labrasett

What a mostly sad exchange of views.   We are very low maintenance but happy to have someone to fill our fridge with water and wine and to pick up and drop off our laundry and to offer and provide nuts and nibbles to accompany a late afternoon glass of wine.   If there were no butlers there would need to be more cabin attendants to do all the jobs the butlers do.   Apart from anything else they provide a "buffer" between guest and cabin attendant, if there is something wrong you tell the butler, you do not upset the cabin attendant, the butler will fix it.   There is nothing posh or aristocratic about having a butler, they are just there if you need them if not it is easy to politely ask them to leave you alone unless you ask for them.   Simple.

21 hours ago, les37b said:

Good point. My SS rep tells me they don’t issue anything any more. Luckily my return flight is from Barbados too. The flight details are in my.silversea, but there is nothing I can see to state I’m boarding a ship or where I need to go to  embark.

My rep phoned me this morning in response to an email sent yesterday.  He said the cruise ticket will not be available until the middle of next week so I think there is actually a ticket and I think I got one via email for the preceding Galapagos trip.   He said he thought the ticket would be available on Wednesday next week but he would try and get it out to me on Monday as we are travelling on Tuesday.   What I have done is to print off the full "Guest Information Form" from Mysilversea which shows clearly what our arrangements are, ie joining ship in Barbados and departing for Lisbon and I am inclined to think that will be adequate.  If not while I am in Ecuador or Peru I will have to find a helpful hotel concierge or receptionist to print of any ticket documentation which arrives before we head off to Barbados.   I was impressed with the speed of response from my SS rep.

I have just asked for expedition of receipt of my cruise tickets for Barbados to Lisbon in three weeks time because I am heading off early next week to Quito to go to the Galapagos and following Galapagos I am travelling over to Barbados to pick up the Dawn.  I believe the authorities in Barbados can often require sight of departure arrangement tickets out of Barbados at the time of arrival!

On 2/21/2023 at 5:09 PM, Rothko1 said:

 

Yes, it definitely would be worthwhile to bring your own full length wetsuit if you own one.  If I were going again, I might even go out and buy one to bring, just for the trip.

I have a medical condition which requires that I ensure I dont get cold!  In the Adriatic I wear a shortie wet suit and I am fine, going to Galapagos?   I have a long wetsuit, bootees, gloves and hood plus rash suit for underneath.   Not snorkelling is not an option in my book, adaptation is key to comfort and in my case provides accessibility, so a very expensive holiday and needing to spend just a few tens of pounds/dollars for the gear to ensure I can get full enjoyment.   Do it, folks, just do it if you think you might be cold.   If you find the provided shortie wetsuit is enough then so be it but you have a comfort of knowing that you can wear a long and complete coverall if necessary.  The trip is too good to be spoilt by not spending just a few dollar more and maybe having to adjust packing to make space.

A group of passengers (22) have just gone off a ship (sorry I cant immediately find which one or where she was docked) and gone to Bhutan for three or four days and will then rejoin the ship in Singapore

I love the Chronicles, bedtime reading and building anticipation for the following day.   I also like the daily news which on my last two trips has been available at various venues around the ships but delivered to our door after request to the butler.

On 2/1/2023 at 10:38 PM, Stumblefoot said:

Totally agree.

"Nominal charges" have got lost in the post covid flight price increases, I venture to suggest that the SS webpages have not caught up with reality!

Bear in mind that most fares are cheaper per sector when they are purchased as returns.   I decided to do our own flights for Galapagos because we were going to stay on and go to Machu Picchu and stay in Peru for a few days.   I booked our flights with KLM a good time back and they were really inexpensive in BC.   With Machu Picchu not a runner at the moment I decided to fly across South America and pick up the Dawn from Barbados back to UK.   I looked at seeing if I could claw back any monies from KLM for an unused return flight but I note that the price of a one way fare in BC from Lima (which was what I have booked) is now more than the price of my original return reservation so I am probably not going to do anything more than advise KLM I shall not be travelling or maybe I will just "no show" for return.   I suppose there may be the possibility of a return of airport fees and charges if I do have a conversation with KLM but I suspect any potential refund would be subject to an admin fee which would eat up any possible payment in any event.   I am actually pretty content with the finances overall.  

