Maracamama
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Posts posted by Maracamama
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Yeah. Read the small print. Unless you are in a high end suite, you get 1 free hour a day. OK for some people, I guess... but if you are still working and need more time than that, not so free. Regent still gets the nod on this one, all free, 24/7. Still wouldn't give up SS, though!
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My wife and I are considering a Hong Kong to Singapore cruise in Oct 2015. We are interested in understanding the age demographic of Silversea's clientele. We are in our mid forties, active and looking to enjoy a high end vacation.
At our last Venetian Cocktail Party a couple of weeks ago some demographics were mentioned, one of them being that the average age of a VENETIAN member is 55. For what that's worth...
I have found the travelers on SS to be exceedingly interesting, no matter the age. Even on our last cruise the 90 year old gentleman, who kept referring to me as a baby (I'll be a great-grandmother in Feb!) was a delight to talk to.
We once traveled with a couple from the UK that claimed to be spooks during WWII...
The older the teller, the better the tale!
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All of your comments are much appreciated. I do already have a quote on purchasing or renting a scooter through SS, but taking into account a 4 month rental, DH seems to think a purchase is the better way to go. Since disembarkation is so close to our home in Miami, it should not be a problem to transport it on arrival, to join to growing medical equipment collection in our garage. :) Ain't aging grand? (Short answer: YES, if it can be done on SS!)
One of the most pressing questions I have is whether the battery life is sufficient for say, 3-4 hours of continuous use off the ship?
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I do not believe you can rent a scooter through Silversea (or any other luxury cruise line). I would assume that whatever you buy would work fine for your cruise - especially since it would be new. Just make sure that you spend time practicing with the scooter prior to boarding the ship. There are passengers on board that are not steady on their feet but can walk slowly and would be harmed if hit by one of the scooters. Going slow is the best way to go on a ship.
Enjoy your cruise.
Thanks, TC!
I have already had occasion to practice. An admitted "need for speed" persona (Go, Granny, Go!), as a retired health care professional (and a REALLY REALLY nice person LOL) I am cognizant of the "rules of the road". That being said, I did take first place in the last scooter race I took part in.
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Can anyone on SS forum give any insights on mobility scooters? Unfortunately I will probably need one for the WC 1015. Storage when not is use will not be a problem, as our suite is large enough that we will not need to park it in the hallway.
But other questions I have:
-Hubby wants to buy one and have it delivered to the ship. All well and good, but I am worried that if it breaks I am on my own in getting it repaired or replaced. I feel renting one through SS would be a better plan, albeit quite a bit more expensive.
-If anyone has used one of these before, what is the approximate battery life?
-Any other issues I need to know about?
-Any companies you would recommend?
Thanks in advance!
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Greetings from the Explorer! Can anyone on Discoverer give me a brief overview of your available internet plans?
When we were on Discoverer in July it seemed the plans had changed. Can't remember the particulars, but you could purchase a block of unlimited time for different amounts, if this makes sense.
Now on Explorer, the plans offered are the "old" ones again.
The IT officer on board tells me (nicely) I'm nuts and that the provider has the same plans on all SS ships, and that SS has nothing to do with what is offered. He may be correct. On all counts, LOL
Martha
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Sorry to be a wet blanket, but......
The ship is currently scheduled to leave Walvis Bay at 22:00 9th April, and arrives Jamestown 08:00 13th April, approx 3 1/2 days.
According to Ports.com its 1480 nautical miles between the two and at an average speed of 18 knots it will take 3.4 days.
I cannot see where that leaves any time to be anywhere near Luanda.
Have you tried calling them to check.
Will pass it on to my TA, she can query SS. We have just arrived in Figi to board the Explorer in 2 days for a month or so. Not going to worry about the gorillas right now. But thanks for the calculations, SS!
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Maracamama, how will they get you back to the ship in Luanda, Angola now that the Whisper itinerary has been changed? The last stop in Africa is now Walvis Bay, Namibia on April 9. I presume that they will fly you there?
