Off SW after Rio-Valparaiso

As a SS first-timer, I was very concerned by SS' poor pre-cruise communications and their lack of marketing some of their extraordinary land excusrions. I can now report that the on-board service, the staff, food AND the land excursions were nothing short of superb!

We took this cruise largely because of the Antarctic excursion from Punta Arenas. For a while it looked as though the tour would not operate for want of enough participants. Fortunately, we had just enough, the weather cooperated and the tour went as scheduled: it was FANTASTIC! The opportunity to visit Antarctica without spending days on very rough waters and having to deal with days of really cold, difficult weather is not to be missed. It's not just a matter of being able to say "I was there" as the trip gives one a true picture of the conditions faced by the scientists, and the opportunity to visit, personally, with the wonderful creatures who inhabit this place - the very end of the earth.

This is not to say that a 21-day cruise depended solely on a one-day excursion. As previous Seabourn cruisers, we were apprehensive about SS, but those concerns were really laid to rest: the SS staterooms are larger, the balconies real, and the food and staff every bit as good. OK, so the service in the main DR was spotty - sometimes excellent and occasionally poor. But, the negatives were very few, and deficiencies immediately corrected when pointed out.

Special kudos to the Cruise Director Judie, and to the Tour Director Manuel. They both put themselves out - not just for us but for everyone. The ship was 99% full, so this put a strain on doing everything perfectly. Hooray for SS: they just about did it!

:)

Hi Pilotcruiser,

I am glad everything worked out well for you. I was watching your previous posts in regards the tours and am happy to see everything ended up honkydorie for you.

How was the ship's condition?

I have recieved some private e-mails and been informed by Silversea (Australia) that have indicated that the Wind is presently "the" performing ship in the Silversea fleet at the present time, when one joins food, service, staff and on board experience. Even the weather has been going her way for the past 9 weeks.

Apparently everything has just fallen together for the Wind this season, which is good news.

I join the Wind in BA on Feb 7 for 35 nights for its last South American cruise to Rio, its transatlantic to Cape Town and its first African Cruise to Mauritius. So l have been keeping an eye out & following her season with excited gusto.

Did you use the internet on board? how was it?

Had they made the change away from the old product to the new refinements yet? what did you think??

And finally how was the entertainment? What and who do they have onboard at the moment?.

Silversea Australia have nicknamed the Wind the "happy ship" did you find this to be the case?

I enjoyed reading your post's, so thanks for taking the time to give us your report.

Would you consider taking Silversea again?

If l could ask, which suite no did you have?

If you are able to help with any of the above, l would be very gratefull!!

Cheers for now,

Colin...........................................................

I can echo what Pilotcruiser says. We were on the Silver Wind from Rio to Buenos Aires just after this Thanksgiving holiday.

Embarkation and disembarkation were a breeze!

We were in a balcony suite (Nbr 524). The cabin service was quite good...the Bvlgari amenities replaced at least every other day. We would have pre-dinner room service of caviar and sandwiches virtually every day.

The food was excellent, but I'd have to give the nod to the food on the Silver Shadow over the Silver Wind. We tend to bring our own wines aboard and one evening we invited Judie (the Cruise Director) and Vivienne (the Cruise Consultant) to dinner. We met both Judie and Vivienne on the Silver Shadow. We gave the list of wines that we'd be pouring to the chef and sommelier and they created a menu around them. That meal was very good.

On board was an Indian family who would have the chef prepare Indian food every night. They were delightful and said that the food was excellent, so one night we tried it...and it was GREAT!!!

The waitstaff, be it in the lounges or the restaurants were top notch. Here I would give the nod to the Silver Wind. On the Shadow they were very good but a bit impersonal. On the Wind the staff knew who you were and seemed more engaging.

As for tours...we took a tour of Rio and 'Christ the Redeemer' arranged through the ship although we hadn't boarded yet. We had one night at a Rio hotel (the Cesar Park) and as we checked in, an agent said there was a tour leaving in about 10 minutes if we were interested. It was a very good tour and gave a good feel of the city. Oh, if you'd like to try a Churrascaria, try Marius on Copacabana. Excellent meats!

In Santos, (the port for Sao Paolo) we declined to do any of the ship's programs. We didn't want to spend 1.5-2hours on a bus getting to Sao Paolo...whizzing around the city and then the journey back. We just meandered about Santos. Nice enough I s'pose, but I don't need to go back.

