canderson

39 minutes ago, ggo85 said:

^^^^^
 

Exactly.  Makes it so easy and relaxing to eat dinner and enjoy the evening entertainment, especially after getting back to the ship hot and sweaty after 6 pm. 🙄🙄

As someone already asked ... wouldn't you be showering regardless? 

39 minutes ago, jjs217 said:

Thank you for the update.  I'm sorry if my post sounded "short" - that was not my intention.  I didn't know there was a thank you button or a like button.  I am a Neanderthal when it comes to technology.

9 minutes ago, Gourmet Gal said:

That’s actually a good price for a resort-style treatment.

Yes, but a good bit more than the other RCG lines.

The Tivoli Avenida Liberdade, where we'll be staying pre-cruise for a while in 2 weeks, runs $130 for 90 minutes.

Based upon what we've seen here, we're thinking the Chef's Table might be a lot more fun than just the La Dame 'experience'.

1 hour ago, Gourmet Gal said:

I would spend it in the spa. 

At $269 for the basic 75 minute massage, better have plenty of OBC!

When using RCG's system, I'm always mindful of the fact that what they display online for available flights is NOT the full picture.  Several times I've conversed with the RCG air desk and they've been able to come up with better flights at the same prices that were NOT among those listed on their web site.  Of course, we only used that service to get better one way Transatlantic prices (which worked).

RCG, being as big as it is, has no doubt contracted for a much larger number of itineraries than SS would have done, and will be able to fold the rather different SS itineraries into their contracts, so it may turn out that the consolidation brings a lot more options to SS customers.  One can hope.

52 minutes ago, difranco said:

Nice to see Rab C Nesbitt alive and kicking. He was at the pool bar on our last cruise mopping up the Scotch. Later seen dining in Atlantide on formal night with Father Ted, Father Jack and Dougal. None were wearing a jacket or tie. Maître d' did try to intervene but Father Jack had a word in his ear and that was that.

And what did he whisper?  "Women's knickers"? 

One of the best public sites - includes ground station locations.

https://satellitemap.space/

All depends upon which carriers and routes SS has contracted with.  You can certainly request a particular airline or alliance, but there's no assurance that SS will have access to the flights you prefer.

You can request alternate flights, but don't bet on receiving them on a door-to-door fare.

3 hours ago, bitob said:

I'm booked in a Silver Suite so no problem.

If you have some brew at home that you prefer, bring it along.  One of these kits should take care of that, too.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B2QW9BBX

25 minutes ago, bitob said:

I am aware there is no Arts Cafe on the smaller ships.

My friends are on the Shadow now and are reporting a coffee disaster.  Machine not working and no place to get an espresso drink

 

Is that possible?

 

I will be on Whisper in March.  Will I have any options for good coffee?

Conduct a raid on any Silver Suite or higher.  They all have Illy espresso machines!

19 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Not sure what happened to my previous post? I took a cab from the hotel to the ship instead of going on the bus. I was at the check in counter at noon and was on board about 5 minutes later.

She is beautiful, albeit exploring her will take a few days. Definitely a different deck plan.

I have seen several familiar faces which is always nice 🙂

It was in the other thread (boarding time question).  Glad it went smoothly and quickly!

How was the Tivoli?

3 minutes ago, Host Kat said:

 

@canderson

 

Posting on the boards does no good as it will not be seen by the Community Manager. Please note the following from the Guidelines we all agreed to follow when registering for our free Cruise Critic memberships:

 

"... If you have any questions or comments regarding our posting guidelines or any content found on our message boards please be sure and let me know. I'll be happy to discuss them with you.

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Hope this will be helpful and happy sails,

 

Host Kat

If I get confirmation replies, then I'll bother Laura.  If I'm the only one seeing this, I'll try to sort it on my end first.  Or is this not the forum for checking with other users re their forum use experience? 

Is it just me, or are others also seeing all search attempts result in this screen?

6 minutes ago, Dolcevita Diva said:

Weather-related. Many ports on the previous voyage (Hamburg, St Malo, Bordeaux and Bilbao) were canceled due to weather and the ship arrived early in Lisbon on Wednesday.  The Dawn is spending an extra day in Lisbon before its next voyage as the ports in Morocco have been cancelled.  There are forecasts of gale force winds and unfortunately also a maritime pilots strike scheduled for Nov. 6-8. 

Yup.  Things very unsettled right now.  Here's the current advisory in English:

1 hour ago, ronrick1943 said:

The best cruiseline is the one that works for you, not what someone else thinks is good.

Granted, that advice works after the fact, but until you've sailed a line, there's no other way to draw comparisons without seeing what people say about it.  Not long ago, we had the same questions (adding in Oceania) and for the same reason.  We had not sailed either SS or Oceania.

