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Silver Wind

easton64

By easton64,
in Silversea

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easton64

easton64

Posted
Posted

I am changing the title of thread so I may receive more input on this thread.

We are cruising the Silver Wind in October from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale. I have read the reviews and not what I was hoping for. Has anyone been on the Wind lately and can give me their opinions on the ship and cruise?

Thank you.

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UKCruiseJeff

UKCruiseJeff

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hi,

 

Your purpose is a little unclear.

 

If you have booked and are having second thoughts but wish to receive reassurance then this is the right place. If however you want to review as much data as possible to make an informed decision then reading both reviews on the reviews area and feedback here will,give you lots of data for you to make an informed decision based on your knowledge of your particular needs, foibles and requirements, that is if you,then ask very specific questions based on what you have read and concluded. If you are having concerns then perhaps you should flesh out more specific questions and conerns and then you will recieve more personalised replies.

 

This forum as wrongly implied before, is not more ”fair” compared to the reviews, it’s just that it seems that there will be more positive comments here and more negative reviews elsewhere. That is to a degree, because no one can rubbish reviews or reviewers in the reviews area, because there are no “replies” but anyone energetically positively disposed to SS can use this forum to try to negate or trivialise or othwerwise reduce the impact of negative comments or those that post them.

 

Neither the reviews area or the forum is more reperesentative of all SS customers and you should treat both sources with a sense of caution and balance. it is simply different places to find raw data and opinion. Negative comments doesn’t imply that your cruise will be bad, but more simply,that that the product has some inconsistencies that there shouldn’t be with a higher level luxury cruise. A cruise at this level should see almost every customer on every cruise pretty (or very) happy with very few exceptions. For example, I had a rubbish SS cruise recently but that doesn’t mean I think that other people would be dissatisfied.

 

If I were you I’d read as much as possible and then ask more specifc questions as your current question I don’t think invites a helpful personalised reponse.

 

Good luck. :)

Edited by UKCruiseJeff
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Unibok

Unibok

Posted
Posted

Hi easton64,

 

I had tried to post a review after my Wind voyage last March. For some reason, it never did appear, and after enough time had passed I was afraid it was no longer relevant. I hope you consider last March to be recent enough. Thank you for giving me a reason to post this anyway :-)

 

Silver Wind, March 2017, A Restorative Journey.

 

Restorative was the key word for this voyage. First, it was important to see the restoration work progressing throughout the Eastern Caribbean wherever we went, and to talk with those islanders affected by it. Second, my doctor actually demanded that I do something restorative for myself. Initially, I googled “non-party spring break,” which took me to the luxury cruise lines in the Carribbean. From those options, I chose Silver Wind because of Silversea’s reputation as a more serious line, and also because of the timing of the cruise with last-minute enticements: cabin upgrades, free excursions, inexpensive air, and the promise of an all-inclusive, stress-free experience. It certainly delivered all that it promised. My doctor was happy, and so was I.

San Juan: I flew to San Juan a day early, with arrangements made by Silversea. The airport was especially easy to navigate, with a taxi stand right outside baggage claim. SS put me up in a very nice balcony room in the Sheraton Hotel & Casino, which at the time of my reservation was one of the only functioning hotels in San Juan. The view from my balcony overlooked the pier and beyond to the ocean. My first meal in Puerto Rico was delicious fish tacos and a mojito at the Grill near their infinity pool. Dinner in the Cuban restaurant was just okay, and the (included) continental breakfast at the hotel the next morning was downright underwhelming: mostly bread products and some fruit I could have gotten at home mid-winter.

 

 

Embarkation: Right at noon, the SS transfer shuttle picked up about 10 of us for the short drive to Old San Juan pier, We were fully embarked and onboard by 12:20 -- nearly 2 hours before the official embarkation would begin. It was effortless: no line beyond those in our shuttle, luggage whisked away, cruise card issued, a walk up the gangway, trays of bubbly distributed as we surrendered our passports at Registration. All hands were on deck for registration, minimizing any lines. The buffet was ready for us, quite empty. Wine stewards were on hand to pour, and the buffet itself had a beautiful range of hot and cold, savory and sweet selections. I typically do not like buffets, and I was impressed. Rather than wait for my room to be ready on the ship, I headed out to explore Old San Juan. Afterwards, re-entry was even easier than I imagined it would be -- just smile and swipe your cruise card.

 

 

The Wind: After purchasing my ticket, I joined this forum and started reading reviews. Talk about buyer’s remorse; review after review mentioned how tired and old the ship seemed. As soon as I stepped on board, I wondered if I was on a different ship. She sparkled. Every surface was shiny and well cared for. Seating areas were comfortable and clean, carpets looked to be the color they were intended to be, and everything was both functional and stylish. I spent a good bit of time in the Panorama Lounge in the early evenings and the Observation Lounge in the early mornings (thank you, self-serve Illy espresso maker!), and found them welcoming and elegant without being stuffy. A variety of pool loungers were all solidly built and oh so comfortable, perfect for reading, each one inviting with a rolled up towel. Attendants regularly brought cold water, fruit skewers, and other warm weather surprises. I don’t know where all these Wind haters are coming from, but I found her absolutely lovely: her small size, her proud and delightful staff, her perfectly maintained public areas.

