RetiredOnVacation

What's wrong with just 'same-sex attracted'? For a group who dislike labels, we go and add more and more to that alphabet soup! I get what you're saying!

Two things I always check in a bathroom - 1. There's a bath towel hanging close by the shower for when I get out, & 2. There's toilet paper available before I start! Maxims that have served me well in life!

@Marstan79 Have cruised both RSSC and SS in the last 6 months (SS Dawn & RSS Splendor). Tbh I couldn't really split the food in comparably similar restaurants, ie. La Terraza vs Sette Marie La Varanda in evenings, buffet breakfasts, and the main restaurants Atlantide vs Compass Rose. Similar offerings. Where Regent is better is in the variety of alternative restaurants, especially on the larger Explorer class (which have oriental and French styled restaurants) and their steak restaurant Prime 7 (found on all RSSC ships) is not replicated on SS other than the informal Pool Grill. However you can only make a single booking in each of these Regent speciality restaurants in advance, and can only waitlist for further visits once on board, but they are all inclusive. SS allows multiple first come first served advance bookings in all their speciality restaurants but are excess chargeable (although any OBC can cover this). Personally we like SALT Kitchen on SS for it's variety and local cuisine themes and Silver Note for lighter musically accompanied dinner, and these are inclusive too as you know. I think SS does better with coffee shop/afternoon tea offerings. The Arts Cafe on SS is definately unsurpassed by RSSC Coffee Connection equivalent. Of course Regent ships, size for size, carry more passengers so there is more pressure on the restaurants to accommodate everyone, but this probably also allows for the greater number of 'formal' restaurants. So in some ways Regent are better, in other ways SS! I think SS has better less-formal eateries (pizza Spacanapoli for example) than Regent. Regent's daytime only pool grill is similar to SS version, but perhaps pips them with menu choice. Plus's & minus's to both, but hope that helps a bit!

Just stubbled on this topic thread from a "silversea" phrase search. My takeaway from scanning this topic is that AZ ships have very small cabins and balconies cf. SS. And from watching some recent YT vlogger's video reviews content who have been on AZ in last couple of years isn't very complementary (reception staff, entertainment, maintenance and bathroom size in particular) eg Emma! So whilst the AZ proposition is similar on the face of it, it strikes me to be the lower end of the 'luxury' market, and certainly not 'Ultra Luxury' that YT'r Gary Bembridge often references.

In that there's now no crockery left to eat off of! Finger food only!

Did you try to get SS to rebook to an earlier flight back to London? There are around 6 BA flights a day after lunchtime, 3 of which might have been before yours? Just interested to know how amenable or flexible SS air are, as usually we book our own flights mainly for this very reason!

I guess sharing the letter reply would not be appropriate but what comments/criticisms were made by you and how were they addressed? Positively or maybe just platitudes?

That's very bad luck! Hopefully trivia was more successful! Top tip: For text box forms (like for adding crew commendations) I always first type my comments into a Notes app on my mobile device (especially noting crew names throughout the cruise) and then copy & paste into the survey form itself. That way you don't lose hours of typing if something happens to the survey form and you can easily repeat. Edit to add: sorry @canderson, you already mentioned that tip!

Sounds like SS has some work to sort out details like this on Nova class. From what I've heard there is spare space that may be where an extra, differently themed (maybe) bar could be located. Who knows, maybe the Ray will surprise us! I remember being on the Muse not long after it's inaugural and the Dolce Vita was a huge under-utilised space. Come the Moon & Dawn and they had rethought this area into a decent bar space. Let's hope that SS find their way with the new class! 🤞

I don't get why most people wouldn't be in the restaurants in the evening? Was it a particularly boozy cruise with people wanting to occupy any bar at all times rather than eat? Must admit I've not experienced this on other ships but am yet to cruise the Nova

Agree P2P now gives you the flexibility to make your own arrangements to your own requirements and not get sucked in to someone else's arrangements. Much prefer our own plans!