Punta del Este, Uruguay was the big surprise for us! We took a ship's tour of the area. It is a beautiful, well-kept peninsula that hosts the summer homes of wealthy Argentinians, Brazilians and Uruguayans. The beaches are beautiful. There is the Ralli Musuem...a free art museum with interesting artwork; Casapueblo...the home to Uruguay's most well known artist Paez-Vilaro. It's this large, rambling, white adobe structure that serves as his home, workshop, exposition space and hotel. The 82 year old artist walked about and chatted to visitors. Not to be missed!

Montevideo...we also did a ship's tour. There's really not alot to see and in hindsight we would probably have skipped this tour. The capitol building and the tango demo in a private home were of interest but that's about it. Montevideo is easy to walk around, and the 'Mercado del Puerto' has interesting shops and places to eat.

Judie, the Cruise Director is excellent. As I said earlier we met her on the Shadow and were very happy to see her on the WInd.

Our fellow passengers were great. Very international, very intelligent, enjoying their surroundings.

The Casino was a hopping place most nights with both blackjack tables full of players.

One thing we didn't do (and rarely do on ships) is see the ship's entertainment. Other passengers did say it was very good.

This was our 2nd Silver Sea cruise. Our third is booked and paid for! We'll be on the Silver Cloud from Dubai to Pt. Said in MAR-APR 05.

If I did this correctly, I've uploaded a picture I took of the Wind at Rio.

Hey there again, CASHIPman

Mate, again thanks heaps for your reply's.

Your responses are always excellent and well recieved and l just wanted to say that l appreciate the feedback you have given me over the past few months.

Thankyou!!

I just realised that you are from New York. I will be visitng The US of A for my first time before l head down to BA to join the Wind.

I am doing San Fran from the 21st-26th of Jan, Charlotte NC for 4 days and will be in New York from Jan 30 to Feb 2. I am booked into the Morgans Hotel there if l remember rightly.

So maybe, if you are around when i'm there, you and your partner might accept a dinner invitation as a thankyou and also as a bit of company for a lost sheep in a big city?

Of course mate, only if it suits your plans.

Anyway its just a thought.

Thanks again for all your trouble,

I wish you both a great New Year & a damn good 05!

Cheers for now,

Colin....................................

Hey there again, CASHIPman

 

Mate, again thanks heaps for your reply's.

Your responses are always excellent and well recieved and l just wanted to say that l appreciate the feedback you have given me over the past few months.

Thankyou!!

 

I just realised that you are from New York. I will be visitng The US of A for my first time before l head down to BA to join the Wind.

I am doing San Fran from the 21st-26th of Jan, Charlotte NC for 4 days and will be in New York from Jan 30 to Feb 2. I am booked into the Morgans Hotel there if l remember rightly.

So maybe, if you are around when i'm there, you and your partner might accept a dinner invitation as a thankyou and also as a bit of company for a lost sheep in a big city?

Of course mate, only if it suits your plans.

Anyway its just a thought.

 

Thanks again for all your trouble,

I wish you both a great New Year & a damn good 05!

 

Cheers for now,

Colin....................................

Hi Colin...

Thanks for your kind words!!!!

We should be in town for the dates you'll be here. Shoot me an email at 'speedbird4@aol.com'.

Have a great New Year's holiday!

Hi Colin & Craig,

It is nice to see that you both will meet. We will be meeting both of you, but on different ships next year. Craig, I have enjoyed your reviews, and Colin your dedication to research for your vacation has been refreshing and very educational for us.

Colin, I think you will really enjoy Morgans in NY. Once again, it is my favorite place to stay. We are now in Florida, but if you would like to catch up with friends of ours in SF, just drop me an e-mail. They are avid Crystal fans, but just don't know what they are missing on SS.

Cheers, and happy new year,

Dale

Hey Guy's,

Craig, thanks for comeback so quick mate. I will have some mail off to you soonest. Hopefully we will have a chance to connect this up.

Dale, You guys would be on your way now l recon ?? I just can't believe the magnitude of what you lot are attempting here. I envy both of you for this trip.

I have had a lot of fun organising mine, to me its half the trip putting it all together.

Yes mate, l did take up your recomendation and book the Morgans. They were great!! l recieved my confirmation e-mail last week. The very nice people there upgraded me to a room called a loft suite (not sure what that is)

But it sounds pretty good to me. I don't think i've ever slept in a loft before!

In BA i've been recommended a very nice G/L B&B called the Bayres of which my hosts have organised a G/Guide with transport for 3 days during my visit. By day l will see the real BA & by night l am going to learn how to dance, (so to speak) or so they tell me. Apparently it's going to boost my spanish! l will be flying in on Feb 3 and my embarkation time for the Wind on the 7th is 11am.

