kitcrazy

3 hours ago, jpalbny said:

Sometimes people cancel and spots open. Sometimes more spots are added. Sometimes neither one happens and the tour remains full. It depends on whether Silversea can arrange the additional tour spots which is more likely in a larger area with lots of tourism infrastructure, and probably less likely in a small port with few cruise ship visitors. The Adriatic is probably more like the former, but my advice would be to have a Plan B just in case. 

Thank you.  I will try once I am on board.  I have a Plan B in place, but this is a 3-island sailing tour, and outside vendor options are cutting it too close to the all-aboard time.  If this doesn't work out, my Plan B will be a land-based tour instead.

One of the tours I really want to attend on my cruise is currently showing full.  There is no option to waitlist.  I called Silversea, and the person told me that there are often spots held open for once you get on board, and to book there.  Has this been true in your experience?

On 5/20/2024 at 4:37 PM, drron29 said:

On the Moon on sail ins the best observation spot is deck12 forward.

There is a door to the staircase on deck 12 on the Port ( left ) side of the Observation lounge. i did this on a spectacular sail in to Kotor on both the Moon and Dawn.

Deck 12 forward, duly noted!  Thank you.

On 5/20/2024 at 1:59 PM, les37b said:

 

Generally the free or paid for excursions are likely to be around 20 persons. Obviously this can depend of the tour, but I've never had any that are overfull.

 

The included excursions since they started including as part of your fare, have not been too bad, but obviously if there is something specific you'd like to do which is not a freebie, the paid for excursions are a premium far in excess of what you could get by a DIY tour. I've never managed to plan a combined with other guests strip on a SS cruise, but have booked a few of my own activities through companies like Get your guide. I did manage to book a mini bus tour once on a larger ship cruise that took in Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius and worked out at 32 Euros each for the 12 passengers. The ship probably charged what we paid for 12 guests! 

 

Rollcalls on here are usually sparse, but its worth a go. I've certainly met a few people from doing so.

 

Enjoy your cruise. Silver moon is a splendid ship and absolutely certain you will agree with that.

 

Thank you for this info les37b, appreciate it!

On 5/20/2024 at 1:42 PM, Emtbsam said:

You can special order food items or even request a certain cuisine for dinner.  We have requested Thai, Filipino and Indian meals.  This is better done with a group, but if there is a special dish you would like, by all means speak to the Maitre d’.  
 

if your reservation for Silver Note does not come through, you can still go there and sit at the bar.  I do not know if they would serve food at the bar, but you could go after having dinner somewhere else.

 

You should go to the singles event at the beginning of the cruise and also join a trivia team.  Teams are always looking for Canadians who can broaden out the knowledge base. 

Trivia teams!!  I love trivia.  I am a cornucopia of useless information!! 😄

On 5/19/2024 at 9:42 AM, Lois R said:

Hi, just wondering if you are sailing solo? If so, Silversea is very welcoming towards their solo guests. Each evening they will offer drinks together to any solos who would like to join (no pressure to do it but it can be a nice way to meet other guests). They also have different staff members that may join the group and depending on the people, some go to dinner together as well. Again, there is no pressure to join in but if you are so inclined, they offer the opportunity.

 

And I agree, Moon is beautiful. I sailed in in 2021 and am booked on her for this coming December🙂

 

Hope you enjoy your cruise!

Thank you Lois R.  I am indeed sailing solo, so I will definitely attend at least one of the early solo events, just to check it out. It's nice to know that they do things to make sure that solos have opportunities to make friends while on board.  Sometimes it's really pleasant to go on a tour or to town with someone.

On 5/19/2024 at 8:16 AM, Emtbsam said:

I wish I had known that I could book a future cruise with a 5% discount while on board.  I also didn't know that I could special order just about anything with 24 hours notice.

 

The Moon is a great ship.  I suggest that you try Silver Note.  It might be hard to get a reservation, but give it a try.

Thank you Emtbsam, I have just made a reservation at the Silver Note.  It was only available for Sunday evening, and even then I am waitlisted, but I hope it will work out.  When you say "special order", are you referring to menu items, or something else?