There's no excuse for behaviour like that and I'd never condone it even with a confused and changing dress code. Chill, you're on vacation, it can't be that important! I wonder if it's more the lowering of fares post covid to attract business back (they're rising again now of course) that may have attracted a type of person that wouldn't previously have cruised with SS. Maybe the pricing now will mean those types return to MSC, X etc! ⛑️

@Shoreviewgirl All interesting stuff and very much what suits you best. Personally we value loyalty rewards and status miles/points with specific airlines and so always take the air credit and book our own air travel. I think I'm correct in believing you won't collect status points for a Regent air flight booking. Also there's some airlines I would not wish to travel on, eg Turkish (don't ask why!), so arranging our own air travel assures that we travel when and with who we like. Yes there are risks attached with any rerouted itinerary of the cruise but we build in contingency. Also allows for Amex travel insurance cover and points with them too! Fwiw!

@MocampsWe have 2x Voyager cruises later this year and Grandeur next year, and were on Splendor & Navigator last year. Navigator is the oldest in the RSSC fleet and it's quite noisy and vibrating when underway, you'll notice your drinks vibrating in their glasses in the rear theatre for example! The was originally built as a Russian ship of some kind! Lol! But one big difference you'll see between SS and RSSC is that on SS (except the newest Nova class) all rooms are mid or forward locations, with public areas all aft. Whereas rssc ships have rooms spread the full length of the ship on upper decks, with public areas full length on lower decks (except pool obviously). With that in mind we found that rooms in Explorer class that are in close proximity to the funnels (mid-rear) suffer from vibration, maybe from the generators exhaust ducts, so now avoid this area, preferring more forward locations. Also on explorer class, check out the deck plans for the much larger balconies on D & E Concierge suites which allow for a full sun lounger rather than just chairs if budget allows. Some size cabin as F. Hth and hope you enjoy! (stage entertainment much better on Regent than SS too!)

Interesting - I haven't had that problem so far but I'll be prepared in case I do in the future. Maybe email to self and print off in the computer area (can you still do that?) and post directly under the Hotel Director's, or Cruise Director's, office door! Old school!

Sorry to repeat, but you are mistaken and not limited to the TV interactive or an app for doing these surveys. You can use the MyCruise.com web address on a browser too, much simpler! And iirc you use the text box at the the end to list exemplary staff you want to commend. That's worked for me over last couple of cruises post covid. Just so you know for the future!

Have been on a number of SS cruises post covid, & as recent as February this year, and can't remember not being able to do the survey on mobile device (iirc using the MyCruise Web link or app). Certainly it would have been available to you last February! Ah well! 🤔😉

Was also on Dawn earlier this year and remember Joel in Arts Cafe. He was excellent and remembered what we liked. He got a mention in the end of cruise survey (which by the way can be more easily completed on your mobile device) 👍

Yes Emirates seem to be one of the few airlines keeping First, guess you should enjoy it if you can, though some of their smaller aircraft only have a small number of First seats, so points redemption might be limited. It's probs not a mass market product any longer unlike the cruise industry. Good luck though ! https://skift.com/2023/06/07/emirates-president-says-first-class-is-here-to-stay/

The airline analogy of First and Business class is interesting! Over the last few years that you might say SS has gone from First to Business, airlines themselves have to a great extent removed First class and instead have improved their Business Class from what it was just a few years previously. Qatar, BA, AA, ANZ are just some well publicised and recent examples. Basically, people don't want to pay for full First Class but are content and happy with a better Business Class instead. Perhaps the luxury cruise market like SS are following that path? Market forces!

I wonder if it was a local ship F&b Manager decision, or a corporate decision?

The power of the Cruise Critic cruiser!

I'm not convinced that what's seen as 'cutbacks' is actually wastage reduction, because something might not be always presented as it was once but is still available on demand. Eg Suite fruit bowls, or the restaurant menus which are still impressive, but just not so comprehensive as before ie. Primo & Secondi courses in La Terraza, which people often skipped or short cut. Consider also the recent investment in other f&b onboard provisions such as the brilliant (imo) SALT and Arts Cafe! And the much improved Dolce Vita layout on Moon & Dawn cf. Muse. Would these be down to RC input ?

Great to hear check in & embarking was so quick. Regent do seem to have this down well, especially compared to SS. Looking forward to the Grandeur early next year!

@mklions Did you see the Blacklane UK phone number I put in a post a few above this? Maybe would solve those problems rather than the webchat?!