I fly out of Australia in 10 days, so i'm getting a bit ummm! happy & Daunted by whats about to come.

My trip is huge at 68 days.

Yours is just amazing.

Happy New Year All!!

And let the adventure begin!!

Cheers Colin......................

Colin, just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed your posts, and congratulate you on your long-awaited trip! You have described over the previous months how this trip is a life time dream, and I sincerely hope it lives up to your expectations!

If you are ever in Los Angeles on this or any other journey, let me know! I'd love to hear about your traveling adventures.....the personal email does not seem to be listed on this board any more, so feel free to email me at g.madrid@comcast.net

Glenda

Special kudos to the Cruise Director Judie, and to the Tour Director Manuel. They both put themselves out - not just for us but for everyone. The ship was 99% full, so this put a strain on doing everything perfectly. Hooray for SS: they just about did it!

 

:)

We had Judie on our Silver Whisper cruise and she was just too fantastic!!! One really classy lady!

Don

We (my partner and I) also just sailed on the SilverWind and had an amazing time. Very "family" friendly.BA to Santiago.

Colin, you are going to love it.

I was suprised to see at least half a dozen fellow Australians on our cruise (Dec 7th).

Everyone was great, passengers and crew alike.

You will love Vivien and Judie, two wonderful people who enjoy what they do.

As for the restaurant Marius in Rio...I could not agree more. Wow, what a restaurant!

We have booked Dubai to Singapore for next Nov, along with another couple (LA boys) we meet on this cruise.

Cheers!

Darren

Hi Coilin,

My wife and I will be joining you in Cape Town.If I read one of your posts corectly,you are going on the Macato Safari after the cruise.We did one with them 3 yrs ago, in Kenya,they are the best.Matter of fact your hotel is about 10 blocks from there main office.15 West 26th street.If you want they would be more then happy to answer any questions you might have about the safari.

The deli I own is about 2 blocks from there offices,If you feel like having a Corned Beef Rubin sandwich,or an authentic Italian Submarine or an old fashioned Meatball hero for lunch, let me know.

Alan

Hi Alan, thank you for all of your good information you have supplied over the past few months. We look forward to meeting you in Cape Town and sharing a glass of wine (or two). If I recall you prefer to dine later, as do we. When we return to Capetown we are doing a safari in Shamwari through TransAfrica, but I think Colin is doing the safari with Macato.

Darren, by chance is your other half Stan? If so we know each other from many years back.

Hi Alan!!

How are you this fine New Year?

Would love to share some time while i'm in New york. In fact it would be fun to try out out a real American Deli, so l would look forward to that.How do l get in contact with you??

Both you and Dale were right! I had originally booked with Macato for my Safari, but after some recommendations by the experts, l have instead booked 5 nights at the Sabi Sabi Selati Lodge & then 5 nights at the Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge(The deals were to good to be true & included upgrades to the Ivory and Amber suites as well as private air transfers to & from Johannesburg) The other reason l went with Sabi Sabi is that it is all inclusive including drinks & includes all safari's, 3 per day. I recieved a 40% discount and they waived the solo supp's. Both are located in the Kruger National Park

Like Dale, it sounds like CapeTown will be the place for a few well selected bottles of the local product (:-)) which i'm sure will go down very well with some excellent company!!

You and your wife (presumption) would be starting to get a little excited by now l recon. Like me, it sounds like you are into self employment as well, & that makes any break we get even better eh!!

I hope your trip turns out to be just what your looking for.

It will be my first time on Silversea as well (:-))

Dale, I recieved your e-mail and will respond tonight, when l get home from work. Thanks for that mate!! I have placed a call to San Fran and left a message with your buddies on their work message bank and will retry during work hours.

E-mailing me should be fine. The company has just lashed out and given me a lap top with a international Vodaphone GPRS roaming system that can also plug into the ship and is wifi capable. I am just not sure what my e-mail address will be. l haven't decided wether to keep my personal one or set up a new one for the trip to cut out all the spam.

I love it when you are your own boss (:-)).

Cheers everyone!!

Colin..............................

Colin .............. have you tried the DVD's yet .... did the DVD's work!

Hey Guy's,

 

Craig, thanks for comeback so quick mate. I will have some mail off to you soonest. Hopefully we will have a chance to connect this up.

Cheers Colin......................

Hey Colin...

I don't know if you've had the chance to email me yet. If you have, and I haven't replied it's because somehow some of my email is going to a spam folder. I think I have it sorted...

