Comparing Crystal and Silversea

[canderson]

21 minutes ago, bitob said:

Let’s not forget the ships are very old. Even refurbished they don’t compare well to all the gorgeous new builds

"Gorgeous" though they may be, they aren't always entirely an step forward.  Hiring an interior designer who bragged about never having spent a single night on a cruise ship left Celebrity's new builds with a few less than desirable features in their cabins.  I suspect @Host Jazzbeau is familiar with that distinction. Storage and ergonomics in marine quarters design shouldn't include, among other things, loading horizontal surfaces with tchotchkes, chairs with arms too tall to slide under counters, and bed tables with no drawers, etc etc.

[bitob]

4 minutes ago, canderson said:

"Gorgeous" though they may be, they aren't always entirely an step forward.  Hiring an interior designer who bragged about never having spent a single night on a cruise ship left Celebrity's new builds with a few less than desirable features in their cabins.  I suspect @Host Jazzbeau is familiar with that distinction. Storage and ergonomics in marine quarters design shouldn't include, among other things, loading horizontal surfaces with tchotchkes, chairs with arms too tall to slide under counters, and bed tables with no drawers, etc etc.

I wasn’t referring to celebrity since they are not really crystal’s competition. New builds I refer to are regent, silversea and explora. The ships are amazing and well designed

[bitob]

20 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

 

Of course they are. But apparently not too many agree with you, based on the current load of 20% on the current Serenity sailing.. 

really shocking number

almost every cruise I book is sold out

Im on qm2 now round trip. Sold out both directions 

 

crystal made a serious tactical error in imo in the ridiculous offer it made to those who lost money. Get it back if I book 5 cruises????  Laughable.

two cruises might have attracted a whole bunch of us. 5?  Not a chance

 

they also forgot that while crystal was defunct we learned to love other cruise lines. 
 

we were given little incentive to return to crystal

[Host Jazzbeau]

30 minutes ago, canderson said:

"Gorgeous" though they may be, they aren't always entirely an step forward.  Hiring an interior designer who bragged about never having spent a single night on a cruise ship left Celebrity's new builds with a few less than desirable features in their cabins.  I suspect @Host Jazzbeau is familiar with that distinction. Storage and ergonomics in marine quarters design shouldn't include, among other things, loading horizontal surfaces with tchotchkes, chairs with arms too tall to slide under counters, and bed tables with no drawers, etc etc.

And chair cushions too hard to sit on...

[Host Jazzbeau]

22 minutes ago, bitob said:

I wasn’t referring to celebrity since they are not really crystal’s competition. New builds I refer to are regent, silversea and explora. The ships are amazing and well designed

I haven't been on Regent, but to me the pictures of their new builds are stark and colorless.  And at the same time over-the-top and nouveau riche.  I'm writing this from the Hotel Avenida Palace in Lisbon – the oldest hotel in the city, and still the most stylish.

[Lois R]

17 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I haven't been on Regent, but to me the pictures of their new builds are stark and colorless.  And at the same time over-the-top and nouveau riche.  I'm writing this from the Hotel Avenida Palace in Lisbon – the oldest hotel in the city, and still the most stylish.

Hi Jazz, I have stayed there before......I loved it🙂Hope you are having a great time!

[canderson]

17 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

And chair cushions too hard to sit on...

Not to mention the little 'mushroom' seats in public spaces that were impossible to escape (without assistance) for half of Celebrity's demographic!

[canderson]

20 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I'm writing this from the Hotel Avenida Palace in Lisbon – the oldest hotel in the city, and still the most stylish.

We will be spending 4 nights there in November, so any tips will be appreciated.  We have one dinner included, so any info on the two restaurants are of particular interest.

[Lois R]

Just now, canderson said:

We will be spending 4 nights there in November, so any tips will be appreciated.  We have one dinner included, so any info on the two restaurants are of particular interest.

They have a wonderful breakfast buffet🙂

And the location of the property is super. 

Can't help you with dinner as I ate out.

[highplanesdrifters]

6 hours ago, Port Power said:

Reading this thread has been interesting, because people are mostly comparing a non existent cruise line with an existing cruise line. Crystal went bankrupt and no longer exists, so what is the point in comparisons?  The new Crystal has kept the name, but the owners and operators are completely different.  A few members are posting real comparisons, but they a very few.

Exactly

[Port Power]

2 hours ago, Texas Tillie said:

 

I have been on the "new" Crystal, so my points are valid, well, to me, obviously not to too many here. 

 

Exactly. You are one of the “few” that I mentioned.

[bitob]

2 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I haven't been on Regent, but to me the pictures of their new builds are stark and colorless.  And at the same time over-the-top and nouveau riche.  I'm writing this from the Hotel Avenida Palace in Lisbon – the oldest hotel in the city, and still the most stylish.

The entire regent experience (other than their shorex) is fabulous. GreT food. Great speakers and entertainment. Flawless service. Ships are not stark at all. I would describe them as majestic 

[Host Jazzbeau]

6 hours ago, canderson said:

We will be spending 4 nights there in November, so any tips will be appreciated.  We have one dinner included, so any info on the two restaurants are of particular interest.

 

6 hours ago, Lois R said:

They have a wonderful breakfast buffet🙂

And the location of the property is super. 

Can't help you with dinner as I ate out.

Ditto on the breakfast buffet.  When we arrived our room wasn't ready, so the checkin clerk escorted us to the breakfast room for breakfast on the house [we weren't really hungry, so I just had a very nice cup of English tea]  Went again today and had a full breakfast.  Everything an American [streaky bacon and scrambled eggs] or a Brit [roasted tomatoes and beans] or a European [cold cuts] could want.  Also pancakes and real crêpes with real Maple Syrup among many other toppings.  Tons of fresh fruit and fruit juices.  And pastries!  Excellent croissants, of course pasteis de nata, and many others.  You could stay here a week and have a different breakfast every day.