39 minutes ago, lincslady said:

Sorry, drron, I like steaks rare, but that is going too far.  It  almost made me feel sick at the idea of eating it.  A chacun....... etc.

 

Lola

I am with you there but I hate pictures of peoples food anyway.   While this is not a flattering picture of the meat it does look like a really good piece of steak, just too too raw.

I have recently (couple of weeks back) made a fairly last minute booking on the Dawn in March.   I was able to book the excursions I wanted bar one so I waitlisted.   The trip is a 4x4 trip into the middle of Madeira so I didnt really hold out much hope of getting a cancellation come through and even if one did then it seemed to me I would probably be well down the wait list with the cruise being relatively imminent.    I logged into my computer tonight to find an email from SS saying they were putting on an extra 4x4 excursion and they had added it to MySilversea for me and would I let them know if I no longer wished to do it.   Do I wish to do it?   The icing on the cake for a recovery cruise from the disappointment of having Machu Picchu cancelled post Galapagos and therefore finding myself in South America in no rush to get home.   Sailing from Barbados to Lisbon seems like just the right sort of consolation for missing MP this time around.

4 hours ago, bubbulz said:

Thanks, Wes. This is really helpful and confirms the way I am thinking. I am on smaller boats a lot and take Meclizine each morning on those days. I’ve also used the patch when I was sailing a lot but wasn’t crazy about the side effects (although it certainly beat being sick!). I also know that after the initial discomfort of the first few days I’ll get my sea legs and do better in general. (I, too, have dived the Spiegel Grove on some pretty rough days and fed the fishies on those days as well. 🤢)

 

Thanks for your feedback and the terrific photos!

I think it is a no brainer, take the meds with you and do the 18 day trip, Antartica is wonderful by South G is unbelievable.

20 hours ago, ak1004 said:

Yes, exactly!

 

On our last SS cruise we spent our OBC on La Dame (outstanding, completely worth the extra fee), spa (complete waste of money, as on most ships) and some shopping (which we probably wouldn't do if we didn't have the credit). So most likely we won't be spending more than $120 USD (La Dame) on this cruise, and we prefer to have the fare reduced. I'm surprised it was not done in the first place, but I just wanted to make sure that I understand it correctly.

 

@labrasettto answer your question, I have no problem with the admin fee (I was aware of it before cancelling), just the way it was applied (OBC and not fare reduction).

Sorry I didnt understand your reference (Nh Sbc).   If you had said OBC I would have understood, I too would be reverting to SS and insisting on the reallocation of the credit in your shoes.   Actually for me I wouldnt have minded mine being an OBC as there is one "paid for" excursion on the excursions schedule which I wish to take and the credit would have covered it.   

1 hour ago, ak1004 said:

Hello everyone,

 

We are cancelling our November cruise and transferring it to another booking.

 

The original reservation mentioned the $300 CAD per person admin fee and indicated "This admin fee will be converted to a future cruise credit (FCC) redeemable on a new booking". However, the new booking shows that $300 was applied as "Nh Sbc". 

 

Was this your experience as well? Or should I insist that the $300 is deducted from the fare and not as SBC?

 

Thank you.

I dont understand your problem.   You cancelled and rebooked and SS charged a fee which you can recover against a new future booking.   I did the same recently, cancelled my booking on a cruise "down under" in 2024 from a door to door (without air) rebooking to the same cruise and even the same cabin but on the 20% off pre payment p2p basis and saved myself some £2000.   I am quite happy to relinquish £400 (£200 each) by way of admin fee which has been transferred into an FCC.   I will for sure book a future cruise and am waiting for the full list of itineraries for 2025 before I do so and am comfortable knowing that I have £400 in hand towards the next reservation.

We are travelling to Quito and on to Galapagos the week after TiTi and we have planned a Macchu Picchu extension (not with SS) with a couple of additional days in Peru.  I am "keeping the faith" and believing it will all happen it is still weeks away and things can change really quite quickly, hopefully in this case change for the better.  

....... and there are lots of couples where curiously one gets the dreaded pox and the other doesnt and you have absolutely no idea why!!!  

On 1/7/2023 at 1:26 AM, Jonesy333 said:

Hello,

I have a question did anyone hire boots , we are coming from Australia we have no need here for such items so we are going to hire, what are sizes like allowing for thick socks as well ??

