Silver Explorer Review

SILVER GALAPAGOS NOV 2013 REVIEW

Review for the Panama Canal & Central America Cruise on Silver Explorer
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carefreecruise
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Nov 2013

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100 Passenger with a crew of 70, recently refurbished during a quick two week wet dock. Ship looks tired and miss kept with rust showing on many parts, broken stair parts, brass parts not shined left to turn green, holes in the ceilings in public areas, falling down light fixtures, flooring coming lose inside hallways and decking missing out on exterior decks. Just basically a tired 1980’s looking ship interior, with some cool looking exhaust stacks; shaped like two small wings on top of the ship. Don’t get me wrong, lots of major items were done with new navigation equipment, new kitchens, moving hot tubs and building new spa and workout rooms.

It still displays brass plaques in guest rooms with the "Galapagos Explorer II” name. Even your closing bill with be on Galapagos Explorer stationary. Currently Silversea does not have full control of the ship till after the first of the 2014 to clear out pre-booked passengers form the previous owners (getting rid of the three and four day cruises). Newly added spa and workout area on deck 6 look great but you won’t find anyone in them due the nature and time restrictions of this voyage. Other public areas got new furniture and trimmings. They look dis-jointed compare to the rest of the ageing ship. Workers onboard are welding, stripping varnishing, sanding, painting and upgrading while cruising. Definitely a work in progress. Silversea branding could suffer for a while till a scheduled one month dry dock is done, this September 2014 at a Panama port. Some sales brochures and onboard paperwork is miss-printed, so don’t be surprised if things are not what you’re expecting, be calm it all works out in the end. Later on after a few days in the cruise you dismiss these first perceptions as the crew and Galapagos islands win you over and you recognize you’re on an expedition type ship. Lecture time is a little different being in the meeting room with the entire ships guests, just shows you how small this new community is. This closeness adds comrade and you soon have lots of new friends…

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