CalTom

Thanks one and all.

And especially thank you, Terry, for the advice and the photos are wonderful. I so look forward to the trip, and getting back into cruising.  Oh, I do love seafood!

Tom

After a lengthy hiatus from travel and cruising, in particular due to the pandemic, I am more than ready to jump on board again. Since 1999 I have been a loyal Crystal cruiser, and have also sailed on Regent, Celebrity, Princess and Cunard over the years.

Since I am not quite ready to go back to Crystal after their recent difficulties, and until they sort things out in resurrecting it with different owners, I decided to try something else.

I booked on the Silversea Shadow for a cruise from Quebec City to New York this fall.

Any advice on what to anticipate or expect knowing prior experience? All helpful hints and suggestions will be appreciated, and yes I know the ship is smaller than the ships I've sailed on before.  After looking over the web site and the ship's specifics I am greatly anticipating the voyage.

Thanks!

Thank you all for the great advice and suggestions.  Yes, I figured that the on-board rate of exchange would be less than desirable.  We're only looking for a small amount until we get to a UK bank ATM, but all of this is very worthwhile for options.

Thank you bluemarble.  This is very helpful!

Is there any type of currency exchange available on board, for example at the Purser's Office?   We'll just need a small amount of British pounds when we disembark and use a taxi in Southampton.

Thank you.

Thank you for the excellent review, Chuck.

We are preparing for our first QM2 crossing later this month. Although seasoned cruisers, primarily on Crystal, we are looking forward to the Cunard experience.

I saw many a liner off from NYC as a kid, including on board bon voyage parties when that was possible, the chimes announcing "All ashore going ashore", plus the streamers and all that.  So although different today the allure remains.

The crossing experience just seems so unique, so very much appreciate your comments.

bluemarble, this is indeed helpful.  Thank you.  I will also confirm when on board to be certain.  The wording is very odd and is the official Cunard statement per my promotion booking.

I will presume that the 15% service charge is covered in addition to the $12 drink price limit within the package.  And I will tip more when warranted.

Thank you for the clarity.

For an upcoming crossing on QM2 part of the offering I have in a Princess Grill suite is the following drinks package-

" valued up to $12 per person/per drink per day with unlimited drinks "
Can anyone please shed some light on what that exactly means?

I think I understand the first part if limited to one drink per day, but does the 'unlimited drinks' mean that all drinks are inclusive to the package for drinks under $12.?
Thank you.

Thank you all again for the input.

I'm certain we'll order wines too, but there is a special California one that we like to bring along for one dinner.

Never having sailed on Cunard before we are looking forward to the experience.

Thank you everyone for the information.  I expected there to be something charged, and good to at least know the approximate amount to expect.

Is there a corkage charge in the Princess Grill Dining Room should one bring a bottle of wine?

Relaxing on the cabin verandah and looking out at the infinity of the ocean.

Nothing brings life into perspective better. Everything else seems so insignificant.

We found that 3 days in Bermuda on our July Summit trip to be just right. We literally saw just about all the island had to offer. The only thing slightly shortchanged was Hamilton, but in retrospect there wasn't a lot more to see beyond the central business district. We did have a guide for a full day tour, geared to our particular interests; and a day at the beach.

It didn't feel rushed and wasn't difficult to get around on both ferry and bus.

Do not pull the door hand down inside the room.

Once you open the door leave the lever handle horizontal. We accidentally pulled it down not realizing it locks from the veranda side too.

TopOfWorld- I think your review was very accurate to our experience on the July 6 Summit cruise to Bermuda. We were in Concierge Class and had a very nice cabin tucked between the suites on the 6th level.

This was our 10th cruise and primarily have sailed on Princess, Seven Seas, and Crystal before, primarily Crystal. We in no way would compare Celebrity to Crystal as they are a different class entirely, and reflective in the cost.

This was our first time on Celebrity and hoping for an equal or better experience to Princess. Unfortunately, overall we found it far less.

The cabin and attendants were wonderful and we really appreciated the good coffee at the Bistro where the service was also exceptional. We avoided the pool area as it was like 'Animal House'. That's unfortunate as we do like to swim and stay by the pool but it was just too crowded and unpleasant.

We were traveling with another couple and had reserved, way in advance, a table for 4 in the MDR. When we first arrived we found we were given a table for 8. They did resolve it quickly and we got a table for 4 after some discussion. Our servers were quite friendly and accommodating although the Sommelier was a disaster. Very aloof, not attentive or aware of anything around him, and totally unfamiliar with wine and how it is served. It became laughable to even deal with him.

Speaking of wine... the drink packages. Very complicated. We had received a standard drink package and decided to upgrade to the premium as it just got too weird trying to figure out what was included and what not. Then there were some very strange variations, like a big bottle of this included but not the small bottle of the same brand!

I am not especially picky about food yet when we had breakfast one morning in the MDR I found the Eggs Benedict totally inedible. The taste was horrible and the muffins were old and soggy, plus the entire meal was not that warm. I left most of it uneaten.

We actually enjoyed some of the small meals upstairs although the sushi is what you'd expect on a large standard ship and the stir fry was not so good; although the guy preparing it really worked and tried hard.

We found the Bistro on 5 to be the best place to eat- relaxed, variety of choice, pleasant service and well worth the small fee.

Perhaps the strangest thing that happened was that we got locked out on our veranda!

What an experience that turned out to be, and we were finally rescued by bending over the rail to ask our neighbors to get someone! Accidentally we pulled the door lever down and closed the door only to find it locked behind us. We have never had that happen on any ship before, and had to wonder about the liability of someone old or a child getting caught out there- perhaps in intense sun, or even overnight! It became the discussion of our fellow passengers nearby us.

We do recognize that this was a short cruise going to a tropical location during the summer and that may have tainted our experience. We also sensed that because of the type of cruise that some new or inexperience staff might be a part of it.

Regrettably we'd have reservations about taking another Celebrity cruise. We had hoped for better.

The experience certainly didn't come close to the ambiance in Celebrity's advertisements.

Thank you for your replies. All of it is appreciated.

Bermuda is a new location for us so looking forward to both the ship, a new cruise line and the location.

This July we'll be taking our first cruise on Celebrity having previously traveled on Crystal, Radisson and Princess. We are going with friends who have been on Celebrity before, to Alaska, and loved it.

It will be on the Summit and we're in Concierge Class.

We are fully aware that the quality will be more on par with Princess than with Crystal.

Just inquiring if there's any advice and/or things to mention about that particular cruise or any suggestions on Bermuda?

I've been checking previous threads for info. too.

Thanks!