les37b

We get off on the 23rd. I had typed out a reply, but been unable to post,… hopefully today will be better. Knowing how WiFi works I did ask at GS where the best locations would be for their repeaters. I was told it is fine throughout the ship. I was told SS internet has never been better. Red rag. I was hoping for a straight answer. Today we got an email about the internet suggesting it won’t be like your BB at home which is obviously correct. The email however stated it was because the radio waves had to send a signal 22000 miles into space and make a return journey. Wrong. Starllink is 342 miles in space. Whilst my thoughts might be semantics, this “information” for the reasons is just blatantly not right. Starlink satellites are in low earth orbit. Anyway, it doesn’t change the fact its poor and I certainly disagree with the GS statement it’s never been better. I did do a further test shoreside while waiting for an excursion and surprisingly I got up to 1.5Mb, still not great but 3 times faster than all results to date. I was going to post an account of my sailing which I often do, but it would be impossible to do. However I will comment my meal in SALT last night for our second evening was a shambles. The chicken skewer starter was stone cold. I did check with the waiter and he confirmed it was meant to be hot. We both swapped for something else. For my main I had sirloin steak and asked for well done. (Yes not to everyone’s liking I know, but prefer my food not to have a pulse when served! lol) It arrived, looked good, but on starting to eat, it was luke warm. But worse, was the blood that came dripping out. In all my sailings, I’ve never once returned a meal. Tonight 2 plates were sent back in one sitting. I was offered a replacement, but decided I’d go without. Luckily the dessert was nice. And I missed triv today as our tour got back too late. I did hear the answers though but too late to join. The questions were reasonable. Hopefully can join in later going forward.

It’s super fast this starlink. Only took an hour to post this. (Silver Dawn) Its genuinely the worst internet I’ve had on any SS sailing.

That's how I'm reading it as well. There is no room or hotel - so there would be no need for a secondary transfer - just the transfer from Seward berth to Anchorage airport - which as you've said was always included even on P2P. It's interesting on the screen shot I uploaded, it says I have a transfer from port to hotel by train. The station used is the airport and the hotel I have is in downtown Alaska. I can see I have a transfer from Hotel to Airport - but no mention on train station to hotel. All minor things I'm normally not question because I've always been certain these "little details" are where SS excel. Now I'm not so sure particularly having learned the cruise we leave for today, will have a 10 hour wait at the airport because no excursion or room provided.

Good Luck OP. I am absolutely shocked by this. It's bad enough they've given you such a late flight when earlier is available, but this nonsense that because they put you on a terrible flight, you can't have the train transfer either. I genuinely think this will get resolved with the minimum of the transfer reinstated. Your flights will have been ticketed so I don't think that will be changed, but hope it can be. I mentioned that on the cruise I fly out for tomorrow, we too are being dumped at the airport and 10 hour wait (much like yours will be) and my remonstration that's not how the Line has been run in the past and the reply was "there are no rooms provided on any Caribbean cruises". That's a change as we've certainly had one in the past. The consultant suggested asking again once on board regarding staying a while longer (which I know wont happen) or at least assisting with storage so we can have a wander and make our our way by taxi would be helpful. As also mentioned, in Anchorage on our arrival a week before yours, we got an overnight stay included for a next day in the afternoon flight. There isnt much anyone can do about flight times if they don't tie up nicely, but it seems they are certainly ignoring their responsibility to you. This isn't penny pinching - its far worse. Hoping for a happy ending.

That makes zero sense at all. I'm on a Seward arrival on the 11 May which is also a D2D. We have a train transfer, a hotel stay with transfers to the airport and flight the following afternoon. The fare advertised clearly states (in the UK anyway) that your D2D cruise includes transfers from the ship to the airport. There isn't a mention of "unless its too long a wait"! Unfortunately your Travel Agent should be sorting this out and telling SS to stop being silly and provide what's been paid for. The room part it would appear is part of the new saving regime. My sailing from Barbados at the weekend, I've been told they are not providing a room prior to our 6pm flight. So we leave the ship at 8.30 for our 20 minute coach ride and that's a luxury experience! Have you enquired on your roll call? Since flights from Seward will all be late (apart from the earlier ones which you wouldn't make.) So I'd be asking if everyone else is facing this situation. Makes me a tad concerned about my train transfer as Alaskan Railroad doesn't start running until the 15 May. I've been assured its a charter (which I know is the normal), but worrying all the same. SS have given my TA several responses on this cruise which I've proved to be wrong. My TA was told this too, but failed to reply back. I get the impression its too much effort! It's bad because it really creates an extremely unfavourable impression going forward.

Haha. No it wasn’t. My replacement is a new starter. Good luck to my “original” on his promotion and hopefully the new guy improves as he learns the ropes. He’s still much better than the TA I’ve got for the April booking, though to be fair the continual changes can’t be helpful.

It certainly used to. Not so sure now. Just nicer to attended when most may have made the effort to dine in the main venue.

