Cheili

Thank you EagleRocker, you have been very helpful.

Agree with all of the above. Itinerary is key, but many are similar, so if you find some on various lines that are acceptable and can spring for Silversea, I recommend it. We did Silversea in May 2014, Seward to Vancouver on the Silver Shadow, and loved it. We had done Alaska cruises previously on RCI, Holland America (twice), and Celebrity. The Silversea cruise was one of our favorites, with the one downside that it did not go to Glacier Bay (which I consider a must do if you only can go on one Alaska cruise). It did go to Sitka, which many do not, and Sitka is wonderful - I prefer it over many of the typical port stops. We really enjoyed the Silver Shadow - a bit older but a comfortable ship. We had a regular verandah room, which I thought was great, plenty spacious and comfy (balcony is kinda small though). We usually get suites on the other lines, and our Silver Shadow verandah room (tho much smaller) soundly bested them in two respects: a nice walk in closet; and a huge, fabulous marble bathroom, much nicer than any I have had on even high level suites on other lines. Not to be weird about it, but that bathroom was really great, has spoiled me for other lines. Our attendant also was great; indeed, the service all around was very high caliber. Example: when we got back from our day in Sitka, waiting for me was a filled bath with votive (electric) candles and rose petals strewn all around (I felt very pampered), which I understand is standard. I was not expecting it and it was a nice touch. We found the food to be fine - not amazing, but good enough (and we loved the specialty Italian restaurant, very good). Perhaps the lavish free drinks helped, but we were content with it all.

 

So, start with itinerary and then winnow by lines. Assuming price is an issue (as it is for most of us), and assuming we are talking about a 7-night trip, I would rather devote money to excursions than a fancy room or line (that said, I would go with HAL or Celebrity over RCI). Alaska is all about the outdoors experiences, of which there are many and they are glorious. I hope you have a wonderful trip (notwithstanding my out of date signature, we are going again (6th time, if that tells you something) on June 24, 2018, on a HAL Seward to Vancouver trip).

Thank you EagleRocker for the informative comments. Pardon my ignorance as this would be my first Alaska cruise — is cruising inside passage the same as cruising Glacier Bay?

How are the shore excursions offered by Silversea? Are they of high quality and competitive pricing?

Would you recommend us to take their shore excursions or find independent providers? I would also welcome your suggestions on excursions since you have done several cruises already 😊

Thanks in advance!

The itinerary includes inside passage and cruise to Hubbard Glacier

We have decided to do the Alaska cruise on Silver Muse, and would appreciate recommendations on outside private tours for shore excursions at the following ports please:-

1) Ketchikan

2) Juneau

3) Skagway

4) Sitka

5) Seward

Recommendations on both tour operators at these towns as well as recommendations on what excursions to take would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Cheili

We have decided to do the Alaska cruise on Silver Muse, and would appreciate recommendations on outside private tours for shore excursions at the following ports please:-

1) Ketchikan

2) Juneau

3) Skagway

4) Sitka

5) Seward

Recommendations on both tour operators at these towns as well as recommendations on what excursions to take would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Cheili

Dear all,

We are a couple in our fifties and are considering doing a 7- day cruise with Silversea Muse. Any feedback on the ship and the itinerary and quality and pricing of their land excursions will be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Hi all, I am considering doing a 7-day cruise to Alaska with Silversea Muse, and would love to hear any feedback on the ship and itinerary. The southbound itinerary is Seward- Cruise Hubbard Glacier- Juneau- Skagway- Sitka- Ketchikan- Triple island, Canada- Cruise Inside Passage, Canada- Seymour Narrows, Canada.

1. Does the itinerary covers the must-see for Alaskan cruise?

2. How is the excursions by Silversea? Are they well planned and reasonably priced?

3. Does Silversea Muse live up to its expectation?

4. Any difference between northbound or southbound cruise between Seaward and Vancouver?

5. how many days on land exploration at Anchorage/ Seaward and surroundings is recommended?

6. Any significant difference in temperature between June or July ? We are from tropical Singapore, so are particularly sensitive to the cold.

This will be our first time doing Alaska cruise, any comments or feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks very much.

The experience on a luxury line will be different then on Celebrity.

