SS Outlasted Us

[Brad1185]

We wanted to cruise with SS for years but we swore not to as long as they were charging extra for meals. 
 

Then I saw the new Silver Nova and finally gave up and booked. Beautiful ship and very excited to finally give SS a try. 

The lady that helped me with the booking really used the term “all inclusive” a lot.  

 

Still puzzled how they can say all inclusive and charge for meals such as La Dame $320. S.A.L.T. $360 and Kaiseki $160 a couple. Would be nice if one reservation could be included for each.  
 

Also very glad they are relaxing the formal attire. Hopefully before the cruise it will be relaxed some more. 

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

16 minutes ago, Brad1185 said:

The lady that helped me with the booking really used the term “all inclusive” a lot.  

I haven't found any cruise line that is totally, 100% all inclusive.  Beauty salon, spa, top shelf liquor, boutique excursions, casino losses – there's always somewhere that you may have to dip into your wallet...

[Observer]

57 minutes ago, Brad1185 said:

Still puzzled how they can say all inclusive and charge for meals such as La Dame $320. S.A.L.T. $360 and Kaiseki $160 a couple.

 

I am curious about the SALT charge. Is this a charge for a special culinary excursion?  I have eaten frequently in SALT Kitchen and have never had a surcharge.  Is this a new "enhancement" on Nova? 

[Lois R]

I have never paid extra for a meal in SALT and have also eaten there multiple times.

[Brad1185]

11 minutes ago, Observer said:

I am curious about the SALT charge. Is this a charge for a special culinary excursion?  I have eaten frequently in SALT Kitchen and have never had a surcharge.  Is this a new "enhancement" on Nova? 

I relooked. SS website says SALT chefs table so must be a special very small group special dinner 

[markham]

On our Dawn cruise there was no SALT charge unless you count the price of the optional excursion cooking class at a renowned restaurant marketed as an extension of the SALT concept. This is available on many but not all Silversea itineraries.

 

As far as a SS salesperson using the “all inclusive” term too liberally you should not be surprised really. Maybe they have not been a cruise ship passenger, a cruise passenger on the “all inclusive” lines and/or know about all the nickel and diming of mass market lines.

 

I hasten to add that a cruise specialists TA with any market reputation would hardly say such potentially misleading and lazy remarks. Too much would be at stake in their line of business.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

[Lois R]

11 hours ago, Brad1185 said:

I relooked. SS website says SALT chefs table so must be a special very small group special dinner 

This Chef's Table is definitely a new event. . The regular SALT Kitchen has no extra charges.

[commodoredave]

14 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I haven't found any cruise line that is totally, 100% all inclusive.  Beauty salon, spa, top shelf liquor, boutique excursions, casino losses – there's always somewhere that you may have to dip into your wallet...

I agree, but what troubles me is the apparent backsliding in several areas. For example, there now appears to be more "for a fee" restaurants on luxury ships than ever before. And the "free" shore excursions provided by some seem to be getting fewer and less interesting than the "pay more" excursions. What's next? Pay to see a premium show? 

[pavementends]

For us La Dame is not to our taste and one experience at Kaiseki on one ship was disappointing. So not having these included is not a problem.

 

We were very happy with all the other restaurant options and the other things that were included.

 

Those considering Silversea should read what is included, review comments found here and elsewhere, and make the choice.

[Catlover54]

9 hours ago, commodoredave said:

I agree, but what troubles me is the apparent backsliding in several areas. For example, there now appears to be more "for a fee" restaurants on luxury ships than ever before. And the "free" shore excursions provided by some seem to be getting fewer and less interesting than the "pay more" excursions. What's next? Pay to see a premium show? 

 

Hi. I share your concern about the "free" shore excursions sometimes not being worth more than a $30 drive-around in a crowded bus, but these can be nice enough ones for people who just want a taste of a port without much effort or obvious extra cost, or don't care about them because they just sail to sit and relax at the pool or bar, or those who always privately book anyway (as long as the price is acceptable overall). I am also concerned about moderately late bookers being able to benefit from excursions, when they are already full  (e.g., within 3 months of sailing) , especially in popular locations, where the ship is full and awkward waitlists go nowhere.

Some luxury or upper premium lines get around the access problems by just saying that if you're in a top suite, you get first crack at the excursions, kind of like early boarding on airlines if you're in business or F.

 

But are  there enough data points to be able to say that there is really a trend in what are usually referred to as "luxury ships" having  "for a fee" restaurants? Certainly in slightly  above mainstream lines (like Celebrity and Holland America) there is more and more upcharging everywhere, not just in special venues but even in the MDR  (even to the point of having charged pax extra for cocktail shrimp or lobster dishes or seconds-- with appropriate pax protest).  And overall there is also just more serious charging, period, for base fees on airlines, hotels, and  ships (not sure why, since we only have 3.2% declared inflation, at least in the U.S., but that would be another thread, e.g., maybe Terry's 😇).

