wren2

In all my years with Silversea, I have never seen any price hike to compare to this one. I think initially ships will be more or less be full with people like me who booked before the increase but I wonder if Silversea see their bookings fall, what will happen. After never sailing with any other line than Silversea, I am joining a Crystal cruise next week. Now coowned by the firmer owner of Silversea. His high standards give me confidence.

I wish I could agree but just think Silversea wants to rake in as much as possible. I have sailed with Silversea so many years that a few cruises ago my waiter was the son of the guy who first served me at the Pool Bar. It started with Business air incurring a supplement and from then more cutbacks I.e. some excursions that once were included now chargeable, food still good but less choice. No welcome champagne. I had always loved the quiet service of the Filipino waiters, now they slowly seem to be replaced by other nationalities. I questioned the Restaurant Manager on this and was told that after Covid, many chose to start their own businesses at home! The cynical part of me thinks cheaper labour. And then the real whammy - that gobsmacking price increase. I figure as a solo traveller 8 days cruise in the Med in a Vista will now cost about £10-12,000. Fortunately, I have two cruises booked then, after so many years, it will be a sad goodbye to Silversea. I wonder if they will find passengers to fill their numerous ships. And there is another potential price hike in June. What planet are they living on?

I have been sailing with Silversea for 28 years and was aghast at the new prices. In the past apart from air and transfers included on door to door, there did not seem such a large price difference from port to port. Important as I pay 50% for single occupancy. Now the very high door to door makes it untenable and on some cruises single occupancy is 75%, even in March 2025. Not to mention cutbacks over the last few years. If you look at the 2025 excursions, you will see that most of the “included” excursions are a walk through whichever town you are in and a scenic bus tour. The lengthier excursions are “selected”. Even this year, I am repeating a September cruise in Northern Europe, as I so enjoyed it last year. Mont St. Michel was an included excursion last year, now it is “selected”.

I recently spent 27 days on the Spirit and enjoyed the cruise despite various ports being changed. The substitution of Qatar for Kanbu, Saudi Arabia the day I was flying was a bit disappointing, as I would call it a one camel town! I carefully checked with the Shore Concierge about assistance with the baggage at Dubai airport. I was assured there would be help. There was not. I had just celebrated my 80 th birthday on board, so was reliant on help. I had to grab a trolley and a kindly fellow passenger helped to put the suitcase on the trolley. I had the same situation debarking from the Moon in September in Lisbon. Have I been unlucky or is this another Silversea cutback? On the subject it of cutbacks, my travel agent has just told me that Silversea no longer pay him commission on the flight segment of the cruise. I always take the Silversea flights and pay to upgrade. Has anyone had similar comments from their TAs?

Silversea have now substituted with Santorini, Rhodes and Yambu in Saudi Arabia. I anticipated changes some time ago but why so last minute? Their email gives you the new itinerary and refers you to My Silversea but My Silversea still shows the old itinerary so you cannot book the new excursions.

I embark the Spirit on October 29. According to Silversea as of yesterday we are still calling in at Sharm el Sheikh, Safaga in Egypt and Aqaba, Jordan. Wonder if when I embark, the ports will have changed?

As per Silversea yesterday, the itinerary is unchanged and we are still calling in at Sharm el Sheikh and Safaga. As I am unable to get into MySilversea - I have Safari not Chrome, I also asked about excursions and was told there were no changes. No doubt once I board in Athens, I will learn more.

I am doing a back to back on the Spirit. As I had seen that Celebrity had cancelled Egyptian ports, I checked with Silversea to see if our two ports of call there are still as scheduled. As per Silversea today, there are no itinerary changes. Just in case any other passengers were wondering.

I have disembarked in Lisbon several times and know the port is 20 minutes from the airport. In the past, if there was a wide time gap between disembarkation and flight time, the transfer would include a short city tour. I am currently on Silver Moon, and enjoying the cruise, but was told if I wanted a city tour as part of my included transfer, I would have to pay extra. Everything is very good on the Moon, including the Wi-Fi. It is such a shame when the staff take such good care of you, that head office cost-cutting decisions antagonise you.

Very happily ensconced on Silver Moon Southampton to Lisbon. I am so enjoying the French ports and the ease of joining at Southampton, I decided to repeat the cruise next year. However, I have noted that whereas Mont St. Michel was an included excursion from St. Malo on my current cruise, in 2024 it is “selected” I.e. you pay. Hope this is not a sign if things to come.

Unfortunately Silversea can change ports whenever they want. I love anywhere in France but I found the port of Sete uninspiring. There are, however, some interesting excursions. I would recommend Pezenas if you have already visited Carcassonne. agree with you on the office service level being poor but it is still excellent on board. I have sailed with Silversea for over twenty years but I have booked a Crystal cruise for next year. The two Crystal ships are co-owned by the former owner of Silversea. The turning point for me came when they switched from business class flights to economy. Meanwhile, from newspaper ads, I could see they were selling to discounters at least £2300 less than regular passengers on a nine day cruise. I surmise that the various changes are being made to recoup some of the losses during Covid. good luck.

