DCPIV

I agree. That would honk me off something fierce. The refundable OBC is not an acceptable solution, either.

Book it while you can and sort it out afterwards. Even if you only get the $200 OBC, you're still way ahead.

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That's not typically how it works. In fact, it's the other way around.

I'll nearly always try to fix it on board, but it sounds like we are of like minds to a large extent. I'll make a comment to someone, and that typically fixes it. Communication is good--no one is a mindreader. If the problem persists and is particularly severe, then I'll make a comment to someone higher up. If that doesn't fix it, then I agree that nothing likely will while on board. I likely won't mention it again while on board unless an opportunity just happens to arise. In the meantime, I've spent very little time or effort, and I've very likely gotten our vacation back on track.

That's interesting, and it makes some sense. "Butler" has been a title and position of pride for some time and was easily come by. I'm not much of a fan of "Personal Retreat Host," myself. First, they aren't personal. Second, they aren't hosts. Third, it's a mouthful, so anyone ought to expect that a nickname or abbreviation will result. If the ones with the title preferred it, then I would respectfully go along with it. It's interesting to hear that many do not.

Not particularly. I spoke imprecisely. When I said "on board," I meant "during the cruise."

Tough call. If you like Radiance class ships, I'd bet good money that you would love S-class ships. By the way, I absolutely love Summit, but I think my favorite is Reflection. We stayed in a Signature Suite, and I would be all over that again if other ships had it.

This probably has been more than adequately explained, but here's my take. It's just a new way of showing the "guarantee" fare that's been around for years and years and years.

I can't find it immediately on the website, but I understand that solo travellers do not receive double points for sailing in a "single" stateroom. That was the idea behind them--no single supplement, so no double points.

The current strain running around actually is closer to 2 days, but I still agree that it sounds like OP got it on board.

I wouldn't put a great deal of stock into any published lists. Silversea is not immune from the supply issues everyone is facing.

It's "normal" in the sense that it's the way things are at the moment. It's still something of a mess. I don't recall when we were informed of our post-cruise Rejkyavik hotel, but it wasn't long before we sailed, and our pre-cruise hotel wasn't much sooner. The good news is that we were very happy with both hotels. I would expect you will be taken care of, but I also agree to have your TA looking into it.

"Operational reasons" nearly always is code for "the tour operator cancelled on us." That could be for any number of reasons, and it's likely that Silversea doesn't even know the reason.

Yes, they do bring in outside entertainers, and there are enrichment speakers beyond port talks.

9-10 sounds more like it. As mentioned, you don't need to show up right at 7 were you to book 7-8. However, if you expect you will be something more along the lines of 7:30, it's good to let your butler or the Maitre d' know beforehand. They are quite willing and typically able to accomodate you.

Just let the sommelier know what you like or are looking for, and then let them do their thing. They do it well!

I'll also add that a lot of others use walkie-talkies, and there are only so many channels. You get a lot of crosstalk from others. You might want to look into a 3-device internet plan so that you're all set. From what I see on my current booking the "surf" 3-device plan is only $5/day more than the 2-device one. If you're looking at the "stream" plans, the difference is about $10/day.

I've never tracked it, but I wouldn't expect anything to open up more than 12 months out, and it'll likely be more like 9 months or even closer, especially right now. Everything is operating more slowly than pre-covid.

It's not just an attention grab. Viking operates in Europe much more than anywhere else. European nations have pretty much reduced or eliminated entry requirements. If testing is required, it's pretty much only for those without proof of vaccination.

It's hardly that simple. Bahamas and Barbados (and maybe some others there) are major parts of the infrastructure. You don't just skip those.

I meant to mention that covid changed some of the shopping at the ports for at least some time (if not still). A lot of the ports had a restricted area just off the ship with some shopping, but it was not much to look at--a bunch of junk stores for the most part. Cruise passengers were not allowed to go outside that area unless they had an excursion. Of course, a lot of that has gone by the wayside. That's the good news. The bad news is that many of these islands still are suffering a long lag to restart. Shops closed, population left the islands, etc. There's no telling what may actually find in January, though.

Just from what I'm seeing and hearing around this board, it sounds like there is no prescribed reduced capacity beyond setting some rooms aside for covid isolation. However, even that may no longer be the case as it sounds like folks are now being allowed to isolate or quarantine in their rooms. In other words, don't count on sailing on a ship that isn't 100% full or nearly so. If it happens, it's most likely because the rooms didn't sail rather than because the line closed sales early.

I don't know if there is a prescribed timeline for opening up dining reservations, spa reservations, and other services, but they wouldn't be open this far out. It'll probably be more like 9-12 months out. I don't have experience with every line out there, but I know of only that actually communicates a date for opening those sorts of reservations, and they open it up 270 days before sailing. Excursions are a mixed bag at the moment and depend largely on the port. We have a sailing this Fall, and one of the ports only started showing excursions last week. We've had other sailings since the restart where excursions were still populating or changing only days from sailing (or even while on the sailing) That's the port and the world right now, not just Celebrity's doing. Here's hoping things settle more by 2024, but I still don't know if there's much use looking more than 12 months out. Check-in likely will open 45 days out from sailing, but you can find that actual date on the Celebrity app. Open the app, swipe right, make sure you are set on your sailing, and then scroll down. Underneath your stateroom will be the check-in date, at least as it's scheduled right now.

Ugh. I'm so sorry to hear you would up with it. I'm glad to hear that it's a mild case, but that's still no fun. May your recovery be swift and smooth. I wasn't on the sailing, so I'm no use there.