Even though 10 April shows as "At Sea", the Whisper will be anchoring off Luanda and offers 2 shore excursions that day.
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Your chances of seeing gorillas off a cruise ship excursion are the same as meeting Greta Garbo in the bush. Unless they are in some sort of zoo such as the orang-utans in Borneo.
Well, Fletcher, for what they are charging for that excursion they better produce at least a guy in a monkey suit. It is a land trip, off the ship for a few days. I just checked and it is still on, only now we will leave from Capetown and rejoin the ship in Luanda:
05MIDCPT-H Gorillas in the Forest
For Guests In-transit V4507/V4508
Departure: April 4, 2015
Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights
Guests continuing in Cape Town to the next cruise have the opportunity to experience a true adventure of a special kind at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp. Track mountain gorillas at this exclusive, tented camp that is frequently visited by gorilla families due to its unique location. Interact with the local community through the staff at the camp, with an opportunity to meet the local Batwa Pygmies. Take away memories of a lifetime.
DAY 1: Cape Town - Johannesburg - Entebbe
This morning disembark from the Ship and transfer to the Airport. Fly Cape Town / Johannesburg / Entebbe. Upon arrival in Entebbe, you will be met by our local representative and driven to Lake Victoria Serena Resort.
Dinner and overnight at the Hotel - Lake Victoria Serena Resort- Entebbe
DAY 2: Entebbe - Bwindi
After an early breakfast, transfer the airport for the scheduled morning flight to Bwindi.
You will be met on arrival at Kihihi airstrip and transferred to Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, a drive of about 1.5 hours.
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp lies at the edge of the forest within Bwindi National Park. Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the natural habitat for just over half the world's last surviving population of mountain gorillas, as well as to chimpanzee, and over 300 species of birds and other forest creatures.
Accommodation at the camp is in eight large 'tents', with two queen-sized beds, en-suite bathrooms and the amazing experience of a bathtub looking out onto the forest. Each tent has a large wooden deck where guests can relax or enjoy private dining. The main building overlooks the rain forest, and has a raised natural platform for dining under the stars.
Overnight at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp- Bwindi National Park
DAY 3 and 4: Bwindi
The next two days' activities may be amongst the most exciting and challenging of our entire expedition. The Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi are part of a worldwide population of just 600 individuals. The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to either one of two habituated family groups. For up to five years each, these groups have undergone an extremely delicate process that has gradually brought them to tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day and allowed a few privileged visitors to interact with them in the wild.
The gorillas are by no means tame, and are completely wild animals. However, experienced guides will accompany us on our tracking, many of who have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorillas' habits and information from the previous day to locate the group's whereabouts.
Because of this, the time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 9 hours before one returns to camp. Once the gorillas are located, our group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. This is one of the world's truly memorable experiences - a look into one of these magnificent creatures' eyes brings home the bond that exists between them and us. It also brings home the poignant fact that they are on the edge of extinction, and that our presence here contributes to ensuring their continued survival. The hour is often over all too quickly, and we slowly make our way back to camp to recount the day's adventures.
Overnight at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp- Bwindi National Park
DAY 5: Bwindi - Entebbe
Enjoy breakfast at the camp. Thereafter transfer to the airstrip for your morning return flight to Entebbe.
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to Lake Victoria Serena Resort.Rest of the day is free for you to spend as you wish, with lunch and dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Lake Victoria Serena Resort- Entebbe
DAY 6: Entebbe - Luanda
After an early breakfast, check out and transfer to Entebbe Airport for your onward flight to Nairobi.
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, our representative will meet you and help you with your check in to your flight to Luanda, Angola.
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St Helena is a fascinating place to visit. The town is a perfectly preserved Georgian gem and of course there is the replica of the house in which Napoleon died. The scenery is also wonderful. It is one of the most unusual places in there world to visit, though a word of warning - big ships such as the SS Whisper may have problems landing passengers as the landing stage is literally less than 10 feet across and the South Atlantic waves come crashing in most days. An expedition ship such as Silver Discoverer/Explorer wouldn't have a problem.
