I knew my first luxurious cruise can be totally different from Royal Caribbean, however a number of elements actually shocked me.
I have been on nearly 100 Royal Caribbean sailings, however I used to be intrigued by the prospect of attempting one thing fully totally different.
When loyalty standing matching was up to date, I jumped on the alternative to check out Silversea. It meant occurring a luxurious ship with out actually abandoning what I am aware of, as a result of Silversea is owned by Royal Caribbean.
After spending every week on Silver Daybreak, I got here residence with 11 surprises from the expertise that I wasn’t anticipating.
The butlers are very totally different from a Royal Genie
I used to be excited by the concept of getting a butler for the primary time on a cruise, however the expertise was very totally different from the Royal Genie service.
Luxurious cruise ships are identified for providing every suite a butler, however in observe, it isn’t what I anticipated.
I suppose on reflection it is smart that your butler is just obtainable that will help you in your suite. If I had a butler in my home, they’d be there too.
I requested a number of totally different cruisers I met how they maximize their butlers, and most instructed me the identical factor: you mainly should dwell in your suite to get essentially the most out of it.
That is a bit totally different from the Royal Genie in Star Class suites, the place their providers can be utilized across the ship.
Furthermore, I preferred I might message my Royal Genie by WhatsApp. On Silver Daybreak, I might solely come up with the butler by calling them from my cabin cellphone.
That is not a giant deal, however on a number of events it might have been extra sensible to message the butler to arrange one thing as I make my manner again to my room.
I anticipated a stuffy gown code, however most individuals wore collared shirt and no jacket
If I had a priority earlier than my first Silversea cruise, it was the gown code necessities.
I got here into the cruise frightened about having to put on a go well with each night time, however the fact is it isn’t as formal as I anticipated.
Silversea relaxed their gown code requirements pretty not too long ago, and it was no the place close to as formal as others had warned me about.
There wasn’t even a proper night time on our crusing. Evidently I’ve to be on an extended cruise to have one.
The essential gown code was no denims or shorts after 6pm, and also you wanted to have a collared shirt within the eating places. Jackets have been non-obligatory.
And sure, the crew did implement the principles. I spoke with numerous visitors who instructed me about how they or another person have been knowledgeable they did not meet the gown code requirements. In these conditions, males have been provided a jacket to borrow.
In the course of the day, I had no points sporting what I’d put on on Royal Caribbean. Shorts, t-shirts, flip flops have been all completely acceptable.
Far fewer males than I anticipated wore a jacket to dinner, so it wasn’t practically as strict as I as soon as feared.
No traces wherever
One factor I rapidly observed on Silver Daybreak was that there have been mainly no traces or crowds.
You usually hear about how cruises have lengthy traces and crowds, however Silver Daybreak did not have them in any respect. In actual fact, a number of occasions I went to determine the place everybody was as a result of so many areas have been fully empty.
After I requested cruisers onboard why they picked a luxurious ship, many stated they did it to keep away from crowds. They may respect what the massive ships supply, however did not need to take care of competing for lounge chairs or traces.
I actually did not assume the ship would really feel as crowded as an Oasis Class ship, however I by no means thought it might be as empty because it felt.
The unimaginable service by crew members
Irrespective of which cruise line I’ve sailed on, crew members have at all times labored extremely laborious to face out. However on Silversea, it went to a distinct stage.
As a result of the crew to passenger ratio is decrease on a luxurious ship, I believe it was simpler for the crew to study passenger names and what they preferred.
By the third day of the crusing, I might depend on strolling right into a bar or lounge and no less than one crew member greeting me by identify as quickly as I walked in.
Meals picks are unimaginable, even at buffet
I anticipated the meals would higher on Silversea than on Royal Caribbean, and I wasn’t disenchanted.
I believe it is truthful to imagine a luxurious cruise would have higher meals, and it was exemplified on the buffet after they had each day a big collection of sushi.
There have been cooking stations on the buffet too, however the dishes got here out trying like one thing I might get from a specialty restaurant.
Within the ship’s Fundamental Eating Room, each night time there was filet mignon, lobster tail, shrimp, and different cuts of steak to select from.
