Chose this cruise as dates and itinerary fitted our schedule. Usually cruise with Regent Seven Seas. So this was the standard for comparison.

Transfer from airport and embarkation at Sydney was an omnishambles. No procedures, no information, no-one in charge, lack of communication, no instructions. Had to hunt for contact at airport. Took us to the 4 Seasons Hotel where no one was expecting us as we had gone in the wrong entrance. Had to sort this out ourselves. After lunch and some hanging around taken to cruise terminal by coach. Chaos!!!! Numerous people hanging around, no communication and bottled water had run out. No one in charge. No one taking responsibility. 14 hours after leaving home in Auckland we eventually boarded the ship at nearly 5 pm. This was a Silversea organised transfer.

Dining for the first few days on the ship was dreadful. Poor food, poor service, long waits for food. Staff seemed untrained, badly managed and disorganised. No one in charge. Fortunately did get better. Far too many eating venues required advance booking. Overall the food - quality and choice - was not as good as expected. Definitely not as good as RSSC. The only area where the food service seemed properly organised was in the pool deck area where there was obviously someone directing and overseeing the waiting staff. Read more