Ascension is basically a volcanic slag-heap, a huge military airbase and a BBC monitoring station. Tourism isn't organised and doesn't really exist at all. However, I had a great day there. Landing is just as tricky as St Helena.
Both islands are British Overseas Territories.
Agree that St. Helena and its inhabitants are fascinating. Never thought we would visit there again, but there you have it. We are still talking about St. Helena 6 years after we were there.
OTH the cancellation of the West African ports on the next WC is a major disappointment to me, having booked the excursion to walk into the jungle looking for gorillas. Probably the last thing on my personal bucket list. But best be safe.
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Thanks. I do have free laundry, but given the climate that we'll be in, I am bringing some washable silk shirts that have to be hand-washed. I can easily do that, but I'm sure after being -dried, they'll need a little pressing. Oh well, I can live with wrinkles if I have to.:rolleyes:
I had a couple of items like yours, the butler took them to the laundry and made sure they were hand washed and line dried. Visual of him standing over the laundry person supervising LOL
Gotta love 'em
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There is full laundry service on board, but no dry cleaning. Pressing is available (for a fee, I don't think that is included if youhave earned free laundry).
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Picking brains again, fellow SS cruisers!
If you do not use SS travel insurance option, who do you recommend?
Have never bothered to think about it much, we usually use them. But this WC has opened up a lot of questions for us, and one of them is the insurance. SS option covers each passenger for up to $70K and costs about $20K. On a WC that leaves about $90K of trip cost uninsured.
I understand that none of the insurances cover trip cancellation due to a pre-existing condition that has worsened. Really, what are the chances at our age that something new will pop up? LOL
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Martha
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Maracamama,
I checked my luxury TA and they are offering this on the WC. Either 8 guided, or leisurely tours with a private car and driver OR $4800 ship board credit- PLUS an additional $500 cash credit. (In addition to the credits etc by Silversea) $300 seems a bit measly to me.
Just to clarify, the $300 OBC was on the Expedition cruise, not the upcoming WC.
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In most cases, commissions are much lower than 20% and if the agent works in an agency, the agency usually get a third to a half of the commission. Also, the cruise lines are reducing the base fare on which they pay commission and increase the Non commissionable fare portion, this reducing the TA's portion further.
Some agencies have added fees for booking and managing cruises. Other agencies keep their volume up through rebating (which for many cruise lines is an illegal practice).
It seems to me that cruisers in general are expecting their Travel Agent to give generous OBC, discounts, or gifts, thus reducing their cost to the cruiser. What if a cruiser finds a great agent, and they really click, but the agency doesn't allow rebating? Everybody loses here. What if the TA lives on his commissions and can only afford that over-priced bottle of wine form the ship, or that $300 OBC?
In this instance, if the total cruise was $67,000, what was the base fare? This prices includes round trip airfare, 2 shore excursions, laundry, gifts, transfers, port charges and taxes. You can bet Silverseas isn't paying commission on those.
To the OP, you stated that you were used to your previous agent sending a thank you gift. Your current agent did the same, but it wasn't as much or as nice as your previous agent. The thought was the same, you just felt you deserved more. I suggest you find a new agent and when interviewing them, ask how much money they are willing to give you when you book a world cruise. That will weed out those bad apples that that just give you a paltry $300 gift.
In my instance the CRUISE FARE was $67K. I have the invoice in my hand. We did our own air, there (usually) are not "excursions" per se. We have had free laundry for years now. I can't comment on the port charges, You betcha I think a $300 OBC is paltry, as I'm pretty sure looking at the invoice there was no "rebate" from the TA.
Yeppers, need a little more love with a 5 week Explorer cruise coming up and the WC.
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Being from FL I can relate to the nasty feeling of muggy weather clothing! FYI, there is laundry (no self serve) on board. But NO dry cleaning available. Keep this in mind when packing. I did not know this ahead of time, that put a crimp (pun?) in my wardrobe. :)
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Suit cases fit under the bed.