On 5/18/2024 at 10:00 PM, Gourmet Gal said:

Welcome to SS.  The Moon is a lovely ship.  My must do can be done on most ships and that’s a visit to the observation lounge during the morning sail-in.  The SALT cooking classes are a nice activity as well.
 

Th excursion groups seem to be at least 20 on my current voyage on Spirit and yesterday 2 bus groups converged on a winery for a tasting with about 50 people.  Honestly, the excursions are hit or miss.  You may want to read the descriptions carefully and perhaps choose a few and then book a few on your own.  The ships are small so the Roll Calls are usually rather limited so you may not get the chance to share an excursion.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

Thank you Gourmet Gal, I will definitely plan to visit the observation lounge during the sail-in, as well as attend a SALT cooking class at least once.  I appreciate your advice.

I am excitedly looking forward to my very first sailing on Silversea - the Silver Moon July 19-26, beginning and ending in Venice, down and up the Adriatic coast.  As a first-timer, I would love to know more.

• Is there anything you know now that you wished you knew before you went on your first Silver Seas cruise?
• How large are the groups for ship-sponsored shore excursions?  I prefer 20 or less, and wondering if I should join a ship-organized cruise, or make my own plans.
• On other cruises, I have often booked a private tour, and then found others to join me to split the cost.  Is that common on Silversea itineraries?  I noticed that there are a lot fewer roll calls on CC for Silversea ships, which is why I ask.
• Any must-dos on the Silver Moon?  This is a port-intensive itinerary, but if there is something I MUST experience, then I will make it a point to do so.

Thanks for any help! 🙂

Just came off a recent (February-March 2023) cruise to the Central and South Pacific, and while researching, I couldn't find much information for a few specific areas/activities.  So I've written three blog posts (with photos) in the hope that they can assist those of you who are going to the same area and/or have similar interests. Please note that this is NOT advertising as my blog is  not monetized; it is simply for family, friends and other interested people. 

• Remote serenity, the Tabuaeran Atoll (https://thefunoftravel.com/remote-serenity-the-tabuaeran-atoll/ ).  Also known as Fanning Island.
• Tasting Tahiti ... (https://thefunoftravel.com/tasting-tahiti/).  About French Polynesian cuisine.
• Holy Fakarava! (https://thefunoftravel.com/holy-fakarava/).  Way more fun than you might expect!

Hope you enjoy reading these, and please tell me if you do 😃

45 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

I think this is the latest OBC offering

 

Thanks, this is what I was looking for.  Appreciate it.

I came off last month from a 35-day cruise on the Koningsdam, and while on board, I purchased a future cruise deposit to take advantage of onboard credits (OBCs) when I finally booked that future cruise.  However, I don't remember what OBC credits I was entitled to receive.  It was a matrix that showed type of stateroom and length of cruise which determined the OBC one would get.  Does anyone have a copy of the form, or remember what those OBC amounts were?  So appreciate if you can help.

4 hours ago, cruiselvr04 said:

Thanks for all your input.

 

We have decided to take the BC connector bus/ ferry to Victoria when we get off the ship Friday morning. We will have over 48 hours to explore.  It was actually less expensive to fly from Victoria to Dallas rather than from Vancouver late Sunday afternoon with Alaska Air.  Seattle would have less of course but this way we get to spend more time in Victoria.  

Good decision!

I disagree with previous posters who think your plan will be too rushed.  As someone who lives in Victoria and goes back and forth between Vancouver and Victoria all the time, I say that your plan is very do-able. 

If you are off the ship early Friday morning, make your way to the Tsawwassen terminal using Uber or a cab.  You will walk on the ferry, which means you don't need a reservation.  In the summer, the ferries usually run every hour, so you will likely be off the ferry at the Victoria Swartz Bay terminal latest by noon.  Catch a cab to downtown Victoria to your hotel of choice, and grab a late lunch.  You'll have the rest of the evening and all day Saturday to enjoy Victoria.  You'll even have most of the day on Sunday because the two ferries from Victoria to Seattle leave at 5:30 pm (arrives in Seattle at 8:15 PM) or 8:15 pm (arrives in Seattle at 11 PM).  Then you can Uber it from Pier 69 in downtown Seattle to a SeaTac airport hotel. 

