phillipahain

Internet definitely patchy from useless 12mbps to 150mbps if you sat near Pursers desks Food quality varied and often lukewarm However the infiltration of Anytime diners from Deck 3 Britania being suddenly ushered down and put on any empty tables on Deck 2 at 7pm was ridiculous as were the excuses for same 6pm with 6.15 close is what is published and they should stick to it

Yes Italian Sparkling Wine in the frudge and presumably same as offered for toasts

Having done in last 6 months Seabourn and Silver Sea simply because of itinery we can honestly say its going to take very very serious issues on Regent to get us sailing with any other company at all in the future Seabourn was a nightmare start to finish and tours cancelled at short notice and neither food or service made up for the deficiencies just added to it although the entertainment was very good SilverSea the food and service was good , tours were so so but at least the guides we had spoke English many did not but the entertainment was plumb awful We have never ever had cause to complain or grumble on Regent they always go the extra mile and not yet had a bad tour .

In Japan on a few times the exit was on 3 but on return it was always on 5 and 3 would have been inaccesible Quite why the ship was designed so badly is a mystery But there sure was no help for those who needed it

The absolute must see is KYOTO and NARA we did that years ago on Bullet Train from Tokyo Golden Pavillion especially is not to be missed

What do you want to know ?

Not what we observed on recent cruise in Japan ,,,,,but fact remains the very steep gangway is a real challenge for the able bodied

I would not recomend anyone reliant on scooter or wheelchair thinks about Silver Muse or any of the others built the same ,,,while occasionaly you might be able to get off on the flat on Deck 3 the majority of time its a very steep climb up a gangway to deck 5 Seriously cannot believe who designed that ship because even able bodied struggle up it and certainly not buggy or wheelchair accesible ...

Need to know which ports are on your cruise and what you expect to be able to see? .....the food and staff on board were great ...the organisation or transfers to and from airports was a shambles and the tours were rather lacklustre although we were lucky and had excellent English speaking guides not so for all ....if you really want to see the incredibleold Architecture, buildings, culture that was Japan i would suggest your much better off on a full land tour ....luckily years ago we flew into Tokyo and saw the ancient sights then did bullet train to Kyoto, Nara and the real treat was Golden Pavillion ...somehow this much awaited cruise left us rather deflated because now so much of Japan is a concrete jungle

You really need to be several days early and take the bullet train to Kyoto and Nara they include the very best ancient sites in Japan ...be sure to include Golden Pavillion

I can but assume your in USA ,.....since Covid in UK it is best to book all inclusive package as trying to file 2 separate insurance claims is a true nightmare even when a relative is top of tree in Insurance ....SS booked the flights and were not going to change them to a more suitabke time or routing ...do you think we were only ones affected ? ....bottom line is DO NOT THINK of using Osaka to get on a cruise ...its a disaster zone .....and when SS paperwork says FREE DAY ROOM do not trust them

Hung about leaving Hyatt waiting for non existant passengers hence arrived at useless Osaka Kansai Airport late to an Emirates total and utter apology of a Business lounge ...sure hope Emerites flight to Dubai is better and I know their lounges in Dubaii are brilliant The lounge at Haneda Airport was brilliant ....what has happened to Japanese efficiency ?or is it just Osaka ?

Oh I think they know alright ....but Hyatt have to bear responsibility too ....and yes normally would book own flights but insurance then is very complicated post Covid if there's problems and amazingly it was hell of a lot cheaper ...Osaka is a SOD of an airport and Emirates is pretty much only flight

My thoughts exactly ....supposed to have free day rooms but mysteriously none available unless you paid additional $76

Our Butler Joseph on MUSE was utterly brilliant

From 10.30am this morning when we arrived to about 12.30 am there was water, coffee , a few cookies , muffins and tiny pain au chocolate From therein absolutely nothing !!! Who booked the flights ? Silversea and this is their hospitality !!

What you also have to remember is Seabourn have a minimum number for tours and if thats not reached 36 hours before tour start the tour gets cancelled We did 65 day Grand Pacific kast year and were given a large OBC ...we assigned it all to yours right at start ...then in last 10 days one tour after another was cancelled by Seabourn with nothing to replace them and $1000 of non refundable OBC with zero in the shop to buy ...responses from Head Office 3 months later was " get stuffed " and you wonder why they need to sell ships

I never understand why cruise lines wont let you use a heated pad ...they have safety cut outs etc

Well our butler on Muse right now is fantastic ....he is so incredibly helpful always above and beyond what one might expect

Up till now i would recomend SilverSea Currently on Muse due to leave on 12th April at MIDNIGHT from Osaka back to LHR via Dubaii Silversea booked the flights not the passengers yet they are to leave the ship by 8.45 am be dumped at Osaka Airport at midday after a short tour of Osaka Castle ...or can be in hospitality suite at Hyatt Osaka and get transfered to Osaka Airport at ? Even in Business no one can check in before 8pm having left the ship at 8.45 am And theres zero facilities at Osaka Airport There is something missing here and SilverSeas organised it all

However tonight bombshell dropped of Silverseas arrangements for those who have a midnight flight back to UK on Emirates which Silverseas selected We are to leave the ship at 8.30/ 8.45 am and have a 3.5 hr tour of Osaka Castle and then be dumped at Osaka Airport at midday ...even in Business you cannot check in until 3 or if lucky 4 hrs before departure !!!! Or you can be dumped at Hyatt at 9.45 am and make your own way to Osaka Airport later ......wake up Silver seas ...you booked the flights not us

If we book a cruise onboard we simply request its transfered to our normal TA who then requotes it

Ours is truly excellent and deals with all cruise lines

We are currently on Muse and our guarantee cabin was issued day before we flew out from UK ...no complaint on that score at all ......if you have NHS antigen tests still simply do them at the hotel night before embarkation and slip them back in the plastic sleeve and take them with you to show staff at check in .....HOWEVER be prepared for a 2 to 3 hour very tedious queue to get through Immigration at Osaka ...automatic machines or gates do not exist and Japanese efficiency is zero ...you will face a similar carry on after Busan when re entering Japan .....food and service on MUSE is excellent