MORE surprising than the number of Australians on my Silver
Shadow cruise in Asia is the fact that they also make up the most
loyal guests.
At the Venetian Society cocktail party for the line’s loyalty club
members, four of the five most frequent passengers are Aussies.
A Melbourne doctor and his wife have sailed 250 days with
Silversea; a younger woman travelling solo has clocked up 150; and
the top scorer, Cecil Paul, has spent an amazing 744 days on the
Silver Shadow, Spirit, Cloud, Wind and Whisper.
Cecil, 90, who lives in Woy Woy, NSW, has taken 97 cruises since
1955 – an incredible 61 of them with Silversea. Since 2003, it’s been
the only line he’s chosen, and in 2010, he did nine voyages.
Most cruises were shared with his wife Barbara, until she
passed away, so he now travels with his daughter, son-in-law and
sometimes his mate Clive.
Cecil most appreciates how well the crew look after people.
“We’re not passengers, we’re family. It’s like coming home,” he
tells me. “I love the whole set-up: the lovely captains, the lovely
ships.”
Cecil is planning to spend his 100th cruise sailing from Sydney to
Auckland on Silver Shadow.
I can understand why. The 382-passenger Shadow is a true delight.
The service, the food, the ambience, the décor, the itinerary, and
the fun bar scene with our fellow passengers (mostly aged 50-65)
are exceptional.
So, what sets Silversea apart?
One of the main distinctions, even compared to some other luxury
lines, is its butler service for all passengers (Everyone gets a suite).
It’s very spacious, with one of the highest passenger space ratios
in the industry.
The staff to passenger ratio is also greater than most: one crew
member to every 1.3 guests.
The company prides itself on its Italian heritage, but I found this
aspect too subtle: I only noticed the welcome bottle of prosecco,
the fantastic cuisine at La Terrazza, and the Venice-themed
Venetian Society function.
Other perks include a complimentary self-service laundry, which
you don’t find on some other ‘all-inclusive’ ships, complimentary
drinks, and no surcharges in the restaurants (except for one).
Don’t miss dinner at the poolside ‘hot rocks’ grill, where you cook
your own steak.
Shore excursions cost extra. One of the popular options is the
evening activity when staying overnight in a port.
On our Vietnam cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore, we had two
days in Ho Chi Minh City, where 180 people (more than half the
ship) chose the organised dinner ashore.
Back onboard, a pool party was held, with live music and a
gourmet feast.
Silver Shadow returns to Asia from September to November
2013 and will operate itineraries in Australia and New Zealand in
December and January.
For bookings, see www.silversea.com or call 1300 306 872.
Tip: Arrive a day early for Hong Kong departures and extend the
luxury at The Peninsula: www.peninsula.com.