If you have specific questions, please ask.

Enjoy Victoria!  It's amazing here all year, but particularly in the summer!!

On 3/12/2021 at 8:11 AM, WesternBroncoCruiser said:

Here you go.  They have members post pictures and then they add them as they have come in, I think?  Maybe the person has an in with the industry, but based on the fact that pictures seem to be taken at different times in different ports, I think they are grass roots taken and submitted by traveler.  Hope this is OK with CC, if not please remove link:

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/ov.php?ship=Caribbean-Princess&cabins=E101-E121

Thank you so much for this WBC.  I just booked E706 and I am absolutely delighted with the view ... virtually no obstruction!!

Thank you everyone for your kind responses.  I've done it!!!  I went on a recommended website and was able to get a 10-day cruise on the Caribbean Princess to Panama Canal, Costa Rica & the Caribbean at an excellent price with a zero single supplement.  It leaves on December 18, so I will be away over Christmas. I still have moments of regret -- wondering if I'll end up having days where I stay in my cabin and cry -- but it's too late to change my mind since it's fully paid up! If anyone has some tips on how to cope, I'm all ears.

Okay, deep breath, here goes!  I am recently widowed, very unexpectedly, and I am still in my fifties.  My husband had just recently retired (young), and we were all set to spend the next 20-30 years traveling.  We were fortunate to have done a lot of traveling in the 30 years we were married (we were up to 53 countries), but the best was yet to come.  Alas, the best laid plans ....

So I am trying to move forward from losing the love of my life, and needless to say, finding it very hard.  I have decided that I want to travel over the holiday season in December this year, both as a way to do something different from the usual (which it won't be), and to push myself to travel alone.  I have decided that a cruise might be the best option as it requires relatively little planning on my part (I don't need to think very much about what to eat or what to do), and it will permit me solitude if I need it (as compared to a organized tour).  I've done a little research and I've thought a little bit about what I'm leaning towards, but I don't know what I don't know.  So please help me in any way that you think I might need it.

Here's what I've observed and thought about so far;

• Where should I look for good solo fares?  Most of the cruise line websites seem to price for double occupancy and only tell you the single price when you get deeper in.  I've tried lines that are supposed to have solo cabins, but I can't seem to access them ... I think they must sell out fast.
• I'd like to depart from somewhere in North America as I don't want to go too far on this first foray.  I think that means pretty much the Caribbean or Mexico.
• Thinking 6-9 days, leaving December 18 or later.
• While money is not the only or first criteria, I am not independently wealthy, so I can't go crazy expensive.
• Any things I should consider that I haven't yet thought about?
• Any tips for once I am on board?  How should I do this so as not to have a complete meltdown?  I don't want to regret this decision, so I want to set myself up for success.

If you've been through this or a similar experience, please give me your advice.  Quite honestly, I'm terrified.  I've travel for business alone all the time, but leisure travel was always with my spouse, so I know this will be difficult for me.  But I also know that I need to push myself to step outside my comfort zone, so here I am!!

Just wanted to give you all an update on how our snorkeling went. :) Four of us went and we all loved it! One of us got a little chilly but for the most part it was not that cold at all. I would do it again for sure! ;)

So glad you tried it AND had fun! I've snorkeled in Alaska (in the summer and wearing a wetsuit) and was the butt of much ridicule UNTIL ... we got back and reported on how interesting it was.

Thanks for responding! Neither DH nor I are big drinkers but I guess we could always go and grab a local beer and then just walk around taking photos of the nice buildings. Are there ANY stores open during these late calls? I assume there will at least be the requisite souvenir store selling postcards and magnets? That can occupy 15 min or so lol. Anything else?

