Sunny429

Hello! It would be helpful to know what you are interested in to help with suggestions. However, if you are looking to check off the top sights, there’s the Louvre, Musee D’Orsay, Sainte Chapelle, Sacre Coueur and Versailles (among others). The Metro is very easy to use, just be super aware of pickpockets and there is a local train that goes to Versailles - don’t miss the Hamlet in the far back where Marie Antoinette played farm girl. We have used tour guides (Context tours and those booked by the concierge at our hotel) as well as explored on our own. Other fun things that I have enjoyed are ice cream from the famous Berthillion on the Ille St. Louis and taking a “short course” at Le Cordon Bleu. Early October will be a wonderful time to be there. Have fun!

Thank you! My husband was a classics major in college so I have a feeling he may want to spend the whole day in that museum. 😉😀

I am enjoying reading this thread as we will be visiting Athens again Ne t month prior to a cruise. To the OP, the Acropolis museum is not a substitute for visiting the actual Acropolis. However, it is very interesting. We are looking forward to visiting the Archeological Museum this time, which I understand is wonderful. The Parthenon and the Erechtheion are fascinating, especially with a guide. Definitely worth the hike up the hill.

Get some cash in the US before leaving so you will have some just in case.

Thank you. I knew it was a long shot when I posted my question.

Thank you. He doesn’t have any dietary restrictions. It’s helpful to know the approximate number of carbohydrates in a meal so can plan his insulin shot accordingly. Many recipes I have here at home have listed the number of calories, fat, sugars, carbohydrates etc. As Silversea has well-trained chefs, I’m hoping they might have some idea of the nutritional information for the portions they serve. I think you have a good idea about asking to speak with the chef once onboard. Thank you! I will do that.

I know this is a long shot and I may have more success asking once aboard, however, has anyone ever asked for a breakdown estimate of nutritional information of meals - particularly dinner? My husband is a type 1 Diabetic so counting carbs is key to keeping his blood sugar in check. Breakfast is easy for him because he has cereal, boxed, and the carbs are listed on the box. The challenging part is dinner, with potential sauces and sides.

Ha ha! I didn’t catch the spelling error and was thinking about replying “yes!”, as to … whisky use? Yes! Thank you for clarifying that you meant to type, “Muse”. Also, FWIW, the last time I inquired (prior to COVID) about Silversea carrying Tito’s vodka, the answer was no.

Thank you. I will be sure to pay extra attention to the menu in Atlantide on formal nights on our cruise next month.

I’m curious. You wrote “to participate in the MDR/Atlantide” Does that venue have an extra special menu on “formal” nights? I never took notice.

We usually ask our hotel concierge to book a transfer from the airport.

Yes, it was the foreign country’s requirements. I had to find my vaccination records from the Health Department on my own and it took a bit of time before the QR code was available. I just want to play by the rules to make things as easy as possible.

When you log into “mysilversea” and look at the A TiVo ties calendar, there will be a little bow tie next to the date where it is black tie in the evening. One wouldn’t feel out of place wearing a tuxedo in those nights (there will probably be two) and the same for dark pants and a jacket, which is what my husband wears on those evening. I wear a long dress on formal nights because I welcome an opportunity to really dress up. Have a wonderful time!

We cruised with Viking for the first time last year aboard the Venus on a Northern Lights itinerary and thought everything was fabulous! We have mostly cruised on Seabourne and Silversea and friends invited us to join them on this itinerary, promising us we would enjoy it. It did not disappoint. The wide open spaces in the public areas, the heated floor in the bathroom, SO much storage space in our PV1 suite - we had two full size and two carry-on suitcases full of cold weather clothing - and the speakers were fantastic - one on photography and the other on marine life. The food was excellent - we only ate in the World Cafe, main dining room and the Italian restaurant. Excursions were very good too. We cannot say enough good things about Viking Ocean.

We flew to London before out first cruise post “restart”. It was our understanding that officials (maybe this was a London thing) wanted a QR code verifying our vaccination status, which our state’s department of health provided.

Many US states do have official COVID vaccination records with a QR code that one can download and print,

Thank you so much everyone for your input! I am a little surprised that SS wants to see just the cards and not something more “official” like the official printed record from the department of health. We will bring both, just in case. Again, thanks!

Hello! We are cruising with Silversea in April and have uploaded our vaccination records on the mysilvesea website. However, I am reading here and there in this forum about folks having to show their vaccination records prior to boarding. Should we have our records readily available for inspection - even though Silversea already has them on file?

I have had more success securing dinner reservations going to the venue myself and requesting a reservation. I wish Silversea would do away with the Butlers. I find them superfluous - except on our very first cruise, our wonderful butler brought camomile tea to our cabin (without me asking) as we were crossing the Gulf of Mexico in sort of rough weather. It was SO appreciated.

I agree! We like the paper version as well and would miss it if they were to go digital. We rarely turn the TV on when we’re aboard and would find it a bother to have to do so to read The Chronicle. I also like to bring it to breakfast to read over and plan our day.

The last time we cruised with Silversea was prior to SS included excursions (we’re looking forward to seeing how they are on our cruise with them in April). However, in the past, we have had some very good excursions and some so-so with Silversea. If we are visiting a port that we have a special interest in, we book a private tour. They have consistently been better than what the ship offers. Our travel agent has arranged them for us, I understand there is one caveat to booking your own, separate excursion. If you are not back on board before sailing, you will be left. They will not leave before Silversea sponsored excursions return.

I meant to write that we booked the Londra Palace.

We will be in Venice this May at the end of our Silversea cruise and I started researching hotels in Venice soon after we booked the cruise. There are many good options. After much research and asking lots of friends for their recommendations, we booked (through our travel agent) the Baglioni Hotel Luna. This will be our first visit to Venice and so far, the hotel concierges has been very responsive and helpful with my inquiries about restaurant and tour suggestions.

You all look fabulous! I like to dress up too! After travel (well, actually, just simply going out) was curtailed for quite a while in March 2020, I have decided I’m going to wear my finery every chance I get. I find dressing up fun and get it that some people don’t. On “formal” nights, I see a range of clothing, while mostly are “smart” looking. I do see fewer and fewer men wearing tuxedos. My husband wears a jacket and tie most every evening and dark pants with jacket and tie on formal nights.

We have been “VIP’d” a few times and yes, there were two complimentary Silversea backpacks in our room with Evian water misters (spray bottles) as well as bottled water inside easy of them. Also, every afternoon, a tray of “light bites” was delivered to our room. A nice touch. Oh yes, and the free, basic, laundry service was nice.