les37b

On 3/21/2024 at 1:32 AM, etual324 said:

Hard to believe of all cruise ships sailing SS would be the only ones with out Soup, Salad or a Pasta dish in their main dining room dinner menu I think the Silver in Silver Sea is starting to tarnish

On the Spirit in May have concerns!

Don’t forget the waffles! 😀

สวัสดี From Bangkok….. Apologies for the late greeting. It’s a great pity the trimming down of menu choices, missing flowers, no welcome drink, shortage of drink supplies etc seem to be echoed by ours and many recent posts. Our Viking cruise ended 4 days ago and happy to say we never experienced any of these issues or cutbacks. Wished it wasn’t the case, but what I’d hinted a while back, I’m certain will be the case that we have taken our final sailing as an “esteemed” guest.
 

Hope the weather at least continues to be favourable (albeit your missed port!). Fingers crossed for the distressed passenger.
 

All the best Spins….   

1 hour ago, Dolcevita Diva said:

On another site, passengers aboard the Silver Dawn have just shared a letter they received from the Hotel Director suggesting appropriate amounts for "additional appreciation."

 

Begging is not a good sign.

In the history of cruising has a 6 star all inclusive live remotely dipped a begging cap to its “esteemed” guests?

Silversea are making themselves a laughing stock? Who is the idiot that is coming up with this nonsense (I include the outrageous you’ve missed your flight because you are not esteemed guests debacle?)

I do wish they’d make themselves known. I suspect I know, but if it’s not, it would be nice not to be pointing fingers within. The silence from the photoshoot thing was deafening. 

What next? Door to door in your own car? Pay for food that used to be included? Drinks packages? Photographers on every corner? 

Its insulting and Silversea appear to want to self destruct… on actually want to get rid of their loyal customers and hope to replace with people non the wiser?

Things won’t change…. My backside.

Im currently on Viking. Welcome champagne not a problem (with refills if you want.)… lo and behold… nothing has run out.

I feel so sad how far things are being degraded. Im glad I experienced how good it was and certainly consider myself as loyal to the brand…. But I guess I have to accept there are superior products who don’t treat “esteemed guests” (what a joke that’s become) with complete contempt.

Cant believe I’m on a Viking ship on what’s been an exemplary cruise venting anger. It’s upsetting even if it appears not to be.

1 hour ago, drkitkat123 said:

what happens if you don't check your emails on vacation?

You've missed your flight home..... "what's all the fuss about". Actually we were subjected to one of these "esteemed guests" letters 10 months ago, which was sent on the day of boarding (to our TA who I had to chase for the news) telling us our Alaskan train ride was cancelled "due to logistics", but travelling on the coach, you will arrive in Ackorage sooner. Well we didn't because they messed that up to. We missed 3 ports and excursions and the highlight of the cruise..... Yup..... money saved by SS and kept. 

3 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I'm sure they're already planning to use AI to replace all the real passengers with the overdressed models that feature in all cruise line catalogs.  They should actually bar passengers from being on deck, to make Al's life easier...

Better still ….. confine everyone to quarters! Don’t want those pesky esteemed guests spoiling things….. though each balcony donning a banner draped over the side saying “Last Silversea Cruise ever - beep your photoshoot”, might be photoshopped out - but at least the contempt is returned.

12 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

 

my wife did not believe we were "dressed up" enough to do that much on the inside.  We are told that the Afternoon Tea is wonderful there.  Though their windows, we could see it being offered, but we did not seek to try that experience.  Given the heat and humidity in Singapore, getting too dressed up in long pants, nicer shirts, etc., can be challenging.  

 

Have to admit, that was something I was wondering about. Obviously SS dress code is something that’s never ending on here, but during the day, shorts and Polo shirt is pretty standard. Not sure why during the day, Raffles should be anything different.
 

I’m certainly not going to carry with me a change of clothes to go in and as it was a “time permitting” visit, maybe I’ll just have that sling from the rooftop bar in Level33 and enjoy the views of the Marina Bay Area. 

9 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

But more and more people are realizing that you don't have to cruise to see the world

Nail on head. My next 2 trips I’m looking at might not have free laundry, but with the money saved it will not be a deal breaker!

I still find it astonishing the notion guests on board should be happy and now knowing that’s not the case, instead of holding their hands up and apologise and admit they’ve made a huge misjudgement, it seems the only utterance allegedly is “I don’t see what all the fuss is about.”

