I just received some fantastic 2006 specials (I was glad to see that the specials included ALL of 2006!) in the mail from Silversea so I thought I would compare a Caribbean cruise from both cruise lines.

These are both 9 day cruises.

Radisson offers a 2 for 1 special on the Mariner starting at $3298 Sailing to:

Ft Lauderdale, Key West, Belize, Santo Thomas, Roatan Island, Costa Maya, Cozumel and 2 sea days.

Silvesea offers a 2 for 1 starting at $2422 for an ocean view but to compare, the veranda cabins start at $3022 Sailing to:

Tortola, St. Kitts, Antigua, Guadaloupe, St. Lucia, Barbados and 2 sea days.

To compare some 7 day cruises, Radisson starts around $2498 for a Caribben cruise (there are some that are cheaper on the Navigator but then the veranda factor comes into play) on the Voyager and to compare, Silversea comes in at $2247 for a veranda suite.


Both cruise lines are offering good deals but I feel that Silversea has the edge. I just hope that they have some specials as good as these for 2007, it would be a blast to get a group of us together!!

The itinerary I love most for a Silversea cruise Carib cruise is the 7 day Oct. 29th sailing that includes Bonaire and Aruba. I hope they repeat that sailing as a special for 2007.

Good morning, Karen. Those all look more inviting than the "winter wonderland" outside our windows this morning. :cool:

Count us in! Even if the prices are equal, the all inclusive thing will push it over. Their excursions may be a little more, but on a Carib trip that isn't an issue for us. I'm sure they will have something, that's what we did last Jan. Let the fun begin!!
Cindy

Cindy, I wonder if Silversea is ready for a group of LCTers ;)

I think the SS sailing that Karen did the comparison on is our 12/12 cruise at a 50% Silver Sailing. In all fairness though, the airfare will be a little more because it is a Barbados to FLL sailing. However, considering that the port charges are only $150 on SS compared to $285 on RSSC, and the all inclusiveness of SS, and it is a no-brainer.

Who wants to join us??? We already have a couple of LCTr's going with us!

Also not factored into the equation, Gold points and past passenger deduction. I didn't check the Radisson cruises to see if they qualify for SSS discounts but combined with Goldpoints, that is a nice deduction from the Radisson cruises. I have never sailed Silversea so I would not get any further deductions.

Yes Karen, but once you sail with them then you will qualify for future discounts. You have to start somewhere ;) .

Well, since we just got back from seeing several of the ports that Mariner is going to, let me add my two cents.

Costa Maya is interesting; they have created a complete all-inclusive cruise port complete with swimming pool. There are shops and restaurants set up all around the pool, including the ever-present Diamonds International and Tanzanite International. There are plenty of arts and crafts, too. But they are far more expensive than say, Cozumel, and they aren't happy about being open when there is only one ship in port. We didn't sail until 5:00, but they all closed up about 1:00.

Belize has pretty much the same set-up, but more spread out along the waterfront and it isn't as new. I didn't talk to many people in the shops, because it was hot and I was tired; we rode the tender in just to say we had been there.

Santo Tomas, we didn't get off the ship. They have a big warehouse-looking thing that they set up booths of arts and crafts in. As we got ready to sail away, there was a parade of about 32 taxi's with flashing red lights on their roofs. They parked in a line, and honked and waved as we sailed.

Roatan Island is where they put us on buses and took us to a marine park for a beach picnic. The marine park is immaculately clean, the ship's chefs provided us with an incredible lunch, and the water is beautiful. That being said, the island looks a lot like St. Thomas or St. Maarten "back when". Not a place that a lot of people would feel comfortable in just wandering around.

So, from my experience, the SS itinerary is far more attractive.

Remember that you CAN get further discounts (5% to 10%) on your very first SS sailing if you are going on the same itinerary as any of us who are Venetian Society members - it's called "Friends of the Venetian Society". We just have to hook up and decide on an itinerary.

Unfortunately, SS only designates certain sailings which qualify for the Venetian (and Friends of) discount. They seem to be getting fewer & further between lately, too. It's too bad Don's 12/12 sailing isn't a Venetian discount sailing, but, at 50% off, it's certainly still a heck of a bargain!!!

I too think the SS itinerary that Karen listed is far more compelling than the RSSC one. I would choose that one over RSSC's in a heartbeat.

And something else to consider -- some of us (me included) are happy to take a smaller, non-balcony cabin just to get on the cruise, which is something that RSSC doesn't offer. Yes, comparing apples to apples in cruise experience does mean looking at the higher category cabins on SS, but for us, we don't care as much where we sleep -- just being on the cruise is the important thing. And the less we have to spend on each cruise, the more cruises we can take! (Not to mention, the more money we have to spend on other things along the way, like shore excursions, souvenirs, etc.)

I'm not in the market for anymore 2006 cruises, what with the three I already have booked. But if I was, I would be diving at that SS cruise...and I'd be looking at the lowest cabin category.