One of the things I love most about expedition cruising is not having to worry about wearing the same things numerous times. After all, we're "roughing it".
Have fun!
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Maracamama, your situation is actually quite complex to presume that anyone else can offer you cogent and empathetic advice. To spend $67k on a vacation, and this doesn't include air fares or $£250k on a WC means you are very wealthy. I am guessing but either you do not have the time to make your own arrangements and the amount of value you gain by making the arrangements for you is more beneficial because you either don't need the saving ro you make more money by "concentrating on busines" ....
You have an infinite number of options. Clearly a $300 thank you for a $67k spend to me seems almost worst than none at all. It is insulting and disrespectful. In my view if I could afford your scenario I'd prefer a handwritten note with a gift.
You need to make a binary choice between either getting to grips with a more hands-on approach or perhaps go further and take a concierge service. If you take the first approach then you need to make a clear document of what you want with a specific cruise and put it on a document and then circulate it to a number of TAs and say you will be booking it in 48 hours and you want them to tender for the cruise with their best set of offers. Or if your time is the thing then research use a firstl-class concierge service and get them to "add value" and earn their cut or fee.
It stikes me that with your level of welath and spend you are experiencing the worst of all worlds at the moment and simply making a TA fairly wealthy who appears to be sufficiently clueless and doesn't know how to show you some appreciation is not the best for you.
I have no idea whether my ramblings make any sense to you.
:)
Thank you, Jeff. Duly noted.
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Appreciate all the insight. I am not "looking" for anything, but had gotten used to (or taken for granted, it seems) some kind of thank you from our previous TA (who sadly, passed away). For example, a $1000 OBC was not unusual from her when she was receiving a generous commission, or a credit back on our cruise fare. For this outing (a cost of $67K USD without air), we were gifted $300 from the TA. It just seemed odd, which is why I was wondering what the "etiquette" is. Obviously, if we can drop that chunk of change, and approx. $250K on a WC, it is virtually a moot point and will not change our lives. I was just curious and looking for comparison information. Thank you all for your insights. Happy sailings!
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I would like to poll you all, informally, on what is usual, customary, or even expected, from your travel agent as appreciation for your bookings?
Right now I am very disappointed with what our current TA has gifted us with on our current cruise. Since we have a World Cruise looming, I want to get a better idea of what everyone else's experience is with this matter. You can imagine our TA will be getting quite a hefty commission on a WC booking in a Silver Suite. Perhaps my expectations are out of line, or just plain out dated. Appreciate all input.
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Can anyone tell me if they have the odd assortment of boots left onboard by previous passengers? They did when we were on Explorer, so wondering if we have to bring our (heavy) Wellies.
Thank you!
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Is it possible to be a good citizen (US in this case) while cruising? We leave home about the 26th of Sept and don't return tip about the 7th of November. Right during the mid-term elections and here in Colorado they are often squeekers. We can do mail in ballots but they won't be available when we leave, and we get back after the election. Anybody worked this out before? Is is possible to have a ballot sent to some remote island and mail it from there? Does Silversea send mail to ships? Or arrange for mail to be collected for certain places? We will be on the Discoverer and the most likely place to pick up things is the Solomon Islands- not exactly a mainstream place. Any thoughts? Or do I just bag it this year?
Because of our travel schedule, we have for years gotten our absentee ballots. If you are home during an election, you can vote in person. I believe you can request these online. Check out your local Division of Elections site.
Good luck!
Silversea announce on Facebook free WiFi for all
in Silversea
Posted
Jeff,
Dirty little secret: I had no problems on the WC streaming from Netflix and Amazon Prime. For technical reasons I do not understand, I assume because the "home" account is in Fort Lauderdale, the computer sees your device as being in the US. When we are in other countries (most specifically our home in Grand Cayman) I cannot access these services, as it says my computer is out of the US. I had no trouble with buffering. Enjoy!