland America's Oosterdam - her maiden voyage though the Panama Canal.

Wasn't thrilled with the level of service on the Ooserdam (especially compared to HAL's Veendam two years prior) so I checked out the "better than premium" lines and found this cruise on Silversea a real bargain rate for what the cruise is.

I will be in a Vista Suite on Deck 5 so I get the shared veranda arrangement at a Vista Suite price.

I am definitely looking forward to this cruise on Silversea. My eighth cruise in all. Number nine will be on Princess' Caribbean Princess in May - Silversea is too expensive for four of us and one is a 5 year old - don't think Silversea is the line for her.

Sounds like it should be a fairly lively group on the Whisper on 12/6/04. Like most, I am flying into Aruba on Sunday. I will be staying at the Wyndham.

I booked this cruise back in May, a couple of weeks after getting off of Holland America's Oosterdam - her maiden voyage though the Panama Canal.

 

Wasn't thrilled with the level of service on the Ooserdam (especially compared to HAL's Veendam two years prior) so I checked out the "better than premium" lines and found this cruise on Silversea a real bargain rate for what the cruise is.

 

I will be in a Vista Suite on Deck 5 so I get the shared veranda arrangement at a Vista Suite price.

 

I am definitely looking forward to this cruise on Silversea. My eighth cruise in all. Number nine will be on Princess' Caribbean Princess in May - Silversea is too expensive for four of us and one is a 5 year old - don't think Silversea is the line for her.

 

Sounds like it should be a fairly lively group on the Whisper on 12/6/04. Like most, I am flying into Aruba on Sunday. I will be staying at the Wyndham.

Is this David Platt from upstate New York?

Wishing everyone a safe trip down to Aruba! I look forward to seeing and meeting everyone on board.

Orv and everyone else, look for the group of 8 women with amazing smiles and cocktails in hand at Sail-a-way - that will be us! Stop by and say hello :)

Yes, everyone have a safe trip.

Looking forward to the voyage and meeting some new friends.

Cindy & I are in 520...feel free to knock & say hello

We are in our 40's and are bringing my wife's parents (mid-70's)

Can almost taste the champagne and crab legs now :D

Doug