All the stores will be open. Local businesses here are well versed on the cruise ship schedules and plan accordingly. Also, for something fun and different, and particularly if you like to walk, look up the various walking tours available in Victoria (just Google it). I know that there are several that offer night walks, some of which cover off several of the ghostly legends. I believe that they will include some sort of a historical pub stop as well. Might be the perfect way to end the evening if you have dinner on board the ship before you disembark.

Not knowing the walking ability of the poster is why I said 20 minutes, better to err on the side of taking longer than saying 10 minutes and it takes longer. Yes it certainly can take less time or it could take longer if you stop to enjoy the scenery.

Not disagreeing with you on this point. I only mention it because the earlier implication was that Fisherman's Wharf is in the Inner Harbour. It is NOT. It's actually about half-way between the Ogden Point cruise ship terminal and the Empress Hotel in the Inner Harbour (where the shuttle buses often stop). It takes about another 10-15 minutes to walk from Fisherman's Wharf to the Empress. I would hate for someone to catch a shuttle bus and get off at the Empress only to discover that they have to double-back to get to Fisherman's Wharf.

Having said that, if I recall correctly, if you ask, they'll drop you off at Fisherman's Wharf since it's on the way.

When you say short walk from the cruise terminal, can you give the exact distance?

It is 800 m (1/2 mile) from the Ogden Point cruise ship terminal to Fisherman's Wharf which is where Eagle Wing Tours is located. According to my trusty walking app, that should take an average person about 10 minutes. I only mention this because a previous poster said that it takes about 20 minutes to walk from the cruise ship terminal to the Inner Harbour; Fisherman's Wharf is before you get to the Inner Harbour. So if you catch a shuttle, make sure that it drops you off at Fisherman's Wharf, otherwise you'll have to double back from the Inner Harbour stop.

You also asked about Butchart Gardens and I see that others have given you responses. I agree, it's a year-round destination.

... The last thing that jumps out with your timeframe is whalewatching - plenty of scope for a longer independent tour. Orcas remain resident in local waters all year round - unfortunately they roam far enough that sightings are not 100%, it depends where they are on your day whether they are close enough to reach in the c.3 hour timeframe ...

 

If your party don't have any back problems Zodiac boats are available, the speed of which maximise the chance of finding the local pods ....

Eagle Wing Tours (https://www.eaglewingtours.com/) run a couple of scarab monohull boats that are very fast but do not have the same discomfort issues that you can get in Zodiac boats. We live part-time in Victoria, and they are our choice for whale-watching companies. They are currently rated #1 on TripAdvisor. In fact, we went with them just last week. Their office is in Fisherman's Wharf, just a short walk from the curise ship terminal.

You will see wildlife -- humpback whales and seals for sure, and the odds of seeing orcas, bald eagles and cormorants is also very high. Just be sure to let the booking agent know that you have to be back in port by a certain time. If there are no time restrictions for passengers, this company has been known to take people out for longer to increase wildlife sightings (at no extra charge). :)

OP, I realize your visit to Vancouver is over, but future readers of this thread may get value from this link:

http://www.vancityasks.com/vancouver-tours/

This outfit puts on free walking tours of Vancouver. Right now they only run on Saturdays, but their website will give you current information.

Haven't done it while on a cruise, but as far as I know, the only snorkeling outfit in Victoria is actually in Brentwood Bay, I think they're called Rockfish Divers. I just googled them, here is a link: http://www.best-scuba-diving-vacations-in-british-columbia.com/rockfish_divers.html

Whenever I've seen them go out, they're always wearing wetsuits, but if this is the company you're asking about, then you could probably just call them and get the answers to your questions.

when the next available agent called me up, an older "gentleman " rushed up from the middle of the line and stated "how come he gets to go to the front of the line and not wait like everyone else?"

 

When the agent explained fttf he made a dismissive hand wave and stated "thats bull____". He then stormed back to the lines in a huff.

 

That moment was priceless :cool:

Or perhaps the older gentleman was just frustrated because he had been standing in line for a while? Not everyone is aware of FTTF; there are lots of people who aren't diehard cruisers. I appreciate the perks that come with status, but I don't need someone else to be miserable in order for me to enjoy those perks even more. Just sayin' ...