new silver muse

[Geo3543]

Dress code should be interesting.

[brimary]

Dress code should be interesting.

 

 

For the adults or the kids??

[billcrooz]

For the adults or the kids??

 

Diapers optional!

[meow!]

Price comparison:

 

The Muse, the one we already booked, September 28 - October 12, Montreal to Fort Lauderdale 2017, $8950 for 14 days for basic verandah suite, that is $639 per diem, minus 5% or $607 per diem for Venetian Society members.

 

The closest match in timing, destination and length of trip will be on the Whisper, October 1 -12, 2017, Montreal to New York, $7450 for 11 days for basic verandah suite, that is $677 per diem, no Venetian Society discount.

 

So the Muse is 11.5% cheaper than the Whisper for Venetian members, and 5.9% for non-members. Is this because the Muse is a larger ship and therefore less exclusive?

[Winner]

Now that you mentioned "casino", we are surprised not to see that word on the deck plan. Isn't it supposed to be a "cash cow" for a cruise line? Perhaps, the drawings are not complete at this stage.

 

According to another thread there will not be a casino on Muse which may be why it is not on the plan. Catering to children instead of gamblers seem to be Muse's focus.

[meow!]

According to another thread there will not be a casino on Muse which may be why it is not on the plan. Catering to children instead of gamblers seem to be Muse's focus.

 

That is interesting! Thanks.

[meow!]

P.S. Another question, for us cats in basic suites, we should get 1 hour of internet per day each. Does that mean 14 hours per cat for our two week voyage, or one hour per cat everyday which cannot be carried over to the next day?

[FAP16]

You can use the hours allocated as you like during the entire trip. No daily allocation. On a back-back recently I had hours left over from week 1 that I was able to rollover and use week 2. When I finished all the week 1 time I then added the time allocation from week 2 to my account.

[meow!]

You can use the hours allocated as you like during the entire trip. No daily allocation. On a back-back recently I had hours left over from week 1 that I was able to rollover and use week 2. When I finished all the week 1 time I then added the time allocation from week 2 to my account.

 

Thank you so much for your helpful clarification!

[UKCruiseJeff]

Price comparison:

 

The Muse, the one we already booked, September 28 - October 12, Montreal to Fort Lauderdale 2017, $8950 for 14 days for basic verandah suite, that is $639 per diem, minus 5% or $607 per diem for Venetian Society members.

 

The closest match in timing, destination and length of trip will be on the Whisper, October 1 -12, 2017, Montreal to New York, $7450 for 11 days for basic verandah suite, that is $677 per diem, no Venetian Society discount.

 

So the Muse is 11.5% cheaper than the Whisper for Venetian members, and 5.9% for non-members. Is this because the Muse is a larger ship and therefore less exclusive?

 

 

It is impossible for anyone here to provide an authoritative rationale behind what is is really quite small price differences in terms of the normal variation ranges. They might simply do not wish to have the embarrassment of being seen to "get it wrong" and all seeing a new ship with any empty suites. They might also want to hype introducing a new product that is so good that it is "fully booked".

 

It does however seem that Muse is nudging further along a trajectory of change and sensible customers will recognise that direction, accept it for what it is, and make rational decisions as to whether they want to continue to follow them down their chosen direction or look elsewhere.

 

:)

 

Jeff

[badgerdee]

<snip> And a kids room too? Count me out.

 

Yup. Final straw for us.

[spinnaker2]

The muse has me bemused and bewildered. I don't feel inspired or hear the sirens call.

All I can rely upon is that which Silversea has shown to us, and some of the information is missing. Weighing the unknown against the known still leaves exposure to risk.

I have no silver spoon nor am I to the manor born, therefore I will not be on the inaugural or maiden cruise.

I don't mean to dissuade others, and the photos do portray a lovely ship.

[UKCruiseJeff]

The problem is there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know. And if one looks throughout the history of Silversea, it is the latter category that tend to be the difficult ones.

 

:)

 

RumJeffFeld

[oregon50]

Are they still using "ultra luxury" or even "luxury" in their promotional materials? What would be so wrong in advertising SS as offering nice, upscale cruise ships?

[meow!]

It is impossible for anyone here to provide an authoritative rationale behind what is is really quite small price differences in terms of the normal variation ranges. They might simply do not wish to have the embarrassment of being seen to "get it wrong" and all seeing a new ship with any empty suites. They might also want to hype introducing a new product that is so good that it is "fully booked".

 

It does however seem that Muse is nudging further along a trajectory of change and sensible customers will recognise that direction, accept it for what it is, and make rational decisions as to whether they want to continue to follow them down their chosen direction or look elsewhere.

 

:)

 

Jeff

 

Thank you for your plausible explanation.

[meow!]

