After Silverseas trip I still rate Seabourn #1

[SusanNJ]

Just returned from the Silverseas Cloud and while we had a good time, I truly appreciate Seabourn. Our itinerary was superb and that is why I picked Silverseas, but the food and service, even with the butler(glorified room service), is far superior on Seabourn. So Seabourn please spice up your itineraries.

[dd@sea]

Have to agree 100% Susan. We tried Silversea in February because they offered Capetown to Capetown for 10 days. It was a great trip with a land safari at Lion Sands preceeding the cruise. The cruise was pleasant as we enjoyed the ports, excursions, the other passengers (non groupies) and the service. The cruise staff was very friendly and accessible as was the Hotel Manager Guiseppe. A most positive experience. One thing not enjoyed was a medical group aboard of about 80 passengers (I think for advanced certification classes etc) But, whatever it was it had impact on other guests by closing many venues to accommodate them for dinners, cocktails, meeting etc. It was worse than the thread on this board about the travel agents.

[anonymousegirl]

Very interesting! I am in the process of deciding between Seabourn and Silverseas for a 7 day cruise Fall 2012. I found a Caribbean itinerary on SIlverseas that I like and it is a good price with free air and $500 shipboard credit.

 

But I have really wanted to try Seabourn for such a long time that I am torn. Seabourn isn't offering the free air and the itineraries we can afford are very ho-hum (the usual Med, or Canada/New England routes) so Silverseas looks like it would be better.

 

I checked out the Silverseas CC member reviews and it looks like there is more than one "fake" review (similar to Trip Advisor).

 

I see that the both Seabourn's and Silverseas' ships are more intimate, have butler service, champagne on arrival, 3-4 restaurants, include wine, spirits, beverages, and tips. Am I missing any important differences?

[lincslady]

Anonymousegirl - Seabourn does not have 'butler' service - and IMO does not need it. Some SS comments make one think he is often a glorified second room attendant, and on SB you get generally wonderful room service etc. which makes it unnedessary.

 

Otherwise pretty much the same, except, again IMO, the officers on SB are more personable (they all speak good English, and in general socialise more than those on SS) and the same applies to the staff, who interact excellently with passengers, and seem more genuinely friendly and 'warm'. I do like both lines, but it is mainly the staff who keep us going back to SB as against SS.

 

No doubt you will hear from SS fans who will disagree!

[Keith1010]

Very interesting! I am in the process of deciding between Seabourn and Silverseas for a 7 day cruise Fall 2012. I found a Caribbean itinerary on SIlverseas that I like and it is a good price with free air and $500 shipboard credit.

 

But I have really wanted to try Seabourn for such a long time that I am torn. Seabourn isn't offering the free air and the itineraries we can afford are very ho-hum (the usual Med, or Canada/New England routes) so Silverseas looks like it would be better.

 

I checked out the Silverseas CC member reviews and it looks like there is more than one "fake" review (similar to Trip Advisor).

 

I see that the both Seabourn's and Silverseas' ships are more intimate, have butler service, champagne on arrival, 3-4 restaurants, include wine, spirits, beverages, and tips. Am I missing any important differences?

 

My recommendation is whether you do it this time around or sometime in the future try Seabourn. I also believe the reverse is true and would also recommend that someone try Silversea who hadn't done that.

 

For someone who hasn't taken either line and is interested in both, I would find away to try both overtime.

 

For some, they find both lines very much the same, others prefer one over the other. There is no right or wrong and what one person thinks the other one might select the reverse.

 

Two related comments. Even within these cruise lines there are going to be differences. For example, a wider range of activities can be offered on the newer Seabourn ships than the original 200 passengers triplets. At the same time there is going to be other differences based on the size ships. Some will like both but others will prefer one size over the other. The same goes for Silversea with the different size ships it has.

 

In the end, there are many similarities between the two lines but there are certainly differences.

 

In short, it's best to experience it for yourself because in the end only one opinion matters and that is your own.

 

Keith

[sfvoyage]

I checked out the Silverseas CC member reviews and it looks like there is more than one "fake" review (similar to Trip Advisor).

 

How can you figure out which reviews are fake? What do you mean by "similar to Trip Advisor"? Passengers can post on both Trip Advisor and cruisecritic, right?

