Silver Whisper dry dock

[gymfreak]

I noticed Silver Whisper I’d due in dry dock today for approximately 12 days or less.

Does anyone know what areas if any apart from mandatory mechanical , are being undertaken?

We haven’t sailed on this vessel but recent reports are not encouraging about the wear and tear factor. We shall be joining the ship in Singapore in February for our very first Silversea so would be good to get inside information from seasoned cruisers 

Many thanks

 

 

[CrusinPaul]

Whisper will be in Italian drive back for approximately one month for it’s Spruce up. First sailing will be early May.

[BRUGUY]

According to the attached deck plan dated as from 10th May 2024, no Arts café but indeed a larger La Dame. More outdoor space to dine.

No information on suite refurbishment as the pictures are the same compared to the previous version of deck plans.

Keen for any update on the refurbishment as we are booked for end of year sailing out of Singapore and feel that the current layout is outdated. 

RE15659_Deck_Plans_SilverWhisper_revMay10.pdf

[gymfreak]

8 hours ago, BRUGUY said:

According to the attached deck plan dated as from 10th May 2024

Thank you. When I download the attachment I can only see the plans from May 2021, am I missing something?

[BRUGUY]

I may have attached the wrong file.

Here is the link to the 2024 version

https://cdn.sanity.io/files/rd0y3pad/production/89c7bd25a251850d36088bd891044b59a1489707.pdf

 

[gymfreak]

3 hours ago, BRUGUY said:

I may have attached the wrong file.

Here is the link to the 2024 version

https://cdn.sanity.io/files/rd0y3pad/production/89c7bd25a251850d36088bd891044b59a1489707.pdf

 

Thank you, the attachment opened. We are yet to sail on Silversea but do enjoy outdoor dining when weather permits. We have recently sailed on Explora1 which was amazing. The Arts cafe is probably a shame as we enjoy a good barista coffee.

Like you keen to hear what other areas are having a facelift.

[rosewood jo]

So only the two restaurants got facelifts?    Nothing else other than added outside dining?   

[MJfromCA]

8 hours ago, rosewood jo said:

So only the two restaurants got facelifts?    Nothing else other than added outside dining?   

 

Comparing the 2021 deck plans to the 2024 deck plans for structural changes:

 

Deck 5 changes:

-  Casino moved to Deck 8, and the Casino Bar eliminated

-  Boutique expanded into old Casino space

 

Deck 7 changes:

-  Connoisseur's Corner moved to Deck 8

-  La Dame expanded into its space

-  A new Card Room was added to a previously blank space beyond the Conference Room

 

Deck 8 changes:

- Library eliminated

- Internet Cafe eliminated

- Casino and Connoisseur's Corner moved into their spaces

 

No way to tell from the new plans if the suites (or other public areas) have been refreshed/refurbished in the dry dock.

 

I hope someone just getting off Whisper today can confirm these, and give us their overall impressions. I'm boarding June 6th.

[rosewood jo]

Great information!    Thks.    

[Easterncommand]

On 4/11/2024 at 10:31 PM, BRUGUY said:

According to the attached deck plan dated as from 10th May 2024, no Arts café but indeed a larger La Dame. More outdoor space to dine.

No information on suite refurbishment as the pictures are the same compared to the previous version of deck plans.

Keen for any update on the refurbishment as we are booked for end of year sailing out of Singapore and feel that the current layout is outdated. 

RE15659_Deck_Plans_SilverWhisper_revMay10.pdf 658.1 kB · 27 downloads

Just off the whisper. There is now a ‘Arts cafe’ situated at deck 5 along with the boutique area which is limited and on the high end. You will need to remember to bring everything you need as those little things like suntan lotion, toothpaste etc was not available. As for suites it does not appear that anything has been done at least in veranda cabins, in fact in our cabin 3 of the four lampshades were torn. There was a lot of new staff on board with more arriving in several of the port stops. We would now rate Silversea as a premium line as opposed to luxury and as such it is the first time we never booked a future cruise and are now looking else where.  

[Host Jazzbeau]

3 minutes ago, Easterncommand said:

We would now rate Silversea as a premium line as opposed to luxury and as such it is the first time we never booked a future cruise and are now looking else where.

RCG never had a luxury line before, and they clearly don't know how to run one.  When they bought Silversea and dumped Azamara, I thought it was because they didn't see enough room for Azamara (high premium) between Celebrity (low premium) and Silversea (luxury).  But now it looks like they really felt that Silversea's fleet and cachet made it a better high premium line.  

