Silver Cloud Review

4.0 / 5.0
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Poor Decisions Darkens the Silver Cloud

Review for the Western Mediterranean Cruise on Silver Cloud
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bajadenny
2-5 Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Sep 2012

Overall Performance of the Company The ship was in disrepair having missed its scheduled dry dock date earlier in the year. The air conditioning was not functioning when we boarded the ship on the first day and we were not advised of the malfunction. The heat on board the ship got so oppressive that the captain had to shut down the dining rooms at night and have everyone eat around the pool for two nights. On a night requiring jackets for the cruisers, the wait staff in the main dining room had to remove their coats and their shirts were sticking to them because of the sweat as they waited on the tables. Basically, everyone sweat overnight in their beds for 10 of the 12 night cruise with daytime temperatures over 85 degrees. All this was a direct result of the company's decision to skip the dry dock date. The scheduled overhaul of the ship was one of the reasons we chose this cruise since we booked it one year in advance and the repairs were advertised to be completed many months ahead of the departure.

Many on board were requesting to leave the ship as the days wore on. Others were simply resigning themselves to eating on their balconies (for those who had them) as it was cooler outside than inside the ship.

The advertised itinerary was not completed. The captain informed us after being on the ship for one day, that he was changing a scheduled port - Tunis. In speaking with other passengers, it was the most important port on the entire itinerary (other than the starting and ending ports). We were not informed of the name of the substituted port until seven days into the cruise. Gozo (Malta) was chosen by the captain and the ship did not go there because the captain was concerned about having to use the ship's tenders. As a result, we were surprised to hear that we would be spending a second day in Valletta Malta, after we returned to the ship from a full day in Valletta. With many wonderful ports in nearby Sicily (Palermo, Messina, Taormina, etc) the captain chose to stay in Malta without much else to do except sit on the ship.

Cabin Review

Cabin VI

Quiet location, large window, walk-in closet was sufficient for 12 day trip. Peeling wall coverings were distasteful.

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