When I've been cruise hunting in the past, I normally have not been able to consider SS, as their prices were usually higher than RSSC. It was a fabulous bonus that, along with a lower price, we also got a splendid suite with a balcony. But as much as we savor that, the truth is that if SS had a comparable, or even more interesting cruise where we could buy a lower-cat cabin for less money, that's the one we'd choose. And the fact that SS is all-inclusive really IS a huge deal -- like I've said before, I'm no lush, but the concept of the open bar and the conviviality that inspires sounds awfully compelling to me. (Not to mention the cost savings!)

Especially for folks like me who really are price-driven, these higher prices on RSSC are going to drive us away to the other luxury lines.

Ditto.. but are they a "partner" of any other line? That would be nice ($ wise) wouldn't it?
Also, do we really want to go to ARUBA these days?
just a thought....

Claudia, they are not. They are independently owned. The one advantage though that Kristen mentioned, is that if you do go on one that is a Venetian Club discounted sailing and you join someone on that sailing, you still get the discount. Also, SS discounts the 5% or 10% off of the full fare, not the discounted fare. A really nice perk! AMEX Platinum is similar to RSSC. It is a $300 shipboard credit and a bottle of Dom Perignon.

Oh, one other thing. You can have someone else that is sailing on SS book the cabin for you when they are onboard and you would still get the onboard booking discount even though you haven't sailed on them yet. That particular cruise is only a 2% booking discount, but again off the full fare. BTW, I leave in April. ;)

Oh do I love all the $ saving ideas! Thanx Don!

Claudia, that is what we do, isn't it? Now, I'm just trying to figure out how to add up all the discounts and get to $0. Better yet, they pay us to cruise!!! LOL

Well, Amex no longer delivers a bottle of red wine on RSSC in addition to the $300 credit. When I was on Silversea in 2004, there WAS that bottle of Dom! I am saving it for the celebration that I am going to be a grandma for the first time, or some such important event! Truth is, when I was away on a cruise once, one of my sons (not the would-be father) came home, and opened the original bottle! I raised such a stink at his audacity that he replaced it, and there it sits, waiting for an important event!

I have been looking at Silverseas for some time now. And they sent me an email for a 2-1 4 dayer out of San Juan to a couple islands I have never been to so I signed up. :) On the other board :) I have a Radisson vs Silverseas thread started.

While not a drinker, I like that all drinks are included in the price. One problem I had on the Mariner was the pool bar only looked like it could do bottles of beer and was very very slow business wise. So I did not order my cruise Pina Colada. :)

I do like the Silverseas My voyages site and questions like what type pillows do I want on my bed. :) I also told them to save the Welcome bottle of sparkling vinegar.

It is touches like that that stand out.

Karen,
I"m sure they are up to the task of us being there! How fun would that be....... Yep, we get the Venetian and can book a friend, like was mentioned above. If it qualified it would be great......All inclusive is a very very good thing...
Cindy

Karen, thanks for the comparison. There is a Silversea cruise in my future, I'm sure.

Olivia - I never thought of bringing that bottle home! We'll have 3 bottles among 4 cabins this April - wonder if any will be left to bring back for a special occasion?

Silversea here we come!

Count me in, on the right Silversea cruise. I'm going on The Navigator in February, and I know I'll have a good time, I always have a good time.......but I want to try Silversea next. I really thought Radisson would go all inclusive with their new programme. Now that I know that isn't in their future, they probably aren't in my future. It was a deciding factor for me.

Every Radisson cruise I've booked has been a 2 for 1 cruise (except the PG), that's all I can afford, really, if I want to take one or two a year at least. I'm like you, LeeAnne, I will be booking "the lowest available" for all the same reasons. But if Silversea offers good deals on certain cruises as well - why not try them?

It would be great fun to all take a Silversea cruise in 2007 together, can you just imagine?

And now, I'm going to look at summer Silversea cruises. My husband's 50th is in August, I think he'd like that!

Charlene

We had been wanting to take a Silversea cruise for some time, but we have cruised so much (a lot of it on Radisson) that we wanted an itenerary that would be different for us. I saw the Cloud embarking 9/13 in Stockholm, going to a bunch of places "on our list" and disembarking at the Tower bridge in London. We caught it before they raised their price a little, and got a Veranda for $4800 pp for this 10 night cruise (the perfect length for us). this price certainly appeared "Radisson-comparable" all things considered, so we booked it as (probably) our next cruise, instead of a Radisson alternative. Why? Well, to keep this a "happy post", the reasons are that somewhere in the back of my mind, I have it that Silversea is just a "notch above" --- though unaffordable to us in the past. Also, we like the smaller ships, and the port intensive itinerary this offered. And finally (though not such a "happy post) there has been enough information floating about that Radisson quality may have become, shall we say, "uneven" at the moment. And then, experiencing new things is what travel is all about anyway.

Thanks,
Richard

I dont see where the "all inclusive" is a factor. Having just returned from the Mariner this week (Sunday, from Manaus) I was not charged for any liquor I ordered as long as it was ordered in the restaurants. So having 1 or 2 drinks in a bar is no big deal. Also, one night in Signatures I did not like the red wine they were serving and the waiter asked what would I like. I told him, (chatanuef de pape) and he opened up a bottle for me. Pretty classy.