Yes, I received that email a couple of weeks ago for the 13 March sailing. What it didn’t mention was the need to fill in this application form to enter Barbados up to 4 days before arrival. https://travelform.gov.bb/create I’ve no idea if it would cause problems if not completed, but suspect it would facilitate a speedier entry if you have. I certainly had no knowledge of this requirement until a couple of hours ago when another guest posted about it in the roll call Now it’s good that that email was sent out and have to say, there wasn’t anything unexpected in it. For Japan sailings, Silversea demand a pre boarding test. Ive not had any official notification of this and only know thanks to CC. Receiving notice of this news that SS have decided, is a bit short notice to be sending out 2 weeks prior to sailing (assuming they will do so.) Home kits are fine to use…. But still have to be ordered and delivered. Info like that should be sent to guests on all Japan sailings at the time they introduced it so people can get organised in advance.

My home departure is 3 days time and still not got anything. No details whatsoever apart from an email about a week ago, telling me it was my responsibility to ensure I had all the correct documents and visas. My SS rep was always pretty good with info, but his replacement isn’t so far. No mention given at all about the online form you need to fill in to enter Barbados 4 days before arrival. (So you should be able to on 19 March) https://travelform.gov.bb/create I’m not overly concerned about the lack of ticket, but do hope we get one for Japan showing boarding location details in case we decide to make our own way. Nothing in my.silversea apart from GIF, COVID upload and flight details. I know people use to voice the silver box was over the top, but it seems it’s gone completely the other way now.

I don’t believe there are any restrictions, though obviously it’d be wrong to block book or book with no intention of attending, just because you can. I try to keep mine balanced. Luckily my Japan sailing on the Muse, I intend to make use of the open seating Indochine a fair bit. Think in the total of 16 nights I have 6 reservations, 4 for La Terrazza, I for Kaiseki and 1 for La Dame. I did have Silver Note booked, but cancelled for open seating in Atlantide for formal night.

Ive made reservations for dining on every voyage Ive been on. True on Silver Cloud and Wind, only La Terrazza and La Champagne / La Dame were bookable. Funnily on a voyage in 2016 I even posted my disappointment that 120 days out when reservations were open, that I missed out on being able to book La Champagne on our overnight in Monaco as it was shown as wait listed. In the end, it turned out it was because Manfredi had booked the venue to entertain Prince Albert and a few racing drivers. My South America voyage last year, formal nights were shown at the same time bookings were available 120 days out. The two coming up is the first time formal nights have not been shown, but just like always, restaurant reservations were open on 120 days to sailing. Ive no idea why your voyages didn’t have bookings available, but 100% of mine have.

Do you never pre book any reservations? Each to their own. It never used to be a problem because the formal night details were published. That’s changed. On the 2 cruises I have in a couple of days and next month, both have just had formal night added which introduces clashes. We’d prefer to attend in Atlantic. Unfortunately the bookings in Kaiseki and Silver Note cannot be replaced on any other night because they are now fully booked every night for the whole cruise. So that late advise means we have a choice on which we’d prefer to miss. Yes I know we could attend formal night in those venues, just as we could in the grill of pizza place. We’d just rather not. Reservations for activities are there for a reason.

Haha, yes sorry… my bad. We sail on 26 April. Gets a bit confusing. My March reference was to the Muse first arrival in Osaka and wanting to work out the likely berthing point.

Although we will find out I guess on the 15th March when Silver Muse arrives in Osaka, I’m trying to pinpoint where the actual dock is for my sailing on 26 April. I had thought it berthed right next to the aquarium / ferris wheel, but now think it’s way out in Kobe. We have 2 nights pre cruise in The Imperial. My plan was to visit Kyoto just for a couple of hours and take the bullet from Shin Osaka and return to the hotel for transfers. Indeed one guest who is travelling independently was planning to visit the aquarium on the morning after handing over their luggage! I’ve a sneaky feeling that’s not possible. Now I’m thinking, it it is there, it’s a fair distance and will take longer by coach transfer than it would returning from Kyto direct. If I’m able to offload our suitcases and re-unite on the ship, that may well be our better option. My first visit to Japan and doing so much fact finding

it’s crazy that the significance of why it needs to be there is lost. It doesn’t matter the day as such, but it does when paired with your other restaurant (and even excursions if it’s going to be a late night!) When an unscheduled set of formal nights get overlayed on your planned restaurants, it’s probable that the bookings you cancel to participate in the MDR / Atlantide, can’t be replaced. There is no excuse in my mind why this information isn’t available earlier. It never used to be a problem!

Or incinerated!

Yup, that does pin it down as you've stated. My guess for the first formal night will be on the second night in Isafjordur. The second one is anyones guess. Mine have just appeared about a month before my next sailing. If you look in my silversea on a PC, Click on activities of your booking, Find the display that has a week or so of dates and formal nights will be represented as a black bow tie.