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13 hours ago, les37b said:

 

Jeffrey fell off the stage on our Japan Muse cruse during the crew talent show. He really took the "break a leg" thing too far. He was an OTT "Tina Turner" - and was miming "Simply the best". He attempted to jump off the stage and do the splits, but twisted his ankle on landing. It was a show stopper and eventually stretchered away. Luckily no serious injury and he was back in Dolce Vita 2 days after.

I got the song wrong… but found a short video I took and uploaded to YT

On 2/16/2024 at 1:40 PM, DavyWavey70 said:

Jeffrey is just the best. Is he still doing the Copacabana? 

Jeffrey fell off the stage on our Japan Muse cruse during the crew talent show. He really took the "break a leg" thing too far. He was an OTT "Tina Turner" - and was miming "Simply the best". He attempted to jump off the stage and do the splits, but twisted his ankle on landing. It was a show stopper and eventually stretchered away. Luckily no serious injury and he was back in Dolce Vita 2 days after.

Ok, have caught up Terry. A belated thanks for your usual great sharing Terry. Great narrative and photos i think we all come to expect!

During my YT research for my trip next week, For a future trip we had pencilled in flights to KL, then on to Langkowi, Phucket and Phi Phi for a return trip next year. KL especially has so much to offer and I know we'll get the frustration you had from Port Klang when our ship arrives. I think we've decided not to take the included KL highlights tour and just get a taxi, then using taxis to get around for the short time there. Funnily I was there in 1984 - and hated it. The sky line wasn't there then and the thing I remembered was the sewage stench everywhere - which I learned later was Durian fruit! I remember very well the the cricket pitch and railway station. (I back packed from Singapore to Chang Mai, stopping in numerous places inc Penang and Koh Samui (No airport then - and braved the night ferry and risk of pirates!)

Has it whetted your appetite to return and explore a bit more? I've 2 in the planning pipeline land trips for Malaysia and Japan. 

Hey there Terry. Not sure how, but completely missed your Live thread until today. (I think I must have glanced over thinking it was your finance thread!) 😵‍💫  Anyhoo.......

Just had a quick glance for now. We are off to Bali and a cruise to Bangkok in a few days and looking forward to a Singapore revisit. Annoyingly we depart at 5pm - and have an overnight in the container port in Jakarta instead! So will remain in the Marina Bay area only - but may venture to Raffles again and this time have an OTT priced Sling this time! Went to Japan last year and fully intend to do an overland Shinkansen tour. Missed the blossom in the south (too late) and in the Hakaido (too early!) Maybe next time.

Will have a read through and further comment in a bit. 🖕

3 hours ago, markham said:

What a mess, an own goal if I ever saw one!

 

I hope that Silversea makes a decision to compensate those who are stressed by this onward travel work with a sizable future cruise credit. And that the sum total hits the Marketing Department responsible for their decision involving this “celebration”. 
 

This is a loss-loss as best I can tell at this stage. Entirely avoidable at that.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

It’s often referred to as “Doing a Ratner”.

2 hours ago, Silver Spectre said:

Apparently someone on the Nova got a email response from said person and read it out to their dinner table last night. The responder couldn’t understand why the guest might be upset and didn’t show any empathy.

The term clueless springs to mind!

On 3/5/2024 at 11:59 AM, caviargal said:

This has to be one of the stupidest things I have ever seen a cruise line do!  Do they really think all of us should be trying to change flights/trains/drivers at the very last minute -  or contacting our Travel Advisors to do so - during one of the busiest times of the year in Florida? 

I am appalled that a so called luxury line would put their passengers through this nonsense for a photo op!  It is ridiculous!

Fame! A highlighted post quote!

20 minutes ago, DavyWavey70 said:

I Wonder if it's the same number 1 poster that hunted me down on Messenger in a drunken rage and hurled vile homophobic abuse at me before then blocking me and all with no consequences?

 

I Recently left my spark at home and got a Mini 2 (249g) to take to Australia. I Got some amazing footage and had no hassle at all on Celebrity. I Too, I Believe, am a considerate drone user and would be surprised if anyone knew I was flying it.

No idea if it was. I did almost bring up your tender plight, but didn’t.

Especially when flying abroad, I always find out as much info and any relevant rules and then make a decision based on what I find out.