The greater beverage inclusiveness on Silversea than on Radisson will be of greater benefit to some than to others. For me (and not necessarily for others) it is a benefit that there be a "cocktail time" BEFORE DINER and not AT DINNER. I also enjoy the ability to "grab a beer" when returning from a strenuous shore excursion. I confess that the inclusion of drinks in the lounges after dinner will be of little use to me, too. Old men like me just go to bed! Wouldn't have a problem paying for my own pre-dinner cocktail hour except for two things. First, while Radisson's OLD drink prices were not much af a factor to me, the new higher ones are, especially in light of their now higher fares. Second, even with the old lower drink prices, I'd be having my cocktail hour by myself in a Radisson lounge.

So, Silversea's greater inclusiveness isn't an "earth shaking" factor with me, it is something to consider --- especially now that Silversea has become a few hundred bucks CHEAPER!

Thanks,
Richard

Richard, your Silversea itinerary sounds great. I'll be very eager to hear your take on the Cloud. I love the size of the ship.

Are we still talking 2007 here?

Robert:

I don't know what others are talking about, but I'm talking about the '06 itineraries and pricing.

Thanks,
Richard

Right, Richard. Karen mentioned something about '07 in her original post. Just a case of me (as usual) not paying attention.

Thanks.

Robert, maybe you will be onboard in 2007? To me they are the same, Silversea and RSSC. I think Richard is going to feel the same way when he has experienced Silverseas.

Robert, I am planning to sail Silversea next year, maybe you and Paul will join us??

Kinda what I was thinking! What sailing K?

Robert, I really like this Oct. 29th sailing this year, I hope they will repeat it next year around the same time!

Barbados, St. George's Grenada, Los Roques Venezuela, Bonaire, Aruba, day at sea, La Romana Dominican Republic and San Juan.

I will probably choose an October or November 2007 sailing, if they have one, to the Southern Caribbean. I have been to the Western and Eastern Caribbean so many times that I think I am ready for a change!

I also like the Barbados to Barbados sailings as the air would be easier to do and it includes St. Lucia, which I have never been to.

karen, Robert,

You can find the Oct/Nov 07 sailings on the silversea site now...here is one you may like:

Bridgetown, Barbados 11:00 PM
15 Nov 2007 Thu Bequia, St. Vincent And The Grenadines Noon 6:00 PM
16 Nov 2007 Fri Fort De France, Martinique 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
17 Nov 2007 Sat Gustavia, St. Bart's 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
18 Nov 2007 Sun St. John's, Antigua 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
19 Nov 2007 Mon Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, B.V.I. 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
20 Nov 2007 Tue Day At Sea
21 Nov 2007 Wed Day At Sea
22 Nov 2007 Thu Nassau, Bahamas 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
23 Nov 2007 Fri Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Karen, I think all of the Caribbean sailings are finished now and up on the website. If you search by date from Sept-Dec. it doesn't look like there are any gaps in the schedules left to fill.

Looks like it is the Wind initially, which moves from Europe to the Caribbean in September and then moves again to SA at the end of November. The Shadow then heads from the Med at the beginning on October and continues sailing the Caribbean with some Panama Canal cruises sprinkled in.

They don't seem to have any that are close to that for 2007 in that time frame. They do have this one in April and this was the closest that I could find and it includes Bonaire, Los Roques, Grenada, and Curacao, as well as St. Lucia.

April sailing

Edited by Karen to fix the url :)

Wes, I only see one or two 9 day cruises listed and no 7 dayers. It seems that quite a chunk of the years schedule is still missing.

Editing to add, I am not sure if I am using the Silversea website correctly but I only see 2 Caribbean sailings for the entire fall season?

Karen thanks for fixing the link. It looks as if there are four in October, two in November, and the one holiday sailing in December and none shorter than 9 days.

Thanks Don, I think I am slower than the average bear but thanks to you, I think I have it figured out now, there won't be 7 dayers from Barbados in the fall of 2007!!

That is upsetting, the only other cruise I am interested in is the Mahe to Mahe sailing and I don't think I could survive that flight!

Well we'd be up for trying a Silver Sea, although I probably wouldn't go over Thanksgiving or Christmas - have my Dad to worry about, and the kids and Grandkids and I think Thanksgiving 2007 we are semi planning a trip to LA, maybe with all the kids to spend TG with our best friends for 40 years and their gang - but its a long way off, so will be interested in seeing what comes up. Isn't Linda at B&K the Silversea expert? She might have some more info Karen - but of course you've already thought of that I'm sure, as thorough as you are.

Karen, I know what you mean. We looked at the Seychelles as well. The flight is a real killer, both time-wise and money-wise.

I think that their 2006 schedule for the Caribbean is much better.

I'm also disappointed that SS isn't doing a Tokyo-Hong Kong cruise (or the reverse) in 2007 apparently like they did in 2006. It would have been a contender for me between RSSC and SS for our 2007 cruise.

Seems like SS revamps their itineraries fairly often?

Masaki