Silver Whisper Caribbean

[TravellingPearnz]

We were booked on the current Silversea Whisper voyage from San Juan leaving 17 November 2021 porting in Fort Lauderdale. At the end of September, we were pressured by Silversea to decide if we were going to risk the US opening in time or cancel and move the credit to another cruise. We cancelled on the Friday to then have news that the US were opening up early November. We booked a land stay in Barbados instead for end October and started to see a few cruise ships coming in which was wonderful. However, I still have cruise envy and wonder if anybody on this cruise or similar have any feedback on the process and ease of getting into ports, excursions, life on board and, more importantly if British, has the entry to the US and by the time the cruise is over, exit of the US been worth it. Really appreciate the feedback. We are booked on Dawn next June but I'm still kicking myself for not holding firm (think Silversea were happy to open up more cabins at a higher rate for US guests) but welcome feedback none the less.Hope you've had an amazing cruise!

[Lois R]

Good morning, sorry you were pressured........how was your land trip to Barbados?   

 

I am sailing her in 11 days........will let you know how things go in the Caribbean. I do know there are  multiple ports that we cannot go visiting independently ........not SS rules but the policy of the different Islands.  Cruise line tours only.  (depending on the Island).   

 

I know anyone traveling internationally needs a Covid test before arriving here in the states. 

I sailed out of Greece and Lisbon in the past 4 months and had a Rapid Antigen Test on board the ship before disembarking both cruises.

 

Will post after I board this cruise on Whisper about protocols/procedures concerning the Islands/ship, etc.

[TravellingPearnz]

Thank you so much Lois. Looking forward to hearing what you thought. I know that ship has sailed for us this year (pardon me) and we are looking forward to Dawn in June but I just like to add salt to the wound and find out if everybody has had a good, seamless time! Barbados was as you'd expect but soooo much paperwork and despite uploads of test results, vaccinations, customs blah, blah, blah we were still presented with two forms to fill in at the airport with a quill! They had curfew on the island so I can imagine on a Caribbean cruise, there will be different rules depending where you go. What I have been doing (again insult to injury) is tracking Whisper on cruisemapper and so excited to see so many cruise ships bobbing around the Caribbean sea on that site. Please enjoy your trip and have a drink in Panorama for us (our round 😄).

[spinnaker2]

Hope to be aboard the Whisper soon and just floating around in the bathtub of Florida.

 

We have been aboard the Whisper before however this time will be quite different due to some personal challenges we will face. I don't expect to get off the vessel once we have boarded, which will make some of the challenges much easier for us.

 

 

[Observer]

4 hours ago, TravellingPearnz said:

 Barbados was as you'd expect but soooo much paperwork and despite uploads of test results, vaccinations, customs blah, blah, blah we were still presented with two forms to fill in at the airport with a quill! 

 

BGI airport can be a mess, esp. late afternoon when several transatlantic jumbos can arrive at once.  

 

I swear by https://fivestarfasttrack.com

 

They escort people through immigration/customs and to waiting cars (no hanging around hoping to nab a taxi).

I don't know what special tricks they have to deal with Covid, but I imagine they expedite customers nicely.