In the UK... you can store your record details and QR code on your iphone wallet. It stores each record in full detail, name, DOB, expiry date of certificate (renewable) and type administered and name of nurse that stuck ya. Ok the last bit might not be true! Thanks Miss Merry - you've made up our minds for us to Taxi to the port instead of waiting for the taxi. I'm sure being near the back of the line on Fort Lauderdale when it involved testing etc did delay significantly. Always nice to get on earlier when possible and sip the first cocktail in the Panorama veranda.

Cheers everyone.

Change of subject for a sec...... how was the boarding process? We sail from Barbados in 10 days and unsure whether to take a taxi to the ship at our leisure rather than the the coaches laid on. What hotel did they put you in? We are down for the O2 which sounds nice - especially as its AI. Excuse the brief hijack OP.... I did answer your question in post #4

Yes, Heathrow parking (indeed all airport parking) has gone through the roof. My next trip, we fly in 10 days and have booked a hotel with parking for £152. Just a basic hotel which is all we need for the 9pm arrival and 6am pod departure. Booking parking only was £165. Go figure! I know what you mean about stressing if the car will turn up as scheduled. Though that can apply to any aspect of getting to the ship. Watch out for those M25 glue morons! I'd not be impressed either if the driver reeked and I'd certainly not be happy at a 30 minute stop for his addiction! He clearly shouldn't be in that job if its going to impact you.

OK, so is it Japan you are sailing from? I may be wrong here, but it does make sense if true. You asked why they are still asking for tests to board. I've not seen anything anywhere that states you must be tested to board, but SS are not the only line sailing Japan that are requiring a test pre boarding. So why you ask? OK, Japan are still very strict having just opened up and as you are probably aware are stipplers for following rules. One of the things that Japan has said, is that any cruise ship that has 10% or more passengers infected with covid, then the cruise effectively is cancelled and wont be allowed to dock. With such low passenger numbers, that 10% could be reached quite easily! You can probably appreciate, cancelling a cruise mid voyage will cost the cruise line a fortune in returned fares and getting passengers home, to they are making an effort as best they can by insisting on this test. Its probably more to protect themselves than guests, but its true guests will benefit also. We bought our kits from a third party supplier (medicspot) and need to scan and photograph 30 mins later the test that we just registered and we then get a certificate back with the result. I did see it mentioned someone produced a photo of themselves and a test strip which was accepted. That seems crazy, Even our test can be manipulated, but certainly would be much harder than that nonsense! Its no fun getting covid on the ship and locked away for 10 days - but worse still spending in in a hotel quarantine watching your ship sail away!

Ok, we will shortly be getting our Blacklane link to book our airport transfers, but I pre-empted this by using the usual public website to check a few details. I know we are given 50 miles and need to pay "a special rate" for anything over that limit. Well, it seems google tells me my journey from home to T5 LHR is 50.4 miles, which other mapping has said the same, so assuming its accurate. I input into Blacklane and they claim its 55.8 miles - though to be fair, that is all terminals. I guess T5 is the nearest to the motorway and my stop the nearest. Anyway, I managed to get a number to call them to ask and they said "you can dispute any charges". I was more concerned to be honest, that my 600 yards excess might cause problems getting booked. She then asked for my postcode and agreed with Google and said that would simply be waived. Good news, but as stated, wasn't an the issue. I also wanted to ask because it also says its 2 bags only in the car. Whilst we have an allowance of 2 suitcases each for the flight, we are only taking 1 suitcase each, but will also have a maximum sized cabin bag each plus an extra "small" bag for my laptop to go under the seat and wife will have her hand bag. I was told not to book the business car (which shows up as £226 each direction) as we can only have 2 bags in the car. She said the driver might refuse to collect, so instead book the business van / SUV so we wont run into this luggage problem. I challenged this as I already saw. the SUV was £428, so almost double. She said it would be fine and SS allow you to choose which you want. That doesn't sound right to me. Are you allowed to chose either? Whilst its another 2 weeks before I can expect the email, I thought it wise to pose the question for those who have already faced this situation and hopefully useful for anyone else asking similar questions.

I'll have to look into how to do that! I got GS to email them to me before. I wasn't aware there was a way to get them on board electronically on your own device. Another vote to keep them here. Its a souvenir which I always take home. Probably a bit crazy to have stacks of paper stored in a cupboard I may never look at again - but you'll never know! lol Ah OK, that kinda rings a bell. I know my.silversea booking info dies once you are on board. Will have to check in a weeks time on the Dawn!

Where is it you will be embarking and visiting and have you have 3 jabs? Without the specifics you may be given wrong information. I can see you are travelling "east". That in itself rings alarm bells. For voyages out of Japan for instance, you will need a PCR or Antigen test to board. Indeed if you are unvaccinated, you will need a test just to enter the country. If your flight touches China or Hong Kong, you will need a test to enter even if vaccinated. Just one example - so without the specifics you cant get an accurate reply - and to be honest, as helpful the replies can be here, you may accidently get the wrong answer because something has changed! Always best to ask SS and look on the UK gov website (as you are from the UK) to check what they have to say about Covid requirements. You are certainly right though to find out in advance of what you need.