We started out with a horrible pre-cruise experience. We booked directly with Silversea's "Cruise Specialist" and after submitting our passport information, including expiration dates, and having it accepted by Silversea, we received all documents and got to the airport, where they refused my husband boarding because his passport expired in two months. We had to spend 2 nights in Philadelphia waiting for the passport office to open before we could get on the plane and received no call backs or help whatsoever from Silversea, even though we followed their emergency directions. It is in the fine print that a passport should be valid for 6 months after return, but my husband had just returned from Asia, who has the same caveats, with no problem. So, we missed the first two nights of our vacation in Greece & got to spend them stressed out in Philadelphia with no baggage, as it had gone on to Athens, and no assistance form Silversea, instead. Not a great way to start a vacation.

Upon arrival in Athens - Car & driver waiting with car that was too small, but still a good transfer to Piraeus. Boarded the ship - it's pretty, but bland - not very warm and I'm not a big fan of the art, as I am of the Silver Spirit's or the ships. Ugly carpet through. Cabins are beautiful, with one exception - there is no longer a vanity, so make-up, etc. has to be done in the bathroom, which is annoying.

Staff were absolutely wonderful - We were diverted from Dikilii to Izmir, which was an awful port. Kusadasi is always nice, but Marmaris so so, Santorini has gotten so overcrowded it's sad, Patmos was wonderful, Kotor fabulous as always, Dubrovnik always great, Hvar was probably our favorite, Koper has a cute little old town, but we grabbed a taxi to Piran, a seaside resort, which was beautiful. Read more