Colin,

That safari sounds great.The Earth Lodge in Sabi Sabi I read was one of the best hotels to stay in the world.They dug the hotel I think from out of the ground.You can E Mail me at THEGREATNYDELI@aol.com,and let me know when you will be around.

The wife and I are really getting all reved up for the trip.Matter of fact we booked the Stellenbosch and Cape Winelands on the SS web site.For March 3rd.

If your going to be in BA be sure you dont miss having lunch at the Alvear Palace.We also had dinner there one night,Be sure you eat dinner late in BA around 9 or 9:30 the earliest.

Alan

Hi all,

I've been doing some early preparation for my November cruise on the Silver Wind from Rio to Buenos Aires, can anyone give a suggestion on a hotel in Rio (the Cesar Park, JW Marriot or Copacabanna Palace)??

Thanks!

Yes, Stan is my partner.

Let me know from where and how we know you?

email me: aussiecdm@cox.net

Cheers!

Darren

Hi Pilotcruiser,

 

I am glad everything worked out well for you. I was watching your previous posts in regards the tours and am happy to see everything ended up honkydorie for you.

 

How was the ship's condition?

I have recieved some private e-mails and been informed by Silversea (Australia) that have indicated that the Wind is presently "the" performing ship in the Silversea fleet at the present time, when one joins food, service, staff and on board experience. Even the weather has been going her way for the past 9 weeks.

 

Apparently everything has just fallen together for the Wind this season, which is good news.

 

I join the Wind in BA on Feb 7 for 35 nights for its last South American cruise to Rio, its transatlantic to Cape Town and its first African Cruise to Mauritius. So l have been keeping an eye out & following her season with excited gusto.

 

Did you use the internet on board? how was it?

 

Had they made the change away from the old product to the new refinements yet? what did you think??

 

And finally how was the entertainment? What and who do they have onboard at the moment?.

Silversea Australia have nicknamed the Wind the "happy ship" did you find this to be the case?

 

I enjoyed reading your post's, so thanks for taking the time to give us your report.

Would you consider taking Silversea again?

If l could ask, which suite no did you have?

 

If you are able to help with any of the above, l would be very gratefull!!

 

Cheers for now,

 

Colin...........................................................

Colin:

Sorry for the delay in responding.

We had cabin #725 (midship veranda) and it was superb. Not worn in any sense.

Entertainment was very good - a song and dance troop which you will, I think, like. Judie, the Cruise Director is simply sensational: an ex-entertainer herself, she's got the right spirit, and a good voice. There was also a duo-violin act, quite good also. The lectures were good if not inspiring. (I think the real high points of this cruise for us was the ports viited (especially Antarctica!) and the well-run shore excursions. As usual, this being a small ship, one cannot expect too much from the entertainment, but I considered it well above average.

The Internet service was excellent: moderate cost and usually readily available.

And, yes, they have made the change to the new product, and it was fine (also in my wife's opinion).

Have a GREAT vruise. Wish we were still on board!

Peter

Hi all,

 

I've been doing some early preparation for my November cruise on the Silver Wind from Rio to Buenos Aires, can anyone give a suggestion on a hotel in Rio (the Cesar Park, JW Marriot or Copacabanna Palace)??

 

Thanks!

Colin:

The Cesar Park is the one most used by SS, and the one we stayed at. It is VERY nice, directly on Ipanema Beach. We stayed only the one night before boarding the Wind - over 24 hours as we checked in immediately on arrival from Miami. Service excellent, view gorgeous and food quality unknown.

Good luck!

Colin:

 

The Cesar Park is the one most used by SS, and the one we stayed at. It is VERY nice, directly on Ipanema Beach. We stayed only the one night before boarding the Wind - over 24 hours as we checked in immediately on arrival from Miami. Service excellent, view gorgeous and food quality unknown.

 

Good luck!

Hi Colin

I concur with 'PilotCruiser'. The Cesar Park has a great location. When we were there it was under a bit of reconstruction but it didn't hamper the experience at all.

When we arrived at the hotel, the SS rep said there was a tour of Rio and Corcovada that was leaving in 10 mins. We were able to check in, get to our room and back to the hotel entrance and take the tour.

Very efficient, very friendly.

Hey Colin & Dale,

You lucky guys.SS just made the cruise from Rio to Cape Town,a culinary cruise with a guest chef.Enjoy.

Hi Alan, thanks for the 'heads-up'. I just looked it up and learned it is a famous chef from Positano. There is no doubt we will be well fed crossing the Atlantic. Looking forward to meeting you in Cape Town.