tgh

We are also enjoying the seductive wiles of the Nova and echo JJ's positive comments.
 

We may see you on board jj… another loud Aussie to cope with...

I am happy with the relaxed dress code as it fits my standards; just one jacket to pack .

As time has passed I am fairly sure this is our last SS cruise so we will make the best of what we find.

I must say cardboard burger meat is a new low.. where will it end..

There is a steadily reducing cohort of long term SilverSea supplicants and the company is clearly positioning the product to meet the needs of a younger , less selective and much more numerous demographic.
The numerous new folks tend to have no idea about the history of SS service and flock to social media sites where they can  publicly reinforce their cruising choices perhaps as a means of self aggrandisement.
The old Silversea is dead and buried. Vale  

We should, perhaps,  make our cruising choices understanding this reality.
We have one more cruise booked on  Nova to tidy up some credits and then  I expect it will be adieu SS, leaving with no regrets and a lot of wonderful memories.

Good Luck ;  weather map for the next few days around Reunion looks positively pregnant

with portent 😰

Unless you have already "done" Southland (NZ) , the choice is clear ; the NZ sounds are a wonder of the world and not to be missed.

No soul..

Soul is not a commercially viable product in the cruise market.
The old Silversea could not survive; the new SS is arguably sharper, much much shallower and commercially viable.

There are clearly more than sufficient customers for the current product at the current price point.

In my mind I  have "let go" of the old SS ;  I may cruise again on the new SS but will understand exactly what my buck is buying….

If you can get someone to post it down, we  can deliver it to the Conrad on Sunday for you to collect.

Post disembarkation arrangements may (now) be linked to the PtoP and DtoD options.

We are DtoD , have an early disembark and a late flight and have been told by SS they will provide either a hotel room or a tour at the ships discretion.
 

I would never submit myself to the vagaries of an inscrutable  corporate ticketing system without a savvy t/a managing the process.
Ex au we have had good outcomes with SS air;  the ta knows what we expect and (so far) has delivered better overall outcomes than I could manage on my own.

I wonder if the dam wall will now breach across the fleet.
Without complaint, I have "played the game' and lugged the gear to satisfy the custom.
If the reality is that a very large number of passengers now plan to dress down on formal nights , why would I bother ?
Dress codes have evaporated almost everywhere, who dresses for the theatre only to standout like a sore thumb?
This is not a post arguing for or against the "code" , but if the code is now deceased those of us who prefer comfort over presentation can relax and pack more simply.

A PAII Parka has to belong in the SS hall of fame, ours are still clogging up the hanging space.

A  bit sad to note that the PAII has her last cruise in SS colours in October.. a very sad occasion for me

Sad news indeed..lots of special memories..rip

design based on event probability in order to economically stay viable

Of course "mere" engineering is not the only input ; insurers and users(sales) all have to be considered.
My comment about reclassification is probably unlikely as this would require a scapegoat and perhaps a brawl.
Reduced operational weather envelopes are the more likely solution ; allowing the ships to continue their agenda with the only visible element to passengers being a tendency for this operator to truncate or redirect cruises to avoid weather. Other more robust craft may continue business as usual….

While Jims comments above reflect a lifetime commitment to his craft, there is real doubt about modern finite element analysis and designing products to meet certain performance  criteria..and not one inch more….
This new ship may require reclassification or modification to meet contemporary safety standards.
Time will tell

Even more interesting is that the brand new "wheelreinvented" ship has sustained damage returning across the drake….hmmmmmmm

History shows a self fulfilling prophecy in that the market actually

encourages folks to panic and get out.

If everyone sat tight the carnage would be ameliorated

It's a banal but seminal truth… you have lost nothing until you sell

Panic is a financial aphrodisiac it seems.

Begs the question.. Is the brand being trashed ?
The family built a huge bank of brownie points over many years.
The depth of this loyalty is arguably more fragile with a HNW clientele who are not inclined to suffer being conned and can afford to find the quality they seek elsewhere.
Of course there is a volume market for "faux" luxury and perhaps this is where the brand is heading.

A bit late to join in here but the opportunity to break bread with different folks has been the highlight of many cruises ; we always ask the Maitre 'd for a share table if possible.

There is often a huge range of personalities and demeanour but with a little effort the table mostly hums with conversation.

I do feel for the formal table hosts at times , sometimes  lumped with a group of high value customers who are sometimes replete with social manners that irritate lesser mortals.

I have also very occasionally been guilty taking a firm view in the face of divisive trenchant opinions that results in a quiet table as less forthright folks retreat into their dessert.

Executive summary : A good sign of a successful dinner is to be the last group to leave...

We get the news hot off he press on cruise critic..sigh.. was still hoping to make it work..

What is the ship doing instead ?

 sigh….

The market trend in terms of volume and cost per day  is clearly for larger ships and increasingly softer  "adventure"… expeditions in name only.

Folks like me who long for the more robust SS/exp of yore will be forced to look elsewhere .

I loved the old discoverer,  wail at the pending loss of the PAII, and find the cloud et al altogether too soft.

It is also true that external regulatory pressures (AECO et al) are regimenting the shore experiences to be a bit like visiting the zoo.
 

excellent alternatives

Indeed Fletcher , this part of the world is pregnant with adventure possibilities.

I had hoped my ta would chase up SS for some feedback but so far.. nuthin'
I will follow up...

 SS expeditions of old would have already cooked up an alternate routing to avoid Myanmar as the ship has to get from Africa to Australia somehow ; the "new" ss may not be so agile perhaps.
I have asked my ta what SS plan to so and will update here if I get a useful answer

I recently decided to make contact with my TA ( Hello Stranger..) and ask for a quote for this Itinerary, which has been duly delivered.

In the process of consideration discovered that  there are blanket International DO NOT TRAVEL advisories for Myanmar that , In AU at least, precludes Travel Insurance.
It seems a safe enough trip generally with only a "check in to Myanmar " night for the ship in Kawthung ;  but without Insurance in these difficult times, it becomes a bridge too far methinks.

Iirc, under a less predatory ownership , SS did manage to keep the Silver discoverer in quite usable condition right to the end.

I will try to have one last ride before she leaves the fleet.