Just another opinion for consideration. Perhaps the entire cruising industry is leaving the ultra-luxury area. When Silversea consider what they do, they may compare themselves against Regent and Seabourn, the other luxury cruise lines with any scale in size. Both competitors are using larger vessels, and judging from information on the web, are also becoming less luxurious. So to Silversea, they are following the industry trend, and unless passengers stop cruising or find some yacht, they have nowhere to go!

 

The product is getting less exclusive, and not pleasing to many. But they still offer large basic staterooms, the size of minisuites on mass market lines. Their food may be going downhill, no free flowing caviar (which we enjoyed in 2007 on the Shadow, Panama Canal) and of less quality in many ways, but how does it compare with the others (we don't know)? We remember being called Mr and Mrs Meow from the third day by practically all the staff, that had been no more (only by our cabin attendants and a few others) since the Spirit in 2010. Well, the general Sir and Madam is more than enough, in fact "Hi" will be fine for us poor cats.

 

Times have been changing, some things get better, even in the travel industry, business class seats today are as good as first class twenty years ago, economy plus today is the business class of twenty years ago, while first class today (only available on some airlines) was just not available back then, though planes do get bigger (more queuing and waiting time). Businesses choose their own path according to their own (albeit not welcomed by all) perception of the market. They are there to make money. Only the market can change business practices over time.

 

.

Edited October 28, 2015 by meow!

[FlyerTalker]

I notice that the only wheelchair accessible cabins are on deck 4, along with a few other cabins. No veranda, and not designated with a category. But the wheelchair logo is in the legend on the right side of the deck plan. Wonder if they will be only used for wheelchair passengers and perhaps guest staff/entertainers/lecturers? Maybe Spectre could develop a "disability" requiring a deck 4 non-veranda suite.

[meow!]

Interesting that Silversea has just added deck 4 to the Muse's deck plan drawings today. Now we see two more major restaurants with bars, and two more small restaurants. Now it is more complete. However, where is the doctor and mandatory clinic with adequate emergency facilities?

 

Now we think we can understand why the Muse is only 8.7% longer than the Spirit, while its tonnage (internal volume) is 13% larger. Deck 10 of the Muse (its pool deck) is well utilized while deck 10 of the Spirit (its deck above its pool) is half empty. Deck 11 of the Muse (its above pool deck, is semi-covered, kind of like the Spirit's deck 10), while deck 11 of the Spirit contains only the Silver suites in front. So the upper decks of the Muse is much better utilized than the Spirit.

 

 

...Both ships have 8 passenger decks. However, with the same beam width and number of decks, the Muse is only 698 ft. long versus the Spirit's 642 ft. long, or an increase of only 8.7% in length, while 40.700/36,000 or 13% increase in internal volume. How this is achieved remains to be explained....

[meow!]

The Muse's deck plan

http://www.silversea.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Deck_Plans_muse2.pdf

 

While we are at it, for comparison

 

The Spirit's deck plan

http://www.silversea.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/RE15659_Deck_Plans_Spirit1.pdf

 

The Shadow's deck plan

http://www.silversea.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/RE15659_Deck_Plans_Shadow1.pdf

 

.

[FlyerTalker]

For the adults or the kids??

 

Diapers optional!

Given some age demographics, could be either.

[spinnaker2]

I do not understand why handicapped suites would be in the bow.

[Observer]

So the upper decks of the Muse is much better utilized than the Spirit.

 

It appears, however, that the walking/jogging track on deck 11 is quite limited. It seems hardly adequate for ~ 600 passengers. Am I missing something?

Edited October 29, 2015 by Observer

[meow!]

It appears, however, that the walking/jogging track on deck 11 is quite limited. It seems hardly adequate for ~ 600 passengers. Am I missing something?

 

True, that was why in our previous thread, we wrote

 

Additional comments: I am sure Colonel Wes will hate the jogging track, it is the smallest on any Silversea ship.

.

[Observer]

Sorry. I missed that earlier mention. I think many others will join Col Wes in his dislike. I know one person who moved from SS to Crystal precisely because on the two Crystal ships there was a spacious, wrap-around teak walking/jogging deck -- longer and wider than the SS tracks (and without lounge chairs in the way), and the SS walking/jogging track is made of often-soaking-wet astroturf .

 

I really have yet to see anything about this ship that excites me. It seems to have some of the worst features of Spirit (esp. the huge lobby/bar area), an Observation lounge that doesn't look much larger than Spirit's (still no toilets?!), and a couple of restaurant offerings that will probably be dependent upon good weather. I assume that Regina Margherita, an all day pizza place, will be closed in foul weather. Still no substitute for Seabourn Square or Crystal Bistro or the Coffee Connection (is that the name? -- it's been a while) on at least two Regent ships.

Edited October 29, 2015 by Observer

[meow!]

Thank you kindly for your reply!