After I ate on the ship’s French specialty restaurant, La Dame, there have been some actually high-end meals served, corresponding to foie gras.
My favourite place for meals was on the S.A.L.T. lab and restaurant, which sources meals from the areas your ship visits.
Not solely is it a very sensible thought to include the ship expertise into the area you might be visiting, however there have been unbelievable meals selections.
Stunned the premium WiFi prices additional
Contemplating Silversea is all inclusive, I used to be shocked there have been tiers of web service.
The cruise fare comes with fundamental WiFi included, however it’s pretty ineffective. It is closely throttled and works just for messaging.
I paid $365 to improve to a 2-device premium WiFi package deal. Not solely was {that a} excessive value, however I believe a luxurious cruise line that claims it is all inclusive ought to embody the excessive velocity web.
In case you are questioning, Silversea makes use of Starlink too, and the speeds have been nice.
The one furnishings that disenchanted me have been the balcony chairs
From the pool chairs, to the lounges, to the towels in my cabin, all the things felt luxurious apart from my balcony chairs.
It is a minor factor, however I frolicked on my balcony on quite a few events and observed the chairs and desk on the market have been nearly similar to those you’d discover on a brand new Royal Caribbean ship.
Furthermore, Royal Caribbean suite balconies have extra plush chairs with ottomans.
I felt prefer it was a simple repair, and maybe Silversea’s newer ships have already got them.
Beer choice is surprisingly dangerous
I believe the one double take I did on my cruise was after I requested in regards to the beers to order.
Royal Caribbean’s beer choice has at all times been disappointing, however Silversea’s beers are even worse. You may discover simply the generic beers, with little taste discrepancy.
As you possibly can see within the photograph, there is not a lot in the best way of IPAs, craft beers, or a number of the trendier malt drinks.
I am guessing the typical Silversea cruiser does not ask for them, however contemplating how a lot wider their liquor choice was than Royal Caribbean, I used to be shocked how restricted the beer choices have been.
No app or test in
I believed I did one thing flawed after I could not discover the Silversea app, however turns on the market is not one.
From what I perceive they’re engaged on creating an app, however within the meantime there is not an app.
In truth, you do not want the app onboard as a result of there is a cell web site you possibly can entry as soon as related to the WiFi and it had what I wanted: actions, my bookings, a replica of the publication, and extra.
I used to be equally shocked to discover a lack of a web based check-in possibility, however possibly that is simply because I am conditioned to have one on Royal Caribbean.
After I arrived on the ship for check-in in Copenhagen, there was no line in any respect and only one individual forward of me. I suppose you do not want a flowery on-line check-in if there’s not a crowd difficulty to deal with.
Reservations wanted for the favored specialty eating places
One other nuance of the posh cruise expertise is how specialty eating works.
There are basically three tiers of eating places on Silversea:
- Included eating places that do not require reservations (Fundamental Eating Room)
- Specialty eating places which are included in your cruise fare (Silver Be aware, The Grill)
- Specialty eating places that value cash (Kaiseki, La Dame)
How all of the reservations labored was extra confusion than I anticipated pre-cruise.
Some eating places completely require reservations otherwise you just about can not dine there. Kaiseki and La Dame just about bought out nearly instantly, whereas Silver Be aware and The Grill had extra flexibility.
The takeaway right here is simply because eating places are included, you possibly can’t go in anytime you need. I might advocate making reservations as early as you possibly can to make sure you may get in.
Standing matching was simple, however it did not get me a lot
I attempted Silversea due to the standing matching provided, however it actually did not get me a lot.
That is a bit deceptive, as a result of Silversea consists of a lot extra within the cruise fare than Superstar or Royal Caribbean.
If you concentrate on all the very best advantages you get from Crown & Anchor Society or Captain’s Membership, they’re nearly all perks that included with a luxurious cruise.
I obtained free laundry, which was a godsend to not should ration clear clothes.
Talking of standing, there is not as a lot recognition of standing such as you do on the opposite traces. Your Seapass card does not have your standing stage listed or totally different colours to your card. That is high quality with me, only a totally different strategy.