Our cruise is not till January 24 but we have birthdays etc that we can ask for various items useful for trip I was thinking .

All the above info is very useful we have sailed Explorer July last year around the Kimberly region so we used Zodiacs every day sometimes twice a day but of course the Antarctica is completely different . Although we had wet landings it was crocodiles we had to watch out for and getting wet was pleasant because it was hot . I became a Zodiac fan very quickly every chance I could I was out exploring loved them !

I will continue to absorb as much advise and info from this link while planning our holidays .

 

Happy Sailing

 

Look at the shiptoshore webpages to assess sizing of boots etc.  You dont need "thick" socks if you get the rental boots, they are extremely well insulated and warm so just one pair of socks such as you would wear with light hiking boots will be fine.   I am a really "chilly mortal" and I have never been cold on an Antarctic expedition.  

I dont believe there is a laundry room on Origin, there is a laundry service via butler but no "do it yourself".

5 hours ago, jpalbny said:

 

Cause for mutiny.

For anyone in UK  .......    you should know that Tiki is currently on special offer £3 off per bottle in Waitrose!!

Well I emailed SS last weekend and said to my consultant that there was no huge urgency my trip isnt until 2024 and I am aware that the new offer will probably have caused many future cruisers to review their arrangements plus the recent unrest in Lima has probably caused some disquiet amongst those currently due to go.   Sooooo  I got a response from consultant yesterday morning, he explained the downsides of repricing which would necessitate a cancellation and rebooking an obviously at the lowest price no refund for subsequent cancellation but that I could go ahead if I wished and he would action any such request.  I confirmed I wished to go ahead, I have already paid for a non refundable Indian Pacific Train fare and will be booking my flights in a months time (cheapest 350 days ahead) so I am confident we will definitely be travelling.   The upside is a refund of circa £2,100 but with a £400 admin fee for cancellation which will convert to an FCC so is not actually lost.   A real win win and very effectively and efficiently executed.  I have kept my choice of cabin (rebooked) but have had to re-enter my excursion choices which was no big deal.   I was planning on doing my own flights anyway because I wish to stop in Singapore on the way south to have tea at Raffles and then fly on to Perth to see the Quokkas on Rottnest Island before joining the Indian Pacific train.   There seem to be several cost effective airline routings so I shall set about that at the end of January.

15 hours ago, zqtchas said:

Just a quick question. Are Cruise Critics a paid position?

You wish   😂

On 12/13/2022 at 10:28 PM, Travelgal 2323 said:

Hi there, sorry I'm late to this thread. Someone just called my attention to it. I've attached a packing list from my last 17 day trip to Antarctica and South Georgia. It also has some tips.  Hope it helps.

 

Realize, that you will wear the same 'uniform' each day when it comes to excursions, and they don't get stinky because you won't sweat. So you you only need 1 set there. Plus, of the days on board, we were at sea for 5-6 of the days, so my stretch pants/yoga pants were my go-to day where, with a few different tops. No body cares if you wear stuff more than once.

 

Dinners are casual most nights, a few dressier nights if going over the holidays like I did, but a simply pair of slacks and a dressier blouse with some earrings and you're good to go. The products on board are good, so no need to bring yours. Feel free to ask me more questions at jen@paradoxtravels.com   And overall, don't let it consume your thoughts too much. There is so much more to you than what you wear. And the 'fashion' in the arctic regions is 'ath-leisure'. 

 

And yes, the main bag was 50# allowance and carry-on was #18 when I went. OH! A few more tips, not sure I mentioned in the attachment - this year because of all the craziness with flights and baggage....if you have connecting flights, I'd advise that you and your travel partner do 2 things in case one of your bags don't make the connection - don't freak out at this thought, it happens. But a little forethought makes it manageable: 1) pack one outfit, shell, beanie and gloves in your carry-on. As well as meds.  2) pack in EACH OTHERS bag, a few items that if one bag doesn't make, you each have some of the other person's stuff. This is has saved us before. You can switch it back when you get to Santiago if you want. *there is a Mall not far from the Mandarin Oriental - if you really got stuck, you can taxi there and pick up a few items.  