6 hours ago, Lois R said:

I will check in on here and if I can help with answers will try my best.

The hardest thing to answer will be to your friends when you return.  They'll ask what you did to avoid boredom on all of those "days at sea", and you'll have to explain that you don't really remember it all, but that you wish there had been even more of them!  It's not quite as easy for people who don't know how to just "chill" for a few days, but for those that do, it can be a real blessing.  Hope you enjoy it, whichever way you lean.

We'll be behind you just a couple of weeks from Lisbon to FLL on Dawn, and looking forward to it. 

14 minutes ago, david63 said:

Are they mutually exclusive?

My thought when I read that, too.  We've certainly had both concurrently in past times, and are trying to continue to do so by booking our first SS cruise.  Based upon all I've read, I think we'll enjoy both on Dawn.

That said, on a transoceanic cruise, the shipboard experience becomes more important than usual.

17 minutes ago, tinaincc said:

Don’t know the first thing about a tie. But I will say that it doesn’t take more effort - from packing to execution to pull off formal nights in my opinion. 

I'd agree, but sometimes I do dither in my choice of studs and cufflinks at times. 😄  "Accessorizing" is a lot easier for (most) guys.

@All who use it

Any chance we can dispense with the rather offensive "OG" in reference to those who prefer to 'dress' for dinner?  I'll add that to "pearl clutchers" and other previous references.

10 minutes ago, Tothesunset said:

I'm intrigued by the thought that it takes longer to dress smartly than scruffily. Unless, of course, one goes straight from the tour to the dining venue. After x hours in 90 degree heat and humidity. Without showering. Yeugh! 

Would have to agree.  It takes me all of about 15 seconds to tie a full Windsor, and another 5 to slip on a jacket.  All of the other prep/clothes are baseline anyway unless casual implies going commando!😮

Just a sexist guess, but I wonder if the ladies feel a need to spend more time on makeup and hair on non-casual nights? 

12 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

This is a straw man argument.  But if Silversea doesn't follow the trend, they will be clutching at straws as the ship goes down.

You make several interesting assumptions in that sentence.  They may instead be making a very smart marketing move in leaving things as they are on Muse class ships as a 'last refuge' for many who appreciate that style of sailing.  There really aren't good alternatives now.  It could just as well prove to be a profitable niche for SS for some time to come, rather than sinking the ship, as you say.

Note the use if the words "may" and "could" vs. a declarative sentence, which should probably be avoided until we see what happens with Muse class bookings vs the overall market in upcoming years.

31 minutes ago, Randyk47 said:

I too would be interested to see how somebody can actually determine the passenger load.  I understand getting kind of a rough idea by the number of cabins shown but as pointed out Silversea doesn’t show every open cabin in a category.  I think based on my previous experience that even my TA, who books a lot of Silverssea cruises, has to call to see if specific cabins are available.   I have never gotten the feeling she can see 100% of the inventory.  

Yes, it only works one way.  What is never known is whether there are cabins shown as 'not available' that are in fact not yet booked, but rather, being held in inventory for other reasons.  This was especially true during COVID when certain sections of ships were often blocked off for use as quarantine areas. 

But if you look at the available cabins (on the X and RCCL sites, for example) for a mock booking, you can be assured that these are indeed unoccupied, and from that you can say, "The ship cabin occupancy can't be any greater than 'x %' ". 

What can't be known is how full it actually is.

That said, unless you're a SS agent with access to the full available inventory, which SS doesn't provide on their public website, you can't count available cabins to get this information.  At least that's my experience.  When doing a mock booking, I never see more than 3 cabins offered in any given class on the SS site.  Conversely, on the RCL and X sites, when selecting "You pick", or whatever, one sees all cabins available in the selected class.

14 hours ago, nav1027 said:

Apparently the ship will be half-empty. I am looking at the number of cabins that are available in all categories. There are new ones every day (due to cancellations, I presume).

What system are you using that shows all available cabins on  SS ship?  Unlike the other two RCG public web sites, the SS site doesn't seem to allow for this, providing instead only a few cabin options for any selected class during mock bookings.  AM guessing you're not on a public SS system?

23 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Hi, I have dined with several different staff members, although not the Capt but SS engages with the passengers quite often.

 

I always hope for a meal with the Chief Engineer.  I find most are pleased to answer well considered questions about their ships.  While there are similarities between many ships of a certain age, the differences are fascinating to me, and the technology keeps evolving.  Have never sailed on a Fincantieri ship.  For sure I've never sailed on an ocean going ship with just a 21kn max speed (17kn "service speed" per Fincantieri)!  Consider that a plus.  Makes for an extra night aboard on a TA 😁

From @Fletcher 's description, I wonder if it's a botched (rushed) sous vide preparation problem?  Shame to hear this as it's something we'd likely order.