I was luckily given a stash of the red paper luggage tags by Guest relations several voyages ago. Gone are the days of leather wallets, tags initially leather then plastic. I do miss the journal, though.

It is four years since I was last in Honfleur and it was an easy walk from the ship. From Honfleur tourist info, I now see there is a cruise terminal and shuttle. Has anyone docked there recently, and can you still walk into town? Thanks for any info.

Does anyone remember where the Silversea shuttle drops you off in Oporto? It is a long time since I was there. I called Silversea but they could not help me.

I will be on the Silver Spirit calling in at two Saudi ports in November. Just wanted to let everyone know that, with help from my TA, I applied online and received my multiple visa in just over three hours after applying. It is valid for one year.

This is my 27th year of cruising with Silversea, and I definitely have noted a downturn in service since the RC takeover. Although the service in the Main dining room remains excellent, there is not the choice of food there used to be. On boarding the Cloud in Valletta last month, there were no butlers to help you stagger up to deck five. I was fortunate that a cruise consultant whom I knew well asked someone to help me. Reception can be totally useless as on the Wind in May or good as on the Cloud last month. Returning to the Wind, I was told by Reception my transfer between the Silversea hotel and Lisbon airport was not included. Returned to my suite, checked my Silversea, and I informed Reception it was included. The Chinese receptionist told me I had to bring my iPad to reception to prove it. I am close to 800 days so am hanging in but meanwhile, have told my TA to look for alternatives. Perhaps on the two Crystal ships now owned by the former Silversea owner. London office service has deteriorated as well.

I had wondered if he would change to the Crystal ships, now owned by A &K. I will certainly follow their 2023cruise schedules. Just want to get my SS free cruise next year.

I had been looking forward to seeing him on the Venetian Society special from Barcelona early next month. However, I was told he would. not be on board and have since learned he has left the company. What a tremendous loss to us all. With his great personality, phenomenal language skills and memory for faces, he is irreplaceable. For those of us who have sailed many years with Silversea, he will be sorely missed. He was an integral part of the Silversea experience.

On the Cloud and a first visit to Algeria. Passengers have been informed they will be charged 50 euros for the two port visits of Algiers and Oran. Reception told me that if visas are required, , Silversea usually buys a package for the ship, but not in this case.still, it should be interesting to visit two new ports. lovely to be back on the Cloud with friendly, helpful crew. One big surprise, no lobster available! This is a first for me. I have always enjoyed lobster at least once during a cruise.

I checked with Silversea this morning and the decision was made over the weekend that this is no longer required, at least for Europe. Would suggest all passengers check with their travel agents to see if this is the case in their areas. It will make travel so much easier, as it was always the time element that caused difficulties.

My TA told me today about Regent’s not requiring covid tests as from Aug. 1 . Wish Silversea would do the same although they give the impression it is a port requirement. Also checked with Saga - they test passengers prior to embarkation. Equally acceptable but I do not like Silversea putting the onus on the passenger with changing time requirements for the test. And if you want to go to an embarkation port a few days early, you need to find somewhere local for the test.

As I am on the Cloud sailing from Valletta September 17, I thought I would check with the pre-cruise hotel, the Excelsior. They do not arrange antigen tests and say you cannot get a test in Valletta. There is, however, a test centre. In St. Julian’s. The hotel can arrange a PCr test for 150 euros and the doctor will come to the hotel. I hope Silversea will continue with the pier side testing. I have been unable to access MySilversea all morning and that usually means major changes. I hope that it may just be cancellation of Algeria and a revision of the itinerary. Strangely enough, my cruise is nearly all waitlisted whereas the preceding Lisbon to Valletta Cruise is open. I hope it is merely because it is popular as I have known in the past, waitlisting all suites has been a precursor to a cancellation of the cruise. However, looking on the bright side, I only had my flights confirmed by the London office yesterday, so I hope I am probably worrying unnecessarily. Any form of travel is so uncertain these days.

In reply to Silver Spectre, yes I did get my transfer. I had it in writing on my iPad. Nowadays with Silversea you need written proof. In fact the receptionist took my iPad off me to show to her boss before they would include the transfer.

We certainly did not have to wear masks outside on the ship but from choice I used to wear a mask in the Venetian lounge. or in the elevator. Mask wearing did not seem to be enforced in the Grande Bretagne. However, covid is on the increase in Greece as it is in the U.K., so rules can change any time. I have a very good friend in Athens who fears that mask wearing in the streets might be reimposed. I think the rules on board will reflect the edicts of the Greek authorities.