[SusanNJ]

As far as service is concerned, Silverseas even with the butler, does not compare to the Seabourn room attendent. You will not get special notes or a rose petal bath on Silverseas. You will not even get a stocked bar, although if you ask you will get what you want. Neither the butler or the room attendent ever introduced themselves. It was the rare staff member who made the effort to get to know your name. Entertainment was pathetic. The cruise director was very personable although he was not an entertainer. I longed for rock the boat.

On the positive side. Silverseas had more interesting itinerary and a much more competitive price. The free air and $1000 shipboard credit were very nice. The excursion were superior to ones that I have availed myself on Seabourn. Dinners on SS were the culinary high point. Breakfasts were poor. Pancakes and french toast were inedible. The buffet for both lunch and breakfast lacked variety.

 

The ultimate highlight was watching the Tower Bridge go up for our ship and dining with the illuminated bridge and the Tower of London for a backdrop. Cruise enjoyment for us has much to do with the sights we see and the people we meet. While we enjoyed our Silverseas cruise, the extra effort and the attention to detail on Seabourn elevates the triplets to a higher plateau than the Italian competitor. If you travel on Seabourn first, you will not be content with SS. If SS is your first choice you will not know what you are missing.

[oregon50]

So many of the negatives you refer to on SS did not exist five years ago.

They made a decision to go third world with majority of staff, while SB has not strayed so far off course.

[SusanNJ]

While that is true, I paid the same for this cruise as the one I took in 2001. Something has to give.

[freddie]

Oregon50 - Your post above (#8) is your second post today in which you suggest that a key element of Silversea's diminution in quality and value is associated with the line's use of more Filipino or "third world" staff. While I would certainly agree that any luxury line that hires a number of inexperienced staff (as many people have in fact complained that SB did with its new larger ships) has a problem, I would equally argue that the important factor in staffing is not ethnicity but rather talent and experience. Would you prefer an incompetent Czech waiter to a seasoned Filipino or Indian one?

[oregon50]

Much of the SB staff we see work four month contracts versus eight months for crew on SS. SS is notorious for extending the already long contracts + calling crew to shorten their off time. This makes for visible wear and tear on SS that we have not seen on SB. Think about the office staff and logistics expense it takes to move SB personnel around compared to a company that stretches eight months from its workers. Crew party.....have not heard those words on SS during past three years, but I have listened to a dozen crew members complain about the subject at hand. It's much more fun to sail with a happy crew.

If you want to make an ethnic issue out of it, be my guest. Through my eyes, it is a person with a masters BA, doing what their kind does best.

[sfvoyage]

Much of the SB staff we see work four month contracts versus eight months for crew on SS. SS is notorious for extending the already long contracts + calling crew to shorten their off time. This makes for visible wear and tear on SS that we have not seen on SB. Think about the office staff and logistics expense it takes to move SB personnel around compared to a company that stretches eight months from its workers. Crew party.....have not heard those words on SS during past three years, but I have listened to a dozen crew members complain about the subject at hand. It's much more fun to sail with a happy crew.

If you want to make an ethnic issue out of it, be my guest. Through my eyes, it is a person with a masters BA, doing what their kind does best.

 

To be fair, freddie did not "make an ethnic issue out of it", you did - by mentioning third world, Indian, and Filipino in more than one post. For your part, you did not address his comment but simply went into denial mode and tried to deflect by bringing up the length of contract reasoning.

[LaPaloma]

When we first tried SS..we found that the filipino staff tried hard..but were not the pros that we experienced on SB. On the last triip with them..about 3 years ago..we found that they had grown and learned...we enjoyed several of them very much...they had a great sense of humor..which added to the trip. They now understood that stature of and demeanor of a good waiter...and were accomplished in their duties...It was nice to see.

[SusanNJ]

Myra the bartender on the Cloud was a real asset. She made it her business to learn everyone's name and was a superior mixologist. I saw her prompting the waitress in the lounge who was newly from China to learn names. There are good and bad on every ship. The wait staff was okay, although not as polished as Seabourn. It was the food for breakfast and lunch that was lacking and boring. The cabin staff did only what was necessary. Both room steward and butler never introduced themselves. There were no Armands on this ship. As we departed, I saw a new maitre d' board. Two very senior gentleman jumped for joy and got his suitcase. He seemed very personable, something lacking on our cruise. Perhaps he will improve things in the dining room.