 

When we got back to our room at midday, there was a bottle of port wine and a box with pasteis de nata as a little gift.  Also a tote bag [and we didn't even have to donate to PBS!]

 

We found only one face cloth in the bathroom (along with all sorts of other towels) but were able to get a second one within minutes by asking the desk clerk.  [If you ask the desk clerk for something on your way in, you will be met in the hallway as you get to your room by the person delivering your requested item!]

 

The hotel provides iPhone in your room with maps and 30 minutes of free international calls.  [That was a surprise!]

 

But like Lois we haven't tried the restaurant [or the bar, even with 20% off for booking on their website]

 

Directly across the street is a restaurant called Pinóquio, where we dined last night.  Recommended by Rick Steves and apparently touristy, but actually has a real Lisboeta feel as everyone else in the dining room was speaking Portuguese [but the waiters speak very good English and the menu is in many languages]  We had seafood curry that was excellent.  The people at the table next to us [this was like on a cruise ship, where the tables for two are in a line without much space between them, which gives you a good chance to snoop on engage with your neighbors!] had shrimp scampi and then a nicely done steak.  The house wine was very good.  Too full for desert.

 

Tonight we did the Dine Around Lisbon: Lisbon at Sunset: Petiscos, Food & Wine Tour which was excellent.  Do not plan dinner after that!

[tinaincc]

4 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

 

Ditto on the breakfast buffet.  When we arrived our room wasn't ready, so the checkin clerk escorted us to the breakfast room for breakfast on the house [we weren't really hungry, so I just had a very nice cup of English tea]  Went again today and had a full breakfast.  Everything an American [streaky bacon and scrambled eggs] or a Brit [roasted tomatoes and beans] or a European [cold cuts] could want.  Also pancakes and real crêpes with real Maple Syrup among many other toppings.  Tons of fresh fruit and fruit juices.  And pastries!  Excellent croissants, of course pasteis de nata, and many others.  You could stay here a week and have a different breakfast every day.

 

When we got back to our room at midday, there was a bottle of port wine and a box with pasteis de nata as a little gift.  Also a tote bag [and we didn't even have to donate to PBS!]

 

We found only one face cloth in the bathroom (along with all sorts of other towels) but were able to get a second one within minutes by asking the desk clerk.  [If you ask the desk clerk for something on your way in, you will be met in the hallway as you get to your room by the person delivering your requested item!]

 

The hotel provides iPhone in your room with maps and 30 minutes of free international calls.  [That was a surprise!]

 

But like Lois we haven't tried the restaurant [or the bar, even with 20% off for booking on their website]

 

Directly across the street is a restaurant called Pinóquio, where we dined last night.  Recommended by Rick Steves and apparently touristy, but actually has a real Lisboeta feel as everyone else in the dining room was speaking Portuguese [but the waiters speak very good English and the menu is in many languages]  We had seafood curry that was excellent.  The people at the table next to us [this was like on a cruise ship, where the tables for two are in a line without much space between them, which gives you a good chance to snoop on engage with your neighbors!] had shrimp scampi and then a nicely done steak.  The house wine was very good.  Too full for desert.

 

Tonight we did the Dine Around Lisbon: Lisbon at Sunset: Petiscos, Food & Wine Tour which was excellent.  Do not plan dinner after that!

This sounds fabulous. I love Lisbon and look forward to sailing on Ray from Lisbon next Summer.

[History&Wine]

Not sure where to post this....

 

I've never sailed Silversea, but want to try a booking.  I have  been on several other lines.  After my world cruise next year I will have been on Crystal Serenity for over 365 days total.

 

My Silversea question;  I am a solo cruiser.  I have seen references to Silversea's 25% single supplement but have never found this.  Am I missing something? 

Any guidance appreciated. 

[dawntrdr]

Go to the Silversea opening welcome screen at Silversea.com.  Scroll down to the section on Exclusive Offers and the third one over is special single fares (see below).  Click on "discover more" and it will take you to the page describing the offer. Scroll down and there is a  list of all of the cruises that have the 25% single supplement.  There are currently 108 cruises showing.

[Lois R]

7 minutes ago, dawntrdr said:

Go to the Silversea opening welcome screen at Silversea.com.  Scroll down to the section on Exclusive Offers and the third one over is special single fares (see below).  Click on "discover more" and it will take you to the page describing the offer. Scroll down and there is a  list of all of the cruises that have the 25% single supplement.  There are currently 108 cruises showing.

Hi Dawn, that is not always current. I was looking at a specific sailing and when I spoke to my SS Rep, found out it was not on special (even though it shows up under that offer). Not sure why they don't keep it up to date but I would suggest calling SS about it or if the person asking books though a TA, maybe they can give more first hand information.

[dawntrdr]

Thanks, Lois.  Silversea is not going to make a good impression with first time singles doing it that way, if not raising legal issues.  

[Lois R]

6 minutes ago, dawntrdr said:

Thanks, Lois.  Silversea is not going to make a good impression with first time singles doing it that way, if not raising legal issues.  

I agree.........oh.....I just looked at that special offer link. They must have updated the one I was looking at because it is no longer listed. 

[jollyjones]

Look at this page:

 

https://www.silversea.com/best-luxury-cruise-deals/single-occupancy-supplements.html

 

Scroll down past 'request a quote' and the cruises and filters are shown.