In Iceland, it’s much the same as here so took with me. Only flew the once from the top of a volcano. I was hoping to fly to the erupting volcano and had paid for the tour only to be let down by the eruption fizzling out the day before I arrive. Next weeks cruise, all is fine in Bali, Java, Singapore and Malaysia (with usual caveats). Thailand is also ok, but you need to apply for a permit and it’s all in Thai. Thailand isn’t a country I’d want to take any risks in. The only “Bangkok hotel” we intend staying in has a jacuzzi and club lounge with free cocktails! Mavic mini 2 is the only one I use now. £3k worth for a pair of never used probably now of no use drones, I really should have sold!

Actually it does remind me of some numpty who launched from Silver Wind in Gustavia moored in the flight path who posted on YT that he nearly lost it (because the signal doesn’t pass through a metal ship hull.) Shame he didn’t. Only the waves saved it auto landing. He claimed he had permission… as the cabin made was on the balcony with him! Unbelievable! 
 

But I digress! More Nova dining required! lol

1 minute ago, Desperate to Sail said:

I'm wondering what happens if the weather is bad on the day of the planned photo shoot?

Nothing gets in the way of a photoshoot! Esteemed guests will be invited to wait until it's sunny!

4 hours ago, Tothesunset said:

As long as it's not your itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, yellow polka-dot..... 

That's just so thong.

It was meant to be a secret! 🤣 

Sorry to hear of your disappointment, but running out of things and numerous instances of poor service, poor and cold food has unfortunately been my own experience on our last 4 sailings on SS. None of which earned my usual booking on board and for the first time since I first sailed with SS, I no longer have a future booking to look forward to. Most of the crew as usual though were a credit to the company, but it has to be said, not all. I’m quite sure there may be a pool share with RCI, as a few were not up to usual standards. I did think I’d get withdrawal symptoms, but instead, I’m planning a few DIY travel adventures overland in SE Asia and Japan. 
 

Hopefully Viking fare better in a weeks time! They certainly didn’t cause any disappointment on my last sailing to Iceland with them last August.

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Wished I could think its a case you've been unlucky, but many of the things you've suggested, we've experienced ourselves in our last 3 sailings over the past 14 months. For the first time since 2015, I've no longer got a sailing or two to look forward to. Having seen the recent promotions with £3000 off booking prices, I can only think that relates to poor sales through either people less than satisfied with their experiences, price hikes gone too far or a change of pricing mentality akin to RCI, MSC and Carnival, where selling all rooms to the way to go and balls to anyone not impressed that the guy in the next room paying half of what you did! It really saddens me, 

On 2/9/2024 at 7:07 PM, capsplace said:

I am confused.  The Indonesia website and the US State Dept site both show a Visa is required for US Citizens.  Help!

I'd suggest the indonesian website will give you more un to date and accurate info than answers you may be given here. Some will be spot on, but not always.

The pre arrival visa is obtainable from here:   https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/   I dont know your circumstances, but Im guessing the B1 is the option you need. It is what I need to arrive in Bali, the cruise to Java and leave indonesia 7 days later.

In addition to this, from the 14 Feb, you'll also need a new Bali tourist tax https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id  (150,000 Rups.... just under US$10

Another unavoidable expense Im afraid

29 minutes ago, drron29 said:

In our news today Virgin's Resilient Lady is finishing it's Australian season and sailing to Athens via Singapore,Mumbai, Dubai and Suez in March is now going via Perth, Mauritius, South Africa and the west Coast of Africa and then Morocco, Barcelona, Malta and then Athens and it will be with Passengers.

I'm not a fan of Virgin or Branson, but that is clearly the correct approach.

****** Silversea are notoriously poor planners when it comes to pro-actively addressing issues such as this. That applies to maintenance too. When you cancel cruises booked 18 months ago, to cut a ship in half and give it an extension 6 months before sailing, you know things are not too hot in the planning department. ******

****** Added to enhance the fuming! 🤣

.

 The status for the train transfer also depends on place of booking.

I believe a transfer is always included for Anchorage to Seward and vice versa regardless of being D2D or P2P.

From the UK, if you booked a D2D, the train transfer is included in the price. For the US, its considered an extra. Obviously things change - but this was our experience last May, where we were assured we had a train transfer included - but once on board we were told "due to logistical reasons, the train is cancelled. As you didnt pay for this excursion, there is no refund but a full refund will be given to those that paid". We never learned the reason it was cancelled despite the ship, TA and guest enquiring. We had 3 ports cancelled too - and same applied there. That's quite a chunk of fare money kept for nothing in return! Obviously this was a big topic to those on board, which is how this deviation of included or not was discovered.