 

Right now, SS charges in just two, for La Dame and Kaiseki at dinner (and one will  debate whether or not their new pricing will be worth it to entice more customers).  So  they are a bit of an outlier there, but many other nice venues remain. They will also charge for the tiny premium wine/chef's dinner (where I think they will seat only 12 or so people, but such premium wine unique chef dinners also have upcharges elsewhere, e.g.,  on old and new Crystal and a couple other luxury lines, and people still often compete to get in).

Other lines may allow one entry for "free" but then charge for #2 and beyond, or alternatively access is so limited on a full ship that beyond one entry, whether or not you can get in depends on how much pull or push you have, and/or there is a charge.  I'd rather have a charge than have my access to a great "free" venue depend on pull or push.

 

In any event, though I would like across the board good if not excellent meals in all venues (like they used to be almost always in any venue on any line that called itself "luxury", or even on upper premium lines, and heck, even on mainstream lines in the 1980's stone age of cruising), I'd rather have a "luxury" line that charges more and actually delivers more quality and service in certain upcharged restaurants, than a line that has a baseline high charge for everything and then downgrades quality of service and product overall and attempts to fool their customers (a la emperor sans clothing).

That is just my opinion and preference, others may have different views, or fear being priced out of their favorite line (we all have our limits, and even if some can afford more  it doesn't mean they will want to feel cheated).   Having eaten in La Dame for half the price  they will charge now, where I was underwhelmed and preferred repeating  "free" La Terrazza, or SALT, or even a pleasant French or Asian specialty restaurant on upper mainstream Holland America, they better have a most awesome and amazing product if I'm going to pay $160, without premium wine, pp.  If not, it will be one and done for me, and likely others.

 

I wish you wonderful travel, whether on SS or elsewhere (I tend to mix it up, and look forward to trying Nova -- in all venues except one).

 

[turtlemichael]

10 hours ago, commodoredave said:

IWhat's next? Pay to see a premium show? 

Please don't give them any more clever ideas.

[Host Jazzbeau]

On Viking Ocean we didn't take a single one of their included tours, because they just weren't a good use of the time in port.  And when I price out Regent, the value proposition goes in the toilet because I wouldn't be taking their included excursions either.  On our upcoming Silversea New Zealand/Australia cruise we have signed up for many – both the quality and the range are really quite a bit above the standard of other 'excursion-included' cruise lines we have seen – and the extra-cost ones are lower-priced than the equivalent tours that I have checked on other cruise lines.  So on that issue, I feel that Silversea's move to 'more-inclusive' offers value.

 

As to the restaurants:  we are going on Whisper, so none of these extra-cost restaurants even exists [except La Dame, which we had been warned off early on].  Since Silversea is increasing the choices and reviews continue to say the MDR is very good, this doesn't bother me that much.

[Brad1185]

I’m not complaining what SS charges for the cruise. The Nova cruise is about $3,000 more than the same cruise on another SS ship.  The Nova really caught my attention and I am willing to pay for it.  We will completely skip the 2 up charge restaurants and the chefs table. 
 

I have always accepted extra charges for spa, excursions, shops, etc but I have always wanted all meals included. 
 

I do like that most excursion are included but 2 of the full day excursions we picked with lunch are extra and have already exceeded the $1,000 room credit we received. 

[Mark_K]

On 8/16/2023 at 8:35 AM, Lois R said:

This Chef's Table is definitely a new event. . The regular SALT Kitchen has no extra charges.

Just getting in the Corporate line.  Royal Caribbean has had a Chef’s Table meal/event for years, Celebrity has added Chef’s Table by Daniel Boulard, and now Silversea.

[Lois R]

33 minutes ago, Mark_K said:

Just getting in the Corporate line.  Royal Caribbean has had a Chef’s Table meal/event for years, Celebrity has added Chef’s Table by Daniel Boulard, and now Silversea.

Good morning, I sailed with Celebrity for many years and yes, they had "Chef's Table" events all the time.  I participated in many of them. Sometimes they were in a restaurant and many, many years ago they even had them set up inside the galley. 

[ronrick1943]

On 8/16/2023 at 6:30 PM, turtlemichael said:

Please don't give them any more clever ideas.

I would pay, now we don’t go to them,..

[Codecow]

I’m happy to pay more for something as long as it is actually good.  I debate with my wife on “value” and “good” constantly.