When I tried to use their system, I generated a charge of US $4.50 before even logging onto the net to access my e-mail. The on screen "meter" which tracks these charges is not that clear, nor is the log-off window. Fortunately a shipboard IT assistant alerted me to the charge and I logged off with her help. When I politely expressed my dismay to the reception desk, they just as politely removed the charge from my account. I never did use the Internet on the entire cruise.
Some passengers brought their laptops and used the ship's wireless capability for e-mails and internet phone calls. I am uncertain whether there is a charge attached to this service. Some passengers complained that the net connection is slow, so the charges can be daunting.
Ports of Call on Your Own:
That brings us to the other reason (after the food) that we enjoy cruising - the ports of call.
Detailed Description of Silver Whisper Ports of Call--St. Barts, Antigua, and Tortola
End Of Cruise Disembarkation:
This follows the usual drill and is handled efficiently. Color coded baggage tags are distributed the day before disembarkation. The color code determines the disembarkation priority, and is based on a questionnaire distributed during the cruise. Baggage is left in the hallways the last night of the cruise, and is reclaimed and cleared through customs dockside by the passengers as they disembark the next morning.
Passports are held by the cruise ship for the duration of the cruise and are returned to the passengers (in order by luggage tag color code) between 0700 and 0800 on the day of disembarkation. U.S. immigration inspection generally goes quickly, but every passenger must be cleared by immigration before any passenger is allowed off the ship.
Disembarkation begins around 0900 and is complete by 1000. As Silversea recommends, do not book a return flight much before noon, since one must taxi to the airport, check in, and go through security inspections there too.
As we disembarked, the gangway was relatively steep. Without being asked, a Silver Whisper crew member graciously took my wife's roll-aboard down the gangway to the dock for her. As we left the ship we felt truly pampered.
It is time to bring our cruise and this review to a conclusion. In the end, what does one get for the extra cost of a luxury cruise? Judging from our experience described above, one can expect more space, fewer crowds, and better itineraries. Don't expect better food or better service than on some mainstream cruise lines - over the last few years their food and service have improved to match what we experienced on the Silver Whisper.
Is a luxury cruise worth the extra cost? Yes and no. The choice in cruise ships is very much like the choice in new automobiles - there is one for every taste and budget. Some people insist that a Lexus or a Cadillac is the only way to travel. Others insist that a Ford or Toyota is the logical choice. The bottom line is that there is no single automobile (or cruise line) that will make everyone happy, but there is at least one automobile (or cruise line) that will make each one of us happy.
On a personal note, last year for the first time I bought identical Honda Accords for myself and my wife, together less than the cost of one Mercedes. The Hondas are safe, reliable, economical cars that are a delight to drive. They have given us as much pleasure as our Mercedes ever did. I guess that says it all.
Happy cruising!
Part 1 of Silver Whisper Caribbean Cruise Review - Why Take a Luxury Cruise?
Part 3 of Silver Whisper Caribbean Cruise Review -- Ports of Call -- St. Barts, Antigua, and Tortola