 

 

Ports and Shore Excursions: As an enticement to bring folks back to the Caribbean to help with the rebuilding, SS offered a wide range of included excursions with our fare. I heard a rumor that they were donating these excursions to the people of the Islands, but without any public fanfare ... just because it was the right thing to do. I don't know if that is true or not, but if so, it was a lovely gesture. There are those who say that you get what you pay for with those included excursions, and there is certainly some truth to that: the quality was rather varied. Nature wasn't always the best partner in our excursions as well -- above ground, we had nothing but gorgeous, sunny skies, while below the water, there was churning, sea swells, and other elements that made for cancelled excursions and low-visibility snorkeling. Our first stop, Virgin Gorda, had issued a high water warning for the Baths, canceling that very popular excursion. Its replacement, Virgin Gorda by Land and Sea, circumnavigated the island and showed us the extent of the hurricane damage still very present in the BVIs. It was a theme everywhere we went: taking stock of the restoration work done so far, and the substantial work still left to do.

 

 

Mid-cruise, we were one of 4 ships in port, greatly outnumbered by the mega-ships that surrounded us. At some of the excursions, we were just thrown in with pax from the other ships -- particularly Swimming with Stingrays in Antigua and beach combing in St. Maarten. I still had fun, but I heard other pax complain about it.

 

 

Back in Tortola on our final full day, we again saw the serious hurricane damage throughout the island. That day also brought the best snorkeling, a trip on the Rebel Yell to Norman Island and the caves, with clear water, many schools of different types of fish, and plenty of room for everyone.

 

 

Dining: I tried every venue at least once. For dinners, La Dame was the pinnacle, well worth the extra $60 upcharge. I will dream about that fois gras for months to come, and its perfect sauterne pairing. La Terrazza for dinner was my second favorite, and I was fortunate to go twice on this very full cruise -- their fresh pastas are exquisite. The Grill was fun on a beautiful warm night, cooking a delicious filet mignon and prawns on a hot lava stone, with a side of grilled vegetables and fresh salad. The remainder of my dinners were in The Restaurant, and were of high quality, but not as stand-out as the others. Well, with one exception: cellophane noodles with duck, available as an appetizer, but when I ordered it as a main dish they brought a dinner-sized portion. I wasn’t expecting that, but it was so delicious I ate every bit of it.

 

 

Lunch was more of a mixed bag. By far, the best lunch I had all week was at The Restaurant: a curried mussel soup followed by bouillabaisse. The buffet in La Terrazza is very good for a buffet, but as others have noted, service is spotty, as every server has too many tables to cover. If you want pizza or pasta, you will likely have to flag one down and wait a while. My least favorite lunch was poolside at The Grill, a rather disappointing burger I probably should have said something about. The Restaurant is nearly empty at lunch, leaving me to wonder if people just don't know how good it is. Next cruise, I will lunch there unless pressed for time.

 

 

One lesson learned: La Terrazza will always be busy before excursions. If there are early morning excursions, expect a line when it opens. Same with lunch, if excursions leave at 12:30. Once I figured that out, I knew when to call for in-suite, or head to the always deserted Restaurant. It's also important to know that the dining staff in particular have a tough day on debarkation / embarkation day, and it showed on our final day. They seemed to be steeling themselves for the full ship that would arrive in just a few hours while still trying to help us complete our journeys.

 

 

Cabin 535: A mid-ship veranda was exactly what the doctor ordered, and with the 2-category upgrade, that is what I got. I spent a lot of time on that veranda, doing my early morning stretching before heading up on the top decks to walk circuits as we sailed into port, reading in the breeze before heading to bed. As with the rest of the ship, the cabin was spotless and beautifully maintained. Lovely orchids graced the table when I arrived, and there was more than enough space for everything I brought with me. The bed and linens were as luxurious as promised.

 

 

Entertainment: Although I didn't attend the Voices of Silversea after-dinner shows, I admired how engaged the performers were with the passengers. They led water aerobics, played games with the children on board, mingled at cocktails, hosted shuffleboard challenges, joined us on excursions, and other activities. I do need to give a shout-out to Sonja, the pianist/vocalist, for her lounge playing. Her voice is lovely and filled with ease, her repertoire surprisingly varied, and her sense of style understated. Hers was the first voice I heard when I explored the ship on day one, a gentle, warm, and welcoming version of What A Wonderful World. And at that moment, newly arrived on board with a glass of bubbly in my hand, it was indeed a wonderful world.

 

 

 

Would I go again? In a heartbeat. In fact, I took advantage of the on-board booking savings to plan two more voyages with Silversea. I look forward to going wherever they take me next.

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Sunprince

Sunprince

Posted
Posted

Easton64, the purpose of your post is quite clear to me. The reviews of he Wind have not been great lately so any recent experiences that can be shared is very helpful.

