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Touring Europe by Ship:
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LEFT: Most Silversea passengers can afford to dress well, but not all are this glamorous or good-looking. |
Silversea is for you if... | Silversea isn't for you if... |
Your favorite movies are Merchant-Ivory films, which you watch for decorating ideas. | Your favorite movie is Animal House, which you watch for party ideas. |
You adore Cole Porter. | You prefer Smashing Pumpkins. |
You wear a tuxedo as a guest at charity events. | You wear a tuxedo as a bartender at charity events. |
You shop for Bvlgari jewelry at expensive boutiques. | You don't know how to pronounce "Bvlgari," or you think it's a type of wheat at the organic food co-op. |
You enjoy caviar wherever you can find it. | You enjoy canned tuna whenever you can afford it. |
Your cousin was arrested for insider trading. | Your cousin was arrested for petty theft. |
But seriously, folks:
Silversea is billed as a "six-star" cruise line, and it caters to travelers who value quality and comfort over price.
Assuming that you can afford a luxury cruise, is a voyage on the Silver Whisper worth the cost? Yes, if your tastes run to a suite at the Gritti Palace or dinner at Taillevent. And there are several factors that can make a Silversea cruise less expensive than the published fares might suggest:
Silversea's fares are all-inclusive. When comparing Silversea's fares with those of other luxury cruise lines--or with the cost of land-based travel, for that matter--you should calculate what you'd pay elsewhere for beverages and tips.
Like many cruise lines, Silversea offers discounts for early booking and advance payment. Discounts vary by itinerary; in Europe, the maximum is usually 10% to 20%, or 25% on transatlantic sailings. Silversea also offers capacity-controlled "Silver Sailings" discounts on some voyages that can be as high as 50%.
After your first cruise, you're entitled to "Venetian Society" discounts on many voyages. You can combine these with early-booking and advance-payment discounts. The total discount can be as high as 25% on selected European cruises, or 30% on transatlantic voyages.
Silversea also has a refer-a-friend program for Venetian Society members. If you talk your next-door neighbors into cruising on Silversea, you'll get a 5% credit toward a future cruise and your friends will get a discount of $500 per person. That won't help you now, but it could save you money in the future.
Bottom line: A Silversea cruise is expensive, but it can be a good value if you're a well-heeled traveler who's used to paying for luxury hotels, restaurants, and transportation--or yacht charters, if you're the type of person who can afford Silversea's highest-priced suites.
In this article: | |
Introduction | Activities, entertainment |
Cruise itinerary | Shore excursions |
The Silver Whisper | Memorable moments |
Accommodations | Is Silversea for you? |
Food and drink | Web links |
More about the Silver Whisper and Silversea Cruises: |
Silversea Cruises: "Scotland's Tattoo" |
Silver Whisper Photos 2002 |
Silver Whisper Photos 2003 |
Photo: Copyright © Silversea Cruises. Used by permission.
| Europe for Visitors - Home | | Contact information, disclosures, audience | Copyright � 1996-2024 Durant and Cheryl Imboden. All rights reserved. |