Regent die hards but considering Silver Whisper....comparisons?

[WesW]

Krisitin,

 

fyi SS has announced a new embarkation policy (very similar to Regent's embarkation policy) in 2010 (pls see below)..also SS is

working to allow online specialty (also like Regent's) restaurant rsvns (guess from SS mgmt is early 2010

online rsvns will be operational... bet both these new initiatives were spearheaded

by SS's new COO (Ken Watson, formerly of Regent) and also new SS exec (Christian

Saleau (also formerly of Regent)

 

 

NEW EMBARKATION AND DISEMBARKATION POLICY

 

Effective for voyages starting in 2010, we will now allow guests to board as early as 12:00 Noon, whenever possibleinstead of having them wait until the official embarkation time of 3:00 PM. They will NOT have access to their suites but will be able to relax and enjoy the ship's public lounges and, if desired, lunch in The Restaurant, La Terrazza or the Pool Grill.

 

In conjunction with this policy change, we will no longer offer the Early Embarkation program and the Late Disembarkation program will also be discontinued. NO FEE will be charged for the early embarkation.

 

Guests arriving earlier than noon will not be able to board the ship before that time.

[meow!]

It is interesting (and should be expected) how ship builders emulate and yet try to slightly outdo each other in competition. Take a cursory look at the published (and calculated) data of the newest RSSC ship Voyageur (the only RSSC ship custom designed from "scratch" and not adapted/purchased from something/someone else), and compare it to the newbuild Spirit:

 

Voyageur 46,000 tonnes, 700 passengers, space ratio 65.7, crew 447, crew ratio 0.64

Spirit 36,000 tonnes, 540 passengers, space ratio 66.7, crew 376, crew ratio 0.70

 

Voyageur standard cabin (D to H) 356 sq.ft. including balcony 50 sq.ft.

Spirit standard cabin (verandah/midship) 376 sq.ft. including balcony 65 sq.ft.

Both with walk-in closet, make-up desk, separate shower and tub

Spirit is going to have two television sets in bed/sitting areas

 

Voyageur "layered" deck design, with decks of cabins and decks of public area

Spirit has typical Silversea front cabins rear public area design

 

Since so many people sailed the Voyageur for several years now and they seem all quite happy, presumably the newbuild Spirit will be just as nice and there is no need to worry!

[meow!]

Another bit of data, membership levels:

 

RSSC: 4-20 nights bronze, 21-74 nights silver, 75-199 nights gold, 200-399 nights platinum, 400+ nghts titanium (highest grade). This is rather looser than Oceania of the same Apollo-FDR cruise line, which requires 5 voyages (10-35 days each) for bronze, 10 voyages for silver, etc. Question, why is titanium above the others?

 

Silversea: on second voyage sterling pin, 100 days sapphire pin, 250 days more privileges, 350 days ruby pin, 500 days more privileges. Some say there is a diamond pin. Any comments?

[ging466]

Silversea: on second voyage sterling pin

 

I didn't know this. Something else to look forward to...although I think it will take me a long time to get to 100 days:)

 

Cheers

ging466

[LOVE@CRUISE]

Meow,

 

Would rather have free internet and phone calls than pins? What say you?:rolleyes:

[LOGHL]

meow,

 

would rather have free internet and phone calls than pins? What say you?:rolleyes:

 

i say & say again amen !!!!!

[meow!]

Free internet aboard and satellite phone calls cost a lot more than pins. For Silversea, at present, they only offer those privileges to owners', grand and royal suite passengers. Perhaps there can be improvements in the future.

 

-----------------------

Copied and pasted from Venetian Society announcements:

 

Membership Privileges

 

Onboard recognition and private parties

5% additional savings on select voyages

Ship visitation privileges

Receive The Venetian magazine whilst aboard

 

 

Look for this icon when choosing your voyage for an additional 5% Venetian Society savings.

 

Milestone Rewards

 

When you sail with us 100 days or more, your loyalty is rewarded.

 

After 100 Days, 5% additional savings and complimentary laundry service (excludes dry cleaning and “press only”)

After 250 Days, 10% additional savings

After 350 Days, complimentary 7-day voyage in a Veranda Suite

After 500 Days, complimentary 14-day voyage in a Veranda Suite

After the 500-day milestone, receive a complimentary 7-day voyage for each 150 days sailed

 

Subject to change. Certain restrictions apply.

 

Upgraded Amenities

When you sail with us in 2010 in a Royal, Grand, or Owner’s Suite, prepare to be delighted by a new array of effortlessly indulgent Silversea amenities we’ve recently added:

 

Complimentary laundry service including dry cleaning and pressing throughout the voyage

Dinner for two in Le Champagne, one evening per voyage

Two hours of Internet service per day, per suite

Two hours of worldwide phone use from their suite, per voyage segment

[Wellseasoned]

Meow, thanks for that last post. The pins are completely irrelevant. But the additional discounts at 100 days and 250 days are quite significant- and were much more significant before the recent change basing them on discounted rather than brochure fares. And the free laundry at 100 days is very, very nice. So please don't compare the "pins" to other lines' benefits. That is misleading since the pins are simply a symbol. Now free internet, that would be a very nice addition!

[ging466]

Meow, thanks for that last post. The pins are completely irrelevant. But the additional discounts at 100 days and 250 days are quite significant- and were much more significant before the recent change basing them on discounted rather than brochure fares. And the free laundry at 100 days is very, very nice. So please don't compare the "pins" to other lines' benefits. That is misleading since the pins are simply a symbol. Now free internet, that would be a very nice addition!

 

Yeah I think I'd rather free laundry than pins....:D

 

Cheers

ging466