[LaPaloma]

SusanNJ....We had great suites on SS...but..thought the butler idea a joke. We receive great service on SB...and they do not use this ridiculous title.

[rgaudet]

Interesting reading this thread as we are trying to decide between Silversea and Seabourn this November. Silversea is in Caribbean and Seabourn in the Mediterranean. Silversea is on the Silver Spirit vs the Seabourn Legend. I must admit to being drawn towards Silversea due to the ship. I have a vision of the Legend being so small, dated furnishing, no balcony, and smoky. Of these items, I'm most fanatical about having a balcony. Why else be on the water!?

 

I'm thinking if I do Seabourn, it should be on one of the newer ships.

 

Thoughts? Am I over thinking it? Is the Legend a grand yacht?

["Wandering Wino's&quo]

I have a vision of the Legend being so small, dated furnishing, no balcony, and smoky. Of these items, I'm most fanatical about having a balcony. Why else be on the water!?

 

Your vision regarding the Legend is very far from reality. Legend is like a large private yacht where you have outstanding staff looking out for all your needs. As far as dated furnishing the Legend was recently refurbished and looks like a very stylist lady. As non-smokers I can assure you this ship is not in any way smoky. Several years ago we said that after enjoying a balcony on HAL we could never go back to not having one, well on Seabourn we found that we didn't need a balcony, there are so many more things on board that make a cruise on Seabourn the best.

[LaPaloma]

I agree with WW's...the Legend is exceptional! If a balcony is a necessity..though they cannot be walked out on..it is lovely to have the door open on the Legend's french balconies.

[rgaudet]

thanks for the replies. You know it's so easy to get discouraged reading the member reviews. There are negative reviews on all ships in one way or another that I try to ignore the top and bottom reviews but I still get fearful of making a wrong decision. The newer Seabourn ships look so nice but I don't care for the itineraries.

[margbem]

Another vote for the Legend. We sailed on her twice before her refurb and have no complaints. The only smoke we detected was in a tiny area along a corridor near to someone's suite where they were obviously smoking. The service you receive will far outweigh any little niggles! We also have never had a balcony on Seabourn and haven't missed it because you are never far away from the decks outside. Can't comment on the larger ships as haven't sailed them.

[wripro]

And should you ever decide to go with Silversea the Spirit is the last ship you should choose. She has none of the style and intimacy of the other SS ships, is too large imo and because of the seven day schedule she maintains much of the year you will have a much greater chance of encountering children. This may not bother you but it does me so it's just my opinion. The Whisper and Shadow are much nicer ships.

 

The Legend is a great ship and you won't be disappointed, especially by Seabourn.

[rgaudet]

And should you ever decide to go with Silversea the Spirit is the last ship you should choose. She has none of the style and intimacy of the other SS ships, is too large imo and because of the seven day schedule she maintains much of the year you will have a much greater chance of encountering children. This may not bother you but it does me so it's just my opinion. The Whisper and Shadow are much nicer ships.

 

The Legend is a great ship and you won't be disappointed, especially by Seabourn.

 

We don't have children and definitely prefer an adult environment. The Seabourn itinerary we are looking at is 7 days in the Riviera on the Legend. Think there would be kids on that cruise? Believe me, I'd love to do longer, we are just having a tough time even carving out the time to do 7...but need a relaxing break so looking at these high-end cruises.

[Chairsin]

If you go in the summer there are likely to be a few children on board.Even last fall on one 7 day leg of our 14 day Med cruise on the Legend there were three little children-- two perfect angels and one not so much!

[rgaudet]

If you go in the summer there are likely to be a few children on board.Even last fall on one 7 day leg of our 14 day Med cruise on the Legend there were three little children-- two perfect angels and one not so much!

 

The itinerary we are looking at is November 11, Monte Carlo to Nice. Looks like some very nice ports. But still I look at the newer Seabourn ships and love the pictures and videos I've seen. Still trying to get my head around the smaller Legend.

[worldspan]

Of the luxury lines I have sailed, I unquestionably rate Seabourn the very best, followed by Regent, then Crystal, and last Silversea, the latter being the one I felt most overrated.

 

Worldspan

129 cruises strong