One thing of note on our voyage (Osaka to Seward) was the very noticeable presence of 2 solo guest coordinators, who were excellent and had a whole gang of solos enjoying their voyage. There were several solos, not taking part too, so was all down to choice as it should be. Have to say it was most impressive. 

2 hours ago, frantic36 said:

Nyepi Day is always like this. I am surprised Viking or any cruise line isn't aware of this culturally significant day as it has always been this way. The tricky part is the date changes yearly according to lunar cycles.

Yes, if you are in the know, you will remember and yes, for Bali, it's significant. I did post that its not so straight forward as its a Lunar cycle and the 2025 date. When I called Viking to inform them what I'd learned (and it was completely by chance from me choosing my hotel and seeing references to it, so investigated. Even armed with this information, Viking reps still weren't believing me at first until I suggested they tried to book a flight to arrive on the 11th - and then they conceded. Even now, they are selling a pre cruise package, so they didn't take the info that seriously! Maybe the website just hasn't been updated.

I suspect Viking are not alone with their error here. We were issued with flights with Emirates arriving on a day the airport was shut - which even after they corrected their own error on their website, my flights (which were not yet ticketed) were still showing as unchanged and on a flight which no longer existed. They were through Viking.

All a learning curve and its good to share. Most people I suspect in the roll call were unaware and it was a big topic when I posted about it last year when discovered.

16 hours ago, maynas said:

Seriously 1st world problem, I think from what they were saying every day the aim is to reduce their rubbish impact as they now have the metal water carriers in every room and no longer hand out thousands of plastic bottles, a very welcome move copied from river cruises that have done this for some time. Multiple small bottles of water are ridiculous items to carry and I can see them slowly getting rid. Given Perrier is no longer whet is was and has had so many problems why would you want to drink it? Water is water and as recent studies have show mineral waters can be less pure than tap!

BTW I didnt see them run out of anything on our recent cruise

There is a huge difference in the taste of Pellegrino water (which is served in glass BTW.). The move removing plastic bottles is not born out of concerns for the planet, but cost. Proven by the fact the plastic bottles of fizzy drinks are still available. Should be glass if it was the case. However, I agree it is a first world issue…. Along with better wines and better food. McDonald’s anyone?

Great that your cruise didn’t run out of anything.  Hope you are not suggesting those saying they did experience it are lying? The only 3 beers I ever buy to drink at home are Asahi, Peroni and Guinness. When you learn you cannot get these because they ran out, it begs the question on what paying the premium is all about. People are quite right and entitled to air their frustrations on something that impacts their enjoyment.

8 hours ago, drron29 said:

Wow. I certainlly hadn't heard this. Our airlines have though as no direct flights to DPS. however the OTAs are offering flights with 1 stop somewhere with at least 12 hour lay overs. hope people actually read the details.

It’s a luna cycle annual event. Called Nyepi. It’s 29 March in 2025.

Friends of ours in Oz have never heard of it either… But JP is on the ball.👍

it would be hilarious if a Cruise Line scheduled for a silenced day to arrive or depart! Luckily I suspect the port authorities are on the ball to make sure it doesn’t happen.

it changed our itinerary. Had intended to start with a few nights in Bali, but have moved this to end with 4 nights in Bangkok. 1985 was the last time I was there! I won’t recognise it.

8 hours ago, drron29 said:

Our cruise from Bali in 5 weeks time is on SS. The Muse. On our last Muse cruise we were stalked by a Viking ship. Is history going to repeat?

Looks like you are 4 days behind us, so you’re safe - though the ship may catch you up after leaving Bangkok! (Where we disembark.)

We originally planned to arrive 3 days early. We had flights all booked too…. Only to find our planned arrival, Bali is closed for the day and no one is allowed outside of their hotel - or you may be rounded up by officials looking for “wrong doers!” The airport is shut too. When I chased this (and it was still live on the airline) the error got corrected. Yup Bali is officially closed on this day of silence (11 March) Ever heard this? Was a complete surprise for me (and Viking! I wonder what the people who have booked a pre cruise extension will feel about being shut away in their room instead of sight seeing!