 

Remember this is a trip of a lifetime thats more about penguins, icebergs, elephant seals and whales!! You will love it no matter what you're wearing. Reach out if I can serve you in any other way. 

Jen 

Packing List and Tips for Antarctica.pdf 4.56 MB · 45 downloads

Following your earlier posts when you were concerned about packing it seems you followed the various pieces of advice and did very well indeed with minimal stuff and you were fine.  Presume you had a wonderful trip too.    😀   

I have asked SS to review my 2024 trip and to reprice it to reflect the new p2p plus additional discount  pricing.   I have been paid up for this trip for a considerable time having failed to get to Oz/NZ now for three years due to covid then inability to dove tail a cruise with an available "great train ride" in Oz and have finally managed to book Indian Pacific from Perth to Sydney followed by Sydney to Auckland cruise only to find that SS are now offering a much lower price for the cruise.  I dont want to faff with a cancellation and rebooking and have simply asked to be repriced to reflect the latest offer.   I am awaiting response.

If you are moderately mobile you will absolutely fine, we have done several expedition trips to the deep south and have seen the crew help really quite immobile people get on and off the zodiacs, they are incredibly skilled at providing just the right help to ensure that most people can do most of the activities most of the time.   We are in our mid 70s and on our last trip (March this year) we did decline one zodiac trip on a particularly cold and rough water afternoon but this was after an earlier trip out when we had got cold and wet and with the added rough sea we decided not to head out again but to stay in the warm for the remainder of the day.   I suspect boarding and disembarking arrangements may be better on Endeavour than on Explorer and Cloud (the ships we have done expeditions on) making it even easier.   Do not be put off you are both age appropriate an almost certainly ability appropriate too.   Take heed of the advice to ensure you have good gear (waterproof over trousers are good) and good footwear.

2 hours ago, chrism23 said:

This is a brief fun note.  Find out where and when I am traveling and pick a new date and destination.  Trouble seems to follow me.  Yesterday they overthrew they President of Peru.  Two people have gotten killed so far.  I am due there in January.  Then they just put the VP of Argentina in jail..  Due there in January. My best story is I was in a bar my Marrakech hotel the night of Paris terrorist attack.  I was there to watch the soccer game.  When the TV coverage cut away to the violence many of the patrons  in the bar started cheering.  Naturally I opened my my big mouth and said to the guy next to me "What the f**k are you cheering about?  Whoops.   Vacated the bar in a hurry.  Then I was in Jerusalem when the 2nd intifada kicked. off.  I had walked to the Damascus Gate, with East Jerusalem across the Street,  Got there, and a couple of hundred kids were across the street letting go with rocks and sling shots. I was with my wife and mother-law.  I jumped in front of a cab, threw them inside and said to the driver "King David Hotel fast"  Then I was in Paris for the last major protest by ETA.  I remember walking around a corner and there were over 500 French cops in full riot gear.  A good street fight ensued.  And then the best/worst  one.  I was in St. Petersburg, when there was both, a Euro Cup soccer game between Shaktar Donetsk and Spartak Moscow.  The soccer Ultras wore all black military gear and were up for a riot.  There were thousands.  Our hotel was right off Nevsky Prospect near the Hermitage, the route Lenin took.  The day I was there there was also s LGBTQ march.  Then soccer ultras, led by Putin's personal motorcycle gang, the Night Wolves, waded into the gay crowd and were absolutely kicking the crap out of them.  I grabbed one guys arm just as he was about to hit a protester with a steel pipe.  I got out of there in a hurry.   I am much, much too old to engage in street fighting.  I realize this posting will probably be deleted for being off topic.  So one cruise trip to make it relevant.  Always find out if there is big trouble, say a revolution, going on where you are going.   And then head the other way.  I wonder if Silversea gives a discount for avoiding war zones.  I know this because I thought best to look it up.  SS's trip insurance does not cover acts of war. With my luck the Brits will start another war over the Falklands while we are there. Cheers.   

Would you please keep a running commentary going as to your future travel plans so we can plot our own lives avoiding your choices!!!

Leaving passport with SS means they can get immigration processing done as soon as the ship arrives, in some places this can take place before the passengers are even out of bed.    You can always fetch you passport if you think you will need it ashore or ask for a photocopy which will be willingly supplied.