GatorGal

Thank you for the jeans opinion. There is a difference between worn blue jeans and dark black jeans when worn with a sports jacket, I think, for casual nights. But we will see. He will be prepared to change, I guess!

Hello,

 

I took my first Silversea cruise on the Wind last November when we hit the Sardinian storm. Despite the bad weather l really enjoyed the voyage and board her again next week so it's good to read this live report, thank you.

Except for formal nights, is there ever a time a 30-something guy can wear black jeans, sports coat and sports shirt to dinner on the Wind? Doing our first SS cruise April 25 from Istanbul.

Hope you - and everyone else - on this voyage have a wonderful trip - and that you do in fact make it into Odessa...

We are (were) booked on the August 20 voyage on the Spirit, but have , with regret, now decided to cancel before any real penalties kick in as for us, the trip without Yalta, Sevastopol and Odessa is an unacceptable one. We had already booked a precruise 3 night stay in Istanbul so, assuming similar substitutions would potentially be made for our trip, makes the revised cruise not for us this time. I have got enough rugs.....:p

Hopefully we will be able to get there in 2015 instead:)

I must take exception . . . one never has enough rugs. ;)

So finally we know. It's all good. Am very happy SS kept Odessa. In fact, I don't mind the extra night in Istanbul. Imagine being "stuck" in one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It just gives me more time to buy rugs.:D One month to go! Can't wait!

Yes, I have personally contacted Silversea, as has my agent. Same response. No change to the itinerary at this time.

Marc, I was very disappointed our April 25 cruise on the Black Sea does not include a day trip to Bucharest. Perhaps now that will change. I have been very upbeat and positive about the situation and understanding of Silversea's position in likely scrambling to change ports and excursions. However, even i am now quite annoyed at the lack of communications, at just about a month away from boarding the Silver Wind. Hey, SS: Tell us what you know now, and then keep telling us as you know more. Those re the basic principles of crisis communications, and SS is failing miserably.

Have you any update on your cruise yet? Surely SS will be making some hard decisions now? :confused:

Not a peep. My travel agent has called them too, and nothing to report as of today. But we did get our tickets and luggage tags this week with no mention of Putin's unpleasantness.

Well, we're going with the flow, wherever that takes us. It will be an adventure, I'm sure!

So much profit is at stake for SS, surely they are scrambling like fury to work this out. They haven't contacted me to seek my opinion :D, but I would be a happy passenger if we stayed over two nights at certain ports on the itinerary to fill out the 10 days on the Black Sea. That way we could do city-based excursions one day and countryside the other day in one port.

What is the normal penalty you reference?:confused:

I just called Silversea and the agent said they are monitoring the situation but had made no decisions. I told her there was a Travel Warning issued by the U.S. State Dept., and she said she knew that, but there are no changes made currently. She also said it is their practice to go to other ports not on the itinerary right now, rather than cancel. That will work for my family, as we have not been to any parts of the Black Sea and it will all be new and interesting for us. Hey, we'll have fun on the ship, too, don't forget!:)

We are also on the April 25 Black Sea cruise. Perhaps SS will contact us soon with their plans.