 

Unibok, thanks for posting your detailed review. I did wanted to clarify....was your cruise in March 2018 or 2017? You reference hurricane damage in the Caribbean, which the worst was in Sept/17, so thinking your cruise was after the hurricane in 2018?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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jpalbny "Live from...." Rare

jpalbny

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We will be on the Wind starting a week from Saturday. I will do a "Live From" thread but I won't keep up and it will probably take me until November to finish. Nonetheless I will try to give you an idea of what we think, and how it compares to our first six cruises on Cloud/Wind. I'm expecting that we will have a great time.

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Stumblefoot

Stumblefoot

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Posted
We will be on the Wind starting a week from Saturday. I will do a "Live From" thread but I won't keep up and it will probably take me until November to finish.
Since we've never been on the Wind, I'm really looking forward to your thread JP. We did your itinerary in reverse (and out of Southampton) on the Cloud a few years ago. Loved it! Have Fun!
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Unibok

Unibok

Posted
Posted

 

Unibok, thanks for posting your detailed review. I did wanted to clarify....was your cruise in March 2018 or 2017? You reference hurricane damage in the Caribbean, which the worst was in Sept/17, so thinking your cruise was after the hurricane in 2018?

 

Hi Easton, you are correct. I sailed in early March 2018, just over 5 months ago.

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uncletanus

uncletanus

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My wife and I spent 13 days on the Wind this past June, which was the third time we have sailed on her. Each time we have left the cruise very pleased with our experience. It seems the food this time was even better than before. The dining room menu changed every evening, and each night we dined in that venue, we would have trouble limiting our choices, as there were too many that we wanted to try. Besides the regular dining room menu, you could always order off the room service menu, which made the choices pretty much limitless. A new head chef game on board, and we had the pleasure of talking to him several times. It seems he was really out to prove his "cooking chops", and we felt he did. I know food opinions are very subjective, However, my wife and I own a catering company so I feel we a good understanding about food quality service. We at the other dining venues as well, and they were all spot on. La Terraza is probably our favorite. Even though the menu changed every 3 days, there were still more than enough choices to be had, even if you dined there a second time before the menu changed. If you like to fine dine, and don't mind spending the $60 charge I would suggest trying La Dame, to us it was a great evening. The staff was excellent as we have grown to expect, with the word no, not being part of their vocabulary. I did have a problem with the condition of the ship. I did find a tiny drop of white paint on the leg of the table on our veranda. Seriously, I found the Wind to be in very good condition. I am sure you will enjoy your cruise on the Wind

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MBP&O2/O

MBP&O2/O

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Posted

I too was on the same cruise as Unibok ... and generally agree with the review.

We had a couple of issues with the excursions.... a lagoon cruise at Sint Marteen was in fact a booze cruise, the music was so loud I had to make my self some earplugs!

We found the food to be very good, but when they changed the menu in La Terrazza the new one wasn’t to our taste so we used the MDR ... no problem with that though [emoji3]

We hardly ever saw the butler .... but the suite was kept spick and span.

The main ‘problem’ that I had .... a purely personal issue ... was the door to the verandah. It was a ‘swing door’ as opposed to a sliding door. It was very heavy / cumbersome and with my weak wrists it made access to the verandah somewhat difficult ... especially if one seat was full. Not a deal breaker but one to be borne in mind.

Was it perfect? Is anything? I thought the organisation of the buffet lunches could be improved and personally I would prefer a cafetiere of coffee at breakfast rather than have wait staff running a convoy system with dinky little cups of Americano [emoji3]

I thought it was a lovely ship ... spacious, clean, quiet, great staff, good food and would sail on it again in a heartbeat .... and the overall experience had us booking another on on the Shadow for October next year.

 

 

 

 

Sent from the magic box!

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CruisinPashmina

CruisinPashmina

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I am on The Wind now. I boarded yesterday in beautiful Stockholm. We will be in St Petersburg tomorrow. The ship looks wonderful. There has been a charming redecoration of the Panorama Lounge...soft sea glass blue-green, light wood furniture. An excellent Hungarian pianist played gentle semi classical music which my little group loved. Dinner in La Terrasse was especially good with a delicious Primativo wine. My team won Trivia today! Formal night tonight and dinner with Colin Brown....not sure it gets much better than this!

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dusababy

dusababy

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I am on The Wind now. I boarded yesterday in beautiful Stockholm. We will be in St Petersburg tomorrow. The ship looks wonderful. There has been a charming redecoration of the Panorama Lounge...soft sea glass blue-green, light wood furniture. An excellent Hungarian pianist played gentle semi classical music which my little group loved. Dinner in La Terrasse was especially good with a delicious Primativo wine. My team won Trivia today! Formal night tonight and dinner with Colin Brown....not sure it gets much better than this!

 

Great to see you're on board and all is well. Keep us posted on your fabulous voyage, and congratulations in opening the challenge to Trivia teams.

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Unibok

Unibok

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Unibok, agree that Sonja was excellent, and also made a good escort on one of our excursions in April.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Oh, how nice, Silver Spectre! I never actually spoke to her, but she seemed to be such a lovely person.

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