[gymfreak]

7 minutes ago, Easterncommand said:

We would now rate Silversea as a premium line as opposed to luxury and as such it is the first time we never booked a future cruise and are now looking else where.  

Thank you for your 1st hand report. Although I’m glad a Arts cafe is now included the overall conclusion sounds disappointing.

I may regret our first Silversea cruise as I have to say I was expecting a luxury product for the price point. Too late for us to cancel without severe penalty  so I can only hope for improvement 

[mchell810]

12 hours ago, Easterncommand said:

Just off the whisper. There is now a ‘Arts cafe’ situated at deck 5 along with the boutique area which is limited and on the high end. You will need to remember to bring everything you need as those little things like suntan lotion, toothpaste etc was not available. As for suites it does not appear that anything has been done at least in veranda cabins, in fact in our cabin 3 of the four lampshades were torn. There was a lot of new staff on board with more arriving in several of the port stops. We would now rate Silversea as a premium line as opposed to luxury and as such it is the first time we never booked a future cruise and are now looking else where.  

 

Thanks for the update on Whisper.  If you don't mind: which room you were in?

[Bronxchihuahua]

FYI: “Toiletries and other essential items are available for purchase upon request at the reception desk or through your butler”

 

all the boutiques on all the ships are contracted to LVHM.  They supply everything in all the boutiques.  

Edited Tuesday at 06:48 AM by Bronxchihuahua

[Port Power]

I disembarked Silver Wind in January this year after an Antarctic expedition.  I board her again on June 14th in Reykjavik.  It will be interesting to see the changes.  Sounds like the jewellery shop has been replaced, or reduced in size.  The “toiletries being available” information was around last year, too.

[chrism23]

I am intensely following this thread and others related to the Whisper.  I am booked on it for a BtoB for most of the month of August.  I am in suite 823 and see no reason to get on them to change suites.  The move of the Casino and the Connoiseur Corner had me worried but they have been put in the aft section of the ship and are no problem.  Could have been because I absolutely loathe cigar smoke and I was worried the very late night casino action would create audible noise.  So I am good on both counts.

 

I am absolutely dumb struck by the number of complaints registered here about food, caviar and so much more.  I regard myself as a SS veteran, upcoming will be my 10th cruise with nearly 200 days.  My last cruise was January 2023 the South American Grand Tour on the Moon.  The Moon was the most gorgeous ship I have been on.  The restaurants, especially Alantide which was always called the MDR were superb, the best food I have had on SS.   Having a 'chop' house menu every night was an inspired idea.  

 

I share a couple of complaints.  I do not eat at La Dame anymore, I usually did so on Formal Nights, I like to dress up, but no more.  The same dishes in La Dame seem to appear on the MDR menu within a day or two.  The difference is that the portions in La Dame are larger, a good example is if you order rack of lamb in La Dame you get 3 chops, in the MDR you get 2.  

 

I do not understand why so many cruisers are quick to downgrade SS from luxury to premium.  These are the same ships, so far with the same level of service, maybe I am in for a rude awakening, but with SS, and the reason I keep returning is "if it ain't broke don't fix it". They have been nearly perfect and seamless every cruise.  

 

Also I have voiced my concern over the increased capacity of the new ships,  The Moon with 500ish pax felt just about right, the new ships that are 700+ seem too big, although I have yet to sail one.  With them I envision problems with excursions, lines at restaurants, and a whole host of other issues which may put me off SS which would be a shame.   Maybe I will be surprised but right now it seems to be a major tactical mistake.  Selfishly I feel at home with SS and do not want to migrate to one of the few "luxury" cruise lines remaining, namely Seabourn and Regent. 

[drron29]

When The Muse class ships are completely full as the Muse was on the second leg of the voyage Around Japan was then it seemed to me it was too big. There were often lines at Atlantide particularly on formal nights. didn't bother us as if the queue was too long we just went to Indochine which was really good. They were very happy to despice dishes for Rojaan as she can't do spice.

The other problem was the excursions. i think the least number on a bus was 32 and once it got to 40. Not surprising as it was cherry blossom time and that's probably what most were there for.

Again not a problem for me as I usually left the tour at some point and got back to the shuttle spot to get back to the ship.

I really wouldn't want to be on the Nova or Ray on a similiar cherry blossom cruise.

Edited 8 hours ago by drron29