 

I have sailed Celebrity, Silversea and Crystal in Alaska.

 

Had a great time on all the lines but the luxury lines does make the on board experience quite nice.

 

I am a believer to begin with itinerary.

 

Figure out in advance things such as where in Alaska you want to sail and other things such as length of cruise.

 

Then start looking at itineraries.

 

If Glacier Bay is important to you that will rule out Celebrity.

 

Often luxury lines stop at some (not all but some) ports that mainstream cruise lines don't stop at but that is also a factor of the length of the cruise.

 

If you find itineraries across multiple lines (I think you will) then read member reviews and study the cruise lines web sites. The web site will tell you a lot including what is included with the cruise fare and other things such as pricing, room sizes what the line emphasizes etc.

 

Keith

Thank you Keith. Pardon my ignorance --What about Glacier Bay that is so nice ?

More on itinerary-- would it be better to start from Vancouver or Seattle? Both are a long way from where we live - Singapore.

Celebrity is going to bigger ships on a mainstream line (perhaps the nicer end of mainstream but not a small luxury cruise with no crowding or lines).

 

You might also look at Crystal. I haven't been on them yet - we sail next month. I like that the itinerary has two glacier days, Glacier Bay and Hubbard. None of the Silversea sailings that I saw had Glacier Bay.

 

Also Windstar Star Legend is going to have Alaska cruises in 2018. We were just aboard that ship in May. It has lovely large rooms. The ship is small enough to go places that the others don't. There are itineraries that include cruising Misty Fjords and Kenai Fjords.

 

The food quality on Windstar was great. In the ports on our Lisbon to Barcelona cruise, the chef would go ashore to buy fresh fish and other local foods. I'd hope that in Alaska they would do that too.

 

I don't know how you feel about ship dress codes. We ruled out Silversea because the dress code is too formal for us (on a 7 day cruise 1 formal night and 3 informal nights that require jackets for men). Crystal has a less formal dress code - on a 7 day cruise all evenings are Crystal Casual. Windstar evenings are always casual elegance. The Regent dress code looks more similar to Crystal and Windstar with Elegant Casual for all nights on cruises 14 days or shorter.

Thank you for the informative reply. Would love to hear from you on your experience on Crystal when you get back. Does Windstar belong to the same luxury category as Siversea?

What is most important to me is the cabin being spacious and comfortable with all the updated amenities and also the itinerary and excursions. Food quality and options as well, of course.

We were on Silver Shadow last week in Alaska! Staff was incredible- we had suites on 6(Veranda) Everything is small- bars, restaurants, casino- Food was mediocre............ Entertainment- thumbs down! only 1 show a night but they always had something going on in lounge late around10-1

Silver Shadow doesn't sound too promising. What about the cabin -- is it spacious and comfortable and updated? And the excursions -- are they well taylored and reasonably priced?

We are a couple in our early fifties are thinking of going for Alaska cruise on Silversea Shadow, as we have some unused credit from cancellation of a cruise we booked earlier.

Would appreciate your sharing of experience on Silversea Shadow and/or Alaska cruise with similar itinerary.

We are looking for a smaller ship which presumably will have shorter waiting time and a comfortable bed and spacious cabin are important to us, so is quality of food options.

How does Silversea compare with Regent? Our only cruise experience was with Regent explorer and that was excellent because it was a brand new ship and the service was excellent.

I have also read recommendations for Celebrity. How does Silversea compare with Celebrity in terms of pricing and comfort and food options?

Any feedback and advice will be much appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Thank you for prompt response. For some reason, the itinerary includes a one night on board at Piraeus. I Ma just wondering whether we should do Acropolis the day after we have checked in onto the cruise ship ( the cruise sails at 7 pm so we probably have to be back well before that), or do it before we check in which means we have to stay one or two. nights in Athens. How far is Piraeus from Athens city and Acropolis please? Thank you for your advice!

Has anybody done a 7-days Greece cruise by Silversea? Piraeus -Hydra- Myokonos- Kos- Santorini- Kusadasi-Volos - Piraeus. Any feedback on the itinerary or the cruise ship please? I have booked the cruise but am having second thought about it as I am not sure about the ports of call, other than Santorini and Myokonos which I really want to see. Any feedback or comments will be appreciated.